Who would best represent the people of the 8th Congressional District in Washington – the Democratic incumbent? Or a challenger with a different political philosophy?
Voters should have a deeper understanding of those vying to be their voice in the nation’s capital after meeting the candidates at a forum sponsored by the Central Florida Urban League (CFUL).
District 8 candidates who have confirmed their participation are Democratic incumbent Alan Grayson and challengers Dan Webster (Republican), a former state senator; Tea Party candidate Peg Dunmire; George Metcalfe (no party affiliation); and write-in candidate Steven J. Gerritzen. The event is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 12th at the Citrus Bowl’s Varsity Club in Orlando. It is one of a series of forums, called Conversations with the Candidates, which are a central part of the Urban League’s “I Have a Voice” campaign.
Tomorrow night, October 5, the Orange County mayoral candidates Teresa Jacobs and Bill Segal will participate in a live debate at the WESH-2 studios.
On October 14th, candidates for the District 3 Congressional seat will debate in Sanford. All qualified candidates for the District 3 race have confirmed their participation.
I Have a Voice seeks to educate voters on candidates and issues and convince them that they have a stake in the November general election. Other components of I Have a Voice are a voter registration drive to encourage a greater interest in politics, especially in minority neighborhoods, and a get-out-the-vote effort to increase participation at the polls on Election Day, November 2.
Voter participation is the most cherished process in our country, noted Allie Braswell Jr., president and CEO of the Central Florida Urban League. “It’s a right that thousands of civil rights activists fought for in the 1960s,” he said. “For voters, especially those in minority neighborhoods, to fail to participate in this cornerstone of our democracy is unconscionable.”
Braswell added, “The Urban League believes it must do everything it can to encourage people to register to vote and to then express their opinions at the polls on Election Day.”
All Conversations with the Candidates are non-partisan.
A number of community organizations have joined the “I Have a Voice” campaign. “We are extremely pleased that other organizations have agreed to work with us as partners in this effort,” Braswell said. Partners to date include the African-American Chamber of Commerce, the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the NAACP – Seminole County and the NAACP- Volusia County. The Asian American Chamber of Commerce also has expressed support for the initiative. In addition, the Caribbean American Passport magazine, the Florida Sun, the Orlando Advocate, the Orlando Times, the West Orlando News, WESH-TV and WOKB Radio have joined the effort as media partners.
“These news outlets,” Braswell said, “along with other media organizations, will play a key role in raising awareness and making I Have a Voice a success.”
