Do you need an attorney?

BY BUDDY NEVINS

Speculation that Broward’s new Democratic boss is plotting to run a candidate against state Rep. Katie Edwards must be mistaken.

Democratic Chair Cynthia Busch can’t be that foolish.

State Rep. Katie Edwards

A piece today in RedBroward.com mentioned the rumor that Busch wants to replace Edwards. Busch campaigned against Edwards in 2012.

By phone from Tallahassee, Edwards dismissed the report as “an old rumor.”

According to RedBroward, Busch wants a little-known Democratic volunteer named Travis Perron to challenge Edwards in next year’s primary.

Perron is slated to replace Michael Howson, who Busch laid off last week shortly after taking office.

Howson’s dismissal by Busch sparked an uproar in the black community. Howson is black, while Perron is white.

So Busch’s number one job should be to mollify the black community, one of the major Democrats voting bloc, instead of messing in a primary.

Several sources told Browardbeat.com that Busch indeed talks privately about dumping Edwards. Every source also said Busch is publicly denying it.

Here is something Busch and Browardbeat.com readers can take to the bank:

Edwards would be almost impossible to beat. Period.

She is a skillful campaigner and a fund raising machine.

Most of all, Edwards has an admirable record. Among other issues, she proposed and then passed medical marijuana.

Some progressive Democrats aligned with Busch have told Browardbeat.com that Edwards works too closely with Republicans.

The truth is that (1) nothing gets accomplished in the Republican Legislature unless you get support from GOP members, (2) you are naive to think otherwise and (3) repeat 1 and 2.

If progressives want a Broward Democratic Legislative Delegation solely reflective of their views, maybe they should also target folks like state Reps. Evan Jenne and Richard Stark. They also commit the progressives’ sin of sometime working the GOP. Why get rid of one effective lawmaker when you can get rid of three?

Bottom line: Democrats have enough on their plate next year struggling to hold on to the White House and win a U. S. Senate seat without igniting an inner-party fight against a sitting House member.

XXXXX

Busch already has trouble with black activists over her layoff of Michael Howson:

From: Corey Shearer <coreyshearermcp@gmail.com>
Date: August 15, 2015, 7:21:46 PM EDT
To:
Subject: FYI – Essay to the DEC Management Committee on the events of this week

First of all let me say that there are moments when you are just proud to be an American. I say this because as I began writing this essay, I happened across an email just sent to me at midnight from a fellow American, his color not important but the content of his character very evident and highly important. It was from a brother of mine who happens to be white, but again color is not important. He also happens to be a Floridian but very much a New Yorker by experience and accent. This may be of more importance. And, he was writing me a heartfelt spur of the moment note to let me know that ‘Hey I am helping the Black Caucus. I am sweating and working on issues with you and helping to build the BLACK Caucus. But, yet I realize there are times where race and furthermore experiences as a certain race may truly matter. And if you ever need me to step aside on something or just listen rather than talk on and on or act rashly, let me know.’ And now I quote, ” I will never be upset at you for letting me know when I have to step aside, it is the Black Caucus”.

First of all, let me say there is no brother in America or the world that I would rather go into battle with on matters of the heart or race than Anthony Caggiano. That is my brother. I love that man. Yet, he is right. There are times that when you are delving into a racially charged issue and you are an outsider to that race, you need to listen first. So, I ask you to be like Anthony and just listen to me. Then, I will be available for dialogue or just to listen in turn. But, just listen right now.

Over these many years, 27 to be exact, as an All-American involved in politics but still a Black American in these United of States, I have tried to keep my nose clean but yet downwind to pick up all of the smells around me. This is of particular importance due to my experience of often times coming across bullshit masquerading as politics and also the converse politics masquerading as bullshit.

I wasn’t sure what this was we were dealing with this week. But I was sure that we were dealing with something. And we will deal with it, we ALL will deal with it because of the fact that we are an important Democratic team. The people of this County are counting on us. And, the thought of any player in this team picking up their ball and just going home, is quite frankly, NOT AN OPTION.

This week, the less expensive, large, Black, openly gay, outspoken but yet still quite service oriented young man of great experience but also of great youth, was replaced with the more expensive, tall, slender white guy who is more subdued and highly customer service oriented although seemingly slightly less experienced. This was primarily for budget reasons as The DEC was burning through a lot of money attempting to keep both. The one let go, “The Black Guy” was making considerably less than the one who was retained and will step up into both and all positions, “The White Guy”. And obviously this stinks for “The Black Guy”. But, it also smells funny to the Black community.

But, let’s step back and really give this one a good whiff. The first problem is that what really stinks and smells rotten is in fact JUST POLITICS. The outgoing chair put in “his guy” and the incoming acting chair is installing “her guy”. Truly, there is not enough money or desire in the local party to keep both. Each chair involved here has put in “their person”, as they reserve the right to do. POLITICS.
The second Vice Chair of the DEC, Christine Jones, who is an African-American lady, was left out of the discussion on this change in the DEC office. For a while, she didn’t even have a key to the office and has been routinely left out of the loop even though she is the direct liaison to the Area Leaders and thus the committee people (The actual DEC) as well. BAD POLITICS.

The problem is what is JUST POLITICS is sitting in a larger political wasteland of histrionically decaying disenfranchisement, malodorous mistreatment and even worse putrid institutionalized neglect in this very Broward County, Florida. Since, it’s incorporation in 1915, race and inequality have been issues in Broward County. African-American schools were operated on a split term, with no classes during the winter harvest season so that children could work in the fields. This meant that black schools could not be accredited and that their graduates would have difficulty entering accredited colleges. (Also, obviously there was less time spent on learning).

As late as the 1950’s the NAACP was still fighting this issue. At least, with the opening of Blanche Ely High School in 1952, Pompano’s black high school students no longer had to go out of town to graduate. [Broward Legacy Vol. 32 – Broward County Schools: A Look Back]. Yet, Ester Rolle (Actress), a graduate of Blanche Ely High School, only went to school 3 months out of the year. In fact, some of the best Black students only went to school 3 months out of the year back then, so they could work the fields. Pompano’s school was originally known as “The Bean Pickers” over both the objections and disgust of the local residents. Ester Rolle did go on to study at The New School in New York and at Yale. This still does not take away from her experience or the experiences of many now older people in Pompano who pause when asked to fill out a petition or even sign their own name. You don’t have to wonder why anymore.

Similar issues have been dealt with by Blacks in Broward County as they were habitually arrested for minor or made up offenses so that they would have to work off time in the fields or through the years just to send a message. I remember being arrested in 1990 in Coral Square Mall while shopping with my mom for clothes to go teach for six weeks in Dangriga, Belize with other students from Georgetown University including Hunter Biden, Vice-president Biden’s son. My mom and I separated as she went to get coffee. The mall security and Coral Springs Police surrounded me because, they thought i looked suspicious as cops were cracking down on black teenagers in Coral Square Mall (again not the Black adults or professionals and voters but the easier to intimidate youth). Charges were dropped and I went on to just enjoy teaching some really great kids in Belize and then going back to school. Later graduating from Georgetown as “Senior of the Year” but I have never forgotten the torture of that experience. It did affect me.

Black teens are still faced with detainment and cars been tossed while just simply parking at a corner in Plantation filling out their canvassing packet cover sheets and checking their walk lists in places like Plantation. Black teens still face being arrested for traveling outside the bike lanes with their bikes in Coral Springs. It just is still sometimes dangerous working, parking, browsing, or driving while Black in America or Broward County.

Black people in America must always ride with their windows down and be vigilant with our olfactory sense. But, there are times when we smell something as ALL Americans we can simply roll up our windows, put the foot on the gas and run over everything and everybody as we continue to break down all obstacles in our path.

We are and always remain ALL AMERICANS committed to the American race to do more and be the best. However, what I do warn is do not make a habit of standing in our way, you will get run over eventually and do not make a habit of putting obstacles in our path because we do indeed have the memories of African Elephants.

We must assure nothing hampers any member from being a full active member, fully aware of all issues or pending actions around us.

As President of the Broward County Democratic Black Caucus, I do ask the management team to look at where mistakes have recently been made or things could have been handled differently. We demand the courage of corrective action.

Furthermore we urge that all elected or appointed members of the DEC or its committees/subcommittees be included on issues under their prevue and that they never be left out because they may have a passionate response or entrenched opinion on the subject matter. In addition, whenever there is an issue or discussion towards action the decision makers should draw from the diverse membership of our party, reflecting “The Big Tent” that The Democratic Party truly is.

I submit this essay on this Saturday, August 15th to this DEC Management Committee body. I refuse to read it out loud or into the record to underscore that although also an ELECTED Committeeman, I am here only due to a very special partnership between the Caucuses and the DEC. We are not subject to the rules of the DEC, do not have to answer to the DEC and thus, in codification at least, the DEC does not have to answer to us.

I respectfully submit this to all here in writing and ask all to read at their leisure. As always, I am available to listen or dialogue at any time. Thank you.

Corey Shearer, President
Broward County Democratic Black Caucus (BCDBC)

Closed.