Stand up for Commissioner Elaine Bryant and Commissioner Curtis Richardson!

By Dr. RB Holmes, Jr

We live in a very toxic, political climate, both locally and nationally. I have actively participated in politics most of my life. I started voting at age twenty-one. Thank God, I have never missed a voting season. I take voting extremely seriously. I have a strong sense of history and heritage.  I truly appreciate the struggle, pain, persecution and even death that many Black and white people sacrificed for the right to vote. Last Sunday night I watched the documentary on the life of the late Congressman John Lewis entitled, “Good Trouble.”  Please, have your children and young people take some time to see this powerful documentary as a family.

The imminent local and national elections are clearly the most important in my life time.  I don’t have time in this space to list the various reasons.  Let me say this: We are facing an historic COVID-19 pandemic, unparalleled protests, systemic racism, poverty, health disparities, etc.  As a people of color and faith, we must vote.

This local election is becoming divisive and ugly.  Many pastors are raising our voices in righteous indignation to the evil and dirty tactics that are being used.  Most recently, the Tallahassee Democrat did an amazingly biased and discriminatory article in reference to the developers who contributed to the candidacy of two of this community’s most well respected, well educated, well mannered, well prepared and highly ethical commissioners, Dr. Elaine Bryant and Curtis Richardson.

The slanted article implied that these commissioners are being controlled by some of the most honorable business leaders in this community.  The article listed the developers who gave modest contributions to Commissioners Bryant and Richardson. However, it is strange that the writer didn’t mention the contributors of their opponents in the article. Why?  We know that one of Commissioner Bryant’s opponents received over forty percent of her campaign dollars from outside of Tallahassee, and she received substantial donations from other environmental groups and leaders. This article was merely written to impugn the impeccable character of Commissioner Richardson and Commissioner Bryant.

The writer of the Tallahassee Democrat article also included a white commissioner, my friend, Bryan Desloge.  The Tallahassee Democrat writer only mentioned Commissioner Desloge after Commissioner Richardson called the writer and said his article was “blatantly biased.”  If Commissioner Richardson had not called, the focus of the article would have only been on Commissioners Bryant and Richardson.

What was the Tallahassee Democrat’s intention initially?  It was to infer that these commissioners, with impeccable morals, were being influenced by developers and businesses.  Let me make this abundantly clear!!!  There is nothing legally or ethically wrong when developers contribute to candidates by following the law.  I am an advocate of good development, neighborhood empowerment, economic development and the creation of more jobs for our communities. Developers and others have always contributed to the campaigns of candidates of their choice.  I contribute to candidates of my choice.

Listen, why was the headline about two Black commissioners in the Sunday paper?  The goal was to tarnish their reputation, to slickly support another candidate and to get negative people to launch attacks on two of our heroes and role models by any means necessary.

I said earlier that this is the most important election in my tenure in this city that I love immensely. This election is about the future of the direction of this city. Can we accept in this twenty-first century having three Blacks on the City Commission? Can we accept having two Black women who are mothers, grandmothers, wives, educated, talented, gifted, competent, experienced, resourceful and respectful serving on the City Commission? 

Finally, take your power to the polls on or before August 18th; vote your conviction; vote your conscience and vote for the continuous positive growth and development of this beloved city. As for me and my household, we have already proudly voted for Commissioners Elaine Bryant and Curtis Richardson!

Be encouraged.