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With turnout figures of approximately 70 percent, black
voting power in Toledo operated at near capacity during the
2012 presidential election. Conversely, at 20 percent, the
black voting machinery was close to being idle for the 2013
mayoral election. With the U.S. Supreme Court’s 11th hour
decision on Tuesday to once again, effectively reduce early
voting in Ohio, the community’s largest political asset will
be inactive even longer. As with most large assets, the
process of ramping up the black vote in a midterm election,
cannot be turned on and off at a moment’s notice without
potentially causing damage.
How do we promote and embrace the type of voting behavior
that is most meaningful? What action, particularly in the
black community, represents responsible use of the ballot in
the election to be held November 4?
I
took to the streets, churches, barbershops and cafes to
explore the community’s thinking about the upcoming election
and to learn how our latent power to achieve real change can
best be exercised. The following represents a portion of the
dialog.
Perryman:
Why are African Americans not showing up at the polls for
non-presidential
elections?
We the Peeps:
Nothing ever changes. In fact, things
continue to get worse as far as disparities widening. So it
seems futile just getting black folks out there without
changing people’s lives and not affecting anybody
positively, except for the ones that are getting the votes.
Why should we vote for certain people? Are we just going to
continue to put the same old people in office, because
they’re black or brown? Because they’ve already been there?
Or are we going to start requiring some results? Support,
like respect is earned and not given. People are looking for
results.
Perryman: You won’t get any
argument from me. As you said, the days of supporting black
people just because they’re black are over, or need to be
over. I agree that we’ve got to stand for black excellence
and support those people or causes that generate benefits to
African Americans and those who have been traditionally left
out of the priorities of mainstream policy. So, these
particular politicians that we need to get out and vote for,
have they been accountable? Have they generated benefits
that improve the day-to-day living of African Americans?
What are the issues and who are the
candidates you consider to be important?
We the Peeps:
There’s a Toledo Public Schools levy on the ballot. There’s
a Mental Health and Recovery Services levy on the ballot.
Depending upon where you live there are some other issues on
the ballot, countywide. Also, there’s a
governors’
race; there’s
State
Senator Nina Turner, who’s out of Cleveland and running for
Ohio Secretary of State. There are also some local races.
Commissioner Carol Contrada, Lucas County Auditor Anita
Lopez,
State
Representative Michael Ashford, and a host of
other candidates are running.
Perryman:
Let’s talk about each one of those in turn: What is your
view on the TPS levy?
We the Peeps:
It’s an investment. So the schools, themselves, they’re
working to turn things around with
[Superintendent
Romules]
Durant.
We’ve seen some changes:
the report card came out and there are ways, I guess, to
measure progress and growth, and I think one of the things
that I read recently is that the number of suspensions are
down. And, I know they have recently added
Ward
Barnett over the Leadership Academy at Jones. So, I think
they’re moving in the right direction, and we have to give
them the support that they need at this point in time.
I think what this says is that TPS is
attempting to think outside of the box in the sense of
looking at what the community needs and where there are some
deficiencies. And so, putting people in position who
students can model, and mimic, and learn from in a positive
way is very important.
Perryman:
I would agree with you that under the present leadership,
TPS appears to be forward-thinking and contemporary as far
as seeking solutions to the challenges of providing a
quality education product in an urban setting. And that,
their performance compares very favorably to their urban
peers in Ohio.
I
have a tremendous respect for the Board, and the leadership
with Cecilia Adams, and Bob Vasquez, as well. And I think
that they really have the interests of these students at
heart. That’s my feeling, and so I think that if they
continue to engage with the people who live and work with
these children on a day-to-day basis, I am certain that they
will be successful.
We the Peeps:
I also think that the branding “TPS Proud” has been
effective at letting students know that Toledo Public
Schools is somewhere where you can be successful. They also
have some great ideas about the things that they are doing
and ways to challenge today’s youth.
Perryman:
County Commissioner Carol Contrada is running against
Republican candidate Kevin Haddad. What are your thoughts on
Contrada’s candidacy?
We the Peeps:
Well, one thing that I know the commissioners have done, and
I think it’s very important, and Commissioner Contrada as a
part of that, and it was “Ban the Box,” which is an attempt
to foster reentry and find ways to employ ex-offenders. I do
believe she’s a person who is going to do what she says, and
I know that she has supported and donated to events in our
community such as Smith-fest. That event gave away about 70
bikes, free food for the neighborhood, and provided
swimming, basketball, tennis, and soccer lessons. There was
also horseback riding, music, games, face painting, a
smokehouse, and several other various projects.
Perryman:
What are your thoughts about other candidates?
We the Peeps:
Ian English is a candidate for judge, having
done a great job in the Lucas County Proseutor’s office.
Perryman:
Can you describe his effectiveness?
We the Peeps:
There’s only so much he can do outside of that job other
than do what’s right for the people that come before them in
that court – for victims. He has cutting edge ideas about
creating a drug court, along the lines of restorative or
community justice that he can make happen if elected. But
Ian’s done a good job and done it well for a very low amount
of money. He’s not paid like some of those
prosecutors
over there. He does a great job; he works hard for that
court. He has gotten results in his courtroom, and not been
rewarded for it. In fact Ian’s been a little oppressed over
there, not being what they call, the FOJs or the Friend of
Julia’s.
Perryman:
Ohio Representative Michael Ashford is running unopposed.
What are thoughts on his past performance?
We the Peeps:
He does a good job of getting information to the citizens,
letting them know who the candidates are. He has also been
out front in standing up for minority contractors and he’s
the Minority Whip in the Ohio House. In Columbus, though,
he’s a small voice in a crowded Republican legislature–
trying to raise money for the Ohio Black Caucus. He is a
great fundraiser. My problem is his process of raising money
off the backs of people in the neighborhood used for those
operating elsewhere.
Perryman:
Thoughts on Senator Edna Brown?
We the Peeps:
Brown’s probably got one more term left. She’s worked hard
on sex trafficking issues. She’s a small voice in a big
arena – it’s hard. Our guys are little voices because they
are so outnumbered in a legislature that the democrats don’t
control, and that’s the problem. We don’t control it so they
don’t have much of a voice.
Contact Rev. Donald Perryman, D.Min, at
drdlperryman@centerofhopebaptist.org
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