Uncle
Luke, the man whose booty-shaking madness once made the U.S. Supreme
Court stand up for free speech, gets as nasty as he wants to be for Miami New
Times. This week, Luke, who lost in Tuesday's mayoral election, lets
voters explain why they chose him.
I raised only $12,000
for the 45-day mayoral campaign -- 1 percent of top vote-getter Julio
Robaina's total. Yet 20,922 voters picked me. That's not bad. Consider
former state Rep. Marcelo Llorente began his campaign two years ago
and raised $370,000, yet he finished with 14 percent and I received
11 percent.
I appealed to a
diverse group of people in Miami-Dade, not just African-Americans. Here
is what some of those voters had to say:
• Rochelle Lopez,
33-year-old Ecuadorian-American high school teacher: "I am tired of
the political establishment in Miami-Dade and I wanted a fresh face.
Luke is an excellent role model for everyone. The entire community can
relate more to him than Carlos Gimenez or Julio Robaina. And I thought
his stripper tax was a genius idea." She
last voted in 2008 for Barack Obama.
• Erik Steinhardt,
27-year-old North Miami native and social worker: "I decided to vote
for Luke after hearing him speak at the University of Miami mayoral
forum. He was the only candidate who was in favor of the residents of
Overtown being assured jobs at the new biotechnology campus near Jackson
Memorial Hospital." Steinhardt last voted, for Charlie Crist, in the
2010 U.S. Senate race. He voted for Ralph Nader in 2008.
• Rhonda Sims,
42-year-old African-American office manager: "Luke has been in the
community, so he knows we need housing, better transit services, and
a good relationship with the police. In the past, I've personally
dealt with the county commissioners. I can tell they are not there to
help because they didn't listen to what my concerns are. I felt Luke
would change that." She last voted in 2008 for Obama.
• Sandra Ali,
24-year-old Overtown resident: "Luke came with the truth. He spoke
about the African-American politicians who have sold out the black community.
No one has been outspoken about the issues in our neighborhoods like
Luke has." She last voted in 2008 for Obama.
I want to thank Rochelle,
Erik, Rhonda, Sandra, everyone else who voted for me, and my dedicated
band of nonpaid volunteers for helping me make history. It was a great
experience being your candidate.
Follow Luke on Twitter at: @unclelukereal1.
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