BY CLARENCE FORD
NNB Reporter
ST. PETERSBURG – Midtown residents play a key role in upcoming city elections and need to make efforts to vote Nov. 3, according to officials at the NAACP St. Pete Branch.
There’s also a lot of money on the line.
“The African-American voter can no longer depend solely on one’s self-identifiers as the basis for selecting their candidates, particularly when there is a projected $66,801,797 tax increment financing projected to come to the Midtown and Childs Park communities by 2045,” said Maria Scruggs NAACP president.
Tax increment financing is a funding strategy that allows cities and counties to use taxes in a blighted area for redevelopment for a period of time.
Scruggs was elected president of the St. Petersburg chapter in September 2015 after the branch was closed a year ago. Last September state NAACP officials ordered the local branch to suspend all activities because, according to a letter, the group was not in “good standing.” The then-president, the Rev. Manuel Sykes, was told to turn in building keys, property and records. Scruggs, a longtime St. Petersburg resident joined the local branch at age 16. She said she was asked by former branch president, Ray Tampa, to run for the position. Scruggs and the other officers were elected without opposition.
The St. Petersburg NAACP branch hosted a forum for the candidates running for City Council on Oct. 26. There are four candidates running for two seats that represent Midtown.District 5 candidates are Phillip Garrett and Steven L. Kornell. District 7 candidates are Lisa Wheeler-Brown and Winthrop “Will” Newton.
“In 2015 and beyond it is going to be imperative that African-American voters take the opportunity to not only focus on voting and urging others to do the same, but also to become more educated about candidates,” said Scruggs.
It is important that the city have black representation on the dais.
“Trailblazers such as the late Attorney Morris Milton and other civil rights activist thought by having a black face on public governing boards, African Americans would have a voice that would equate to them receiving equal access to public resources,” said Scruggs.
Scruggs said the Midtown community should be aware of the political issues and how local government works. She advises members of Midtown to make it their business to attend a candidate forum held in the black community and one held in a predominantly white community.
Scruggs said voters should visit the city and Supervisor of Election websites for election information – especially candidate’s campaign contributions.
Follow the money, she said. “Candidates have to pay the piper who paid them. ”