African-American Community Leaders Back Titus For Governor
African-American Community Leaders Back Titus For Governor
July 3, 2005
NORTH LAS VEGAS -- Prominent leaders from the African-American community urged their community members to support leading Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dina Titus, saying they should vote their conscience and back someone who has been there for them.
"I believe Senator Titus has a record from the past that stands," said Dr. Robert Fowler, pastor of Victory Missionary Baptist Church, which represents over 10,000 members. "I believe she has a program for today and a promise for the future, which is why I believe we should support her. She has walked and worked hand-in-hand with all members of our state, leaving no one out."
At a news conference in front of the Dr. Martin Luther King statue in North Las Vegas, attended by more than 100 people, Clark County County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates introduced Titus as the state's first female governor.
"I am here today to tell you, Dr. Fowler, as well as all of the members who are here today, as well as all of those who are listening, that Dina Titus should be, can be and will be the next governor of Nevada," Atkinson Gates said. "And it's about time we have a woman as governor."
Fowler and Gates were joined at the news conference by Rev. Jesse Scott of the West Las Vegas Second Baptist Church, Assemblyman Harvey Munford, D-Las Vegas, Rev. Ronald Thomas of Reconciling Apostolic Ministries, Cordell Stokes, a community activist and chief operating officer of W.I.N.G.S, Inc., and other African-American leaders.
African-American community leaders such as Scott and Fowler have access to thousands of black voters who attend their congregations. While candidates aren't supported from the pulpit, clergy can influence support within an important Democratic voting base. In addition, endorsements from respected elected officials such as Gates and Munford, and Assembly members Kelvin Atkinson and William Horne and former Senator Joe Neal, will extend Dina Titus' message throughout the black community.
"Black people now have the opportunity to select the most well-rounded candidate for governor, who is prepared to address the need for diversifying our economic base; address the need for our affordable housing; the problems of teacher and nursing shortages and relocation; and environmental and energy enhancement; but more importantly addressing something we all want to see in a candidate and that is constituent accessibility," Stokes said.
Titus said her work in the Nevada Senate on equality issues will be carried on as governor.
"The gap between those who have and those who don't is getting bigger and bigger. Those are issues that we need to address," Titus said. "I'm proud of my record pushing for a minority health officer, pushing against the problems that we've had with racial profiling, calling for more equality in employment, calling for more contracts here at home with minority businesses."
Titus said she will narrow the gap between the haves and the have-nots by pushing for all-day kindergarten, apprenticeship programs in the community, better-paying jobs and the appointment of a faith-based officer to pursue federal dollars to build housing for seniors and provide meals for shut-ins.
"Don't just be with me today, be with me for good because I will be there with you for good," Titus said.
http://www.dinatitus.com/index.php?section=news&id=740