Last November's Special Election: Filipino-American Support

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Last November's Special Election: Filipino-American Support

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Jersey City Guide

Posted by Anon on March 31, 2005 at 03:39:39:

In Reply to: Ward B? posted by anon on March 30, 2005 at 22:01:55:

In Jersey City where a special election is being held on Nov. 2 to fill the remaining term of the late Mayor Glenn Cunningham, there are twelve candidates vying for the mayoral post.

As in the past, Filipino Americans in the area have their own man to support. Whether that is a good strategy or not to ensure the appointment of a Filipino to a post in a winning candidate's administration is a hard call. I can only ask what that plan makes us of. Does it show our group as a splintered or bloc vote? Will it pull the political backing we need to have when the general election comes up?

These are tough questions to answer and certainly, given the large number of mayoral candidates, anything can happen. Five of these candidates have tapped community leaders to support them. Although these leaders may have not openly identified themselves as supporting a particular candidate, they are branded with their association with them.

For instance, realtor Greg Racelis is supporting Ronald Bunocore, former chief of police under the late mayor, whose residency eligibility is being questioned. Racelis resigned as a paid campaign aide to Lou Manzo, another candidate.

When I called Racelis to inquire why he resigned from Manzo's campaign staff, he said, "I'm always with Cunningham. I was honest with Lou (Manzo) about this." But Manzo was also for Cunningham. What attracted Racelis to change horses?

According to sources in the community, Racelis jump shipped because Eugene Drayton, the former deputy mayor to the late mayor, is supporting Bunocore.

I don't know how deep Racelis friendship with Manzo is but it appears that Drayton has a stronger pull. Will Racelis' move pay off considering that Bunocore's residency is in question: a legal suit filed by Manzo himself?

I wanted to ask Racelis what happened to that $10,000 travel fund raised by the community and earmarked for the late mayor's trip to the Philippines but he was in a rush to attend to a client in his office. There'll be next time, which could be another subject of a column.

Flor Medel, a council candidate who nearly made it in 2001, is supporting Jeremiah Healy, a current council member. When I asked her why she was supporting Healy, she said: "looking at all the candidate's credentials, he has an independent mind, a straight guy and he votes on his conscience. He has also a 25,000 solid vote base, which, with the number of candidates, he could pull it off."

Linda Mayo, another council candidate who also ran in 2001, is apparently supporting Manzo. I could not get a reaction from her when I called her. She was not home and did not return my call.

Obviously, with her appointment as honorary deputy mayor, Ludy C. Corrales, cannot hide who she is throwing her support to. In fact, she recently organized a dialogue / fund-raising event for acting mayor L. Harvey Smith. Many wonder how Corrales, who is not a resident of Jersey City but does business there, managed to get the nod from Smith.

Never mind that. She did a good job as overall chair of the Philippine American Friendship Committee (PAFCOM), a highly visible community organization in Jersey City. That should be enough credential for a political candidate seeking where to draw support from.

Candidate Steve Lipski is another one who is considered to have a following in the Filipino American community as well. Unfortunately, I could not confirm that as some folks would rather remain in the background and let things happen.

So you see, as I wrote years ago, we are again playing into the hands of politicians. It looks as though we are not ready to throw our solid vote to a particular candidate. True, as Medel said, this is a democratic country and we could do whatever we want, however, the need for our vote by these politicians is ignored.

We do not seem to regard why we need to vote but rather expect for what we want in the process. We seem to put our wants before our needs, which negate our very essence as a community group that could deliver a powerful vote and determine the outcome of an election.

Are we content with getting political appointments? Or must we work harder at becoming active players in the political field to wield our political might and earn the respect of politicians?

The choice between needs and wants is clear. Sadly, however, many do not see the difference. Many do not see our potential as a strong, united political group that could deliver the votes where it matters. Many do not stand on firm ground and let themselves be drawn to political maneuvering dividing our community into smaller voting blocs.

And before we even realize our need to make known our political presence, many would rather sail in safe waters choosing instead to fill their wants, taking a long journey to political empowerment.

: http://www.filipinoexpress.com/18/40_columnists.html

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Re: Last November's Special Election: Filipino-American Support anon 21:59:37 03/31/05 (0)

The $10,000 question anon 10:20:15 03/31/05 (0)

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Comments:
: In Jersey City where a special election is being held on Nov. 2 to fill the remaining term of the late Mayor Glenn Cunningham, there are twelve candidates vying for the mayoral post.

: As in the past, Filipino Americans in the area have their own man to support. Whether that is a good strategy or not to ensure the appointment of a Filipino to a post in a winning candidate's administration is a hard call. I can only ask what that plan makes us of. Does it show our group as a splintered or bloc vote? Will it pull the political backing we need to have when the general election comes up?

: These are tough questions to answer and certainly, given the large number of mayoral candidates, anything can happen. Five of these candidates have tapped community leaders to support them. Although these leaders may have not openly identified themselves as supporting a particular candidate, they are branded with their association with them.

: For instance, realtor Greg Racelis is supporting Ronald Bunocore, former chief of police under the late mayor, whose residency eligibility is being questioned. Racelis resigned as a paid campaign aide to Lou Manzo, another candidate.

: When I called Racelis to inquire why he resigned from Manzo's campaign staff, he said, "I'm always with Cunningham. I was honest with Lou (Manzo) about this." But Manzo was also for Cunningham. What attracted Racelis to change horses?

: According to sources in the community, Racelis jump shipped because Eugene Drayton, the former deputy mayor to the late mayor, is supporting Bunocore.

: I don't know how deep Racelis friendship with Manzo is but it appears that Drayton has a stronger pull. Will Racelis' move pay off considering that Bunocore's residency is in question: a legal suit filed by Manzo himself?

: I wanted to ask Racelis what happened to that $10,000 travel fund raised by the community and earmarked for the late mayor's trip to the Philippines but he was in a rush to attend to a client in his office. There'll be next time, which could be another subject of a column.

: Flor Medel, a council candidate who nearly made it in 2001, is supporting Jeremiah Healy, a current council member. When I asked her why she was supporting Healy, she said: "looking at all the candidate's credentials, he has an independent mind, a straight guy and he votes on his conscience. He has also a 25,000 solid vote base, which, with the number of candidates, he could pull it off."

: Linda Mayo, another council candidate who also ran in 2001, is apparently supporting Manzo. I could not get a reaction from her when I called her. She was not home and did not return my call.

: Obviously, with her appointment as honorary deputy mayor, Ludy C. Corrales, cannot hide who she is throwing her support to. In fact, she recently organized a dialogue / fund-raising event for acting mayor L. Harvey Smith. Many wonder how Corrales, who is not a resident of Jersey City but does business there, managed to get the nod from Smith.

: Never mind that. She did a good job as overall chair of the Philippine American Friendship Committee (PAFCOM), a highly visible community organization in Jersey City. That should be enough credential for a political candidate seeking where to draw support from.

: Candidate Steve Lipski is another one who is considered to have a following in the Filipino American community as well. Unfortunately, I could not confirm that as some folks would rather remain in the background and let things happen.

: So you see, as I wrote years ago, we are again playing into the hands of politicians. It looks as though we are not ready to throw our solid vote to a particular candidate. True, as Medel said, this is a democratic country and we could do whatever we want, however, the need for our vote by these politicians is ignored.

: We do not seem to regard why we need to vote but rather expect for what we want in the process. We seem to put our wants before our needs, which negate our very essence as a community group that could deliver a powerful vote and determine the outcome of an election.

: Are we content with getting political appointments? Or must we work harder at becoming active players in the political field to wield our political might and earn the respect of politicians?

: The choice between needs and wants is clear. Sadly, however, many do not see the difference. Many do not see our potential as a strong, united political group that could deliver the votes where it matters. Many do not stand on firm ground and let themselves be drawn to political maneuvering dividing our community into smaller voting blocs.

: And before we even realize our need to make known our political presence, many would rather sail in safe waters choosing instead to fill their wants, taking a long journey to political empowerment.

: : http://www.filipinoexpress.com/18/40_columnists.html

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