BLACK REPUBLICANS IN SYRACUSE: WHAT NEXT?

By Kofi Quaye

Last year, Otis Jennings ran a mayoral primary campaign that went down to the wire. Stanley Dean played a pivotal role in the campaign. So did a number of African Americans. Galvanized into action by a campaign that seemed to have the potential of winning, the Jennings mayoral campaign attracted a wide assortment of supporters of the African American community, who claimed to be Republicans.

Otis Jennings mayoral candidacy was unique in many ways. It was the first time in Syracuse that an African American had ran as a Republican candidate and was taken seriously by the media. It also underscored the fact that the Republican Party had succeeded in increasing its African American members and supporters.

The Democratic Party also had a problem to contend with. Suddenly, Alphorns Davis came to the fore as a mayoral candidate who could not be ignored He had his own ideas on how the city government should be run, and what he would do to make the system work better if elected.

Both parties faced the challenge posed by the emergence of two African Americans who had support from the community. Jennings represented the new generation of African Americans who had opted to join the Republican Party while Davis was seen as the voice of another generation of young African Americans who were fed up with the status quo and wanted change.

According to Stanley Dean, what was not known by the public was the fact that the Jennings candidacy was the culmination of a series of strategic moves planned and implemented by the Republicans with the goal of positioning an African American to run for a high office in Syracuse
"We just did our homework," said Dean

Jennings lost in the primary to Steve Kimatian. But by the time he made his exit after losing the primaries to Kimatian, he had emerged as a formidable figure in the political arena as a result of the manner in which his campaign was ran.

Davis also lost to Stephanie Miner who went on to win the mayoralty race in November. What about 2010? Did the defeat of Jennings signal an end to the attraction the Republican Party had for African Americans?

Ken Jackson, publisher and editor of the URBAN CNY was one of the first African Americans to make public his decision to become a Republican. He affirmed that when he challenged Joan Christensen in a primary on the Republican ticket..

He is not very active in party politics now, he said. According to him, the Republican Party could have acted differently to resolve various problems. One such action at the local level could have been objecting to the elimination of the county's Human Rights Commission.
"I don't see that as working in the best interest of our community," said Jackson.

What factors influenced Jackson to gravitate towards the Republican Party? Did he subscribe to the notion that African-Americans are basically conservative and should have no problem supporting the Republican Party?

Jackson said his decision was based on the simple fact that African-Americans, like others, have the right to belong to a party of their choice. He exercised that option by joining the Republican Party
"I just didn't think that there should be more than one party. We shouldn't be crowded into one party, "he said.

CNY VISION asked Stanley Dean if the Republican Party is continuing with its efforts to recruit African Americans. He was the city chair of the Republican Party when Jennings ran for mayor.
His response: "I do not believe that recruiting any particular group is a high priority for any party at this time. There is a lot of political jockeying within both parties that is taking precedence at this time. I do not believe that there are any staggering numbers for any political party recruitment. "

According to Dean, the current priorities of most African-Americans don't have much to do with politics
"The African American community typically takes the full blow of any economic downturn. At this point in time I would imagine that most are concerned with putting food on the table and a roof overhead. Joining one party or the other has not translated into guaranteeing either of these day to day concerns."

Will there be opportunities for others from the African American community to run for office and do as well as Jennings and Davis did?
"One thing that the Black Republicans have always maintained is that we don't need permission to run for public office. The opportunity to run for public office has nothing to do with Party lines. Waiting on your turn is futile. Opportunity is 98% preparation. The question is whether you have the knowledge of the rules and regulations for running for office (ie can you get the party endorsement? Do you know how?), the platform, people who believe in your message, support staff, family support and most important MONEY and the ability to raise MORE MONEY. This crosses all party lines and creates the opportunity that you mention. Asking permission means someone puts on the music and you do MC Hammer."