Republicans Field Ethnically Diverse Candidates in 2003 (Vanity)

March 6, 2003 | JohnnyZ

[JohnnyZ]

Three states are electing state officers (governor, attorney general, et al) in 2003, and so far Republicans are fielding a more ethnically diverse slate of candidates than are Democrats.  Currently no ethnic minority holds statewide office in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Kentucky, but Republicans have the potential to put forward four nominees and Democrats two, both in Mississippi.

Kentucky

Republican Osi Onyekwuluje is a (black) Nigerian immigrant seeking the office of state auditor.  Onyekwuluje (pronounced On-yay-kool-oo-jay) came to the United States as a teenager, obtained a law degree in 1987 and has served the public as an assistant state attorney general, Kentucky transportation district attorney, and assistant commonwealth's prosecuting attorney since 1988.

http://www.osiforauditor.com

Onyekwuluje, who is just past 40 years old, is running on a platform of government accountability, integrity, and safeguarding confidential records.  He faces Republicans Basha Roberts, Peppy Martin, and Linda Greenwell in the primary for this open-seat race.

Osi quote:

"The Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts is an integral part of assisting the next Governor to achieve his/her budgetary goals, cut wasteful spending, and give the Governor and Legislature the necessary tools and pertinent information to cut taxes, cut wasteful spending, and eliminate budgetary shortfalls. I will work with the next Governor to make sure your taxes are not raised, your hard earned money is not wasted, and your voice and concerns are heard in the halls of the State Legislature and Governor's Mansion."

Mississippi

Republican Julio Del Castillo is a (Hispanic) Peruvian immigrant seeking the office of secretary of state.  Castillo has lived in the US since 1989 and has become active within the state Republican Party, notably speaking out in favor of English immersion rather than bilingual eduction.

Del Castillo is unopposed in the Republican primary and faces incumbent Eric Clark in the general election. 

Democrats are fielding four African-American candidates in Mississippi, two each for the offices of lieutenant governor and treasurer.

Troy Brown is a former candidate for lieutenant governor in 1999 and for US Senator in 2000 (versus Trent Lott), and former Mississippi Valley State University dean.  Brown, 39, is running on a "conservative Democratic" platform.  He will face former judge Jim Roberts and state senator Barbara Blackmon in the Democratic primary for the right to challenge incumbent lieutenant governor Amy Tuck.  Blackmon is a three-term state senator and trial lawyer, a member of the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association.

Black Democrats Cindy Ayers Elliot and Gary Anderson will face state senator Rob Smith for the Democratic nomination to succeed retiring treasurer Democrat Marshall Bennett.  Elliot is the founder of First America Band and a Bennett protege.  Republicans will choose between state rep. Andrew Ketchings, 40, investment banker Tate Reeves, and former state senator and central district transportation comissioner Wayne Burkes.

Louisiana

Republican Bobby Jindal is receiving strong establishment support in the wild,  crowded race for governor.  Jindal, 31, resigned his position as Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for President Bush to come home to Louisiana and run for governor.  He is ethnically (Asian) Indian, and converted to Catholicism.  Jindal is pro-life and pro-business, and has been endorsed or semi-endorsed by Governor Mike Foster, ex US Rep Bob Livingston, Rev. Billy McCormack (one of the founders of the Christian Coalition) and former senate candidate Tony Perkins.

http://www.bobbyjindal.com

Republican Kirt Bennett is seeking the nomination for the 2nd office on the ticket, that of lieutenant governor.  Bennett, 35, is ethnically a black Hispanic, the son of Honduran immigrants.  Bennett is running on a platform of long-term growth and opportunity for the future of the state.  He is the founder of the Young Leaders Academy, which mentors African-American boys from poorer neighborhoods.  Bennett is running on a platform of long-term growth and opportunity for the future of the state.  

http://www.kirtbennett.com

 

[JohnnyZ]

These are all the "ethnic" candidates I could find from both major parties, but no guarantee that it's exhaustive. Please note any errors or additions!! Thanks to politics1.com and MagnoliaReport.com for making the research that much easier.

The ethnically diverse GOP candidates above all sound really good to me, and I think they're deserving of FReeper support in their primaries and in the general election.

[JimRed]

Republican Osi Onyekwuluje is a (black) Nigerian immigrant seeking the office of state auditor.

C'mon, nominate him to the court of appeals in his district, so the RATS have to show their TRUE COLORS opposing a black man who made it through merit instead of by the prescribed adherence to leftist thought!

[Holden Magroin]

Sounds like they're wasting a lot of talent. Those guys ought to first run for state senate or something.

[JohnnyZ]

Del Castillo is the only candidate to file for Sec State, as other folks are likely unwilling to challenge the incumbent.

Osi is probably the best-qualified Republican for the Kentucky state auditor position. 'Pubs have difficulty getting good candidates down the ballot in KY.

Kirt Bennett has at least as much qualification for Lt. Gov as his GOP rivals for the nomination; besides attorney Stephen Rue there is a musician running, and I ain't talkin' about Nuge!

With Bobby Jindal you may have a point, though he's pretty well qualified for the position, having already run the state's hospital system under Gov. Foster and done great work in DC since. So he has already served in both state and national government, just not elective office.

If they get elected, awesome, if they don't but run credible campaigns it shouldn't hurt their political future.

[WhiteGuy]

I'll keep looking for more on their motivation to run.....

Check here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/710795/posts?page=1

[JohnnyZ]

I pingk you'll like my article . . .