Joe Falk, a prominent donor based in Miami, writes why and how we can have Scott Galvin as the next Member of Congress who is openly gay.
| By Joseph Falk | Contact  Joseph Falk is a mortgage professional. He attended Franklin and Marshall College and earned his MBA from the Harvard Business School. After school, he entered the family mortgage business until it was sold. Currently, Joe works for the policy/legislative/lobby group at a large national law firm.
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Dear Friends,
Something very exciting is happening in Miami and I need your help. Some of you know me. I have been involved and contributed to many political races across the country. This one is personal.
The GLBT Community in Miami has the chance, a great chance, to send an openly gay Congressman to Washington. Crazy, right? The home of Anita Bryant? No adoption? No marriage? Yes. And here is why.
WE HAVE A GREAT CANDIDATE. Scott Galvin is a sitting Commissioner in North Miami. He has represented North Miami with distinction for more than a decade. He is qualified, dignified, and a great leader. He has won elections. In the same district. He was born and raised in the District. He has District roots that go deep.
HE CAN WIN. There is a pathway. District 17 is the U.S. House seat currently held by Kendrick Meek. He is seeking higher office. Scott has won within the district before.
THE PATHWAY
1. Only a Democrat has a chance. Only 11% of registered voters in this district are Republicans. President Obama won with almost 90% of the vote. Win the primary, generally, get the seat.
2. Winner-Take-All Primary. The rules say no runoff. Therefore, the top vote-getter gets the Democratic nominations.
3. Split the Vote. There are 12 candidate running. That's right. 12. Betting now is that 20% of the vote takes the race. The rest of the field will split the demographic vote.
4. Demographics. Scott has also shown that he can win minority votes. He has in the past. He will do it again. But, here is the clincher: over 25% of the district is Anglo, Hispanic or ‘Other'. This is the single largest block. Scott should dominate in this category.
5. No Front Runner. That's right. There is no long-serving, highly popular candidate running with high name recognition.
6. Low Voter Turnout. The primary is August 24th. Many folks on vacation. And, with no ‘high profile', highly contested Democratic primary on the ballot, turnout could be at a record low.
7. Plant a seed and a forest grows. My phone is ringing. Can he do it? Really? Can I do it? I want to run! Other leaders in our community, sensing breakthrough, are planning their own races.
MONEY. That's right. Money. No candidate has raised, to date, more than $200,000. (respectfully, here in Miami, this is not a lot of money. Most Congressional candidates spend in the millions.) In an expensive TV market, no candidate is expected to be on the air. The ground game and absentee votes will be key. With the Florida legislature in session till June, some of the candidate cannot raise money right now. This will be a sprint to the finish.
NOW I NEED YOU. To get the national advocacy groups interested in this race, his friends, relatives and local GLBT groups need to lead the way. I have maxed out. Scott has to deliver a good first fundraising reporting period to build credibility.
All of the ingredients are there:
A GREAT CANDIDATE AND A PATHWAY TO VICTORY.
To steal a famous quote used by a great leader: Yes We Can.
Will you help? Yes, I am tired and spent, too. But, we can make Florida history. Yes, in Florida, where no GLBT candidate has ever represented us in the State House, Senate or Cabinet. Visit Scott's web site and donate today. www.galvin2010.com
Thanks.
Joe Falk
