Last week the Benson-Brinks campaign reached out to EL CENTRAL extending an invitation to interview State Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks. We accepted the opportunity to speak with the other half of the Benson-Brinks ticket to provide our readers with the background and context to be a better-informed voter.
This perspective is being offered through the lens of a practicing political activist for over 50 years. Over the course of that time, it has been rare to see the sensible, strategic and pragmatic alignment of a ticket that is complimentary in most every way. Considering that Ms. Brinks is from the west side of the state, we in Southeast Michigan have not had the opportunity to engage with her as a political leader and now candidate.
In an effort to evaluate her standing in our community on the other side of the state, I reached out to some of our community leaders there. Notwithstanding her own record of converting an historically solid Republican district to vote majority Democratic and then rise to the position of Majority Leader, earning the trust of her colleagues speaks for itself. The Democratic party exhibited wisdom in selecting her as Jocelyn Benson’s running mate, at once, geographically and philosophically uniting the state by positioning Leader Brinks to be elevated to Lieutenant Governor whose job it will be to preside over the State Senate. This would constitute a seamless move that can only serve to ease the process by which Michigan can move legislation, benefiting the people, through a more effective legislature.
So why should we care? Because candidate Brinks has demonstrated her concern for our Hispanic community on numerous levels over the course of her tenure in the House and Senate, working with and alongside Senators Cavanagh and Camilleri. She is a sponsor of the Drive Safe initiative package of bills in both the house and the senate to essentially reverse the 2008 ban on licenses for undocumented persons. This benefits and enhances safety for everyone. While yet unsuccessful in obtaining its passage, there is every reason to believe that if elected, a Benson-Brinks administration will lead a renewed effort to get it passed.
Most recently, candidate Brinks played a major role in securing $6 million of the $10 million development cost of the new Hispanic Chamber of Commerce building in Grand Rapids. It’s refreshing to see that kind of public investment in our community. If elected, it’s not a stretch to believe that the Hispanic community should look forward to that kind of integration, dedication and commitment throughout the state.
To open our interview, I presented Leader Brinks with the opportunity to address our community by sharing her message as it directly relates to us. Her message was reassuring and more. It amounted to a harmonious singing from the same hymn book. A chorale concert of unity, if you will.
Reflecting over the Whitmer-Gilchrist years, at the end of the day, good government is about promises made, promises kept. They fixed (and are still fixing) the damn roads. While no one gets or sees everything they want or expects from government; when we can realize those things that are in the best interest and greater good of most people, we have upheld the integrity of majority rule which is what our democracy is all about.
Fundamental to this, however, is active participation in the voting process. This is where you come in. None of this works as well as it could if we don’t do our part by voting. While the measuring stick for success is often based on accomplishments, there is value in preventing the loss of progress.
Per the “Grow Michigan” report, the future of our state is directly tied to the growth of our immigrant community. Michigan’s population is projected to increase by 650,000 by 2050. This has many implications as it relates to our choices for leadership.
We must also be vigilant regarding Donald Trump’s Presidential Executive Orders, e.g., #14224, English Only, eliminating bilingual language supports starting with Head Start. If unchallenged, this order will be enforced throughout all federally funded programs and services. As an example, this challenge directly circles back to our advocacy for the Drive Safe initiative.
In summary, where does that leave us? We must come together and step up to exercise our voting rights. As the largest minority group in America, we have a special responsibility to uphold our place in society. Presently, less than 50% of eligible Americans are voting. Hispanics are presently 20% of the population, soon to be 25%. If we voted at 100% of our eligibility, we could comprise nearly 50% of the vote. Last year in Detroit, less than 20% of eligible voters voted. This year’s state election represents an opportunity for Michigan’s Hispanic community of 500,000 (of which 80,000 are in Wayne County and 80% live outstate) to exercise a huge flexing of our electoral power by voting en masse and make our presence known.
Actions always speak louder than words, the choice is yours, chose wisely.
