This past weekend, surrounded by family and friends, clergy, community leaders and elected officials, I announced my campaign for Florida State Representative for District 92.

District 92 includes parts of Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Lauderdale Lakes, Margate, North Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Pompano Beach, and Tamarac and is currently served by Representative Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed who is term-limited.

I shared with those in attendance my passion for serving people and my commitment to helping others secure the resources they need to prosper. I have been privileged to serve in various capacities for non-profit organizations and civic boards, including the First Tee of Broward, L.E.A.D. Nation and the South Florida Youth Summit, United Way of Broward, Pompano Beach’s Northwest CRA Advisory Board, the Economic Development Council, the Community Development Advisory Committee, Charter Review Board, and others. And, I am happy to say that my life, in some way, has touched all of the cities that make up District 92. I was born in Pompano Beach, graduated from Boyd H. Anderson High School in Lauderdale Lakes, lived in Fort Lauderdale, had my first apartment in Margate, spent some time in Oakland Park, and I have family and friends in Deerfield Beach, North Lauderdale and Tamarac.

I firmly believe that I am the best candidate to represent District 92. It is my hope that you will, as you have in the past, support me on this journey to Tallahassee. You’ll be joining our growing base of support, including Representative Clarke-Reed, Representative Shevrin Jones (District 101), Representative Katie Edwards (District 98), Mayor Lamar Fisher (Pompano Beach), Mayor Jack Brady (North Lauderdale), Commissioner Ed Phillips (Pompano Beach), Commissioner Rex Hardin (Pompano Beach), Commissioner Barry Dockswell (Pompano Beach), Commissioner Barry Moss (Pompano Beach), Commissioner Gloria Battle (Deerfield Beach), Commissioner Gloria Lewis (Lauderdale Lakes), Commissioner Patricia Williams (Lauderdale Lakes), Commissioner Edwina Coleman (Lauderdale Lakes), Commissioner Anthony Sanders (Hallandale Beach), Commissioner Brian Johnson (West Park), Clerk of Court Howard Forman (Broward County) former Broward County Sheriff Ken Jenne, and local pastors and clergy (including, to name a few, Bishop Jimmie Williams, Pastor Roger Grimes, Pastor Wardell Chadwick, Pastor Gary McLamore, and Pastor Gary McCleod). All of them are standing with me to fight for jobs and economic development, fighting to make education a priority in our state by providing greater funding and resources for students and educators, fighting for increased and holistic family services, including support for our seniors, support for our veterans, and many of the other issues that affect District 92 and Floridians across our state.

My campaign is about putting people first. Together, we will work to ensure that our Governor and state legislature work for all people, that resources are distributed equitably and fairly, and that the people of District 92 have the voice they need in Tallahassee.

We’ve got a long way to go but I’m confident we can do it and I invite you to… Stand with me!