Nine Democratic candidates will face off on Aug. 24 to take Florida District 17 — vacated by Kendrick Meek, who is running for the U.S. Senate. The candidates are Marlen Bastien, Shirley Gibson, James Bush III, Scott Galvin, Rudy Moise, Phillip Brutus, Frederica Wilson, Yolly Roberson, and Andre Williams.
The Miami Herald reported today on the key issues in the race:
creating jobs, reforming healthcare, improving education and bringing money to impoverished areas of the district, which includes Little Haiti, Liberty City and Opa-locka.
The candidates are striking a delicate balance between riding an anti-incumbent wave and positioning themselves as supporters of President Barack Obama in an overwhelmingly Democratic district. None of them count with the exclusive support of Meek, who has not endorsed anyone to replace him.
District 17 includes south Broward County cities Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, and Miramar and runs well into the heart of Miami-Dade County. The District has a strong black population of African-Americans, Caribbean’s, and Haitian-Americans.
