In response to Jack Lessenberry
Re: In response to Jack
Lessenberry’s essay on the 14th Congressional District election, there are
three reasons why Hansen Clarke will win the 14th District
Congressional race this year: he has the roots, the record, and the
vision.
Unlike his primary opponent in
this race, Clarke grew up in the heart of Detroit, facing difficult realities
including poverty, racism, and the riots. He overcame unemployment
and the death of both his parents at an early age to win scholarships to great schools. But,
unlike his opponent—who spent time serving Wall Street bankers—Clarke came
right home to serve his community, and he has remained here ever
since.
As a public servant, Clarke has
amassed an extraordinary record, fighting for people who are struggling to get
by. When he saw home evictions destroying the Detroit, he made
history by launching the first-ever “foreclosure moratorium” bill in the
Michigan Senate to keep people in their homes and save our
neighborhoods. In Washington, he has launched successful initiatives
that have won support from both parties and brought real resources to our
community. These include funding for low-income women and children
to purchase food at local markets, funding for Detroit police and firefighters
to respond to emergencies, and a new test program to provide training funding
for unemployed workers. He’s been a leading advocate of proposals
like President Obama’s American Jobs Act and the Shield Our Streets Act to fund
real investments in our city. He’s put his focus on constituency
services to provide support for people in need.
What matters most about Clarke
is his vision. While most Members of Congress are content to play by
the rules and pad their credentials in order to win higher office, Clarke is
focused on changing the game. That’s why he authored the courageous
Student Loan Forgiveness Act that has won a near whopping one million
signatures across the country. That’s why he was the only
Congressman to launch a bill to fight against Michigan’s emergency manager law
with federal money to invest in saving Detroit. That’s why he’s launched
his Detroit Jobs Trust Fund to allow our city to keep its own tax dollars in
order to improve roads and schools and to create jobs.
Hansen Clarke is not content
with politics as usual. And he’s simply not your usual politician.
As the son of an African-American mother from the Eastside of Detroit and a
South Asian immigrant father who worked hard in the Ford Foundry, Clarke
represents the diverse background of our community—at a time when
unconstitutional redistricting in Lansing and elsewhere threatens to keep
people of color out of positions of power.
But what truly matters is the
content of his character. I can say one thing for sure about Hansen Clarke: His
heart and soul are all about service.
Best Regards,
Jade Savage
This article appears in May 30 – Jun 5, 2012.