Letter to the Editor: Candidate forum reveals forces backing the candidates

I had the great pleasure of attending an intimate gathering at Santioni’s Italian Restaurant in Fleming Island to hear a forum of the candidates running for State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit, which includes Clay, Duval and Nassau Counties. I had the pleasure of sitting next to a local political journalist. I read his assessment of the event and couldn’t disagree with him more about the candidates. Since the event was not accessible to the general public, I wanted to share my perspective.

This journalist has his clear favorite, and no one disputes that she is the favorite of the donor class, “king-makers” of Jacksonville. A late entry into the race, she bragged that she has raised more money in one month than either of the other two candidates have raised during their entire campaigns. True, but not reflective of the statement that it demonstrates support of her from the public at large. Her money comes from the attorney class and real estate interests. Her money comes from outside interests in Mountain View, California, Richmond, Virginia, Greenville, South Carolina, or Raleigh, North Carolina to name a few. In general, her support comes from those who think they’re entitled to tell everyone else you who is best for this job.

The same goes for the incumbent. She told the audience to listen to the endorsement from the people who matter. Her actual words. Was she talking about you or I or even anyone I might know? No, she was not. She then named a state senator, a slew of other politicians, and a corrupt fraternal order whose leadership was prosecuted for being associated with illegal gaming operations. She was talking about other politicians. People who matter?

In the last 42 years, this is only the fourth contested race for the Office of State Attorney in the Fourth Judicial Circuit. Every other time, we have been content with whomever the elites put before us. I think this country is tired of the moneyed-political class telling us who to vote for. That is why I implore every eligible voter to truly take a look at this important election. Wes White may not have the deep pockets of the political donor class backing him or the endorsements of all the other incumbent politicians in the area, but he has the strong desire, deep commitment and steady hand to reform the fractured criminal justice system plaguing the First Coast.

He has spent the better part of two years getting to know people in this community. You may have run into him at Grumpy’s for breakfast on a Monday morning or at the Market in the Park in Green Cove Springs. He was a mainstay at the county fair for the past two years. We don’t need Super PACs or other incumbents telling us who to vote for. It is our vote, we decide.

Thanks to typical Florida political shenanigans, if you are not a registered member of the Republican party by August 1, 2016, you will not be eligible to vote in this race.

Nathan Ross

Green Cove Springs