The politics of race is never one that people should want to engage in and try to avoid at all cost: it's ugly divisive and nobody ever wins. However, since the Eighth Ward Convention last week this type of politics has again reared its ugly head. Since no endorsement was given it seems that some of the delegates and/or candidates have not only accused me of blocking an endorsement but of being a "white nationalist", which I personally find very offensive and completely untrue. A couple of weeks ago, I attempted to address the issue of racism, but was laughed at by not only my fellow candidates but by the people in attendance at the forum. I guess that when you get close to the truth laughter is one defense mechanism that is most easily used. Now I know why. The candidates had to know there was going to be no endorsement given at the convention. The final ballot shows this to be true, with both of the remaining candidates receiving an almost equal number of votes. If all of the ballots that came back as "no endorsement" would have been given to one candidate, they still would have been about 25 votes short of an endorsement. What was taking place was not the politics of race but just good old fashioned politics. If the current system of endorsement continues this will continue to occur. We need to take a serious look at the caucus system and find a better way to find qualified people to help manage the city's limited resources. What's most appalling about these accusations and name calling is that a candidate that is/was running for the endorsement said these ugly, untrue things. When after the second ballot and I was no longer able to be a viable candidate for the endorsement, my first action was not to say that you're homophobic and make baseless, hurtful accusations. When someone, anyone lowers themselves enough to resort to race baiting, we need to ask ourselves, "Is the type of person this city needs to heal the racial divisions?" For my part I have forgiven them for saying it and mark it off to sour grapes and say to them" It's not about race, it's about the Eighth Ward." Dennis Tifft Tifft for the 8th Ward
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