Luther Campbell Would Like To Thank His Voters

Uncle

Luke, the man whose booty-shaking madness once made the U.S. Supreme

Court stand up for free speech, gets as nasty as he wants to be for Miami New

Times. This week, Luke, who lost in Tuesday’s mayoral election, lets

voters explain why they chose him.

I raised only $12,000

for the 45-day mayoral campaign — 1 percent of top vote-getter Julio

Robaina’s total. Yet 20,922 voters picked me. That’s not bad. Consider

former state Rep. Marcelo Llorente began his campaign two years ago

and raised $370,000, yet he finished with 14 percent and I received

11 percent.

I appealed to a

diverse group of people in Miami-Dade, not just African-Americans. Here

is what some of those voters had to say:

• Rochelle Lopez,

33-year-old Ecuadorian-American high school teacher: “I am tired of

the political establishment in Miami-Dade and I wanted a fresh face.

Luke is an excellent role model for everyone. The entire community can

relate more to him than Carlos Gimenez or Julio Robaina. And I thought

his stripper tax was a genius idea.” She

last voted in 2008 for Barack Obama.

• Erik Steinhardt,

27-year-old North Miami native and social worker: “I decided to vote

for Luke after hearing him speak at the University of Miami mayoral

forum. He was the only candidate who was in favor of the residents of

Overtown being assured jobs at the new biotechnology campus near Jackson

Memorial Hospital.” Steinhardt last voted, for Charlie Crist, in the

2010 U.S. Senate race. He voted for Ralph Nader in 2008.

• Rhonda Sims,

42-year-old African-American office manager: “Luke has been in the

community, so he knows we need housing, better transit services, and

a good relationship with the police. In the past, I’ve personally

dealt with the county commissioners. I can tell they are not there to

help because they didn’t listen to what my concerns are. I felt Luke

would change that.” She last voted in 2008 for Obama.

• Sandra Ali,

24-year-old Overtown resident: “Luke came with the truth. He spoke

about the African-American politicians who have sold out the black community.

No one has been outspoken about the issues in our neighborhoods like

Luke has.” She last voted in 2008 for Obama.

I want to thank Rochelle,

Erik, Rhonda, Sandra, everyone else who voted for me, and my dedicated

band of nonpaid volunteers for helping me make history. It was a great

experience being your candidate.

Follow Luke on Twitter at: @unclelukereal1.

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