National

Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam Enters 2020 Presidential Race

THE WESTSIDE GAZETTE — The state of Florida has a well-regarded reputation for being in the spotlight when it comes to national elections, and if it is up to Wayne Messam, the 2020 presidential election will not be any different.

Published

7 years ago

April 6, 2019

Oakland Post

By Perry Busby

The state of Florida has a well-regarded reputation for being in the spotlight when it comes to national elections, and if it is up to Wayne Messam, the 2020 presidential election will not be any different.

Taking the stage in front of a crowd of 300-plus boisterous supporters at Florida Memorial University’s Lou Rawls Center for the Performing Arts, the South Florida native and current mayor of Miramar officially launched his campaign and became the latest candidate to enter the U.S. presidential race.

He enters a crowded field of Democratic Party candidates—which now stands at fifteen—with more candidates, including former Vice-President Joe Biden, expecting to announce and other high-profile candidates like Georgia Democrat, Stacy Abrams, still mulling their decisions.

Messam kicked off his campaign with a bold speech filled with ambitious plans to address jobs, the economy, gun violence, climate change and the growing college student debt crisis. While many of his talking points had a familiar tone to those previously espoused by other Democratic candidates, Mayor Messam was able to present his message with a level of awareness and acuity that connected with the audience.

Jobs & Economy

In 2018, the city of Miramar was ranked as one of the fastest-growing economies in the country. Also, last year the city was successful in negotiating a deal with JL Audio that allowed the audio manufacturer to expand its local facilities and prevented the offshoring of over 500 jobs to China. Both were among the many initiatives Mayor Messam highlighted as he presented his action plan for growing jobs and improving the nation’s infrastructure.

Although he did not present a specific plan for jobs growth, Messam says his plan to eliminate student debt would incorporate economic models that could potentially create 1.2 to 1.5 million jobs over the first few years. His plans for economic growth are based on research data which indicate that by eliminating student debt, the average student borrower would receive an immediate relief of $400 per month. This relief would allow borrowers to put more money back into the economy by spending, saving or investing.

Gun Violence

Messam pointed to the increased number of mass murders on school campuses and in public places, gun violence in urban communities and Florida’s Stand Your Ground law as key reasons for responsible gun legislation. He is calling for responsible gun reform measures.

The mayor also informed the audience that he has joined a group of mayors who are suing the state over an NRA-supported law that allows the governor to fine or suspend an elected official if the official is responsible for drafting or passage of ordinances that regulate firearms or ammunition. According to Messam, municipal leaders are better qualified to enact ordinances that are suitable for safety of their constituents.

Climate Change

With South Florida feeling the brunt of the effects of climate change with flooding, an eroding coastline and severe storms, Mayor Messam pledged his full support to reenter the Paris Agreement. Among the efforts he pointed to was the fight he led against the oil industry’s campaign to drill in Big Cypress National Preserve, adjacent to the Everglades.

Student Debt

Student debt is at the foundation of Mayor Meesam’s platform. With over 45 million Americans owing more than $1.5 trillion in private and public loans, Messam sees this as the lynchpin of America’s sluggish economy. “It is immoral for this country to re-quire our citizens to take on tens of thousands of dollars of debt to achieve the American Dream,” he proclaimed before a crowd of cheering parents and students.

Messam’s plan calls for the federal government to cancel all federal and private student loans. He believes the mechanics of complete debt cancellation for the majority of loans would be relatively straightforward since the Department of Education owns about 95 percent of America’s student loan debt.

To offset the cost of the debt forgiveness package, Messam wants to begin by rescinding the 2017 tax cut package, which was aimed at large corporations and the very wealthy.

He is promoting the measure as a stimulus package, much like the one the government used to bail out the banks in 2008.

The Road Ahead

We live in a media-driven age where many voters are informed through bite-sized chunks of news. Between the current administration’s daily debacles, Congress’ battle to uncover the truth about Russian interference in the 2016 election and the media’s desire to cover ‘Hot Topic’ issues on the latest celebrity candidate, finding the space to get his message out will be a daunting task for Mayor Messam.

With the Democratic National Committee setting the bar at 65,000 for the number of donors a candidate must have in order to be on the debate stage, Mayor Messam must first clear this hurdle if he is to have a legitimate chance. Early data shows that over the weekend he has received donations from over 200 Florida residents and donations from 38 states. And, according to Google, search activity for “Wayne Messam” during his livestream launch surpassed candidates who have been in the race for months.

When asked if he sees himself as a longshot or his candidacy as a Cinderella story, Messam said he embraces those titles and uses them as fuel to push forward. “I’m from a small town called South Bay. Many people would say not much comes out of South Bay. As a teen I was determined to make it out, and I did. I was able to attend Florida State University and play for on a National Championship team. I started a construction business when the economy was in a downward spiral and worked to see it later receive national awards. And, finally I became Mayor of a wonderful city by beating an incumbent when others said it couldn’t be done. So, I guess you could say I’m used to starting from this position.”

It should be noted that combined, all the issues Mayor Messam raises impact South Floridians in a way unlike any other region. Hopefully as his campaign progresses, the mayor will find a way to resonate with voters and establish an advantage by drawing from his unique South Florida experiences.

This article originally appeared in The Westside Gazette.

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Oakland Post: Week of December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

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2 weeks ago

January 2, 2026

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2025 in Review: Seven Questions for Assemblymember Lori Wilson — Advocate for Equity, the Environment, and More

Her rise has also included several historic firsts: she is the only Black woman ever appointed to lead the influential Assembly Transportation Committee, and the first freshman legislator elected Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus. She has also been a vocal advocate for vulnerable communities, becoming the first California legislator to publicly discuss being the parent of a transgender child — an act of visibility that has helped advanced representation at a time when political tensions related to social issues and culture have intensified.

Published

3 weeks ago

December 29, 2025

Oakland Post

Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City). File photo.

By Edward Henderson, California Black Media

Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City) joined the California Legislature in 2022 after making history as Solano County’s first Black female mayor, bringing with her a track record of fiscal discipline, community investment, and inclusive leadership.

She represents the state’s 11th Assembly District, which spans Solano County and portions of Contra Costa and Sacramento Counties.

California Black Media spoke with Wilson about her successes and disappointments this year and her outlook for 2026.

What stands out as your most important achievement this year?

Getting SB 237 passed in the Assembly. I had the opportunity to co-lead a diverse workgroup of colleagues, spanning a wide range of ideological perspectives on environmental issues.

How did your leadership contribute to improving the lives of Black Californians this year?

The Black Caucus concentrated on the Road to Repair package and prioritized passing a crucial bill that remained incomplete during my time as chair, which establishes a process for identifying descendants of enslaved people for benefit eligibility.

What frustrated you the most this year?

The lack of progress made on getting Prop 4 funds allocated to socially disadvantaged farmers. This delay has real consequences. These farmers have been waiting for essential support that was promised. Watching the process stall, despite the clear need and clear intent of the voters, has been deeply frustrating and reinforces how much work remains to make our systems more responsive and equitable.

What inspired you the most this year?

The resilience of Californians persists despite the unprecedented attacks from the federal government. Watching people stay engaged, hopeful, and determined reminded me why this work matters and why we must continue to protect the rights of every community in our state.

What is one lesson you learned this year that will inform your decision-making next year?

As a legislator, I have the authority to demand answers to my questions — and accept nothing less. That clarity has strengthened my approach to oversight and accountability.

In one word, what is the biggest challenge Black Californians are facing currently?

Affordability and access to quality educational opportunities.

What is the goal you want to achieve most in 2026?

Advance my legislative agenda despite a complex budget environment. The needs across our communities are real, and even in a tight fiscal year, I’m committed to moving forward policies that strengthen safety, expand opportunity, and improve quality of life for the people I represent.

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2025 in Review: Seven Questions for Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, Champion of Reparations, Housing and Workers’ Rights

In 2025, McKinnor pushed forward legislation on renters’ protections, re-entry programs, reparations legislation, and efforts to support Inglewood Unified School District. She spoke with California Black Media about the past year and her work. Here are her responses.

Published

3 weeks ago

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Oakland Post

Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood). File photo.

By Joe W. Bowers Jr., California Black Media

Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood) represents

California’s 61st Assembly District.

As a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC),

McKinnor was elected in 2022. She chairs the Los Angeles County Legislative Delegation and leads the Assembly Public Employment and Retirement Committee. McKinnor also served as a civic engagement director, managed political campaigns, and worked as chief of staff for former Assemblymembers Steven Bradford and Autumn Burke.

Looking back on 2025, what do you see as your biggest win?

Assembly Bill (AB) 628. If rent is $3,000, people should at least have a stove and a refrigerator. It’s ridiculous that people were renting without basic appliances.

I’m also proud that I was able to secure $8.4 million in the state budget for people coming home from incarceration. That includes the Homecoming Project, the menopause program for incarcerated women, and the Justice Leaders Program.

How did your leadership help make life better for Black Californians this year?

After the Eaton Fire, I pushed to get the same kind of support for affected areas that wealthier regions get after disasters.

I also did a lot of work building political power— establishing the Black Legacy PAC and California for All of Us PAC so we could support Black candidates and educate voters. We also called voters to make sure they understood Prop 50.

People need to understand this: there are only 12 Black legislators in the Capitol. Folks act like we can just walk in and pass reparations, but that’s not how it works.

What frustrated you most this year?

The governor did not have the political will to sign these bills: AB 57 and AB 62. They both passed overwhelmingly in the Assembly and the Senate. We did the work. The only person who didn’t have the political will to sign them was the governor.

The public needs to ask the governor why he didn’t sign the bills. We can’t keep letting people off the hook. He has to answer.

I also introduced AB 51 — the bill to eliminate interest payments on Inglewood Unified School District’s long-standing state loan — held in the Appropriations Committee. That was frustrating,

What inspired you most in 2025?

The civil rights trip to Alabama was life changing. We visited the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. We took members of the Black, Latino, Jewish, and API caucuses with us. It changed all of us.

People aren’t always against us — they just don’t know our history.

What’s one lesson from 2025 that will shape how you approach decisions next year?

The legislative trip to Norway taught me that collaboration matters. Government, labor, and industry sit down together there. They don’t make villains. Everybody doesn’t get everything they want, but they solve problems.

What’s the biggest challenge facing Black Californians in one word?

Inequity. It shows up in housing, wealth, stress – all these things.

What’s the number one goal you want to accomplish in 2026?

Bringing back AB 57 and AB 62, and securing money for the Inglewood Unified loan interest forgiveness.