Alex Sink finds enthusiastic support in Liberty City

Led by a student marching band beating drums and clanking cymbals in the hot summer sun, Alex Sink breezed through the doors of the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center in Liberty City on Saturday in search of votes.

Sink, Florida's chief financial officer, is a Democratic candidate for governor.

``I am one of her biggest supporters,'' said Miami-Dade County Commissioner Audrey Edmonson, one of many local Democratic leaders on hand to help Sink. ``She is especially good for this community, and she supports the cultural arts.''

After a brief introduction that included group prayer and a performance by Carol City high school student Ashley Wright, who sang Moment of Honesty , Sink engaged the crowd of more than 200 people with a story.

``Last year, when state Sen. Frederica Wilson invited me to march in the Martin Luther King parade along this very street, I attempted to pass out a campaign sticker to a man who rejected it,'' said Sink, who was puzzled at the time, and asked the man for clarification. ``He said that he didn't want any campaign stickers. He wanted a job.''

So Sink has made job creation the cornerstone of her campaign. One million people are unemployed in Florida, according to Sink, and she laid out plans to put them back to work.

Steps would include business tax incentives aimed at job creation, giving preference in state contracts to businesses that employ Floridians, and cutting red tape to launch ``already approved economic development projects.''

Sink, who was part of a group 26 years ago that founded the New World School of the Arts in Miami, said that she wants to move Florida from its current foundation of sand to one based on rock. The rock is the public education system.

``My kids graduated from public schools, and I'm proud of it,'' said Sink. ``I'm a mom, and kids must be told that they are expected to graduate from high school.''

From ``cradle to career,'' she said she plans to focus on the state's entire education system. Building the best educated, best trained workforce in the country is part of Sink's plan to remake Florida's long-term economy.

When Sink asked ``What are we going to do now?'' a local community leader, Eric Thompson, yelled from the back of the room: ``Get you elected.''

Thompson, the director of the Liberty Square library, said he appreciates Sink's commitment to education and jobs. Aside from the oil spill, immigration and even healthcare matters, Thompson feels the community needs jobs and education.

``She gets it,'' said Thompson, who greeted Sink when she toured the Liberty Square area before speaking.

Sink has no major Democratic primary opponent, so she will face the winner of the Republican primary, between businessman Rick Scott and Attorney General Bill McCollum, in November. Lawton ``Bud'' Chiles III, son of the former governor, is running as an independent.

Edmonson said that Sink ``once taught in West Africa, and that indicates her appreciation for other cultures and our community.''

Sink acknowledged elected leaders for their support, including Sen. Wilson, Miami Gardens Mayor Shirley Gibson, El Portal Mayor Joyce Davis and others. Candidates running for office were also acknowledged.

Promising to work closely with President Obama and U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, a Miami Democrat who is running for U.S. Senate, Sink said she'll ``fight for those who don't have a voice.

``It's time to bring change to Tallahassee.''

6161 Northwest 62nd Street, Miami, Fla.

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