Ferre Courts Puerto Rican Voters

Former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre, currently running in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate, will be holding a campaign fundraiser on Sunday, May 30 in Kissimmee featuring numerous artists playing the music of Rafael Hernandez. Hernandez is a Puerto Rican legend and the airport of Aguadilla, in the northwestern part of the island, is named after him.

Like millions of other Puerto Ricans I grew up to the sounds of Rafael Hernandez, said Ferre. Now that I am campaigning for the US Senate from Florida, I am happy to pay tribute to a great Puerto Rican and to honor the thousands of Puerto Ricans who gave their lives to defend our freedom as proud Americans since World War I.

Hernandez served in the Army during World War One in the 369th infantry. The 369th, which contained mostly African-Americans, was nicknamed the Black Ratters and saw heavy service in France during the war.

This being a political fundraiser, there will be politicians as well as music. Two former governors of Puerto Rico will be there backing Ferre--Rafael Hernandez Colon, who served in the post from 1973 until 1977 and from 1985 until 1993, and Carlos Romero Barcelo who served as governor from 1985 until 1993 and then as Puerto Ricos resident commissioner to the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 until 2001. Its an odd mix. Romero Barcelo is from the New Progressive Party which pushes for statehood for Puerto Rico. Hernandez Colon is from the Popular Democratic Party which wants to keep Puerto Rico a commonwealth. Hernandez Colon resisted attempts from Washington, most notably from President Gerald Ford, for Puerto Rico to join as the 51st state.

Floridians of Puerto Rican descent composed 3 percent of the states population in the 2000 census, the number seems to be rising in certain communities-namely in central Florida around Orlando. Besides stressing his own Puerto Rican heritage, Ferre has been very attentive to this population. Besides the event in Kissimmee, Ferre was the guest of honor at a Florida Puerto Rican/Hispanic Chamber of Commerce event in Broward County in March. He also served as the grand marshal of the Puerto Rican parade in Orlando in March. Ferre has also attacked Congressman Kendrick Meek, one of his chief rivals for the nomination, for supporting Diageos, the London based alcoholic beverage company, efforts to move its Captain Morgan rum manufacturing from Puerto Rico to the Virgin Islands.

Ferre is behind Meek for the nomination and the addition of billionaire Jeff Greene to the contest complicates things. But, if as Rep. Darren Soto, D-Orlando, and groups like Democracia USA maintain, Puerto Ricans are one of the key groups of voters in Florida who turn out on election day, Ferres attempt to woo these voters may pay dividends for him down the road.