After winning a second term earlier this month, Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam has launched a bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Messam launched an online video on Thursday kicking off his underdog bid for the White House.
“Today, I’m excited to announce that I’m running for president of the United States. I'm running because our political leaders have ignored the crises we can see coming. This country needs bold ideas that put the American Dream back within reach for every American,” Messam insisted.
“I believe that change cannot wait,” Messam added. “I’m running because I believe that our country deserves a champion. I'm running to be your champion.”
Messam insisted his experience as a mayor helped prepare him to serve as president.
“Mayors are closest to the American people and understand the day to day issues our communities face,” Messam noted. “That’s why I led the effort to beat out China to create jobs in my city. That’s why I sued the state of Florida to defeat a state law that punishes local leaders from pushing for gun reform. That’s why I helped pass a living wage for city workers. That’s why I’ve fought to stop drilling near the Everglades that would threaten the drinking water of 8 million Floridians. And that’s why I’ve called for resolving the $1.5 million in crippling student loan debt. In short, I’m running to be a champion for you.”
Messam will hold a campaign kickoff event at Florida Memorial University (FMU) in Miami Gardens on Saturday.
Earlier this month, Messam easily won a second term winning 86 percent of Miramar voters as 5,867 votes were cast in his favor. Later on in March, he launched an exploratory committee, showcasing his record in office and highlight his biography.
“As the first black mayor of one of the fastest-growing city economies in the country, Wayne Messam is on the front lines of the progressive fights of our time. From passing a living wage for city workers, to fighting to bring American jobs back from China, to leading the opposition to oil drilling in the Everglades, to passing ban the box, Wayne is a proven champion for change,” his team noted as it kicked off his efforts.
Messam also sounded a few potential campaign themes.
“The lack of urgency to plan for the future and take action on the crisis we can see coming is the biggest threat facing our nation. The gun violence epidemic continues to take far too many lives, climate change damages more homes and devastates more communities each year, skyrocketing healthcare costs cut off many Americans from the possibility of their American Dream, and crippling student loan debt leaves people of all ages with little hope for the future,” Messam said when he launched his exploratory bid. “Washington is not working for the American people, and these big issues need fresh eyes and bold ideas from someone closer to the people, so our voice can be heard. Together, we can fundamentally change our country for the better and tackle these challenges with actions that match the scale and urgency of this moment. I do not believe that the best ideas come from Washington.
“Far too many of our friends and neighbors feel left behind and deserve someone in their corner who will fight for them. This moment requires leadership that will set us on a path to put the American Dream within reach for every single person in this country,” he added.
The son of Jamaican immigrants, Messam played as a wide receiver for the Florida State University (FSU) Seminole football team, including playing on the 1993 championship team. He was elected to the Miramar City Commission in 2011. In 2015, he upset Miramar Mayor Lori Cohen Moseley who had first been elected in 1999.
