Ken Mehlman, Chairman of the Republican National Committee met today in Coconut Grove at the offices of Lewis B. Freeman & Partners, Inc. with members of the Haitian-American community. Mehlman’s goal since becoming Chair in January 2005 has been to institutionalize the grassroots focus.
The purpose of today’s meeting with twenty-five members Haitian-Americans was to reiterate that message that the Republican Party, the party of Lincoln, is the party of inclusion. The Haitian-American community is very important to the Republican Party. The Republican Party and President wanted to make that message clear to the community today.
The Chair also wanted the community to know that it does not reach out to the community only during an election cycle, but wanted to hear from it today, its concerns and how can the Republican Party work closer with the community. Carole Jean Jordan, Chair of the Republican Party of Florida was also in attendance and echoed the same message.
We were joined by Marie-Florence Bell, Frantz Recount, Hans Marty, Jean Marc Villain, Pierre-Richard Maxim lien, Francois Guillaume, Jean-Marie Eviler, Rachel Denis, Reverend Fritz Bazin, Marc Paul, Nancy Charles, Alfonse Moise, Carole & Jean Claude Holland, Jean Robert Raymond, Jacqueline Takzel, Leslie Murad, Peter DeMaria, Al Maloof, and Fred Tovar. We were also joined by Commissioner Joe Sanchez. After program we were joined by Judges Darrin Gayles and Mark King Leban.
Members of the community expressed some of their issues and concerns: the lack of accurate numbers to reflect the growing Haitian community; the need for additional support with the deteriorating security situation in Haiti and the lack of a social service agency reflecting Republican values.
The Chairman responded that they were working on better identifying Haitian-Americans, he would take the message to the President on the security issue in Haiti and that we would follow up with the agency and also there was a need for more Haitian-Americans to run for office. The Republican Party stands poised to help with these efforts.
The last message was this is only the beginning of a long and lasting relationship between the Haitian-American community and the Republican Party.