Spence Jones: “I’m running”
Ousted (for now) MIami commissioner Michelle Spence Jones brought the drama tonight, holding a press conference this evening, surrounded by about 50 supporters (mostly campaign workers from her recenet electoral triumph) and telling the world (and the prosecutors) that she will be a candidate in the special election for the District 5 seat Gov. Crist just dismissed her from.
Spence-Jones took a defiant tone, snapping back at a Michael Putney (WPLG, the ABC affiliate) question as to why she wouldn’t leave the stage, deal with her legal issues, and then run for office again sometime later, saying she’s running, and has done nothing wrong.
I spoke with a couple of her supporters at the event, who didn’t live in the district, but worked for her recent campaign, and they were adamant in saying that they don’t believe the charges. “Innocent until proven guilty,” said the two older, African-American women. Same goes for Nathaniel Wilcox, the executire director of PULSE (People United to Lead the Struggle for Equality), who insisted that he has read the charging documents, and doesn’t believe a word of it. Wilcox had an interesting answer to the question of Ms. Spence Jones’ alleged personal spending out of the grant — saying that “comingling of funds is not illegal,” and that Spence-Jones “could have been more careful with the accounting,” but otherwise, he believes she did nothing wrong.
Spence-Jones did a softball one-one-one interview with WFOR (CBS 4) reporter Jawan Strader (it was the third s:exclusive” he’s done with Spence Jones since she was charged, and even moreso than the other two, this one was so Downy soft, the entire room of Spence-Jones family members and supporters literally broke out in applause immediately afterward. Not exactly an Edward R. Murrow moment for Mr. Strader … needless to say, Michael Putney was left out of doors with the other unfriendly press …) right afterward, I attempted to interview her. She didn’t oblige, and didn’t exactly seem thrilled to see me (it wasn’t pretty, friends!) Go figure.
It’s hard to gauge how deep and broad the support for the former commissioner is in District 5 (sidebar: her campaign office is the same one used by Barack Obama for the Liberty City push during his campaign…) but if I were a betting person, I’d guess she’s the odds on favorite to win that January special election. And then? God knows. I guess we can just go around this merry-go-round again.
Jesus, take the wheel…
Here’s the Herald’s take:
“For me not to run is an admission of guilt,” she told enthusiastic supporters who waved campaign placards. “I have the right to run.” At the Thursday news conference, Spence-Jones said she will be among the candidates running for the District 5 seat she held until six days ago, when Florida Gov. Charlie Crist removed her from office.
UPDATE: Replacement buzz continues to swirl in Miami, with one name continuing to pop up: Patrick Range Jr. of the storied Range Funeral Home family. He’s seen by those who’ve mentioned him to me as a potential healer for the community — well known, clean cut, and honest. I have no idea if he’d even want to run, but will try to find out. This one’s still “developing…”
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YOU GO GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!
Finding it very hard to believe that this young woman committed any crimes.
She has a great reputation as a civil servant. Someone out there does not like her. I can see where she was most likely railroaded by her opponents.
Anyone can charge someone with a crime but she will most likely not be convicted. Shame on the Governor for not taking into consideration
the dynamics and cronyism of Miami politics into consideration.
We will see!!!
There has gotta be a better candidate.