—By Frederick A. Hurst—

Generally
The most peculiar thing about the two Black front runners in the 11th Hampden District race is that the campaigns of both are heavily influenced by White people. But there are other peculiar things worth watching. One of the two Black candidates represents the old generation and the other the young. The old generation politician is relying on old tactics refined by his older White advisors to make them more effective. The young generation politician has a younger White campaign manager who has already demonstrated his skill at relying on more modern techniques, of which social media is a major part. His campaign manager ran a very effective race for an at-large seat on the Springfield City Council and placed just below the top five winners, who were all incumbents. So, what we are also witnessing in the 11th Hampden District race is not only an inter-generational scrap but also a contest between old and modern tactics.

Why White leaders?
The interesting question is why do the two front runners feel they need to rely on White leadership? The answer may be complex. They may simply be “anglophiles” or they may see some strategic advantage in placing White folks at the top of their campaigns. The dictionary definition of “anglophile” means “love of the English.” In the vernacular of the “hood,” it means love of White folks. Bud Williams is a protégé of the late Mo Jones whose love of White folks was legendary. Mo bragged openly about his feelings for White folks, especially about Ray Asselin, whom Mo considered the “smartest White man on the planet” before Asselin and much of his family experienced serious legal problems for behavior emanating from that “smartness.” But Mo never gave up his love for White folks and always advised his protégés to follow suit. Bud Williams just may have been subconsciously affected by Mo’s “anglophile” ideology. Young Ben Swan, Jr. has been so low key, I can’t speculate on whether he may have “anglophile” motives, only that he has a White campaign manager while running in an allegedly Black district. But the more plausible explanation is that both candidates know what most Black and Hispanic voters are unaware of, which is, as Black candidates split a close Black and Hispanic vote in the altogether-too-often low-voting Ward 4 and parts of Ward 5, the election for the 11th Hampden District will most likely be decided by a predictably higher voter turnout in White precincts in Wards 7, 6 and 5, especially if White voters can be encouraged by one of their own to vote in the 11th Hampden District race, something they are not usually encouraged to do in substantial numbers by Black candidates. (Ray Jordan, of course, was an exception. He exploited the strength of the White vote by hiring the late, well-connected Claire O’Brien as his aide and never came close to losing an election.) Bud Williams has the advantage of living in the predominantly White Ward 7 but he does not seem confident enough to think that the mere fact of his domicile will get the White vote out without substantial White help. And Ben Swan, Jr. must know that the White Jesse Lederman is not only very popular in the Black community but also has appeal among the White electorate in Wards 7, 6 and 5. Both Williams and Swan recognize that the battle for the allegedly Black 11th Hampden District is a battle, not so much for the Black vote, which should be close, but a battle for the prolific White vote, which both are positioning themselves to win by placing White folks at the top of their campaigns.

What about the other Black candidates?
They can be expected to “show.” Perennial candidate Larry Lawson should do the best of the three third tier Democratic finishers, but the real 11th Hampden District race will be between Swan and Williams.  And whichever one wins in September can be expected to swamp the lone Republican in November.

Where do I stand!
I have mixed feelings about the entire 11th Hampden District race. I don’t like the optics of candidates running for a “Black” seat relying on White leadership. And it’s not an anti-White thing. I simply genuinely believe that self-determination is so fundamentally important to the growth of a community that what we forfeit by allowing White folks to take the leadership position, for whatever practical reasons, far outweighs what we gain if we do it ourselves. And I’m on record in my own newsmagazine asking the older leadership to step aside to allow the younger generation their chance. On the other hand, I’m torn by the fact that the older Bud Williams is my friend and he might bring a level of instant experience to the job of State Representative that is sorely needed. But that being said, young Swan is not so young. And he has a substantial business and community involvement background and his integrity is impeccable. But I worry that he will be too soft. One thing I am absolutely certain of: The upcoming election is the most important election since Raymond Jordan was elected as Springfield’s first Black State Representative decades ago because its outcome will eventually determine whether or not Black Springfield has a decision-making future at all. It may also represent Black Springfield’s last chance to do the right thing, which is to come out in large numbers and vote its conscience and not allow anybody else to decide our future for us.    ■