Representation

To the editor:

Here we go again. It seems like every election season in Osceola County, one thing you can always count on is, Armando Ramirez will run for office (any office), he will lose and subsequently enlist the help of a New York Puerto Rican organization to sue the county or city of Kissimmee, regardless of the cost to the citizens.  

Mr. Ramirez is a self proclaimed community activist (I prefer agitator). He spearheaded the move to have the County Commission and School Board elections being split into districts instead of being county-wide, and having the districts gerrymandered to ensure a Hispanic gets elected. It has not worked for him yet. Most people I know prefer to elect a candidate based on their qualifications, not their ethnicity. This is evidenced by the fact that two of the five Kissimmee city commissioners are Hispanic.

Mr. Ramirez’s long history of championing only Hispanic causes was again evident during his last campaign. By his own admission, he knocked on every door in BVL and Lakeside, areas with a heavy Hispanic population. Myself and none of my neighbors can recall him doing any campaigning in the Mill Run area of the district he would be obligated to represent if elected.

His opponent, John Quinones represents all his constituents. I am confident that if I had a concern, Mr. Quinones would represent me with the same fervor as he would anyone else, regardless of my Anglo ethnicity or Yankee accent. I cannot say the same for Mr. Ramirez.

When Mr. Ramirez starts treating all his constituents equally and puts the good of the community before his own political aspirations, he just might get elected.

Frank R. Keeler
Kissimmee