Few blacks get elected outside of African-American neighborhoods. The last and only black Republican assemblyman was Frederick Roberts (pictured below, left), in the AD 62, Los Angeles, [1918 to 1934]. Roberts was the first black to serve in any California state office.
Abram Wilson is the Republican nominee in AD 15. Wilson was elected as San Ramon’s first Mayor in 2003. He competed for the Guy Houston seat against several other well financed challengers. Three candidates spent more than $ 895,000 trying to win the coveted Republican seat. Mayor Wilson spent only $ 97,000 and won the primary.
Abram Wilson earned his spurs by serving in the US Army, received his BS in biochemistry and worked for Wells Fargo and Bank of America as a Vice President and senior officer for 30 years. He has two grown children. His wife Karen, is a retired dentist. For more information about Wilson (pictured below to the right) see his excellent web site www.wilsonforassembly.com.
Naturally the dems will spare no expense from exploiting vast sums they extract to unwilling and unknowledgeable union members. Dems see an opportunity pushing out the last elected rep seat in the Bay area. But the district in 2006 voted big for Schwarzenegger, McClintock, McPherson and Steve Poizner. It even went for Bush in 2004. Registration is about 39% each. It’s also encouraging that Wilson has hired hard working a very competent Steve Presson to manage his campaign. Few campaign consultants do a better job.
Predictably many utilities are centered in the district along with Safeway corporate headquarters. Neither entity gave a dime to Wilson. Once again showing how prescient are corporate citizens.
At yeserday’s historic African American Republican Coalition at the Burbank Marriott,. Football 
starter and Republican Pennsylvania gubernatorial nominee Lynn Swann was the featured speaker. Mayor Wilson was the big topic during the all day conference. Republican Assembly Leader Mike Villines pledged to spend $1,000,000 to protect this targeted seat. Mayor Wilson will have to raise the other 1.5 million. The African American Republican Coalition seems willing to work hard for Wilson. During these tough times for Republicans, today’s meeting had the largest turnout of Republican black leaders, many of whom are elected to local offices. This is truly a good harbinger for developing a quality Republican bench.
Shannon Reeves from the Republican National Committee reminded us that if the dems do not get at least 70% of the African American vote statewide, they lose statewide elections.
Most politicos have not really calculated how important it is to elect an articulate, self made African American from a "white" district as a Republican. The fact that white Republicans voted for a black nominee certainly puts the challenge to the democrat party to consider moving away from their Balkanizing racial quota syndrome. It’s sad and ironic witnessing the struggle between dem blacks and Latinos. Witness last year’s very nasty democrat battle for the congressional seat currently held by controversial Laura Richardson.
The big question is will Republicans get over their angst and unite is a big way to help Mayor Wilson. One way to find out is to let me know if you will join with me in a fundraiser for Wilson at my home in the near future. At lot of folks like to talk. Now, let’s do the walk.
[Care to comment on this post, do so on it’s mirror-entry on the FR Blog]