Local black leaders see Obama as 'god-sent'

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January 19, 2009

By CHRIS HARRIS, Staff Writer The Commonwealth Journal Mon Jan 19, 2009, 08:22 PM EST

Somerset — Monday’s observance of Martin Luther King Jr. day was unlike any to come before in its 23 years of existence. The very next day — today — the first black President of the United States of America will officially take office, making a sort of unique synergy with the day set aside to honor Dr. King’s oft-repeated “dream.”

For many of the community’s own black citizens and leaders, it was a day they may not have imagined would come so soon — but it’s one that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.

John L. Perkins, retired Somerset Postmaster and businessman, told the Commonwealth Journal that he believes president-elect Barack Obama is “god-sent” — that so many things “fell into place” at the right time to put the Democratic Illinois senator in a position to claim the White House over Republican John McCain last November.

“I’m tickled to death; I never thought I’d see (a black president) in my lifetime,” said Perkins. “It took a whole cross-section of diversity to elect him. He is a reflection of all of us — his father was from Africa, his mother from Kansas, he was raised by his grandparents. ... (His efforts for change) aren’t going to happen overnight, but we need to support him, whether we voted for him or not.”

Perkins said though other African-American candidates have tossed their hat into the ring for the presidency, he never voted for any of them because he didn’t feel they were sufficiently qualified. Obama, however, won Perkins over with his demeanor, intelligence, and ability to surround himself with “strong” advisors.

“I think he’s the person to lead us out of the turmoil we’re in, with the economy and the war — but not by himself,” said Perkins. “He can reach across the aisle and bring everybody into play.”

Elaine Wilson, a long-time Somerset School Board member and wife of the late Somerset City Councilor Paul Wilson, believes that Obama’s election marks a “change” in American thought and action.

“I think that Obama’s election meant the culmination of a dream that many people have been looking to for a long time,” said Wilson. “Dr. King paved the way for Obama, and everyone who comes after him. We are all living the legacy of what Dr. King did, and Obama is realizing the dream.”

Betty Cook was one of Somerset’s first residents to put a sign declaring her support for Obama’s candidacy. She’s excited to see today’s inauguration in Washington D.C. and what comes afterward.

“I think Obama will do a fantastic job in office,” said Cook, “and I really believe that when he speaks, a change will be made in the world.”

Ken Coffey, a minister at the Davis Chapel AME Church, said America’s voters have “come a long way” in electing a black man as president.

“I’m glad the nation voted in someone they saw worthy of the job vs. the color of their skin,” said Coffey. “I hope for a better tomorrow.”

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Pulaski carries Girdler to win

In the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s primary election, it was impossible to miss the colorful signs dotting nearly every Pulaski roadway. The names in the race for the 15th State Senatorial District seat popped out: A.C. Donahue. Chris Girdler. Mark Polston.

Once citizens hit the ballots, however, the results mirrored the dimensions of the signs themselves: Chris Girdler stood the tallest.

Girdler, deputy district director for Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, ran away with the votes inside Pulaski County’s borders, earning 3,926 votes for 62.05 percent of the total number cast.

That number more than doubled the next highest vote-getter, businessman Mark Polston, who raked in 1,624 votes for 25.67 percent.

However, Polston — who owns Classic Carpet, a home-flooring business located just off the southern 914 bypass — can claim a moral victory ... three of them, in fact. In all three counties in the district other than Pulaski — those being Adair, Casey, and Russell Counties — Polston actually edged out Girdler.

In Adair, Polston beat Girdler 629 to 394. In Casey County, it was 538 to 417, and in Russell, it was 1,862 to 1,038.

Polston said he just “couldn’t pull it out with the numbers” and that “the machine worked for” Girdler in Pulaski County.

“I think that was their strategy — I think they had a Pulaski County strategy all along,” said Polston. “They played the political game well.”

Polston said the difference between his and Girdler’s campaigns was that “mine was a very, very grass roots campaign,” he said. “I did not have a political machine behind me. I understand how this process works, and in this instance, he prevailed.”

As for why Girdler didn’t take three of four counties, the winning candidate — since there are no Democrats in the race, winning the Republican primary was effectively a final victory for Girdler — said he didn’t have an answer for that.

However, “I believe things happen for a reason and I hope the long and strenuous campaign will only heighten my desire to move beyond the bitterness and partisanship of the recent past,” said Girdler.

“Regionalism is a goal of mine, and I look forward to helping all four counties,” he added, noting that he campaigned heavily in each of them.

Sen. Vernie McGaha, the long-time state senator whose seat the candidates were vying for, actually supported Polston after Liberty’s Todd Hoskins dropped out of the race earlier this month.

Donahue, a local attorney, got 556 votes in Pulaski County, 8.79 percent of the vote. He only received 145 votes in Russell County, 74 in Adair County, and 75 in Casey County, where hometown candidate Hoskins almost matched him with 71 votes despite no longer being officially in the race.

Polston said he’s “still digesting” what happened, and though “the process has been a very good experience for me,” he wouldn’t commit to running again in the future. “I wouldn’t shut the door to anything, but I’m not opening any doors either.”

Still, “I think I got a lot of people involved in the process that had not been involved before and would not have been otherwise,” he said. “A lot of people got out and worked really hard, got motivated to talk to friends and neighbors. I think a lot of people became involved through this campaign that are going to be involved for a long time.”

Girdler stressed his “positive message” and said that Rogers is a “mentor and good friend” that he would turn to for advice in dealing with a frequently combative legislative body in Frankfort, one for which Girdler hopes to help change the culture.

Girdler said that he was “confident and optimistic” during the day Tuesday because he’d “worked extremely hard.” Nevertheless, the realization that he’d won gave him “chill bumps,” he said.

“I’m absolutely honored,” said Girdler. “The position of state senator is more than an honor, more than an office. It’s a charge to keep, and I will give it my all.

“I pledge to be the people’s state senator,” he added. “I look forward to working with everyone to move this region forward.”

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