For the past 20 years, it has been my honor to serve you in public office, first as the Mayor of the City of Opa-locka and then as my community’s voice in the Florida House of Representatives. When I decided to run for the Florida House 18 years ago, I ran for one reason and one reason only: I ran because I wanted to improve the lives of the people of Opa-locka and the people of Florida. And though we have had many successes working together, our work is far from done. There is so much more to do.

Spending time serving the people of Florida has helped me grow and learn as a person. And increasingly, what I have learned has taught me to Think Independent. I have come to realize that it is in the best interests of the people I represent to get out from under partisan political games, consider each issue on its own merits, and then do what is right for the people of Florida, not what one political party or the other wants me to do. My increasingly independent way of thinking has represented my constituents well and helped solve more problems than we ever could while shackled to one party or another. My colleagues have come to know and respect that I approach issues with an independent and open mind, seeking common ground over conflict, benevolence over bickering, accomplishments over acrimony, and progress over partisanship, all for the sole purpose of doing right by and for my constituents, and to --finally-- put people before politics.

Today, I believe that same independent view can be effective for all of Florida. During the past few months, as I have traveled the State, exploring a run for higher office, I have visited cities from Tallahassee to Miami and from Tampa to Fort Pierce, talking to Floridians about the things that matter to them most. I have visited with scores of voters at many meetings, receptions, and conferences, from a Chinese cultural celebration in Orlando to a FAMU alumni meeting in Panama City and an Equality Florida reception in Jacksonville, from the Florida Bar Annual Meeting in Boca Raton to the Sweet Corn Festival in Zellwood, from a public hearing on welfare reform to a briefing on new federal immigration law, from the annual Republican dinner in Orlando to its Democratic counterpart in Fort Lauderdale. With open ears and an open mind, I have met with and listened to Floridians in their homes, at work and at events that are important to their lives.

What I learned was invaluable. I discovered that Floridians from all communities care deeply about the quality of life in this great state we call home, but care less and less for --and, in fact, are sick and tired of-- the divisive, partisan politics that cripple ideas before they have a chance to walk, and hinder elected representatives from moving our state --and our nation-- forward.

I learned, too, that most Floridians know what it means to have to work hard every single day to provide for themselves and their families. Time and again, you have told me you yearn for a representative in Washington who has lived the life you are living, and who is therefore better able to fight for education, for opportunities in the work force, for health care and human rights and the things that really matter to you. Floridians want to be represented by someone who’s lived like them, who’s seen what you’ve seen, faced what you’ve faced, fought what you’ve had to fight.

But, in my travels, I also heard a discouraging word. I heard disappointment in our government, disappointment in many of our elected representatives, and what bordered on despair for what our political campaign system has become. Our citizens have lost confidence that they can choose the representation they need and want. We believe the doors to our government are shut to normal people. We don’t believe we can afford to run for office anymore. And even if we could afford it, we don’t believe we could ever win.

That’s why I’m here today. We need to change our minds about our government and about our elected representatives. We need to send a message to Washington that big money isn’t what politics should be all about. We need to take our government back, so it is once again, of the people and for the people!

I’m here because I have decided, after a great deal of soul-searching and prayer, that I will run to represent you in the United States Senate. I will run independent of the political party system. My candidacy will present Florida’s voters with a real choice in this election, the first time in many, many years that Floridians have had a choice other than politics as usual. My candidacy will offer Florida the opportunity to send to our nation’s capital perhaps the only candidate in the year 2000 who can make a real difference in the United States Senate, a body of government that today does not include a single person elected outside the two party system nor a single person of African American or Hispanic descent. My candidacy will be about opening the doors of a body of government that for too long has resembled an exclusive private club to which only the wealthy need apply. My candidacy will be about addressing the real issues that matter to our lives, seeking not the Democratic answers and not the Republican answers, but the right answers.

Most of all, however, my candidacy will be by and for the millions of Floridians who are so disgusted by politics today they have chosen to give up and stay home. In this election, we will challenge the campaign system that requires a candidate to be a millionaire or spend like a millionaire in order to win. And in this, I ask your help.

We can no longer afford to be blinded by the influence money and special interest groups have on our government. Today we will serve notice that we will not let the big money drive us out of this race, that we will not be swayed by partisan politics, and --perhaps most importantly-- that we will not be blinded by the powers in Washington once we win this election!

When the people of Florida send me to the U.S. Senate, unlike others, I will not be beholden to the political parties and special interest groups. I will be beholden only to you.

As a U.S. Senator, I will be able to do more to make sure our government is able to fulfill its obligation to help all children be ready to learn by the time they begin school. As a U.S. Senator, I will be able to do more to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. And as a U.S. Senator, I will be able to do more to help hard-working people keep more of what they earn and gain the economic opportunity and security they deserve.

That is why I am running for the United States Senate. I will run hard, I will work hard, and I will force the other candidates to deal with the hard issues that the people of Florida deal with every day, yet many politicians prefer to ignore. And with your prayers, your help --and your votes-- I will win.

This is my one and only campaign promise: if you help me win this battle, I will not let you down. I will not forget you. I will not allow Washington to ignore you. And I will give my all to build a stronger America and to ensure a safe, secure and prosperous future for all Floridians.

Thank you for being here. God bless you all.