29860: Minsky:(news) Florida Democrats Name First Haitian-American To Top Post (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Tequila Minsky <tminsky@ix.netcom.com>

Florida Democrats Name First Haitian-American To Top Post

Hardbeatnews.com
Friday, January 12, 2007

The Florida Democratic Party has elected Haitian American Leonard
Joseph to the post of executive director. Joseph is the first Haitian
migrant to serve in the post.

Joseph, the party's political director, was named to the top post
following the resignation of Luis Navarro.

"Leonard is a perfect fit for the Florida Democratic Party for 2007 and
2008. He knows Florida, and he is knowledgeable about presidential
politics," Karen Thurman, chair of the Party said. "Having spent the
last year with the Party, Leonard provides a seamless transition and
will help deliver Florida's 27 electoral votes to the Democratic
nominee for President in 2008."

In commenting on the appointment, Joseph called it an honor and said he
looks "... forward to building on the state party's successes in the
2006 cycle with the goal of electing more Democrats in Florida and a
Democratic President next November."

Joseph, who ran the Party's Orlando-based political operation in 2006,
helped reelect U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, elect the first Democratic
Cabinet officer since 1998, pick up two Republican-held U.S.
Congressional seats and seven State House seats, and win the Hispanic
vote for the first time since 1976.

Joseph has a deep background in politics, including serving as regional
political director for John Kerry for President, deputy campaign
manager for Fernando Ferrer for New York, and director of financial
services at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Haitians in Florida comprise some seven percent of the total
foreign-born population, according to the Migration Policy Center.