Florida has never had a legislator with a disability before. Now I understand why. To say my run is unconventional is a level beyond understatement that no word has been invented to adequately describe yet. I remember playing the game telephone when I was in elementary school. One kid would whisper a phrase into another kid’s ear who would then whisper it into the next person’s ear and so on and so forth until the person at the end stated out loud what they thought the original phrase had been. It was usually nothing resembling what the first person had said. I have experienced such a level of exclusion from nonpartisan forums and media coverage that this is a bit like how word of my campaign is spreading.
Considering that I am almost solely dependent on people who saw me give a two minute speech, usually at a politically aligned event, communicating with other people I have been pleasantly surprised at its effectiveness. When we knock on doors I’ve been surprised by the number of people who have said they’ve heard about me through a relative, friend co-worker, etc… It just goes to show the effectiveness of a strong, genuine message people can relate to combined with people power and I am so very grateful for every single person who is keeping this odd game of telephone going! Hopefully it keeps going after November.
Communicating with others in this manner would have always been a big part of my campaign strategy. The fact that I have been denied other means of public engagement afforded to other candidates is the problem.
In the past week, I have been denied access to two separate nonpartisan candidate forums. One justified excluding me by stating that they didn’t think my opponent would show up. However, I am the only candidate who has been excluded on this basis. This organization has made a sport out of shaming candidates who don’t show up for forums, yet they still let their opponents participate. This week, they held a forum for the FL House candidates. Any of the questions asked at this forum would have also been pertinent for the FL Senate candidates and I could have easily been included on this forum. One candidate’s opponent did not attend, so there was even an extra seat at the table. This candidate was still permitted to participate despite her opponent’s absence.
My last and only opportunity to be able to demonstrate my policy knowledge and present my positions to a room full of people before vote by mail ballots are sent out has now been cancelled by our local Tiger Bay who has cited “candidate scheduling conflicts” as the reason for the cancellation. Yet, my opponent claims he did not back out of the forum.
I received an almost complete media blackout when I resolved a local issue violating state and federal law that affected tens of thousands of residents in our community, several local businesses, not to mention tourists. I was the only candidate who spoke at the Democratic Primary Night Watch Party who was not featured in our local paper. The back of my head made it into the paper when congratulating another candidate and friend on her election night victory. I was recognized as “supporter” in the caption for the photo.
None of these things would be of any particular consequence as a singular event. In an election year all candidates are vying for attention and we all get looked over for something. There is the press conference no one showed up for because there was breaking news somewhere else. We get 50 e-mails a day, so you missed the deadline to be able to participate in a forum. No party affiliated and write-in candidates have it particularly tough as they do tend to be excluded a lot. However, there were no scheduled competing events the day of my press conference and no breaking news; I checked. Press just didn’t bother to show up. I’m not a write-in or NPA candidate and no other party affiliated candidate has experienced this level of exclusion.
The level of exclusion I have been experiencing speaks to a greater, underlying, systemic problem in our community, disability discrimination. I witness it everyday in either my interactions in the community, or the interactions of those with whom I work. They are frequently denied employment and told the reason is due to disability, but are afraid to file a complaint. They face problems with transportation, but are afraid they will be denied transportation if they file a complaint. Property owners refuse to rent to them and they’ve given up on trying to address issues with the city and county. Many have had their fight drained out of them from too many battles. I appreciate how they feel.
My race has been about raising awareness of these issues and ensuring everyone has a voice. In my attempt to do that I’m being denied my own. So, once again, it’s time to be unconventional. They won’t give me a voice in a conventional forum, but they can’t deny me one here. I hope everyone will share this. I hope you will help me put pressure on those who have been denying me the opportunities they provide other candidates to extend the same courtesy to me.
Please follow me on Facebook and Twitter and use the hashtag #LetLivSpeak as we try to pressure local organizations that have so far excluded me from forums to include me.
Please also make a contribution as much of my public exposure is being reduced to the few quotes and sound bites I have managed to get in. I may actually have to buy some of the face time most candidates have received for free.
No one ever said making history was easy. If my actions can help level the playing field for those behind me then I’ll keep trudging forward. I just hope some of you will continue to help hold me up in the process.
In Solidarity,
Olivia Babis