He wears plain shirts. His hair isn’t colored. His eyes don’t gleam in accompaniment with an all too rehearsed smile when he shakes your hand.
By Patrick Jude
Mayoral elections shed the crusted skin which envelopes democracy – the two party system. It’s by far the most significant vote of those that abstain from listing a candidate’s party, complete with little parenthesized letters next to their names. These elections require voters to decide for themselves, to actually partake in the process; as down ballot voting is a far cry from democracy.
I recently sat with Pete Clarke, and together we made an interesting duo. A longhaired, tattooed tramp and a district commissioner sharing a table together. The archetype of an office holder, which often proves valid among political figures, is lost on Mr. Clarke though.
He wears plain shirts. His hair isn’t colored. His eyes don’t gleam in accompaniment with an all too rehearsed smile when he shakes your hand. He’s the sort of guy who clears up formalities, and responds to Mr. Clarke with “Just Pete’s fine”.
Since our lawn table chat last month at the Wing Shack off of Michigan, Pete has announced his official bid in the upcoming 2018 Mayoral Election. It’s safe to say that most folks approve of the work Pete has done as the commissioner for District 3.
In response to the human trafficking epidemic, Pete truly has worked to make forward strides, along with Regina Hill, by instituting mandatory posters in adult venues, where the female workers now have instant access to anonymous trafficking report numbers and police contact information. Along with this, Pete has also worked to create shelters for human trafficking victims in Orange County.
I, like many Orange County residents, am eager to hear what all of the mayoral candidates have to say as platforms develop and goals are fully presented to the public. Authenticity can only be gained through a candidate, not through a party, and in regards to Pete, the authenticity is clear.
It was easy to see, in the couple of hours we spent together, that Pete is the type who would only act with the intention of doing good for the community, and nothing else would do – something few politicians can promise in a system usually rigged for personal gains.
Born and raised in Orlando, and Socialist to the core, Patrick Jude graduated from The University Of Central Florida in 2015. He currently holds a B.A. in English Literature, as well as an A.A. in Jazz Performance from Valencia College. Jude is heavily tattooed, abstains from alcohol and is an avid Packers fan.
Currently Reading – The Count Of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
