AL-07: Patricia Evans Mokolo in Birmingham

by: mooncat

Wed Mar 10, 2010 at 13:05:04 PM CST

Patricia Evans Mokolo was the surprise of the day at the Downtown Democrats' lunch in Birmingham last Friday.  She was virtually unknown to me, but arrived early with a couple of her staff (it's a true grassroots campaign so they may constitute her entire staff) so I was able to speak with her one on one for a few minutes.  She's a very passionate advocate for lifting people out of poverty and improving conditions in the 7th District which contains some of the poorest communities in this state and the highest unemployment rates.  Mokolo is also very articulate and gave an excellent speech.  Because she is a political newcomer, I didn't expect a great speech, but she surprised me.  

All the Democratic candidates for the 7th congressional district spoke at the Downtown Democrats meeting on March 5th.  It was a great opportunity to hear from the entire field and I have to say that all six candidates made good points and I'm not sure who I would vote for if I lived in AL-07.   For the rest of the week we'll be posting video of each of the six Democrats in this race, in this order:

• Patricia Evans Mokolo (below)
  
• Terri Sewell
• Earl Hilliard, Jr.
• Shelia Smoot
• Eddison Walters
• Martha Bozeman

First up is Patricia Evans Mokolo, a Tuscaloosa native, Air Force veteran and former Obama field organizer who believes "Alabama needs a corruption-free leader in government."

Selected quotes in italics:

"This is the land of opportunity."

"My presence today is one that is unlikely to some and unexpected by others.  Only in district 7 is my story born."

"I am a descendent of those who came before me from Greene County, Alabama where my mother's mother, my grandmother Maxine McCain, was born."

Mokolo told a her family's story, one of generational poverty, people living without electricity, running water, no indoor plumbing,  health care -- a story all too common in Alabama and especially the 7th district.

"I know poverty firsthand.  I have had a conversation with poverty most of my adult life."

"Some have a desire to work hard but can't because unemployment in America affects 18 million people.  In Alabama's unemployment rate is 11%. It is even more prevalent in District 7 ..."

"We need to give companies incentives to keep jobs here in America.  We need to create jobs by giving tax incentives to small businesses who hire employees at a higher rate than minimum wage."

"The truth is, my mother discovered long ago that there are really two Americas.  In one America someone is complaining that they may not have enough to shop at Macy's while the other is debating whether to pay the electric bill or keep food on the table."

"In one America someone is travelling less, preserving their transportation cost while the other is having his car reposessed."

"In one America someone is living above the law while the others have to play by the rules."

"In one America mortgage companies are modifying home loans while the other is grieving home foreclosure."

"In one America someone can be seen by a doctor while the other is being denied care because of pre-existing conditions."

"We have work to do.  Just as my mother rose above her circumstances, she also taught me to rise.  So I'm saing today to District 7, it is time to rise.  Now is the time to rise above our obscure conditions."

"I say it is time to eradicate poverty.  Every person who wants to work should have the right to a job.  And not only have a right to a job but the right to a decent, liveable wage. The right to equal pay for equal or comparable work.  Thanks to Congress last night, for passing the Jobs Bill.  Not only that, the right to adequate health care.  It is an intimate, yet interconnected issue."

"I state to Democrats, when I'm elected to the office of Congress representing District 7, I won't treat it as if I'm being rewarded for service, it will be my calling to move this district forward out of the conditions by putting common sense into practice."

"It's time for our leaders to live up to a new standard, take the mask off and be true leaders as we were called to be.  It's time to elect Patricia Evans Mokolo ..."

Patricia Mokolo is on Facebook and, if you liked what you heard, you can contribute to her campaign through ActBlue.