BREAKING: Wayne Messam suspends his Presidential campaign [View all]

[brooklynite]

I am Suspending My 2020 Presidential Campaign But I’m Not Finished Yet

I launched my 2020 Presidential Campaign eight months ago back in March as the son of Jamaican Immigrant parents. They risked it all and left everything behind in their native land to chase the American Dream. Because of their sacrifices, I am living the American Dream they worked for and earned. Ponder this, growing up in rural sugarcane country in South Bay, Florida, I was never expected by society to be much. Despite those odds and low expectations, my life and experiences exemplifies what the Promise of America is all about. Let me explain.

I had an amazing experience serving 40,000 peers as Student Government Vice President and won a College Football National Championship at Florida State University in 1993. I have been blessed to have a successful construction management business I founded with my wife and am the proud father of three beautiful college children. If that isn’t enough, I have had the distinct honor of serving 150,000 residents as the mayor of Florida’s 13th largest city as its first African American mayor. Our city not only has the most Fortune 500 companies in South Florida but we also continue to enjoy tremendous economic growth. Together, we have led on many national issues including immigration, fighting oil drilling outside of our city in the Everglades and beating an NRA backed Florida Gun Law that penalized mayors for passing laws regulating firearms in our cities. So, when I say I love this country, I really do. For America has been good to me and my family as we have sought opportunities to serve. The bad news, however, is that my parents’ American Dream that I have benefited from, has slipped away from far too many people. Disgusted about our nation’s direction, I ran for President.

I jumped in an already crowded field of capable candidates to change the direction of this nation caused by the dysfunction of Washington and the poor leadership of the current presidency. I knew the odds were a steep hill to climb but I have always fought for what is right and will continue to break barriers never broken. Despite not getting the same early media exposure as other candidates were freely given and transferring millions of dollars from existing federal campaign accounts as many of the candidates did, my campaign shocked many by being recognized as a credible candidate, registering in polls in early states, nearly making the first debate and polling just behind the top four candidates in my battle ground state of Florida in a recent Florida Atlantic University Poll. In the end, it was not enough to continue this current race as a candidate.

https://medium.com/@WAYNEMESSAM/i-am-suspending-my-2020-presidential-campaign-but-im-not-finished-yet-60f72ece2b49