Ritter Endorsement

U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek Endorsed for U.S. Senate by Broward County Mayor Stacy Ritter

Miami Gardens, FL – U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Miami) was endorsed by Broward County Mayor Stacy Ritter for the U.S. Senate - the first mayor of a major metropolitan county to endorse Meek.

“Mayor Ritter is leading from the frontlines in the battle to stem the rising tide of foreclosures and the increasing unemployment rate that is harming our communities. She knows firsthand what happens when irresponsible leaders in Washington, DC embrace disastrous policies that harm our fellow Floridians,” said Congressman Meek. “Mayors need an advocate in the U.S. Senate who understands that our counties and cities are overextended because of the unfunded demands some in Washington saddle our communities with. That is why I voted for and Mayor Ritter supports President Obama’s economic recovery package, and as a U.S. Senator from Florida, I look forward to working with her to ensure that Broward County and all of Florida’s counties and cities benefit from this economic opportunity.”

“Kendrick is a champion of the people who knows that when Broward County flourishes, Florida wins. Whether from tourism or commerce, Broward County is part of the economic engine of the Sunshine State and Kendrick supports policies that will help jumpstart our economy,” said Mayor Stacy Ritter. “To win statewide, you need to care about people and work hard everyday of the campaign and Kendrick possesses those qualities.”

Since announcing his candidacy on January 13, Kendrick Meek has received endorsements from Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan, Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper, and Republican Key West Mayor Morgan McPherson, among other leaders.

Kendrick Meek is seeking to become the first statewide candidate in Florida’s history to qualify for the ballot by petition and is collecting 112,476 petitions from registered Florida voters by March 2010, rather than pay the filing fee to qualify for the ballot. The Primary Election will take place on August 24, with the General Election scheduled for November 2.

U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek is serving in his fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing the 17th Congressional District of Florida, which includes parts of Miami-Dade and Broward counties. He is the lone Florida Democrat sitting on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Meek also serves on the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and is a member of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. Prior to his election to Congress, Meek served eight years in the Florida House and Senate and was a captain in the Florida Highway Patrol.