Frederica Wilson, opponents in Congressional District 24, debate in NAACP’s forum

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson clashed with challengers for her seat in Congress over issues such as defunding the police at a town hall Thursday night hosted by the Miami-Dade branch of the NAACP.

Wilson has represented the 24th Congressional District covering most of north-central Miami-Dade County since 2011. She’s facing more opposition than usual: Challengers at the town hall included fellow Democrats Sakinah Lehtola and Christine Olivo, independent Hector Rivera and Republican Lavern Spicer.

A question on the “defund the police” movement divided the candidates, and Olivo, who is running as an independent and will be on the ballot in November but not the Aug. 18 primary ballot, used the question as an opportunity to point to perceived failings in Wilson’s career.

“The current incumbent has gotten $6 million to hire more cops in our community, in District 24,” Olivo said. “When I grew up in this community, we had Cloverleaf bowling alley down the street. We had an ice arena that’s now a car dealership. We had rims on our basketball hoops. Six million dollars could bring after-school activities back into our communities. Six million dollars can bring universal mental healthcare in our communities.”

Olivo said she supports “prioritizing people” and “using funds to uplift our community.”

Progressive challenger Lehtola, who is running in her first year of eligibility for Congress at 25 years old, made her support for the “defund the police” movement clear.

“I am absolutely in support of defunding the police,” Lehtola said. “Defunding the police is not a radical idea. What that would look like is sending trained social service workers to handle experiences with people experiencing homelessness, with people experiencing mental health issues.”

Spicer and Rivera said they were not in favor of defunding police departments, a movement that has caught traction nationwide following the killing of George Floyd, who died when a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Both said they supported reform.

“For everyone that’s in favor of defunding the police department,” Spicer said, “I would like to say to you I am sure if somebody breaks into your home and has a gun pointed at your head ... I’m really sure that you would not be calling your mental health worker.” The comment drew faces, eyebrow raises and laughter from Lehtola.

Wilson said the movement to defund the police is “so rational” but dodged disclosing whether she supported specific agenda items under the broader movement.

“I’m sure the police would love to get rid of their responsibilities to the mentally ill. I’m sure they would love to give up their responsibilities to missing children, to children in foster care,” Wilson said when pushed on whether there are specific platforms under the defund movement she thinks should be implemented.

Challengers also called Wilson’s voting record into question, asserting she’s absent too often, as well as her ability to pass her own bills. Wilson defended herself on both fronts.

But other issues united most of the candidates, such as support for Medicare for All, endorsed by every candidate except Rivera. Olivo said the controversial single-payer system, most notably advocated by former Democratic presidential nominee hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders, is the “only option,” especially during the COVID-19 pandemic which disproportionately affects Black and Latino people.

“Everyone in America should have top quality healthcare, regardless of your financial status or your class,” Olivo said. “My uncle did not go to the doctor because he couldn’t afford it. I watched my uncle take his last breath because he didn’t have insurance.”

All candidates except Lehtola, who entered the Zoom hall late, said they supported the effort to have the Equal Rights Amendment added to the U.S. Constitution and the recent Miami-Dade Commission vote of approval to revive a civilian panel to investigate police conduct, a decision that will likely be vetoed by Mayor Carlos Gimenez.

Candidates also discussed a range of local and federal issues, including Department of Housing and Urban Development housing and section three work requirements, improving paycheck protection program loans and how to keep police officers found guilty of misconduct from jumping to other police departments. Questions often focused on the impact policies have on the Black community.

Despite the challenge to her seat, in her closing comments, Wilson said she was confident voters would vote to leave her in Congress for another term starting in 2021.

While other candidates thanked Wilson for her service, they said they think it’s time for new representation.

“We need solidarity, not charity,” Lehtola said. “We need more investment in our communities and we need more fighting at the local level.”

And Olivo said she wants to carry on Wilson’s mission.

“Our congresswoman is a fighter. She has been fighting from day one,” Olivo said. “I do not want to replace her. I want to take her legacy and take it to the next level.”

The Cook Political Report ranks the 24th District as a solid Democratic district. The last time Wilson faced a Republican and independent challenger in the 2014 general election, she took over 86% of the vote.

The panel was moderated by Trelvis D. Randolph, general counsel for the Miami-Dade Branch of the NAACP.