OASES NEWS has interviewed Karen Stintz, Olivia Chow and now another candidate Dewitt Lee. The Toronto Mayoral race is becoming interesting day by day, four contestants; Rob Ford, Karen Stintz, David Soknacki and Sarah Thomson have officially withdrawn from the race, now the major contestants vying for the post are: Olivia Chow, Doug Ford and John Tory. Now Dewitt Lee, who ran for Mayor in 2010 and finished 12th place says that he has supporters all over the city that are “Ready For ‘De Vote” and are willing to cast their votes for him to become the next Toronto Mayor come October 27, 2014.

Please read the interview.

OASES NEWS: You seem to be new on the race and you are not popular like others, why?

Dewitt Lee: I am not new at all in this race. In some areas of Toronto and some circles in the city, I may be considered a new name but I have spent almost every day since my 12th finished for mayor last election in 2010 to change that. This is the biggest city in Canada and 4th in North America, it’s going to take time. This is exactly why I am so grateful for independent media outlets like Oases News who have a true commitment to serve its readers with the news most relevant to their values and concerns. I believe that my campaign and this moment in election history is very important to the Afro/Caribbean community in Toronto and we need as much help as possible to get the word out.

OASES NEWS: Do you have the resources for this mayoral race competition in terms of human, materials and financial resources?

Dewitt Lee: We are people powered. I consider our greatest resource is to be the passion of our volunteers. Their commitment to have a positive impact in their community through this campaign is really inspiring and the real reason we are building such momentum. In regards to people capital, I would say we are doing very well, but on the financial front, we have a lot of work to do. We have been very creative in our fundraising activities and have some great and exciting things planned for the remainder of the campaign. I would like to invite everyone to go to my website, www.dewittlee.com and look at our calendar for information on up coming events.

Dewitt Lee- City of Toronto Mayoral Candidate

OASES NEWS: The last time you were on TV was about five weeks ago when you had debate with other contestants, why did you go underground?

Dewitt Lee: Truthfully, I would have to say that we have been the absolute opposite. Since the live to air broadcast on CP24 of my 1st debate, I have been featured in several publications and radio programs. The face recognition from people just in public has really increased and that has helped me to connect with many people in a very real and intimate way. The truth about being underground, although it may be just be a figure of speech, is there really an “underground” community of citizens and because of my grassroots approach to campaigning and outreach we are able to inspire those people. Many who have never experienced being included in this process and are now stepping into the light with us, from “the underground” and seeing the city for the first time.

OASES NEWS: Did you really have any political experience before venturing into politics?

Dewitt Lee: My experience as a politician officially started as a candidate for Mayor in 2010. I have spent the past 4 years getting myself familiar with how our political system works. From watching council meetings to speaking at budget meetings and fighting for unfair cuts and TTC fare increases. I have spent these past years meeting elected officials in and outside City Hall, building the kind of relationships you need to successfully navigate through the council voting process.

I have studied and consulted with many of our past political leaders and I believe I have learned a lot from my consistent dialogue with them. The most profound experience I have had politically, I must say is being present twice in Washington D.C. as I witnessed President Barack Obama’s inaugurations.

I witnessed politics being a drawing force of people through diversity and unity. I worked on his first campaign and the energy and excitement that his candidacy brought to us all really changed me. My overall experiences in politics have left me extremely optimistic about what we can accomplish here in Toronto, together.

OASES NEWS: What are your programs for the community?

Dewitt Lee: Our campaign message is to “Rise Up and Build” which comes from the Bible (Nehemiah 2:18)

To me it starts with the individual, the family and the community so our programs are designed with that in mind. We are also building programs that we can launch which are not dependent on me necessarily being elected Mayor. Far too many campaign promises are given to the people with one stipulation, only if I’m elected. I am sensitive to that and I would much rather offer programming we can do together and get it done! We have fitness programs for those who are battling addictions, we have family after school and weekend programs and we have created the Toronto Community Advisory Board, which its intention is to bring every service to every citizen, to ensure that each ward in Toronto is filled with the programs, services and resources, equally. Our mission statement is to make sure that every citizen’s right is defended and every promise of opportunity is delivered.

OASES NEWS: Why do you want to start from the top (Mayor) instead of from trustee to councilor to Mayor?

Dewitt Lee: Many people ask me that question and I respect the logic in the suggestion. My relationship with Toronto is different, since I was born here but I didn’t get a chance to really live here until 2000, so I have a love affair with the entire city, every individual feels like family and every inch of Toronto is special to me and feels like home. I believe the city needs someone who will represent the diversity of the city, the culture in our lifestyles and someone who can reach out to the youth of our city and invite them to be involved and included in the building of a new Toronto.

As a believer, I know the voice of God and He told me in 2009 that I would be mayor of Toronto. I didn’t get the how part from Him, but I got who and why, so I am stepping out in faith and trusting His guidance. After finishing 12th place out of 40 candidates in 2010 for Mayor, I proved to a lot of people that I was mayor material and having spent the last 4 years representing the future leadership of this city. I have gained the confidence needed to handle the pressure of the position and I have gained the respect of the voters, who will vote for me in 2014 as Mayor.

Also it’s very clear, by just looking at the candidates for Mayor, that the Afro/Caribbean community in Toronto truly needed someone to represent them and speak for them in this very important election as Mayor. As a mayoral candidate, I wish to build a political community much more than my political career. By running for Mayor, I am able to give anyone in Toronto the opportunity to have their voice heard through their vote for me. In past elections, people were not invited in or involved in the decision to elect leadership, that is going to change this year!

OASES NEW: Why haven’t we been seeing your flyers everywhere like others?

Dewitt Lee: I have to say much of our campaign marketing has been conducted online, which is where we are able to update our base and introduce ourselves to new people in a much more intimate and real time experience. It’s also an economic reality, we are doing a good job fundraising but we are not where we need to be to reach more people and more frequently as my competitors. On my website, www.DewittLee.com people can donate and I would invite readers to help fuel our campaign. We know every dollar represents someone’s hard earned wages and we will work hard to make it count.

One thing I would like to stress is that we are participating in the Toronto rebate program which means any amount between $25.00 and $300.00 donation, the city will give you back a refund of 75% of it so interested supporters are encouraged to donate.

OASES NEWS: What do you feel about those dropping out from the race?

Dewitt Lee: One of my early campaign promises while seeking donations was not to drop out. Can you imagine someone who made a sacrifice to donate to your campaign and you drop out? That’s wasted money in my opinion and every donation to my campaign is an investment for the future. I also know the value of running and if I’m not at the table to represent us, then we lack a voice. I am determined to prove, to Toronto and the rest of the world watching, that we have strong leadership in the Afro/Caribbean community. Politics is where we combat injustice, inequality and inadequate resources and services in our communities. We have a very limited opportunity through elections every 4 years to fight for leadership in this city and quitting is not an option!

OASES NEWS: Do you have support from the entire ethnic group in Toronto?

Dewitt Lee: I know that once we inspire our community to Rise Up and Build, then and only then can Toronto be considered a 1st class and World class city.

I must say that I have great support across other ethnic communities, such as the Asian, South Asian, the Latino and the Europeans. Even people from the United States have come up from Buffalo, N.Y. to help volunteer here in Toronto and make this a true international effort.

OASES NEWS: Why do you all have the same programs?

Dewitt Lee: I don’t believe that all of our programs are the same, but the truth is we are battling similar issues as Torontonians. So I believe in the case of the voter’s point of view, if the plans seem to be similar, vote for which planner you believe can execute the plan. A lot of my programs really differ because I haven’t placed a contingency of my become mayor on them. I believe my initiative of the Toronto Community Advisory Board, which is essentially is a citizen’s union is very unique and a much needed collective to keep people engaged and informed.

OASES NEWS: If elected you would be the first black mayor in Toronto is that right?

Dewitt Lee: That is correct; I would be the first elected mayor of Afro/Caribbean decent. I am standing on the shoulders of the great ones before me such as William Peyton Hubbard, who represented Ward 4 in 1894 and also served as Acting Mayor on occasions when the Mayor was absent.

I believe that we have a lot of ground to cover in winning this election, but I know that we are trailblazing a way to that goal and no matter how far we get this year, we will be entering into unchartered waters and it will be a historic finish. (Similar to the first Black Canadian Physician Anderson Ruffin Abbott, Canada's first black physician.)