Walt Dixie Endorses Stephanie Miner

Walt Dixie, political activist and local representative of Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, endorsed mayoral candidate Stephanie Miner today. Having the NAN helping her out (or at least the local NAN leadership) will help her get “boots on the ground” in the form of volunteers for her get-out-the-vote effort on Primary Day, which is only three weeks away. This is a handy endorsement for her to receive. It is not an endorsement free of controversy, however. The NAN is a mostly black organization and both parties have prominent black candidates in the running. Giving the endorsement to a non-black candidate is sure to raise some eyebrows. Ken Jackson, publisher of the Syracuse Constitution, took a swipe at Walt Dixie a few weeks ago for intentionally downplaying the viability of the black mayoral candidates in the mayoral race in an interview. This endorsement will certainly fuel further tension.