/Top Democrat blasts Chairman Bobby Moak ahead of leadership election

Top Democrat blasts Chairman Bobby Moak ahead of leadership election

Simmons outlined a long list grievances to the committee, including that Moak, state party officials, “did nothing to help” him during his 2019 campaign to become central district transportation commissioner. Also, that the party did little to support Black candidates for office. Simmons wrote July 18 that “the facts seem to indicate that we don’t want real inclusion in our party, and discrimination practices in the Mississippi Democratic Party are alive and well.” Simmons wrote on July 18: “We are suffering because we have the knees of our own party members on our necks. We cannot breathe.” Simmons added that the email started a back and forth exchange between Simmons, Moak and the other 80 members of the executive board. This exchange was ahead of an internal election that would determine the party’s next leader. It included direct and indirect criticisms of Simmons and Moak, as well as a photograph of Simmons and Simmons meeting at a Jackson restaurant. Moak was elected party chair in 2016, and is running again for the top leadership post this year. Tyree Irving is a former Mississippi Court of Appeals judge and is Black. He is running against Moak. Later this week, the 80 members of the party’s executive committee will elect their chairman. Simmons endorsed Irving for the chair race in an email last week. Willie Simmons/Bobby Moak emails (Text) Simmons wrote that the party leadership had “silenced” Jacquie Amos, an ex-party staffer, and “made ineffective in supporting me and other Black candidates for the ticket.” Amos was a Black woman who worked seven years for the party. She resigned in December. Moak responded to Simmons’ points in a 1,300 word reply the day after Simmons sent his initial email. Moak stated that Simmons’ campaign team remained in contact with party officials in 2019. Moak sent a July 19 email, copied by all 80 members of Simmons’ executive committee, to state that “First of all, it is understandable and sympathetic to the impulse embellish, exaggerate, and distort some facts while campaigning.” It’s something that I have seen many times in my interactions with Republicans over the years. We must try to maintain an honest dialogue in this situation and not mislead our party members. There is a documented record here. We’ve kept the receipts. Our records don’t support many of your claims.” Moak also denied that he had “silenced Amos,” the former staffer. Moak stated, “Secondly, any suggestion that any member our staff was silenced” Ms. Amos was given tremendous flexibility by MDP, who accommodated her while she attempted to join many campaigns. This accommodation is far from silencing — it’s setting a path forward to a planned staff depart.” Mississippi Today reported earlier this year on how Mississippi’s dysfunctional state Democratic Party led the 2019 historic losses. It also detailed how party leaders created and maintained no clear identity and how the party leadership failed to support Black constituents and candidates. Moak sent a lengthy email outlining his platform for the election as chair. He also highlighted 22 accomplishments the party had made during his four-year tenure as chairman. Simmons replied to Moak by writing: “Please understand that I have not received any calls from you since the 2019 election.” Simmons also attached a May 2019 photograph of Moak and Marcus Wallace at a Jackson restaurant. Wallace ran against Simmons in August 2019. Simmons wrote, “Today I feel like Fannie Lou Hamer. I’m sick and tired of being sickly tired.” “We all have to work overtime to make sure that Vice President Biden becomes our next President of the United States. We must also fix the Mississippi Democratic Party.”