Group says DNCC goal in hiring minority-owned businesses isn't high enough

by: Linzi Sheldon Updated:

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Democratic National Convention Committee made a big commitment to hire minority-owned businesses for its contracts and projects just over a week ago, but one group says the goal isn't high enough.

"We do not hesitate to say that we had sought and hoped for higher goals than those adopted by the DNC," civil rights attorney James Ferguson said Wednesday.

Ferguson, who chairs the Carolina Regional Minority Partnership Coalition, said he and the rest of the coalition expected more.

According to the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, there are 4,322 businesses owned by racial or ethnic minorities or by women in the Charlotte region.

That's not counting the businesses owned by veterans, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, or people with disabilities, who are also a part of the DNC's commitment.

Ferguson said he's met with DNC officials for about a year and also expected to be included in the press release last week when the DNC announced its goal.

"We wanted notice because we were involved," he explained.

DNC Committee CEO Steve Kerrigan didn't comment on the Coalition not being a part of the official press conference, but did stress his plans to work with Ferguson and the Coalition moving forward.

"I talked to attorney Ferguson yesterday," Kerrigan said. "I've talked to him many times. I am encouraged by our partnership."

Kerrigan said they look at the one-third goal as a floor, not a ceiling.

"We don't want to look at it as, something when you reach it, you stop," he said. "It has to be something that we always are aspirational about and try to exceed."

Ferguson said now, though, he's focused on helping the DNC meet this goal and calls the commitment "historic."

The Coalition has appointed a liaison with DNC and is asking for periodic progress reports.

"We're going to be monitoring very closely what's happening so we don't get to the end of this process and find out we've fallen short," Ferguson said. "Where there are weaknesses -- and there will be some -- we can pitch in."