St. Fleur case tests Haitians

For many Haitians, the financial problems of state Representative Marie St. Fleur are irrelevant. She is still their fellow countrywoman.

''She's Haitian like us," Jude Remy, 39, of Mattapan said as he shopped at Mars Farmers Market on a recent Saturday. ''We're supposed to give support to her. . . . She's a good person for us."

But those younger Haitians who have lived most of their lives in the United States and are more skeptical of political leaders find such undisputed loyalty troubling.

''I think the older community, I hate to say it, they're going to support anyone who is Haitian," said Jemina Simon, 23, of Dorchester. ''Anybody who is Haitian is good in their book. They just look at it at face value. They don't do any digging. 'Oh they're Haitian; they're great.' "

Last month, the Globe reported that St. Fleur, a popular Dorchester legislator, had been delinquent in her federal taxes and was not paying off $40,000 in student loans. The report came less than 24 hours after Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly, gubernatorial candidate, announced St. Fleur as his running mate. The St. Fleur story set off intense discussions in the Haitian community around Boston, which is increasingly exercising political muscle.

As St. Fleur launches a reelection campaign to keep her seat in the House of Representatives, many in the Haitian community are grappling with the financial revelations that forced her to drop out of the lieutenant governor race and humiliated the Democratic Party.

Haitians the Globe interviewed expressed almost the same sentiments: St. Fleur should have known better than to avoid paying her taxes. Many said she embarrassed the community and set a poor example. But they also said St. Fleur, who emigrated from Haiti as a girl and worked her way through college to achieve political office, deserves the full support of Haitians.

''She's a very good woman and a very good leader," said Luckson Alphonse, 36, of Revere, on a recent Sunday as he waited for services to begin at the Haitian Church of the Nazarene Friends of the Humble in Dorchester. ''She supports Haitians in the city . . . . We need more Haitians coming forward to do that."

As St. Fleur's political profile has risen over the past several years, the Haitian community here has been gaining a voice. She was the first Haitian elected to the Massachusetts Legislature in 1999 and was later made chairwoman of the Joint Committee on Education. Last year, she became vice chairwoman of the House Ways and Means Committee. That same year, another Haitian, Linda Dorcena Forry, also from Dorchester, won election to the House.

The Haitian community saw itself reflected in St. Fleur's success, said the Rev. Pierre-Louis Zephir, senior pastor at the Haitian Church of the Nazarene.

''When you're looking at the city, at the world, we're not in a very good position," he said. ''People are always looking for . . . somebody they can call on as a leader. The Haitian community most likely sees Marie St. Fleur as a person they can follow."

St. Fleur did not return repeated calls for comment.

Haiti is often described as the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, filled with political strife and unstable. The image hurts many Haitians who desperately seek inspirational figures in their community, said Daphne Germain, a youth worker at the Missionary Association of Haitian Christians in Jamaica Plain.

''For the older generation I understand when they say, 'She's one of us; she understands our cause,' " said Germain, 26. ''For the older generation, Marie St. Fleur . . . shows that Haitians are capable, capable of holding office, capable of doing well. She is the dream that they want every one of their children to have achieved."

Haitians, in general, want to forgive her, said Marcelin Gabriel, 30, who lives in Hyde Park and is studying to become a nurse at Roxbury Community College.

''I would like her to apologize," he said. ''I think if she clears this up, I think everybody would support her. We are few [in politics], so everybody would . . . want to help her in any way they can."

But Simon said that by overlooking St. Fleur's transgressions, some are ignoring an obvious reality: St. Fleur was unprepared for higher office, given her financial woes.

In addition, Simon said, the fallout may have hurt the chances of future Haitians who could face more scrutiny if they seek a career in politics.

''Now it's going to be extra hard for a young Haitian to run," said Simon, who was also shopping at Mars Farmers Market in Mattapan on a recent Saturday.

Her cousin, Paul E. Simon, 33, stood nearby, nodding.

''It was a slap in the face," he said. ''This was someone who was representing the Haitian people, giving hopes to young people."

No one has announced plans to run against St. Fleur, 43, who is seeking her fourth full term in the House. But her troubles may actually draw politically ambitious Haitians to take her on, said Eddy Desir, 43, a bank account executive who lives in Boston.

''She's very popular, so some people didn't want to run against her," Desir said. ''Now they feel better, like if they run against her, they have a better chance to win."

Maria Cramer can be reached at mcramer@globe.com.