Page 12 - Florida Sentinel 7-26-16 Online Edition

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Candidates Speak At Democratic Black Caucus Forum
On Saturday at Beulah Baptist Institutional Church, Democratic candidates seek- ing office gathered to address a packed auditorium to tell those in attendance about themselves, and also answer questions.
Hillsborough County Dem- ocratic Black Caucus Presi- dent, Robin Lockett, arranged the forum with Selphenia Nichols-Simmons acting as moderator.
Candidates that addressed the audience were those seek- ing seats as: Hillsborough County School Board District 5; Florida State Senate; Hills- borough County Commission; Hillsborough County School Board Districts 1 and 3; Clerk of the Circuit Court; U. S. Congress; Florida State Sen- ate District 19; Hillsborough County School Board District 7; State Attorney; Florida House of Representatives Dis- trict 61; Florida State House of Representatives District 59, and Florida House of Repre- sentatives District 63.
The candidates seeking the District 5 School Board seat, Joe Robinson, Lynette Tracee Judge, Tamara Shamburger, and Tarance
U. S. Senate candidate, Pam Keith, addresses the Caucus.
School Board candidate, Noreen Copeland-Miller, and City of Tampa Community Liaison, Carla Lewis.
Moderator for the event, Selphenia Nichols-Simmons, and At- torney Clinton Paris.
Democratic Black Caucus President, Robin Lockett, and NAACP President, Bennie Small.
LeNoir had exciting com- mentary and fielded questions from the audience quite well.
Susan Valdes, seeking the District 1 seat on the School
Board, lost her composure while answering a question about the cost of firing former School Superintendent, MaryEllen Elia.
The Howard W. Blake High School Class of 1961 will hold its last meeting before the re- union on Saturday, July 23, 2016 at 1 p. m. The meeting will be held at the C. Blythe An- drews, Jr. Branch Library, 2607 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
All class members are asked to be present and on time as fi- nals plans will be completed.
Hillsborough County Com- missioners are seeking volun- teers to serve on the Diversity Advisory Council. The Council was created to facilitate com- munication between Hillsbor- ough County government and diverse populations, and to ad- dress matters related to diver- sity that affect County government and residents.
The deadline to apply is Thursday, July 28, 2016.
The forms are available in the Commissioners’ reception area on the second floor of County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. in downtown Tampa; or by calling the Boards and Councils Coor- dinator at (813) 272-5826.
The other candidates came well prepared, and each gave a reason why they should be elected over their opponent.
Each candidate was given
The Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections will mail more than 150,000 Vote By Mail ballots to domestic voters on Tuesday, July 26. And for the first time, the en- velopes will include the popu- lar "I Voted" stickers so that voters can remind others that it's important to vote.
Craig Latimer, Hillsbor- ough County Supervisor of Elections said, “We actively encourage Vote By Mail be- cause it's such a convenient way to vote. Voters can take time at home to research can- didates before marking their ballot, and they don't have to worry about something else coming up to keep them from voting on election day.”
Voters have until 5 p.m. Au- gust 24 to request that a Pri- mary Election Vote By Mail ballot be sent to them. Ballots will be mailed within two days
equal time to speak about themselves, and answer ques- tions. Their responses were timed to give each candidate a level playing field.
of receiving those requests. Voters can also visit any of the four Supervisor of Elections offices and have a Vote By Mail ballot printed for them.
In Hillsborough County, Vote By Mail ballots arrive with a postage-paid return en- velope, so once voters have marked their ballot and signed the envelope, they can just drop the sealed envelope in the mail.
The ballots can also be re- turned in person to any of the Supervisor of Elections offices or Early Vote sites. Hillsbor- ough County will have 16 Early Vote sites open August 15 - 28, 10a.m.-6p.m.
Voters should allow at least five days for ballots to reach the office by mail. All Vote By Mail ballots must be received by the Supervisor of Elections office no later than 7 p.m. Au- gust 30th to be counted.
Community Activist
Howard W. Blake Class Of 1961
Supervisor Of Elections Office To Mail More Than 150,000 Ballots
Wants To Spearhead
Series Of Voter Rallies
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
Inspired by a speech made by presidential hopeful, Hillary Clinton, Commu- nity Activist, Dwight Bolden, wants to spearhead a series of voter rallies.
“When I listened to Mrs. Clinton’s comments a week ago, they reflected a mission I’ve been on for years. I’ve spent a lot of time and energy trying to create more interest in voter education and voter registration.
“I’ve met on numerous oc- casions with elected officials and representatives from the Supervisor of Elections Office to express the urgency in stag- ing voter rallies all across the city and county.”
Bolden said efforts are still being made by the GOP to purge Democratic voters, and make the process as difficult as possible.
“The Republicans have thrown every obstacle they can dream of in front of peo- ple to keep them from voting. It’s time for us to break down
DWIGHT BOLDEN
those barriers, and exercise our constitutional right.
“The rage over what’s been happening across the country is evidence that something needs to be done to put the right leadership in place. At- tacks on the Black Lives Mat- ter campaign is just another tool to silence the people and distract them from voting.”
“ I still plan to move ahead with the rallies. This is a critical time in all of our lives, and it’s important that everyone votes in August and
in November.”
County’s Diversity Advisory Council Needs Volunteers
PAGE 12 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2016