Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 9-7-18

Politics
Florida’s Amendment 4 Gives A Second Chance
As I look back over my life, I can remember talking too much in an elementary school class. After being disciplined and accepting my pun- ishment, I was given a second chance.
One day, when I was in junior high school, I was late to class. I walked all the way from my place of living, Eaton Park to school after my parents’ car broke down. The one minute of tardiness did not go un- noticed. I was immedi- ately assigned a detention after school, but the next day I was given a second chance.
High school served as an opportunity to learn about second chances, when I talked back to my Science Teacher. I was punished for my actions; I was also given a second chance to continue ac- tively participating in my academic career and athletics.
Today, our youth are constantly bombarded with mounting chal- lenges, ranging from poverty, hunger, social injustices, single parent homes, and much more. Too often these chal- lenges impact young adults and adults’ behav- ior.
Moreover, these con- cerns can translate into harsh punishments many adults are faced with for years.
It is my strong belief that everyone, including leaders on this local level and leaders of the United States of Amer- ica, have had their fair share of challenges that presented a need for a second chance.
Florida Amendment 4, Restoration of Voting Rights for Non-Violent Felons, is an opportu- nity for not only Florida citizens to be given a sec- ond chance and con- tribute to the free world economy, but also al- lows our fellow men and women who paid their debt to society to regain their Right to Vote.
Let’s be truthful, if no one on this earth was given a second chance we would not have a functioning society.
Let’s Vote for Florida Amendment 4, Restora- tion of Voting Rights for Non-Violent Felons. If God is the God of second chances, let’s give our fellow man and woman a second chance.
DR. SHANDALE TERRELL Lakeland, Florida
Ethics Complaint Against Andrew Gillum Likely Won’t Be Addressed Before Election
A decision on a state ethics complaint against Tal- lahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who hopes to be- come Florida’s next gover- nor, won’t be rendered at least until after the Nov, 6 General Election, the Talla- hassee Democrat reports.
“I suspect that it will probably not come up before the election,” said Gillum’s attorney Barry Richard, who is representing him in the ethic complaints regard- ing his out-of-town trips.
A businessman, Erwin Jackson, filed the complaint last October. The Florida Commission on Ethics is looking into the complaint. The complaint made claims that Gillum possibly vio- lated state ethics laws when he traveled to Costa Rica in 2016 and to NYC with lobby-
ist friends. FBI agents went undercover as part of a public corruption investigation, ac- cording to reports.
But Richard said Gillum isn’t concerned about the outcome.
“It doesn’t make any dif- ference to Andrew anyway. There’s nothing there. He had no violations of any-
thing. And I would be sur- prised if they made any deci- sions that were adverse to him.”
Gillum, who defeated former Rep. Gwen Gra- ham in the state’s Demo- cratic Primary last week, has denied any wrongdoing and taxpayer dollars were not used to fund the trip.
PAGE 4-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2018