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Features
Readers Discuss Reason For Low Voter Turnout
State Calls For Recount In Senate District 19 Race
MRS. BONNYE CREWS
ATTORNEY RODERICK FORD
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Last Tuesday, voters in Hillsborough County went to the polls to cast ballots. The turnout was 3% higher than 4 years ago, but still low as com- pared with the number of reg- istered voters in Hillsborough County.
Ms. Gerri Kramer,
spokesperson for the Hillsbor- ough County Supervisor of Elections Office stated that ap- proximately 19% of the regis- tered voters cast ballots. However, she stated that there are approximately 100,000 new voters added to the voting rolls.
Some Tampa residents dis- cussed the low turnout on Election Day. Their comments are as follows:
Mrs. Bonnye Crews said, “I think the voter turnout was low for several reasons. First, it wasn't a major election, so maybe the interest wasn't there. Then, more could have been done to let voters know that Tuesday was election day. Also, the weather was quite unfavorable and may have de- terred those last minute vot- ers.”
Danny Green said, “I think there was a low turnout in vot- ing because a lot of people don't trust some of the politi- cians. They say one thing and once they get into office they do another thing. During the campaign, they come around to churches and schools and once they get elected you don't see them anymore.
“They make all the promises and nothing never happens. But regardless, we still have to get out there and exercise our right to vote because of the struggle we had just to get the right to vote.”
Attorney Roderick Ford
said, “I think that people are
DANNY GREEN
JAMES RANSOM
experiencing "election burnout." I think that Ameri- cans in general are beginning to believe that they have noth- ing for which to vote. I think that African American voters are especially bewildered as to why the Obama Presidency was ultimately obstructed and overthrown.”
James Ransom said, “The number of registered voters and the number who actually vote is abysmal. Some folks think that 1 vote does not mat- ter, but this election proves the point that it does, some victo- ries were by very slim mar- gins.
“What is disconcerting is that we must know why it is important to vote, meet with or learn as much as possible about each candidate or amendment, get commitments from the candidates to do something specific and hold them accountable and only coninue to support the candi- date when they deliver the promise. Voter apathy is caused by a number of factors that include, but is not limited to, being rooted in the possi- bility that civics is no longer taught in elementary, middle school, high school nor college as a requirement. Politics in American Democracy should be a mandatory subject in the American education system.
“Voting is an individual’s power and voice to make a dif- ference in matters that impact our political, economic and so- cial interests.
“In the end, we are responsi- ble for what we do not do as much as about what we say. We must learn, we must get commitments, we must vote and we must hold all elected officials accountable for addressing our special in- terests and enhancing our quality of life.”
Last Tuesday, voters at- tempted to elect a Democratic representative for the State Senate, District 19 race. That in- dividual will face Republican candidate John Houman in November in the General Elec- tion.
Of the four candidates vying for the seat, Darryl Rouson and Edwin Narain were the forerunners in the election. On Friday, Secretary of State Ken Detzner called for a recount in the race because only 76 votes separated the two top con- tenders. Rouson had 10,800 votes and Narain had 10,724 votes.
ED NARAIN
According to state law, a re- count must take place if the un- official returns show that a candidate was defeated by one- half of one percent or less.
DARRYL ROUSON
The recount took place at the Robert L. Gilder Elections Serv- ice Center. The results of the re- count will be announced on September 4th.
Two People Arrested During Protest In Palm River
Hillsborough County Sher- iff’s deputies were called out to a protest in front of a store on 78th Street in Palm River Thursday evening.
The protest was held by a group of people angry over the death of 22-year-old Levonia Riggins. Riggins was shot and killed by a Sheriff’s SWAT team member when they tried to arrest him on a warrant.
After making several com- mands for Riggins to exit the residence, Deputy Caleb Johnson visually located Riggins in a bedroom, at which time Johnson report- edly perceived Riggins as an
LEVONIA RIGGINS
immediate threat and fired one shot, striking Riggins.
Riggins was transported to a local hospital where he was
pronounced dead.
While the investigation is
ongoing, it does appear that Riggins was not armed.
Sheriff’s Office spokesper- son, Debbie Carter, said two people were arrested during the protest for inciting a riot. She also reported that debris was thrown into the roadway, a trash can was set afire, and put in the middle of 78th Street, and objects were thrown onto the roadway with the alleged intent to flatten the tires of motorists.
The names of the two people arrested was not available at press time.
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