Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 8-16-16 Online Edition

Features
Tampa Police To Host
Early Voting Sites For Primary Election Open Monday
Community Conversations
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Chief Eric Ward and members of the Tampa Police Department will host a series of Community Conversations in upcoming weeks. The meetings will take place in dif- ferent locations within the city.
Chief Ward said, “The purpose of these Community Conversations is to build on the need for productive ongo- ing dialogue between law en- forcement and community members. In order for these conversations to truly be im- pactful we need everyone to participate. We want to inter- act with all age groups and de-
ERIC WARD Tampa Police Chief
mographics so we can be in tune with the diverse voice of the community we serve.
“I challenge pastors, par- ents, community advocates and anyone who has concerns and solutions related to public safety to come out and bring some people with them.”
All three meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. and end at 8 p.m.
The first meeting will take place on Thursday, August 18th, in Uniform District One, at the Carver City Lincoln Gardens Civic Association, 1512 North Clark Avenue.
The second meeting will take place on Thursday, Au- gust 25th, in Uniform District Three, at the Cyrus Greene Community Center, 2101 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd.
The third meeting will take place on Thursday, Septem- ber 1st, in Uniform District Two, at the Springhill Park Community Center, 1000 E. Eskimo Avenue.
Registered voters can cast ballots at any of the follow- ing locations during the early voting period. Early voting began on Monday, August 15th, and ends on Sunday, August 28th.
Voters may also cast bal- lots at any of the Hillsbor- ough County Supervisor of Elections offices during nor- mal business hours.
The Early Voting sites in the community are open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Those locations are:
Bloomingdale Public Library, 1906 Blooming- dale Avenue, Valrico;
C. Blythe Andrews, Jr., Public Library, 2607 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd.;
Fred B. Karl County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. 26th Floor;
Jan Kaminis Platt Re- gional Library, 3910 S. Manhattan Avenue;
Jimmie B. Keel Re- gional Library, 2902 W. Bearss Avenue;
Keystone Community Center, 17928 Gunn High- way, Odessa, FL
New Tampa Regional Library, 10001 Cross Creek Blvd.;
North Tampa Branch Library, 8916 North Blvd.;
Plant City, Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon Street, Plant City;
Riverview Branch Li- brary, 10509 Riverview Drive, Riverview;
Robert L. Gilder Elec- tions Service Center, 2514 N. Falkenburg, Rd.;
SouthShore Regional Library, 15816 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin;
Temple Terrace Pub- lic Library, 207 Bullard Parkway, Temple Terrace;
Town N’ Country Re- gional Library, 7606 Paula Drive, Tampa;
Upper Tampa Bay Re- gional Public Library, 11211 Countryway Blvd., Tampa; and
West Tampa Branch Library, 2312 W. Union Street.
Voters will be required to provide one or two forms of identification. Acceptable identification includes: a Florida Driver’s License; Florida ID Card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; U. S. Passport; Debit or Credit Card; Military ID; Student ID; Retirement Cen- ter ID; Neighborhood Asso- ciation ID; or Public Assistance ID.
Activist Warns State Senate Seat Could Be Lost If Blacks Don’t Vote
BISHOP MICHELLE PATTY
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
For the past 24 years, the Senate district representing Hillsborough and parts of Pinellas counties has been held by an African American. However, the results of the Primary Election slated for August 30th could possibly re- turn the seat to being white-
SENATOR ARTHENIA JOYNER
Elected in 2006 to present
controlled if Blacks don’t go out and cast their ballots dur- ing this election.
Bishop Michelle Patty
said, “It is unfortunate that we couldn’t come together and select one person to run in this race. But what we need right now is a leader with wisdom because we are in danger of losing this seat.
“I have never been able to
STATE REP. ED NARAIN vying for District 19 Senate Seat
vote for this seat in the past because I didn’t live in the dis- trict. But now, it includes Brandon, Valrico, and Sun City are all parts of that dis- trict now.
“I want to encourage everyone who can to get out and vote. There is no excuse. We must make sure this seat stays in Hillsborough County.”
Twenty-four years ago,
James T. Hargrett, Jr.,
was the first African American elected to serve in the Florida Senate District 18 in 1992. He was followed by Les Miller, Jr., who was succeeded by Arthenia Joyner, who will vacate the seat due to term limits in November.
Ed Narain, State Repre- sentative for District 61, is cur- rently running for the District 19 Senate Seat.
His African American challengers are State Rep. Darryl Rouson, of St. Pe- tersburg, and former State Rep. Betty Reed.
Narain is also facing two white opponents, John Houman, who is the only Republican in the race, and Attorney Augie Riberio, who has launched a negative attack against some of his op- ponents.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3