Photos for Headline Surfer / Amy Linville Lockhart, an elected commissioner in Seminole County, Florida, promotes mask wearing as a means to show others she's looking out for others and to help strengthen the local economy during this coronavirus pandemic.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
SANFORD, Fla. -- The following was written by Friday by Dis 4 Seminole County Commissioner Amy Linville Lockhart on her Facebook page on Friday - five days beore Seminole County mandated that masks be worn in public places inside or outside anywhere within the county limits, with few exceptions (children 2 & under, exercising, eating, etc).
The mask wearing mandate takes tomorrow (July 1) as the Sunshine State has seen a massive spike in COVID-19 cases. Here is Lockharts take on masking up:
Here's my two cents on masks. Not that you asked -- well, actually, a lot of you have been asking.
When social distancing is not possible, wearing a mask is my way of putting others before myself. It's also my way of trying to help resurrect our economy.
Is this a popular decision? Frankly, I don't know! It's certainly not a political decision. Regardless of your opinions on this issue, I respect you and your perspective.
For any of you who emailed my office today regarding masks, this is the response you received. Based on the replies I received, most seemed to appreciate the sentiment. Some did not. Leadership can be messy. Such is life.
Dear Concerned Seminole County Citizen:
The policy group which meets to discuss potential executive orders, does not include all members of the County Commission, but only the Chairman. The remaining four board members are not privy to the discussions that take place, but we do have the opportunity to share our opinions and concerns.
My hope and expectation for our public education campaign was that everyone would use their God-given judgement and sense of responsibility to follow CDC guidelines. I wish that the "Golden Rule" would suffice, but even as hospitalization rates increase, I am finding many people are just inconsiderate of their fellow citizens.
Admittedly, I am not as concerned about cases themselves rising as I am about our hospitalization rate spiking (Just my two cents).
We banned smoking in restaurants years ago when we learned “second-hand-smoke” could make others ill, so I struggle to understand the outrage over a temporary executive order to wear masks when social distancing is not possible.
This is very different from a mandatory “wear your mask all the time” order. This would give people the flexibility to only wear masks when they absolutely cannot keep distance from others.
Please know that unlike some Florida counties and most cities, this is not a matter on which we "vote", or candidly, that my "position" even matters. However, I have made our County Manager, Nicole Guillet, aware of my response on this issue.
Sincerely,
Amy Lockhart
About the Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched 12 years ago that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed more than a hundred journalism industry awards in print & online -- more than than all other members of the working press combined in Central Florida since the mid-1990s. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism with academic honors from Full Sail University in 2019. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary programs on Discovery ID and Reelz for his investigative reporting and cops & courts breaking news stories.