NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Get out and Vote!
Why vote?
I asked this question to quite a few people as we entered into the campaign season and the answer was standard across the board, "Because it is my right, because we are a democracy, it is my civic responsibility, because I love our country, because we need change."
As you can imagine, there were a few others full of expletives.
As mayor, I believe everyone needs to vote and here ae the reasonds why:
1. All politics are local. Many of the local leaders who have a great impact on your daily lives are elected with narrow margins. Your vote definitely counts. (In 2009, 112 votes made the difference in my election).
2. The amendments that take up two pages of this year's ballot that will affect your lives. These ballot amendments could benefit you or cause you to be the recipient of unintended consequences. According to Carl Hiaasen, "All these rotten amendments were written and captioned for the ballot in ways to appear harmless and even reformist, but they aren't. And they won't pass unless 60 percent of Florida's voters are fooled."
3. The popular vote in the presidential race matters; your vote matters. Collectively our votes send a loud message to Congress how "we the people" feel about policies and the vision for our nation. Furthermore, Florida is a swing state! The I-4 corridor (yes that is us) could decide the outcome of this presidential election.
4. In the answers to the question I asked, why vote; it is our right to elect our leaders, voting is an integral part of our freedom. Many American's especially our war veterans have fought and too many have died to protect our freedoms, let us show them the respect for their sacrifices. VOTE!
Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2012/11/04/2682719/carl-hiaasen-florida-voters-wont.html#storylink=cpy