Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 24 October 2003 — Page 10

PAGE A10

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2003

EDITORIAL

Good citizens will vote Nov. 4 BY SHANNON WILLIAMS Recorder Editor

With Klection Day quickh approaching, the heat is really on lor all ol this year's eamlulatcs. You see campaign signs everywhere, hear advertisements on the radio, and watch television as candidates tell you why they're the best person for the job. But as much as we sec the signs, hear the ads, and watch the candidates, we should never grow aggravated, because the right to vote is something that has not always been so. A mere 38 years ago President Lyndon l’>. Johnson instituted the Voting Rights Act of IfHl.'i. This law pledged the federal government to enforce equal access to the ballot in Southern states, making it the first time in the history of America that every United States citi/en of age had the right

to vote.

But this monumental aspect of American history did not happen solely because of Johnson. It was the accumulated works of so many devoted people that really afforded us the opportunity to nowexercise our right to vote. Take Susan B. Anthony for instance. She was one of the premier advocates of women’s rights during the 19th century. When denied the right to vote, Anthony, a white woman voted anyway. When she was fined $100 for her actions, she refused to pay. Her benevolent attitude towards women’s rights have certainly contributed to the way of life women now have.

Let’s consider Bob

Moses. It was Moses, a member of the Student

Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, who urged so

many Southerners too afraid to challenge the law, to register to vote. Then we have people like A. Philip Randolph, Stokely Carmichael, Bayard Rustin, Dick Gregory, James Farmer, and Whitney Young. All

of these individuals were integral in enabling us all to now

be able to vote.

To not vote is disrespectful to all the men and women who devoted their lives to this cause. The whole purpose of me providing you with this brief history lesson is to emphasize the significance of voting. By voting we are not only exercising a right that has been given to us, but we are also contributing to our society. Voting enables us the chance to have a hand in selecting our leaders ... the people who are supposed to have our best interests at

heart.

It is my deep belief that individuals, w ho don't vote, shouldn’t complain about anything the government does, any policies, taxes - nothing. As far as I'm concerned they don’t have a right to complain because their lack of participation at the polls is what helped out the politicians into

office.

I encourage every citizen over the age of I h to east your vote on Election Day. For far too long, many of us have taken this right for granted. We need to.be proactiv e in the evolution of our state and our country. Make sure you’re at the polls on Nov. t!

“For far too long, many of us have taken the

right to vote for granted.

We need to

proactive

in the

evolution

of our state

and our country.”

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JUSTTELUN'IT Democratic control of City-County Council up to African-American voters

By AMOS BROWN III The biggest reason for our AfricanAmerican community to vote Nov. 4 is to provide the decisive votes in the battle for the Indianapolis City-County Council. For nearly four decades, Republicans have controlled the council. In the early years ofUniGov, Republican council members provided enlightened, positive leadership. But in the past eight years, Republican council members have taken actions and articulated positions directly harmful to the interests of our AfricanAmerican community. I nstcad of standing for positive, good government, today’s Republican council majority has developed a Neanderthal mentality of arrogance and obstreperousness. Instead of positive, progressive governing, council Republicans have given Indianapolis reactionary, ossified leadership. One vote is all that keeps Democrats from attaining a majority on the City-County Council. African-American votes can change history and move ourcity in a more progressive direction; if African Americans come out in droves Nov. 4. The four incumbent Democratic at large councilors - Rozelle Boyd, Lonnell “King Ro” Conley, Ron Gibson, Joanne Sanders - have stood strong with Mayor Bart Peterson and for all Indianapolis citizens, not just African Americans. They deserve reelection so fill in the oval next to their names Nov. 4. Five other incumbent Democratic council members have also earned re-election. Fill in the oval on the paper ballot next to the names of SteveTalley(District 11),Monroe Gray (District 8), Mary Moriarty-Adams (District 17), Karen Horseman (District 16),

and Jackie Nytes (District 9). Also deserving of your vote. William “Duke" Oliver (District 10) and Patrice Abudullah (District 15). There are the eight Council districts where the substantial African-American populations in those districts can elect new, progressive members of the CityCounty Council, Nov. 4. Fill in the blanks next to these candidates’ names. • Firefighter and Warren Township Board member Vernon Brown (no relation) deserves your vote and support in District 18 in northeastern Warren Township, southeastern Lawrence Township and the far eastside CAFE neighborhoods. ’ • Attorney Greg Bowes has campaigned hard in District 7, which includes the neighborhoods in Pike and Wayne townships between High School and Guion Roads from 62nd Street south to Speedway. He deserves your vote. • So does Angela Mansfield, another new Democratic face in District 2; Washington Township neighborhoods along Township Line, Harcourt and Djtch Roads from 71st to 96th. • Those living in the Meadows area and neighborhoods along Keystone, Emerson, Dean Road, Binford Blvd. and Allisonville Road from 38th up to 96th Street should vote for Kip Tew, who’ll be a far better councilman than incumbent conservative Scott Schneider in District 4. • In District 6, the neighborhoods of Pike and Wayne townships west of High School Road between 21st and 62nd, Charlotte Scott will be a great councilwoman. So will Sharron Franklin, an I PD officer waging a strong campaign against Republican Neanderthal Curt Coonrod in District 12 out in the older neighborhoods of Lawrence, Fort Harrison, Oaklandon and eastern Lawrence Township. • For readers living in Broad Ripple and neighborhoods along College, Westfield Blvd., Meridian, Keystone and Spring Mill between 52nd and 96th Street, doyou really wantto re-elect chief

Republican Neanderthal James “ban Broad Ripple hip-hop" Bradford? Mike Edmonson is a moderate Democrat who’ll put people, not polemics first in District 3. • Finally, in District 1, the Pike Township neighborhoods from 62nd and 96th between Hendricks County and Guion and Payne Roads, two outstanding individuals, Issac Randolph and Ricky Hence are running for CityCounty Council. From personal experience, both Randolph and Hence would be great council members. This is my most difficult choice, but I’m for Ricky Hence in District 1. Those are my choices. You have the final decision. But only if you get out and vote Nov. 4. What I’m hearing in the streets Two months after his stunning announcement that socialite businesswoman Bren Simon would be his lieutenant governor running mate, Joe Andrew’s campaign for governor was stunned when Simon pulled out last week. Simon didn’t personally tell Andrew her decision; choosing to tell the Indianapolis Star first. “lam probably not cut out to be a candidate,” Simon told the newspaper, “I was naive about how much time was involved.” Simon, who was finance chair of Kernan’s old campaign committee, reiterated her support for the governor. Andrewtook Simon’s rejection well, saying his campaign was alive and well, though admitting to me that fund raising had “dried up” because contributors were waiting on a Kernan decision. Simon returns to private life, including running an outfit called Activote America which supposedly encourages minority voting, though our African-American community and Black media’s not aware of it. Andrew’s selection of the selfadmittedly naive Simon ranks among the worst political decisions in recent Hoosier history. Simon’s departure isn’t a fatal wound to Andrew’s campaign, but it comes close.

Levar Burton, host of PBS’ “Reading Rainbow,"“Roots’” Kunte Kinte, “Star Trek’s” Lt. Geordi LaForge is an accomplished actor and director. His movie directorial debut, “Blizzard,” opened the Heartland Film Festival. Interviewed on our WDNI-TV morning program, Burton wa!s impressive in his candor and commitment as a filmmaker and broadcaster to produce quality projects that uplift, not destroy; ***** ,, Indianapolis Star top editqr Dennis Ryerson also exhibited candor and honesty on our Channel 65 program last week saying that minority representation in the Star’s newsroom was “less than 10 percent,” a number Ryersofi says “is disappointing.” RyersOh pledges to do better. Well see. • ***** , } Former NBA great Manute Bdl spoke eloquently on our TV show about the genocide in his native Sudan. A religious and tribal pogrom that America, including African Americans, has ignoreo. Bol couldn’t understand how America fights Islamic terrorisih in the Arab world, while ignoring the problem in places like the Sudan. ***** WISH-TV/Channel 8’s Tina Cosby took strong exception -fo my Oct. 10 column criticizing them and the Circle City Classic Parade. Cosby flatly denied Channel 8 was behind the Classic Parade’s decision to ban participation of Black journalists from Channels 6 and 59. ' Cosby, though, reiterated Channel 8’s policy of excluding Channel 13’s and other AfricanAmerican television personalities from their parade broadcast. A policy that, in my view, has np place in a parade which celebrates and uplifts African-Americap achievements. See ‘ya next week. Amos Brown’s opinions are not necessarily those of The Indianapolis Recorder. You can contact him at (317)221-0915 or e-mail him qt [email protected].

Indiana Voter’s Bill of Rights Municipal General Election: November 4,2003 • Polls are open 6 a*m. until 6 p.m.

Who Can Vote? You have the right to vote in an Indiana election if •.You are a U.S. Citizen; •You are a resident of Indiana; • You will he at least 18 years of age at the next general or municipal election; • You ha\e lived in the precinct where you vote for at least 3i) days before the election; • You are not currently in prison after being convicted ofa crime; and • You are registered to vote. If tou knowing!) volt at an election when you art not authorued to vote, you ire committing a felony, and tan he fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to three yean, or both. Fail-Safe Procedures (when your name Ls not on the list) ll you arc reeivtered to vote but your name does not appear on the poll list, you are still allowed to vote if one of the following fail-safe procedures applies to you: I (trlifkalt of Error ll your name dues nol appear on the poll list because of an error by the county, ihc couniv musi issue a Certificate of Error before yoo are allowed to vote. 1" ritten SfTIrmation ll you were at i« lime registered in this precinct but your name dues not appear on ihc pill list now and you art willing 10 sign a wntten statement (or make an oral affinnation in the presence of ihc inspector or one of the judges) lhat you soil live al die address in ihe precinct that county voter registration reomb show as your former address, then you may sole altei making the statement or affumalion 3. Kwtipt from Voter RegWration II your name dues not appear on the poll list but you have a receipt from a oiler registration application form indicating lhat you applied to register al a vow registration agency while ihe registration period was siill open (before the Iasi 29 days before the election) and the county voter registration otliic does not base any record of receiving the vow registration application, then you may vote after the inhumation on your receipt is recorded on the poll list. Fail-Safe Procedures (when your rutmc or address does not match what’s on the poll list) I') noi name is on the poll list bol the name or address on the poll list does not match your current name or addic's, y ou may siill qualify to vole if one of (he following fail-safe procedures applies to you: I. Moved within the precinct or name changed II your name is on the poll list but you have moved within ihe same preund or your name has changed, you may vole if you sign the poll book with the new address or m * name 'nample married name, change of name due to divorce or adoption).

1 Moved idor than 30 days befbntkekdion, but stiiKve in the sarnecnoty and coopeaioualiliNrktIf you moved more than 30 days before the election outside of the precinct to another precinct that is still in the same county and congressional district, you may vote al your old precinct one last bme by signing an 1 affidavit provided by local election officials or by making an oral affirmation of these facts in the presence of the precinct election board, and then proceed to vote. 3. Moved wilhh the State of IidiMa iu the *130 days before the dtctiou - If you moved outside of the precinct to any other precinct in Indiana within the final 30 days before the Cj election, you may vote al your old precinct one last time by signing an affidavit provided by local election officials. „ ! 4 * 4. Moved outside the State of Indiaiia fat the lait 30 days before a pnaidcgtial decthw - If you moved from an Indiana precinct to a new residence outside of Indiana and moved within the final 30 days before Election Day, you may vole at your ok! precinct one last time by signing an affidavit provided by local election officials. However, the voter may only be given a ballot to vote for president and vice-president, lioksa you qualify to ure out of these fail-safe procedures, you are committiiig a Wouy If you vote id a pofiing piact that you know is aot your legal poOing plan. Other Voter Protections Voters Needing AswUnct - If you need assistance at the polls because you are disabled or cannot read or write English, you have the right to receive assistance to cast a vote in every election. The person assisting can be a poll worker or someone you choose. However, your employer or union representative cannot assist you. The person you choose must fill out an affidavit before assisting you to vote. ktmdVlt Polls - You have the nght to a polling place that is accessible to a person with disabilities. IhveUng Voting Boards - If you are confined due to illness or disability, you have the right to vote absentee at your place of confinement before a traveling absentee voting board. Spoiled Ballots - Your ballot is ’spoiled’ if you vote for too many candidates running for the same office or if you vote by mistake for a candidate for whom you did not intend to vote If you spoil your ballot, you may return the spoiled ballot to a poll worker and receive another ballot in order to cast a vote in that election Walling atthe Ptli a( Clo*g - If you have begun the process of voting, or are waiting in the chute to begin the process of voting belore the dosing of the polls at 6.0U p.m., you have the nghtto cast a vole in that electML “ j Challenged at the Polls J If you are challenged at the polls, you have the nghtto sign an affidavit affirming that you meet all of three 'jd voting (qualifications and to then vote. You may be challenged al the polls by another voter who believes that you do not meet ill of the requirements to vote. If you are willing to sign an affidavit affirming thai you do meet all the ; 4 requirements, you can vote. If you knowingly vote al an election when you are aot authorind to vote, you are coamUlai a fetafy and can be fluid ip te $1IM)N, jaHed far up to three yean, ar bolk Last revised: 21 August 2003