The audience at the Lee County Board of Commissioners meeting on Aug. 20, during a ceremony honoring county employees. (Image: LCBC)
Aug. 22, 2024 by David Silverberg with reporting by Dan Becker
The Lee County Board of Commissioners chose not to take any action on a proposed resolution opposing Amendment 4 at its meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 20.
Amendment 4 is a ballot initiative that would amend the Florida state Constitution to prevent government interference on abortion decisions. It is up for a vote in the general election on Nov. 5.
At its previous Aug. 6 meeting, Board Chair Mike Greenwell (R-District 5) instructed county staff to study and research neighboring Collier County’s anti-Amendment 4 resolution and return with their findings. A report was not made at this meeting.
Although the resolution was not considered, activists on both sides of the debate presented arguments to commissioners. About 20 people testified for a resolution and 10 testified against it.
Arguments for passage of a resolution largely ran along religious lines. One example was made by Lee County resident Aaron Gardner.
“I stand again before you this morning exhorting you to speak against this vague and deceitful George Soros-funded Marxist amendment by voting in favor of the proposed resolution,” he said.
Aaron Gardner (Image: LCBC)
Kathy Mayo, president of the local chapter of the National Organization for Women, spoke out against passing a resolution.
Recounting that as she entered the building she had been approached by a man who told her she was going to Hell because of her beliefs, Mayo warned the commissioners against getting involved in such an emotional issue.
Kathy Mayo (Image: LCBC)
“Many people want you to help influence this citizen-initiated ballot issue by passing a resolution to oppose Amendment 4,” she told the commissioners. “This is not your role. It may be tempting to step into the process but the Commission should neither endorse nor participate in any effort that undermines the democratic process. Your role is important and today is a great example; we saw the range of responsibilities of agencies that you have responsibility for funding for making sure that those services work but making a decision about abortion is not one of your roles. Please do not jump into this issue and do not contribute to politicizing a citizen-initiated ballot.”
Lisa Nagy, a former registered nurse and sexual assault nurse examiner, said she had seen a great deal of misinformation disseminated about Amendment 4.
Lisa Nagy (Image: LCBC)
“I've heard a lot about trafficking is going to increase and rapists are going to flock to our state,” she said. “This amendment does nothing [and] has nothing to do with anything about that. We just had abortion legal in this state a couple of years ago, up to 24 weeks, [and] we didn't have a rapists flocking to our state two years ago.”
Passing an anti-Amendment 4 resolution would just spread more disinformation, she argued, saying “this just should be a vote by the people. This is an amendment by the people, for the people, for us to vote on and I ask you not to make a resolution, not to weigh in and please do not spread any more misinformation.”
A resolution may be introduced and considered at a future Board meeting. Meetings are scheduled for the first and third Tuesdays of each month: Sept. 3 and 17; Oct. 1 and 15; and a meeting is scheduled for Election Day, Nov. 5.
Liberty lives in light
© 2024 by David Silverberg
The flag of Lee County, Fla.