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VOLUME 113 ISSUE 26
MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2018 Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida
Not officially associated with the University of Florida
Reitz Union opens for early voting By Jessica Curbelo Alligator Staff Writer
The fight to get early voting on Florida campuses lasted longer than Megan Newsome’s undergraduate career. The 22-yearold astrophysics researcher said she’ll be at the Reitz Union to cast her ballot during early voting this election. Anyone registered to vote in Alachua County can vote in Room G-50, next to the hotel entrance, starting at 9 a.m.
ELECTION COVERAGE
today. “A lot of students didn’t know why we were fighting for so long,” Newsome said. “All the work was worthwhile.” Newsome and other members of UF Vote Everywhere, a group aimed to increase voter turnout, spent four years reaching out to politicians like the Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner and State Rep. Chuck Clemons for support. They were met with rejection every time, Newsome said. Newsome and Jaime Roy, another Vote Everywhere ambassador, filed the lawsuit in May with the Florida League of Women Voters and the Andrew Goodman Foundation, which funds Vote Everywhere.
A judge’s injunction in July allowed for on-campus early voting locations for the 2018 midterm elections, Newsome said. “You don’t have voting rights without voting access,” she said. TJ Pyche, the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections spokesperson, said the polling station costs a total of $35,416 to run. The on-campus location is an opportunity for people to vote in between work and classes, Pyche said. “The goal is to make sure that everyone who is eligible to vote does vote,” he said. @jesscurbelo jcurbelo@alligator.org
Gainesville shows its Pride during annual festival
Ballot guide:
Here are the candidates running for office statewide and locally: Florida Governor: Ron DeSantis Andrew Gillum United States Senator Rick Scott Bill Nelson U.S. Representative District 3 Yvonne Hayes Hinson Ted Yoho State Senate District 8 Kayser Enneking Keith Perry State Representative District 10 Chuck Brannan Ronald Williams II State Representative District 21 Chuck Clemons Jason Lee Haeseler County Commission District 2 Marihelen Haddock Wheeler Scott Costello School Board District 1 Gunnar Paulson April Barefoot Tisher County Judge Craig DeThomasis Meshon Rawls
In addition to candidates, there are 12 state constitutional amendments and two referendums for Alachua County on the ballot:
Aaron Ritter / Alligator Staff
Seven-year-old Elizabeth Poe, daughter of Gainesville Mayor Lauren Poe, sits on a parade float Saturday afternoon during the the Gainesville Pride Parade. “Pride gets bigger and better and more celebratory every year,” Lauren Poe said.
ABOUT 5,000 PEOPLE CAME TO THE FESTIVAL. By Lindsey Breneman Alligator Staff Writer
Clea DuBrawl rolled down University Avenue alongside a pack of about 20 roller derby skaters gripping pride flags Saturday afternoon.
Historical implications of UF-UGA
DuBrawl, 29, who goes by Ashley Flattery outside of the roller rink, came to the annual Gainesville Pride Festival and Parade with the Gainesville Roller Rebels. The group tore through the street on their skates while holding a banner that read “GRR’s got Pride.” Hundreds of people donning rainbow attire marched downtown at noon during the parade, which was hosted by the Pride Community Center of North Central Flori-
The winner of the Florida-Georgia game has usually gone on to the SEC Championship. This year may mean a little more, pg. 17
da. About 5,000 people attended the festival throughout the day, said Terry Fleming, the center’s co-president. The Gainesville Roller Rebels participate in the festival every year because many of the team members are in the LGBTQ+ community, Flattery said. “Pride’s about having a really cool community like our roller derby team,” she said.
The Alligator will have a new general manager He’ll be the third to hold the position in 71 years, pg. 10
SEE PRIDE, PAGE 3
Amendment 1: Increased Homestead Property Tax Exemption Amendment 2: Limitations on Property Tax Assessments Amendment 3: Voter Control on Gambling in Florida Amendment 4: Voting Restoration Amendment Amendment 5: Supermajority Vote Required to Impose, Authorize or Raise State Taxes or Fees Amendment 6: Rights of Crime Victims; Judges Amendment 7: First Responder and Military Member Survivor Benefits; Public Colleges and Universities Amendment 9: Prohibits Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling; Prohibits Vaping in Enclosed Indoor Workplaces Amendment 10: State and Local Government Structure and Operation Amendment 11: Property Rights; Removal of Obsolete Provision; Criminal Statutes Amendment 12: Lobbying and Abuse of Office by Public Officers Amendment 13: Ends Dog Racing
County Referendums: Children’s Trust of Alachua County - Authority to Levy OneHalf Mill Ad Valorem Taxes Half-Cent Sales Surtax to Improve School Facilities Municipal Referendums: Creation of the Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority City of Gainesville Charter Amendment City Commission Elections and Terms of Office Visit page 10 for more information
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Tom Petty gets a park
On the late rock star’s birthday celebration, the city held the official naming ceremony, pg. 4
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