Andrew Gillum is the current mayor of Tallahassee, Florida’s capital city, and has been since 2014. He is the Democratic nominee this 2018 election. Here’s why you should vote for him in November:
Gillum is a true Floridian and unlike other Tallahassee politicians. He was born in Miami to hard-working parents: his mother, a bus driver, and his father, a construction worker. He went to grade school in Gainesville and later attended Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) to study political science. While his Republican opponent Ron DeSantis attended Yale and Harvard, Gillum connected to people in this state. During his time at FAMU, he dedicated some focus to African American issues; he worked with the Black Youth Vote Coalition and was recognized by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation as “Emerging Leader for 2003.” His impact was enormous. He was elected to the Tallahassee City Commission before graduating from FAMU at the age of 23, making him the city’s youngest commissioner ever. Gillum has shown early on that he is a hard-worker who has earned all of his achievements through education and perseverance while never turning away from the community that raised him. To Gillum, all Floridians matter.
Gillum believes in supporting the working class: Gillum understands that many families are struggling in Florida today. Gillum himself is from humble beginnings and fully credits public education for giving him the tools he needed to come into the successful career he has now. Gillum wants to ensure that all children are given the same opportunity that he was lucky enough to have. For this reason, Gillum has created a “Fair Share” tax plan that would require corporations to pay more of their fair share in taxes by raising the state corporate tax to 7.75 percent, and the state would put that money toward better public education by increasing teacher’s salaries to a base of $50,000 and creating more vocational and technical programs. He is against for-profit charter schools that drain the resources of public education, and he is very interested in making college more affordable and debt-free. Gillum also supports paid family leave, lessened local business taxes and a $15 minimum wage to help workers and their families get a leg up, creating a more stable Florida economy reliant on workers rather than the unpredictable nature of tourism. His plan to convert the state to one of “clean energy” to prevent climate change will also create more jobs within the state.
Gillum cares about all Floridians: Gillum is opposed to Florida’s Stand Your Ground law and the public safety issue it has caused for black youth like Trayvon Martin and Markeis McGlockton who were shot and killed in this state. Broward County, and the entire state, suffered tremendously and still does because of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School earlier this year, and just over two years ago, we mourned those lost in Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. Gillum is not going to sweep that under the rug. He is in favor of stricter gun laws and holding the National Rifle Association (NRA) responsible. He is in favor of thorough background checks for gun owners and a ban on assault weapons. He is also looking to make the streets safer for women by closing the “Boyfriend Loophole,” which would mean prohibiting gun possession for those with felony and misdemeanor domestic violence and stalking convictions. Gillum also sees health care as a right that all people should have, and he will work to support Planned Parenthood and expand Medicaid. He does not want families to struggle over health care, and he certainly is against women or those with preexisting conditions having to pay more for their care. Gillum stands with immigrants and believes in compassionate immigration policies that would never allow for separating families as Trump has done. He is also dedicated to the rights of the LGBTQ community and will defend them against discrimination of any kind. Finally, he supports the restoration of voting rights for former felons who have served their time, which is Amendment 4 on the Florida ballot this November. He believes in learning from mistakes and continuing to contribute to society positively and that all people matter and should be considered in our elections. If you agree, vote “yes” on four to see more fair representation in our elections.
Mayor Andrew Gillum is endorsed by former 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders. He is a progressive who will moderate Trump’s actions and see that all Floridians are treated fairly and with dignity. He has even called for Trump’s impeachment based on his ineffective leadership and poor handling of issues.
