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Lee County commissioners vote on resolution opposing abortion referendum

By Nathan Mayberg - Editor | Sep 3, 2024

"It’s a very hot subject obviously. There is no right answer. We are a divided country but we should always understand that we can always help the unborn," said Lee County Board of County Commissioners Chair Mike Greenwell before a vote by the county commissioners opposing Amendment 4, the state ballot initiative that would block state government interference in abortions. File photo

The Lee County Board of County Commissioners voted 4-1 to oppose Amendment 4, the statewide referendum on the November ballot to limit government interference with abortion, which would overturn the state law currently limiting abortions to within six weeks of pregnancy.

The vote followed more than two hours of public comment from a bitterly divided public.

Lee County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Mike Greenwell said the resolution was intended to oppose language in the amendment “because it is very vague.”

Greenwell said the resolution was meant to encourage voters to read the language of the amendment.

“I think the language is vague for a reason,” Greenwell said. “There is something wrong here and I think it’s important that we bring that up.”

State Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, who represents part of Lee County, shepherded legislation through the State House last year that instituted a six-week ban on abortion. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

Though he said the vote by the county commissioners was not meant to oppose the right of the voters to weigh in on abortion, Greenwell said “It’s a very hot subject obviously. There is no right answer. We are a divided country but we should always understand that we can always help the unborn.”

Lee County resident Melissa Isley accused the county commissioners of using their political positions to influence a statewide voter referendum.

“You are using your seats to grandstand about a personal medical issue. This is a disappointing misuse of your power,” Isley said.

Opponents suggested that the Republican county commissioners were voting at the bequest of state Republican party leaders. Isley said she believed State Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, who shepherded the state’s six-week abortion ban through the State House, was holding influence over the county commissioners.

Persons-Mulicka and State Senator Jonathan Martin appeared in front of the county commissioners Tuesday to call on the county commissioners to urge a vote against Amendment 4.

Persons-Mulicka called Amendment 4 “deceptive” and “extreme.”

“If you don’t believe that our Constitution should enshrine the right to taxpayer-funded abortions on demand without parental consent up to birth you should vote no,” Persons-Mulicka said. “It will tie our hands in the legislature.”

Senator Jonathan Martin, who stood next to Persons-Mulicka during her comments, said “I echo those words.”

Rick Carter, a self-described born-again Christian, compared the voting on Amendment 4 to a bill that would re-introduce slavery.

“You can not be neutral on this,” Carter said.

The debate from the public Tuesday in the chambers of the county commissioners on Tuesday often veered into religious opinions where some cited their religion as reasons to oppose Amendment 4.

Those who supported Amendment 4 included speakers who shared emotional personal stories of being victims of abuse that led them to seek an abortion.

Under the abortion law approved by the state legislature and signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis last year, abortions are now limited in Florida to within six weeks of pregnancy. Opponents have argued that most women are not aware of their own pregnancies until a month or longer, leaving little time for an abortion.

District 4 Commissioner Brian Hamman called some of the stories of speakers who spoke in favor of pro-choice were “heartbreaking” and “gut-wrenching” as he cited personal religious feelings and said he expressed “empathy” for those he disagreed with.

“This language is very broad. It is very open to interpretation,” Hamman said. “I think voters need to be aware that this is something that deserved a second look.”

District 1 Commissioner Kevin Ruane said he was asked recently why the county commissioners were weighing in on the matter.

“I think the language is far too vague,” Ruane said. “It’s opposing the vagueness in the wording (of Amendment 4).”

District 2 Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass said he thinks Democrats were using “an emotional issue” through Amendment 4 “to drive people to the polls.”

District 3 Commissioner Ray Sandelli said he was personally “pro-life” and said the subject was personal in nature. He said he has “taken back” when he was asked why the county commissioners were taking part in the vote.

“In the end, this will be decided by all of us at election time,” Sandelli said. “My constituency is all of Lee County whether it is a yes vote or a no vote.” Sandelli said he would not adopt the resolution.

The commissioners voted 4-1 on the resolution, with Sandelli the lone dissenter.

A couple members of the public yelled at the commissioners after the vote that “You should be ashamed of yourselves. It has nothing to do with voting and everything to do with controlling women and you know it.”

The vote by the Lee County commissioners comes three months after the Collier County Board of County Commissioners also voted on a symbolic resolution opposing Amendment 4.