http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.d ... 40331/1006

September 14, 2006

Group aims to revive immigration measure

Petition would force new vote on heated issue


BY LINDA JUMP
FLORIDA TODAY

A political action committee will soon collect signatures to try to force another vote on an illegal workers law that was defeated last month.

The group, calling itself the Silent Majority of Florida, formed to renew efforts for sanctions against employers with illegal workers in the city. On Aug. 17, the council turned down the ordinance.

"This is not a partisan issue. This is an American issue," said David Isnardi, one of the organizers and a friend of Councilman Andy Anderson's, who suggested the ordinance.

The group will seek the 5,267 qualified signatures needed for a referendum. The ordinance won't have an expiration provision, as the council's revised version did, and references to the council are replaced with "the people." Otherwise the ordinance is identical.

City Clerk Alice Passmore said the first quarterly financial report for the Silent Majority is due Oct. 10. A special election would cost the city at least $65,000.

The county's supervisor of elections verifies each signature at a cost of 10 cents each, paid by the political action committee.

If enough signatures are obtained, the ordinance is resubmitted to the council for action. If council members don't pass the ordinance, it will go to a special election or the fall 2007 ballot. It's too late for the fall 2006 election.

Isnardi said the committee has raised about $500.

The committee will obtain a list of voters and "knock on doors for signatures," Isnardi said. The group's Web site will also designate times and sites where voters can sign.

Sybrina Anderson, Andy Anderson's wife, said some Brevard residents want information about petitioning in other cities. James Johnston, a member of the Minuteman Project, a national group monitoring immigration, will seek signatures in Rockledge.

"We need to get rid of foreign criminals. They're a national security crisis," he said.

Anderson said the ordinance is not only about businesses but also health, safety and crime.

"There is no immunization program for children in Mexico like there is in the U.S. With diseases like the antibiotic-resistant (tuberculosis), that's a problem."

Christy Scarsella of Palm Bay said the issue is too inflammatory to bring back again.

Michele Paccione of Palm Bay is also unhappy the issue will resurface. "They just want white America," she said of the Silent Majority. "They're not tolerant of diversity."

Martha Lushman, who rallied against the ordinance's passage, said the Silent Majority has the right to petition.

"But we'll continue educating people and encouraging residents to write their legislators to solve this nationally, so it doesn't divide our community."