Quincy Rallies For Change – Rally held to encourage charter amendment

On Saturday, the Citizens for Quincy Recall Committee held a rally across the street from, city hall urging local voters to sign petitions.

Tents were set up, where citizens could sign petitions to remove District 1 Commissioner Keith Dowdell and Mayor Ronte Harris, who represents District 3, from office.

The 122% Raise Committee also collected signatures requesting that commissioners amend the city’s charter adding language that will:

Reverse the 122 percent salary commissioners gave themselves, effective October 1, 2021, and return the commission’s salaries to $1,401.83 per month or $16,82196 from the $36,821.96 the commission recently voted to raise it to. Stop the commission from being able to set commissioners’ salaries. Require any future salary increases be decided by a direct vote of City of Quincy electors.

Those charter amendments were recently recommended by a grand jury that investigated whether the raises were illegal.

Although the grand jury found that the raises were legal, it concluded that the commissioners who voted for the pay raise abused the power and responsibility afforded to them.

Citizens sign a petition requesting that Quincy commissioners give back their $20,000 raises and that the commission allow voters to decide if they want the city's charters amended, preventing elected officials from setting their own salaries in the future.

If at least 10 percent of Quincy’s registered voters sign the petition, the city would be required to hold a special election this year for voters to decide if they want the charter amendment.

Harris accused the rally organizers of paying people to sign petitions.

Former Gadsden County and former Quincy commissioner Sherrie Taylor, who is on the recall and charter amendment committees said they were not paying people to sign petitions.

However, she did say they had planned to do giveaways with the money left over from donations they received.

“We were going to give the extra money to the community,” Taylor said. “Not one dollar has been disbursed.”

Taylor decided to do away with the giveaway.

“One thing I’ve learned about people is if you’re straightforward and honest with them, they appreciate it,” Taylor said.

Taylor said the rally had a very good turnout.

“It was a family setting,” Taylor said.

Citizens attend a rally held by committees aiming to remove three Quincy commissioners from office.

The recall committee chairwoman Yvette Bittle said she was pleased with the turnout as well

Some of the commissioners have accused Bittle of being paid by Taylor and Former City Manager Jack McLean.

“I come over to Quincy every day; I’m not getting paid for this, not a dime,” Bittle said. “It’s just time for a change.”

Carole Fletcher who lives in District 4, which is represented by Commissioner Freida Bass-Prieto said she came out to the rally to sign the petition urging commissioners to make the charter amendment.

“I feel like the salaries are exorbitant and it’s unfair when others that work for the city daily aren’t getting paid as much,” Fletcher said.

Another citizen, Freddie Tennell, who lives in District 5, shared why he attended the rally and signed the petitions.

“I know why I’m signing – to help get these people out of office,” Tennell said. “They’re not doing nothing for the community and they’re trying to line their pockets.

Erin Hill - erin@gadsdencountytimes.com

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Quincy Rallies For Change – Rally held to encourage charter amendment

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