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Gillum And Morgan Spar Over Gillum's Unspent Campaign Money

Andrew Gillum, Democratic gubernatorial candidate for Florida, speaks during a campaign rally attended by Former President Barack Obama, Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, in Miami.
Lynne Sladky
/
Associated Press

Former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum says John Morgan should put his money where his mouth is. Morgan recently called out Gillum for keeping some $3 million in his campaign account -- money Morgan says Gillum should use to pay the restitution fees for former felons to help them regain their right to vote.

The flare-up began with a tweet from Morgan:

“As I understand it from the Florida Rights Restoration Council, they’re still waiting on a contribution from him," Gillum said of Morgan, when asked about the Twitter spat.

"So I think the first place he ought to go if he’s genuine about this, is to make a contribution to Desmond Meade and Sheena Meade, and the work they’ve been knocking themselves out for years, that’s now been undermined by this piece of legislation.”  

Desmond Meade helped lede the effort for 2018's Amendment Four, which gave felons who've completed their sentences and haven't been convicted of murder or sexual assault, the right to vote. The Florida legislature recently passed a bill requiring felons who owe restitution to pay it before registering to vote. Opponents argue that was not part of a constitutional amendment voters approved in November.

Gillum, who ran as the Democratic nominee for Governor, has created a campaign aimed at registering one million people to vote ahead of the 2020 election cycle.

Follow @HatterLynn

Lynn Hatter is a Florida A&M University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Lynn has served as reporter/producer for WFSU since 2007 with education and health care issues as her key coverage areas.  She is an award-winning member of the Capital Press Corps and has participated in the NPR Kaiser Health News Reporting Partnership and NPR Education Initiative. 

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