Tallahassee Democrat from Tallahassee, Florida • Page 14

gBTallahassee Democrat Wednesday, March 29, 2006 Local HT.TAIMHSSi:K.fom girasitains-gsffilhiepinig fell Imdi for dlefesifi a dozen different criminal penalties for forging someone's name, submitting false information on petitions or paying employees for each signature they gathered. Those provisions were left out of Posey's bill, and one Democrat on the committee, Sen. Walter "Skip" Campbell, called it "far superior to the last bill." Posey said his version set up a system of accountability rather than "throwing people in jail." Another Democrat who voted against the previous bill, Sen. Nan Rich, D-Sunrise, also changed her vote in favor of the new bill. By Aaron Deslatte CAPITOL BUREAU The Florida Senate's elections chief has revived a business-backed effort to fight fraud by groups trying to amend the state constitution.

A bill heavily lobbied by the Florida Chamber of Commerce that would have criminalized some previously legal paid-signature-gathering activities was stuck in a leadership fight in the Senate as recently as last week. Senate Ethics and Elections Chairman Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, this morning resuscitated some chance," Posey told Kiser. Riser's organization was one that successfully collected enough signatures to ask voters this November to bump up spending on youth anti-smoking programs. Other groups have argued the proposal would submit legitimate signature-gathering groups to unnecessary hardships and indignities by making their paid signature gatherers wear pins that say "PAID PETITION CIRCULATOR" and to submit petitions to counties sooner than they usually do. The previous version would have imposed about legally did so.

"The harassment that would occur for the voter who signed a petition at the grocery store or Audubon meeting that could have a chilling effect," said Kiser, a former state senator from Pinellas County. That comment provoked an exchange with Posey, who said he'd held a grudge for 30 years since a signature group misled his mother into signing a petition he opposed as a Rock-ledge City Council member. "I've kind of harbored a desire to do something about phony signature gatherers and this is my way onto ballots. Groups such as ACORN, Common Cause and the Florida Public Interest Research Group have countered that big businesses don't like the amendments voters have passed, such as raising the state minimum wage and mandating smaller class sizes in schools. Former GOP legislator Curt Kiser, a lobbyist for the American Cancer Society, said the language would dissuade voters from signing petitions because it would allow opponents to take any voter who signed it to court to prove they provisions of the bill in his and included a provision that drew quick crit SESSION 2006 icism from signature-gathering groups.

Business groups have complained for years that Florida's process for citizens to amend the constitution has been hijacked by special-interest groups who raise millions of dollars to pay signature gatherers and buy their Deputy shoots suspect grows for Gilmore search -di Anonymous Reward $30)000 STOPPER Special to the Democrat Billboards requesting information on missing Ali Gilmore will be erected along Lake Bradford and Jackson Bluff roads, Capital Circle and Crawfordville Road and on Tennessee Street. Reward By TaMaryn Waters DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER Efforts continue to grow in the search for Ali Gilmore. With the help of an anonymous donation from a local business, the Big Bend CrimeStoppers reward has swelled to $30,000. A billboard at Paul Russell Road and Monroe Street was erected more than three weeks ago. Now, three more billboards will go up Lake Bradford and Jackson Bluff roads, Capital Circle and Crawfordville Road and on Tennessee Street.

Gilmore was four-months pregnant when she was reported missing Feb. 6. She worked at the state Department of Health and part time at Publix on Apalachee Parkway. Allen Stucks, executive director of CrimeStoppers, said he's received calls from several businesses wanting to help the search efforts. New and familiar faces stop by the Village Pizza and Pasta Restaurant in Tallahassee every day, but owner Adam Bardhi remembers seeing Ali Gilmore's face quite often among those hungry patrons.

He's been wanting to FilOrl '2200 15-YEIin IVADRANTY Pro Pools. Inc. 1752 Old BalRbililgs 224-0074 in ftfiiinrss Since 197? 1 the HOW TO HELP Big Bend CrimeStoppers is offering a $30,000 award for information leading to Ali Gilmore's whereabouts. Call CrimeStoppers at 891-4357 or TPD at 891-4200. help with the search efforts.

On Sunday, the restaurant established a $2 discount on large pizzas in exchange for a financial donation for CrimeStoppers. A $500-reward sign for a missing dog gave Bardhi the push he needed to get involved. He remembered seeing the first $1,000 reward for Gilmore two months ago, and he thought people should do more to help find a human being. "I know we can do better than that," he remembers Man wanted in connection with another shooting By Daniela Velazquez DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER A man was shot by law enforcement in Gadsden County on Monday night after a chase and standoff with deputies. Cedric Goodson, 33, allegedly shot a man in the arm on Lonnie Clark Road about 10:30 p.m.

When Gadsden deputies arrived at the scene, Goodson was fleeing in his car. Deputies and Sheriff Morris Young followed Goodson's car for about 40 minutes as he went into Liberty County and finally ended up back in Gadsden County in Chattahoochee. He crashed his car in a wooded area near his home. About 12 law-enforcement officers, including deputies from Gadsden County and police from Quincy and Chattahoochee, surrounded Goodson's car as he threatened to kill himself. "Four or five times he put the gun up to his temple," Young said.

Goodson then got out of the car, gun still in hand, and went toward his house, but officers didn't Dimmit- "A contemporary concept with worl4 Antiques Reproductions Lighting Accessories Rugs Come visit lis downstairs Mitltown Design Center their daughter," Stucks said. He's hoping the added billboards will trigger someone's memory. Tallahassee, police Sgt. Jeff Johnson, who heads the homicide-and-assault unit, said police are still searching for clues. Police suspect foul play based on the amount of time she's been missing.

"As we move in this case, there has been nothing that indicates specifically where she is or what happened," he said. Police and members of Gilmore's family have appeared on several national news shows, pleading for information. Johnson said the national attention has generated more tips, but her whereabouts remain a mystery. Contact TaMaryn Waters at (850) 599-2162 or tlwaterstallahassee.com. FREE Unlock The suspect, Cedric Goodson, 33, remains in stable condition.

know at the time the place was his residence. "We gave him a verbal command to stop and put the gun down," Young said. Goodson kept moving with the gun pointed in the air, Young said. He was shot by an officer once in his lower backabdomen area, he said. A Gadsden County deputy shot Goodson, Young said.

The deputy is now on leave with pay pending an investigation, which is routine in cases of police shootings. Goodson was taken to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, where he remains in stable condition. He will be taken to the Gadsden County Jail, where he will be charged with attempted murder. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will assist the Gadsden County Sheriffs Office with the investigation. The victim, shot in the arm, was treated and released from the hospital.

Contact reporter Daniela Velazquez at (850) 599-2161 or dvelazqueztallahassee.com. mmmi ooseuo thinking. "We want to help people not to forget her." So far, he's collected $30. Stucks, said he was happy to see the restaurant showing an interest in finding Gilmore. "I went out there and met (the owner)," Stucks said.

Before sealing the partnership, he wanted to meet the owners to make sure the act was in the best interest of Gilmore's family. "I was confident the interest in the assistance of Ali Gilmore was sincere and not an advancement for their business." He said he's gotten calls from other local business wanting to help, too. "We want to give the family a sense of comfort that we are doing everything humanly possible to continue the search for URBAN LEGENDS 1 2005 may 1 4, 2006 A 0700 'it program sponsored in part Gty of Taltewancl the usmmisstoft. L. L- Berton wWi a tiuMtrv rtoukti an KcofrmodtfkM to psrtklpata tf ipecitl tatng trrangmtftti nwdtid, mnty-tw (72 rtownpntetothtflvfiit There's opportunity here opporituniliy.

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