Another article, notice the names of 2 politicians from Jacsonville that voted against.
Saturday, March 7, 1998
Story last updated at 11:22 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 1998
Electric chair state House's executioner of choice
By Jim Saunders
Times-Union staff writer
TALLAHASSEE - With executions set to resume in less than three weeks, the House yesterday sent an overwhelming message to the state Supreme Court:
Florida should continue using the electric chair. House members voted 103-6 to keep electrocution as the state's method of execution and switch to lethal injection
only if the chair is ruled unconstitutional. The Supreme Court touched off a debate about the chair's future in October when it urged a change to lethal injection.
Among the six dissenting votes were Jacksonville Democrats Willye Dennis and Tony Hill. Dennis said she voted against the bill because she opposes the death penalty.
Rep. Victor Crist, chairman of the House Justice Council, said the vote reflected the public's desire to see the death penalty carried out.
''I think we've made a strong step forward today to ensure justice in the state of Florida for crime victims,'' said Crist,
a Temple Terrace Republican who has led the House's death-penalty efforts.
The House also overwhelmingly passed a proposal that would ask voters in September whether they want to put the death penalty in the state constitution.
The vote was 93-18, with Dennis and Hill again among the dissenters. All other Jacksonville-area lawmakers supported both bills.
The Senate is scheduled to vote on similar death-penalty bills Monday. State officials are scheduled to resume executing Death Row inmates on March 23,
about a year after flames shot out during the execution of Pedro Medina.
The flawed execution spurred a lengthy legal battle over whether the chair violates the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
In a case brought by convicted Jacksonville cop killer Leo Jones, the Supreme Court voted 4-3 in October to uphold the chair's use but urged lawmakers to
switch to lethal injection. Jones, who is scheduled to be put to death March 24, is one of four inmates slated for execution late this month.
The House votes yesterday came after little debate. A proposal to switch to lethal injection for future Death Row inmates was voted down earlier in the week.
The bill calling for a referendum on adding the death penalty to the constitution is aimed at making sure death sentences are carried out. Among
other things, it would guarantee that death sentences remain in effect if the state's method of execution is ruled unconstitutional.
Yesterday's lengthiest debate focused on a proposal by House leaders to hold the referendum during the September primary election, rather than during the
November general election. Speaker-designate John Thrasher, R-Orange Park, argued the referendum should be held in September because several other proposed constitutional
Amendments could be on the November ballot. He said the death-penalty measure needs to be kept separate because of its importance.
But other legislators said holding the referendum in September will limit the number of people who vote. Many people don't vote in primaries because they
are not members of either major party or because their parties don't have primary races.
''I'm for the death penalty,'' said Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami. ''I just think it should be in the general election to give everyone a chance to vote on it.''
The proposal to hold the referendum in September passed 89-22.