Florida Covenanters Weigh In On Vote

ORLANDO, FL (November 9, 2000) - The tightly contested presidential race between Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore is down to the wire in Florida - a few hundred votes may make or break the election.

For many Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) members in Florida, the drama has made for some lively discussion. The situation has given many cause for reflection about their role as a voter in the most powerful nation on earth.

"My secretary and I were just talking about it - she voted one way and I voted another," said Kurt Miericke, superintendent of the Southeast Conference. "One thing that could concern me is that it could drag out for weeks and if this thing is close, within a few hundred votes, there's not going to be peace on either side. I'm concerned about the country right now. Can we handle such a close election? Will there be some huge lawsuit to keep someone from office and tie up politics?" he continued.

"It's gotten so that I don't watch the news anymore," Miericke said. "There's so much pressure. And it's on everybody's mind right now. My wife is a high school teacher and all the kids are talking about it, too."

"We're kind of the center of attention right now, but I think a lot of people wish it was over," said Neil Peterson, pastor of Venice Isle Evangelical Covenant Church. "The Democratic people are hoping that Al Gore's gonna pull it out and Republicans are thinking that George W. Bush is going to win."

On November 7, it seemed early on that Al Gore would win the state. Major news media had declared Gore the winner in Florida shortly after the polls there closed. Then, many pulled Florida out of the Gore column and declared it belonged to Bush. Eventually, all pulled Florida off the table and declared the situation too close to call. That was just the beginning of a topsy-turvy series of events that likely won't be over for days to come.

For a time following the close of polls, some thought certain ballot boxes were lost. They were accounted for, but the vote count was further delayed, adding to the frustration in both political camps. It was discovered in West Palm Beach that some ballots had punches for more than one presidential candidate, resulting in some 19,000 ballots being declared null and void. One million absentee ballots have further slowed the vote count. Florida law required an automatic recount, given the small winning margin.

"At Palmetto Covenant Church this happened . . . during a 14-day prayer and fasting mode," said Anita Carey, assistant pastor with husband, Ed, at the church. "We were at the altar last night crying out for the man after His own heart to be in the White House."

How has the vote affected individual families? "My vote does matter," said Karen Brintnall, whose husband Kevin pastors Audubon Park Covenant Church in Orlando, Florida. "But who knew how this was going to end up? I'll be interested four years from now to see how the voting process will change because of this."

Kevin Brintnall is convinced the tightness of the race will have an impact. "I'm just hoping that politicians on both sides of the aisle are paying attention to how close this vote is," he said. "It underscores the need for them to work together in a bipartisan manner."

Printable version of this page.