TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — As we approach the election, we want to know what matters to you this election.
We're launching our Why I Vote campaign, giving a voice to communities across the Big Bend and South Georgia heading into November.
Our second stop is with two small business owners.
Kenneth Mickens and Jennifer Young both run small businesses in Tallahassee.
"I'm just a resident of Tallahassee who is very concerned about the way things are," said Mickens.
Both Young and Mickens have been voting for many years.
"I just want to make sure that they look out for the little people," Young said.
Mickens owns a store in Frenchtown.
"I'm running out of goods and things I sell in the store," said Mickens.
Young owns T.C. Bakery on the Southside where she says she's the only black baker in that part of town.
Young says, so far, the pandemic has cost her about 60 percent of her business this year, giving her even more reason to vote in the 2020 election, especially on local elections.
"I want to make sure that they're allocating dollars to this community," Young said.
While to the north, Mickens has healthcare on his mind.
"I have two kids," said Mickens. "They need the healthcare. The prices for health insurance are extremely high."
A small business owner for 20 years he's just trying to keep his store open and provide for his family.
"There's no money for groceries," Mickens said. "There's no money for food and children."
While the economy and healthcare are behind the reason they vote, they want to encourage others to do the same.
"My daughter just turned 18," said Young. "That's the first thing I had her go do."
Mickens said he doubts the people in Washington think about people like him and our communities.
"The people who are making the decisions for us seem only concerned about themselves," said Mickens.
Mickens says he's been voting for the past 12 years after having his rights restored as a former felon.
Young's bakery just celebrated its one-year anniversary in August.
That's why they vote.
We want you to tell us why you vote, what's sending you to the polls this election. You can do it right now, underneath the Why I Vote story at the top of the WTXL Tallahassee Facebook page.
Or share with us using the hashtag #ABC27WhyIVote.
As we approach the election, we want to know: why do you vote? We're launching our Why I Vote campaign, giving a voice...
Posted by WTXL Tallahassee on Sunday, October 4, 2020
