Letter to the editor: Great leadership is building consensus among everyone

I continue to wonder how the mayor and county chair sleep at night, knowing the condition of Sumter. Great leaders are able to build consensus among the people. Yes, in this country the majority rules, but we should always be mindful of not abusing the minority. There are two major referendums on the November 2024 ballot. I have yet to hear or see any action taken by the mayor and the county chair to build consensus on either referendum.

The first referendum is amending the South Carolina Constitution. The question is: "Must Section 4. Article II of the Constitution of this State, relating to voter qualification, be amended so as to provide that only citizens of the United States of the age of eighteen and upwards who are properly registered are entitled to vote as provided by law?" Yes, in Favor of the Question or No, Opposed to the Question. I believe the mayor, county chair and civil rights organizations should explain to the people the effect of this question.

The second referendum is the Capital Project (Penny) Sales Tax. "A special One Percent Sales and Use Tax be imposed in Sumter County for not more than eight years to begin May 1, 2025, to raise the amounts specified for the following purpose and in order to pay the costs of the projects described." Yes, in Favor of the Question. No, Opposed to the Question.

The Penny Sales Tax is not a question of whether we should build pickleball courts or pave dirt roads. The issue is what are our priorities in Sumter County? Again, great leadership is building consensus.

Patriotism is not only freedom and liberty. Uncommon Patriotism is one's love for his neighbor.

#A United Sumter, GOD Bless the U.S.A.

REGINALD EVANS

Sumter