Fort Myers News-Press “Betty Parker: Donor Wins Contest”
A Lee County woman, Miriam Sexton, won an online drawing among donors to U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek's U.S. Senate campaign, and will be on pit row today in NASCAR's Daytona races with Meek, who sponsored a race car.
Sexton, a retired clinical psychologist, lives in North Fort Myers, and said she's thrilled at "a once-in-a-lifetime chance to spend the day with a congressman and watch the race" from that vantage point. Sexton, a Democrat, said Meek's background as a Florida Highway Patrol trooper is part of his appeal.
"All Republicans talk about is Crist fighting Rubio, and that hug. If that's their idea of important issues, no wonder we're in so much trouble," she said. "Once you start looking at Meek, you see he's got the background and the ideas to really lead."
Meek is serving his fourth term in Congress. Before that, he spent seven years in the Florida legislature, and spearheaded the class-size amendment that gained constitutional approval from the voters.
Sexton said she donated only $5 in response to an online fund-raising contest by the Meek campaign. "I support him so I thought why not take a chance. I never dreamed I'd win," she said, adding that she hopes her success will help others realize that even small donations can make a difference.