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Newest U.S. Citizens Pledge Their Allegiance

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By KEITH MORELLI

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 29, 2008

TAMPA - Maria Louisa Davis got to the United States seven years ago, but Monday she became a permanent fixture. She was one of 520 flag-waving, "Star Spangled Banner"-singing people sworn in as citizens at the Tampa Convention Center.

The 52-year-old Orlando woman said she wants to vote in the election this fall, the main reason she chose to go through the lengthy process.

Monday was the deadline for registering to vote in the Aug. 26 primary election, and it also marked 100 days until the presidential election in November.

It was expected that at least half of the new citizens, Davis included, would fill out voter registration cards at tables at the back of the room.

Davis left Colombia, she said, "because of the political and economic situation." She met her American husband there when he worked at a golf course, and both decided to make a life in the United States. They have two daughters who are U.S. citizens.

Davis said she wanted to work in a veterans hospital; she needed citizenship to do that. She also feels safer here than in Colombia, she said.

But the right to vote was the most important consideration, she said. A presidential election, wars overseas and a struggling economy sparked interest in the election from many of the new citizens.

"This is a big day because I want to vote in this election," Davis said.

Jean Cole has been in the United States for 26 of her 30 years. She married a U.S. citizen who is in the military, and they have two children who are U.S. citizens. She came here as a child from Guyana, she said, and was giddy about getting her certificate of citizenship.

"I'm finally going to be a citizen," she said with a wide grin.

The chance to vote this fall was a major factor in seeking citizenship for her, too. It wasn't before, she said: "I was younger, and it didn't matter."

The Kissimmee woman has followed national politics closely this year.

"It's been an up-and-down year in politics."

The hourlong ceremony Monday morning hit its climax when the crowd recited the Pledge of Allegiance, sang the national anthem and waved small American flags during a rousing rendition of "God Bless the USA."

Brett Rinehart, a Citizenship and Immigration Services senior agent, conducted the ceremony and pointed the crowd to the voter registration tables at the back of the room.

"The most important right of a citizen is the right to ...," his voice trailed off.

"... Vote," the pending citizens said loudly.

They hailed from 78 countries. Most, 112, were from Cuba and 52 were Mexican citizens. The rest came from far-flung places such as Belarus, Russia and Bangladesh.

Caesar Gonzmart, with the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections office in Tampa, was busy afterward handing out voter registration forms.

"Usually, we register between 275 and 400," from swearing-in ceremonies, he said.

The general election, when the United States chooses the next president, is Nov. 4. Deadline to register is Oct. 6.

Robert Frost, 37, of Winter Haven, was born in Canada and has been in the United States since 1983. It was about time he got naturalized and started voting, he said.

He raised a family in the United States, and he wants to be a civic role model for his teenage children.

"I've been here so long, and I've always wanted to vote," Frost said.

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at kmorelli@tampatrib.com or

(813) 259-7760.

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