For Lynn Bozone, the amendment that would make Stockton a Landmark District isn’t just another line on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Bozone is a Stockton native who has spent much of her adult life learning, chronicling and fighting to save Stockton’s rich history. Her mother, Davita Hastie, who died in 2009, was Stockton’s go-to historian, and Bozone promised her she’d continue the tradition.

“The most important thing I’ve ever done is follow my mother around,” Bozone said. “Most of her friends became my friends, and they are my friends more than people my age. That’s the way I got involved in history, and I learned so much from her about the history of this county and Stockton.”

Inspired by her mother’s legacy, Bozone has written two books — one about William Weatherford, and another about the history of Stockton, which is set to be released sometime before Christmas.

She is also a member of several clubs and is on the board of many historical organizations, but right now, Bozone’s main occupation is political organizer. Bozone has organized the small, grassroots campaign that has spread the word about the the Stockton Landmark District Amendment.

The Stockton Landmark District Amendment, also known as Amendment 3, would prohibit another municipality from annexing the unincorporated community without a vote from Stockton residents.

“Any community — this would not have to be just Stockton, but any small community that has been known as one place for years — When somebody comes in and you are absorbed into another place without having any choice whether you are or you’re not, then the pride you used to have for where you live ceases to exist because it’s not that place anymore,” Bozone said.

She said she knows many people don’t see this as an important issue because they may not feel so connected to any one place.

“I know that today we have a more mobilized society,” Bozone said. “People don’t have roots, and they move from one place to another place to another place. But when you’ve got a past, and that past is related to where you’ve been all your life, all of that is snatched away when that name changes and you’re something else.”

Last year, Baldwin County residents voted against the Stockton Landmark District Amendment, but by a small margin.

Bozone said it was mainly a result of Local Amendment One, also known as the rain tax, being included on the same ballot.

“It was a very, very unpopular vote for the majority of the people in the county,” she said. “You couldn’t walk 10 feet without seeing ‘Vote no.’”

This year, the amendment was accidentally put on the statewide ballot. This presented additional challenges, but several volunteers have traveled all over the state to educate voters about the issue. Bozone said she is so grateful for the dedication of the other volunteers.

“It’s all in God’s hands,” Bozone said. “If it passes in the county and it passes in Stockton, I’d feel really good because I know we could turn around and do it again and win the county.”

The sooner the amendment passes, the sooner Stockton can start investing more time and money to projects that will actively preserve its history, she said.

“We have wasted a lot of time and a lot of money that could be put on the museum or other projects,” Bozone said. “You don’t want to improve too much, because when (the city) gets too appetizing looking, then you’re just hurting yourself, because it just makes (other municipalities) want you even more. We need to put up something that will protect us, and then we can move forward.”

John Jackson, director of the Baldwin County Department of Archives and History, said Bozone is the perfect spokesperson for Stockton.

“She has carried on the legacy of her mom very well in protecting, preserving and expanding the history in Stockton and all of Baldwin County,” Jackson said. “She works hard every day to make sure the history of Baldwin County is remembered and preserved for future generations.”