♪ ♪ >> WELCOME TO THE 12TH IN A SERIES OF POLITICAL CANDIDATE FORUMS THIS ADVANCE OF THE AUGUST 23RD PRIMARY ELECTION.

THIS FORUM A COOPERATIVE PRODUCTION OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF TALLAHASSEE, THE TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT AND W FSU PUBLIC MEDIA.

OUR CANDIDATES TODAY ARE ARE VYING FOR THE LEON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DISTRICT 2.

I'M TOM FLANIGAN FROM WFSU PUBLIC MEDIA, JOINED BY WILLIAM HATFIELD PROSECUTE TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT AND TRISH NEELY FROM THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF TALLAHASSEE.

WE'LL BE QUESTIONING THE CANDIDATES ON VARIOUS TOPICS, SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE GROUND RULES, AND THEN WE'LL MEET THOSE MANY, MANY CANDIDATES WE ARE GOING TO TALK TO TODAY.

>> THE CANDIDATES FOR LEON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DISTRICT 2 SITTING LEFT TO RIGHT ARE SABRINA M. ALLEN, LINDA BELL, CHRISTIAN CABAN, HANNAH CROW, WILL CROWLEY, MAX EPSTEIN RAIN MANNY JANUARY NOT.

A REMINDER FOR THOSE WATCHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, PLEASE HIT SHARE BUTTON AND HELP YOUR FRIENDS SEE TODAY'S DISCUSSION AS WELL.

WE WILL ROTATE WHICH CANDIDATE GETS TO ANSWER FIRST, WE'LL GO DOWN THE LINE ARE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, SO WE'RE GOING TO ASK THE CANDIDATES TO KEEP YOUR ANSWERS TO ABOUT 60 SECONDS OR 45 SECONDS, SOMETIMES SHORTER FOR FOLLOW-UPS.

WE WILL KEEP TIME IN A VERY TECHNICAL WAY, AND YOU WILL HEAR THIS SOUND WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP: [BACKGROUND SOUNDS] A AGGRESSIVE BELL TODAY.

[LAUGHTER] THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO SOUND LIKE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO TO COME TO A DEAD STOP RIGHT THEN, BUT PLEASE FINISH YOUR SENTENCE S AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON.

IN THE MIDDLE OF FORUM, WE WILL HAVE OUR FABLED LIGHTNING ROUND.

THAT IS WHEN WE ASK YOU TO KEEP YOUR ANSWERS TO JUST ONE SENTENCE.

AT THE END OF THE FORUM, WE WILL GIVE YOU 60 SECONDS TO MAKE THE CASE DIRECTLY TO VOTERS AND SHARE YOUR WEB SITE OR ANY OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

>> AND IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON FACEBOOK AND YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR OUR CANDIDATES, GO AHEAD AND TYPE THEM INTO THE COMMENTS SECTION, AND WE WILL GET TO AS MANY OF THEM AS WE CAN.

TIME IS VERY LIMITED, SO YOU CAN AIM PROVE -- IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF YOUR QUESTION BEING ASKED IF YOU KEEP IT BRIEF AND POLITE.

MAKE IT A QUESTION THAT IS APPLICABLE TO ALL OF OUR CANDIDATES.

IF SO BEFORE WE BEGIN, CANDIDATES, ANY QUESTIONS?

OKAY.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND JUMP IN.

>> ALL RIGHTY.

WE WILL START WITH THIS ONE, FOLKS: WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FACING DISTRICT 2, AND HOW WOULD YOU PROPOSE TO ADDRESS IT?

WE GET ONE MINUTE FOR THE RESPONSE AND, SABRINA M. ALLEN, WE KICK IT OFF WITH YOU.

>> THANK YOU, TOM.

I THINK THAT THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN DISTRICT 2, WHAT I'M HEARING, IS THAT IT'S DRUG ABUSE.

THAT'S WHAT I, I'M HEARING.

PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING DRUGS LIKE RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO A FAMILY.

AND IT'S DRUG ABUSE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

PEOPLE SAY THEY WOULD LIKE A NICE PLACE TO LIVE AND BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT.

I TALKED TO ONE MAN, HE'S A SINGLE PARENT, AND HE'S BEEN ON A WAITING LIST FOR YEARS.

HE CAN'T SEEM TO FIND A PLACE TO LEAVE.

HE'S OUT IN BLOUNTSTOWN.

SO IT WOULD BE DRUGS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND CRIME.

CRIME.

THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING, IS CRIME.

THOSE ARE THE ISSUES.

CRIME, DRUGS, THEY GO TOGETHER.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU.

LYNDA BELL, YOUR TURN.

>> THANK YOU.

I WOULD SAY A LACK OF AMENITIES WE HAVE IN DISTRICT 2, A LACK OF PARKS, QUALITY ROADS.

WHEN YOU LOOKED AT EAST SIDE TALLAHASSEE AND THEN DRIVE ON WEST, YOU CAN SEE THE CLEAR LACK THERE.

I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

WE HAVE TWO FIRE STATIONS IN OUR DISTRICT, ONE IN WOODVILLE AND ONE ON HIGHWAY 20, THAT DON'T HAVE ALS, ADVANCED LIFE SAVING MEASURINGS.

THEY DON'T HAVE THAT -- MEASURES.

HAY DON'T HAVE THAT EQUIPMENT.

IS SO IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY, THEY LITERALLY HAVE TO CALL ANOTHER FIRE TRUCK TO BRING IN THE ADVANCED LIFE SAVING TO START AN IV, WHATEVER YOU IMMEDIATE TO DO.

I THINK THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE, AND I THINK THE PEOPLE DESERVE BETTER AMENITIES.

THE LACK OF BALL FIELDS, THE LACK OF ACTIVITIES FOR OUR CHILDREN, THERE IS SO MUCH NEED THAT I SEE IN DISTRICT 2.

AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN THINK OF ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE THERE, BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY, THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF ISSUES.

BUT WHEN I LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE AND WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY, THIS IS WHAT I'M HEARING OVER CAN AND OVER AGAIN, A LACK OF AMENITIES.

AND SO I PLAN ON WORKING VERY HARD ON BRINGING THOSE AMENITIES TO THE RESIDENTS WHO DESERVE THAT.

>> APPRECIATE THAT.

CHRISTIAN CABAN.

>> THANK YOU.

I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION THAT WE WILL ANSWER TODAY.

WHEN IT COMES TO LEON COUNTY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.

BUT SPECIFICALLY IN DISTRICT 2 AFTER KNOCKING ON DOORS AND LISTENING TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, THERE'S A CLEAR DEMAND FOR HIGH QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

DISTRICT 2 HAS A LACK OF SIDEWALKS, VERY NARROW AND UNSAFE ROADS.

THERE'S LACK OF LIGHTING, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THERE'S A SEPTIC TANK CRISIS IN LAKE ARE MUNSON AND IN -- LAKE MUNSON AND IN WOODVILLE THAT'S RIGHT IN OUR FOLKS' BACKYARD.

I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE IT A BIGGER PRIORITY.

>> OKAY, VERY GOOD.

HANNA YOU CAN, YOUR TURN.

>> I WOULD AGREE.

WHEN KNOCKING ON DOORS AND TALKING TO PEOPLE, AGAIN, THIS ISN'T ABOUT WHAT HANNAH CROW AND HER AGENDA ITEMS WANT TO GET DONE, THIS IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND WHAT THEY CARE ABOUT LIVING THERE EVERY DAY, IN AND OUT.

I'M HEARING THINGS ABOUT CRIME.

I'M HEARING THINGS ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE AND IMPROVING OUR PARKS AND OUR YOUTH SERVICES.

THESE ARE BIG ISSUES THAT AFFECT EVERYDAY LIFE OF OUR RESIDENTS.

AND SO MY JOB WILL BE TO BE THAT STRONG VOICE OF ADVOCACY AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST TO OUR RESIDENT ARE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE.

I AM A STRATEGIC PROBLEM SOLVER, AND I'M CREATIVE AND COLLABORATIVE WITH THE REST OF THE COMMISSION TO MAKE THOSE THINGS HAPPEN.

>> WILL CROWLEY.

>> YES.

I'VE SPENT TIME ACROSS THIS DISTRICT, AND I HAVE HEARD A LOT OF ANSWERS.

SOME PEOPLE SAY IT'S GUN VIOLENCE, SOME PEOPLE SAY IT'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SOME SAY IT'S EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT.

BUT THE UNDERLYING ISSUE IS A LACK OF PUBLIC TRUST.

WE'VE KNOWN ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS FOR A LONG TIME.

THERE'S NO REASON WHY THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ADDRESSED.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ADDRESSED.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR BUDGET, IT DOES NOT REFLECT OUR VALUES.

I'VE GOT THE BACKGROUND IN POLICY, AND MY CAMPAIGN HAS FISCAL INDEPENDENCE THAT I CAN MAKE SURE WE HAVE A BUDGET THAT REFLECTS OUR VALUES.

>> APPRECIATE THAT.

MAX EPSTEIN.

>> SO I'VE ACTUALLY LIVED IN DISTRICT 2 PRETTY MUCH MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE.

AND I HAVE NOT REALLY SEEN POLITICIANS WHO REPRESENT US.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE FOLKS WHO LIVE IN OUR DISTRICT, TO HAVE SOMEONE ON THE COUNTY COMMISSION WHO WILL LISTEN TO THEM.

WE'VE HEARD ABOUT SIDEWALKS, WE'VE HEARD ABOUT SEPTIC TANKS, INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE HAVE LAKE MUNSON WHICH IS A CESSPOOL OF TOXIC ALGAE.

THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT THAT NEED TO BE THE ADDRESSED.

AND WE NEED SOMEONE IN OFFICE WHO WILL DO THAT.

ALSO I BELIEVE THAT THE CYCLE OF POVERTY IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO TO SOLVE.

EVERYONE SAYS IT, BUT WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

WE HAVE CITY, COUNTY, SIERRA AND BLUEPRINT, THE SAME 12 PEOPLE WHO MAKE ALL OF OUR DECISIONS, THE CONSOLIDATION OF POWER THERE NEEDS TO BE SPREAD OUT.

AND THESE DECISIONS ARE MOVING TENS OR HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HARP DESTINED FOR OUR DISTRICT TO THE NORTHEAST AND OTHER PARTS OF TOWN THE.

AND WE NEED TO HAVE A FULL ACCOUNTABILITY AND GO THROUGH THOSE PROJECTS AND ARE REPRIORITIZE.

>> THANK YOU.

WE END UP THE OPENER WITH MANNY JOANOS.

>> THANK YOU, TOM.

CLEARLY, THERE ARE MANY NEEDS IN DISTRICT 2.

FOCUSING ON ONE IS REALLY NOT A REALITY.

AS HAS ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED, CRIME, JOBS AND PUBLIC INVESTMENT, THEY'RE THE TOP THREE, AND WE NEED TO PROVIDE AND SUPPORT DISTRICT 2.

I BELIEVE DISTRICT 2 HAS BEEN NEGLECTED.

I FULLY SUPPORT SHERIFF McNEAL AND HIS INITIATIVES AND WILL PROVIDE ALL THE SUPPORT I CAN FOR HIM.

AS FAR AS GOOD JOBS ARE CONCERNED, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE GOOD JOBS IN OUR DISTRICT.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL TO A WORKPLACE THAT IS NEARBY, $4 A GALLON WORTH OF GAS TRAVELING ACROSS TOWN DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

I FULLY SUPPORT THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE AND WHAT THEIR TRYING -- THEY'RE TRYING TO DO AT THE AIRPORT WHICH IS CLEARLY IN DISTRICT 2 AND CREATING JOBS THERE, 1,000-1,500, AND THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT NEEDS TO BE TACKLING SEWER, ROADS, SIDEWALKS, STREET ALL RIGHTING, POLICING, ALL OF THAT.

THANK YOU.

>> APPRECIATE, FOLKS.

WE HAVE A COUPLE FOLLOW-UPS, AND WE'LL CHANGE UP WHO GETS TO START, AND THEN WE'LL WORK OUR WAY THROUGH HERE.

THIS IS A 30-SECOND RESPONSE EVEN THOUGH THE QUESTION IS PROBABLY LONGER THAN 30 SECONDS HERE.

[LAUGHTER] THE COUNTY COMMISSION JOB IS CONSIDERED A FULL-TIME JOB.

YOU'VE GOT A SALARY OF CURRENTLY $83,945.

SO IF YOU COULD EACH TELL US WHAT YOUR SPECIFIC DAY JOB IS NOW AND WHETHER YOU'LL CONTINUE THAT, IF ELECTED, AND HOW YOU WOULD BALANCE THE TIME WITH ALL THE OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL COMMITMENTS OF A LEON COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

AND, LYNDA BELL, IF WE COULD START WITH YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

I'M CURRENTLY, WITH MY HUSBAND, WE MANAGE ALL OF OUR RENTAL PROPERTIES X IT IS A VERY BUSY, FULL-TIME JOB.

I PLAN IF ON GIVING UP THAT UP COMPLETE WILY 100 PERCENT.

THIS IS A FULL-TIME SALARY, IT'S A FULL-TIME JOB, AND THE RESIDENTS DESERVE SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO DEDICATE FULL TIME.

IT'D BE LIKE YOU TO GOING TO THE RESTAURANT AND ORDERING A MEAL AND THEY BRING HALF TO YOU AND SAY HALF IS ENOUGH, RIGHT?

IF YOU'RE PAYING FULL PRICE, YOU NEED FULL DINNER.

I'M THE FULL DINNER.

>> VERY GOOD.

CHRISTIAN CABAN.

>> I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK PART OF BEING A SMALL BUSINESS ON OWNER IS BUILDING A GOOD TEAM TO HANDLE THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS, AND THAT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN BEING A COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

YOU ALLOCATE AND DELEGATE TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE.

I FULLY PLAN ON DOING BOTH, AND I PLAN ON BEING VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH IT AS WELL.

>> CAN YOU NAME DROP THAT THAT SMALL BUSINESS?

>> IT'S WOLF HAS BIALTY GROUP.

>> THANK YOU.

>> APPRECIATE THAT.

HANNAH CROW.

>> YES.

I WORK FULL TIME AT HAMMERHEAD COMMUNICATIONS, AND I DO PLAN TO CONTINUE WORKING FULL TIME.

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT NOT TO REMOVE YOURSELF FROM EVERYTHING AND BE CAUGHT IN JUST A POLITICAL BUBBLE.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE WILL MAKE THEIR FIGHT ON THE FACT THAT I'LL BE FULL TIME, BUT IF THAT BECOMES THE LITMUS TEST FOR BEING A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, HOW MANY PUBLIC IF SERVANTS WE WOULDN'T HAVE GOT TO HAVE, AND IT JUST BECOMES WHO'S NOT WORKING WHO THEN WOULD BECOME A CANDIDATE.

>> VERY WELL.

WILL CROWLEY.

>> I'M A BUDGET ANALYST AT FSU COLLEGE OF MEDICINE WHERE WE MAKE DOCTORS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK OUT IN THE RURAL COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT WORK TO ME.

TO BE HONEST, I HAVEN'T DECIDED WHAT I WILL DO, I'M FOCUSED ON GETTING TO THE JOB FIRST.

BUT I CAN MAKE THE COMMITMENT THAT I WILL BE A FULL-TIME COMMISSIONER, AND I WILL BE AVAILABLE AT ANYTIME OF THE DAY OR NINETY NIGHT, AND ALL OF MY CONSTITUENTS WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS ME.

>> MAX EPSTEIN.

>> I AM A SCIENTIST, AN ARTIST, A ENTREPRENEUR AND ALSO A RESEARCHER AT THE MOORE CENTER, AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A FULL-TIME JOB.

I THINK IT, HONESTLY, SHOULD BE A REQUIREMENT.

SO I WILL PUT MY FULL EFFORT INTO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.

I WILL RETAIN SOME HOBBIES AND HAVE SOME BOUNDARIES, HOW WE SAY.

I THINK EVERYONE NEEDS TO SPEND TIME WITH HAIR FAMILY.

BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'LL BE PURSUING FULL TIME.

>> OKAY.

MANNY JOANOS.

>> CURRENTLY I AM THE COORDINATOR FOR PUBLIC OUTREACH, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT AT LIVELY TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HELP STUDENTS FIND THEIR WAY IN LEARNING TRADE, LEARNING SKILL AND THAT SORT OF THING.

I AM, HOWEVER, DELIGHTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE SUBMITTED MY RETIREMENT LETTER TO MS. SHELLEY BELL AT LIVELY, AND JANUARY WILL BE MY LAST DAY.

>> VERY GOOD.

AND, SABRINA ALLEN.

>> I LOVE MY JOB.

I TEACH FIFTH GRADERS, AND THEY NEED ME.

I CAN RETIRE.

AND I COULD RETIRE AND I MIGHT RETIRE.

I'VE TALKED TO MY PRINCIPAL.

SHE SUPPORTS MY RUNNING FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

AND SHE WILL SUPPORT MY BEING ABLE TO BE WHERE I NEED TO BE WHEN I NEED TO BE THERE.

SHE TOLD ME TO BE SURE AND SAY THAT I'M A TURN-AROUND TEACHER.

OUR SCHOOL MADE THE FIRST C LAST YEAR.

AND -- [BACKGROUND SOUNDS] >> JUST IN TIME.

>> THERE WE GO.

[LAUGHTER] OKAY.

WE HAVE ANOTHER FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.

30 SECS AGAIN ON THIS ONE.

WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE WITH UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS OF RURAL COMMUNITIES WHICH, AS WE KNOW, ENCOMPASSES SO MUCH OF DISTRICT 2.

START OFF WITH YOU, CHRISTIAN CABAN.

>> AND THIS WAS A QUESTION THAT CAME IN FROM A MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

>> PRECISELY.

>> I THINK SPENDING TIME WITH THE COMMUNITY.

WE'VE KNOCKED ON 3,000 DOORS OVER LAST TWO MONTHS.

WE'VE LISTENED TO THE CONSTITUENTS, WE'VE LISTENED TO THEIR WANTS AND NEEDS.

ALSO SPECIFICALLY DISTRICT 2 IS A VERY DIVERSE COMMUNITY.

SO IT HAS A LARGE PORTION VERY RURAL, THERE ARE ALSO LARGE PORTIONS OF IT THAT ARE MANY TOWN AND SOUTH SIDE, AND THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT WANTS AND NEEDS.

AND I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT PART IS TO LISTEN AND ADDRESS EACH SUBCOMMUNITY DIFFERENTLY.

>> HANNAH CROW.

>> MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN GETTING MARRIED AND MOVING INTO THAT RURAL AREA, WE'VE HAD DECADES OF EXPERIENCE HERE WITH MY FAMILY.

I STARTED ON THE GROUND LEVEL AS AN ADVOCATE BECAUSE I CARED, BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE MY AREA BETTER.

I KNOW THAT THE WORK THAT I'VE DONE IN OUR RURAL AREAIC DO DISTRICT-WIDE.

IT'S ABOUT GETTING TO KNOW PEOPLE, GETTING TO KNOW THE HISTORY OF WHY THEY'RE THERE AND WHY WE ARE WHERE WE ARE IN MOVING FORWARD.

>> WILL CROWLEY.

>> YES, I I UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES THAT FACE FOLKS IN RURAL AREAS WHETHER IT'S TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, LACK OF ACCESS.

I GREW UP IN RURAL POLK COUNTY IN UNINCORPORATED LAKELAND.

IT'S NOT THE SAME AS DISTRICT 2, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF SIMILARITIES, AND I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU'VE GOT FAMILY MEMBERS WHO CAN'T ACCESS THE CARE THEY IMMEDIATE OR THE SERVICES THEY NEED.

WHETHER IT'S SEWER ISSUES WITH YOUR SEPTIC TANK OR ANYTHING ELSE, I'M WILLING TO STAND UP AND MAKE SURE THESE FOLKS ARE HEARD.

>> MAX EPSTEIN.

>> SO GROWING UP IN ALASKA, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN GET ANY MORE RURAL THAN THAT -- [LAUGHTER] SO I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE.

YOU KNOW, ILYED IN CITIES THERE AS WELL.

BUT AS FAR AS OUR DISTRICT GOES, IT'S SEWER, IT'S THE ACCESS, IT IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE, IT'S THE SIDEWALKS.

AND I'M REALLY TIRED OF SEEING KIDS WALK TO SCHOOL ON STREETS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

I HAVE TO ADMIT I AM NOT THE MOST FAMILIAR WITH OUR RURAL AREAS HERE, BUT I'M HERE TO LISTEN.

>> MANNY IF JOANOS.

>> YES, THANK YOU.

I HAVE LIVED IN THE BRADENTON AREA FOR THE HAAS 40 YEARS.

IT'S BEEN A REALLY GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR ME.

I'M WELL IN TUNE FOR THE NEEDS OF THAT AREA AND ALSO THE WOODVILLE AREA.

MY WIFE HAS TAUGHT SCHOOL AT FORT BRADEN SCHOOL FOR 20 YEARS, SO I AM IN TOUCH WITH WHAT'S NEEDED IN THE RURAL AREAS.

FOR INSTANCE, LIKE OUR DUMP NEEDS TO BE OPEN FIVE DAYS A WEEK INSTEAD OF THREE DAYS A WEEK.

HANG.

>> SABRINA MA -- M. ALLEN.

>> WOULD YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION, PLEASE?

>> CERTAINLY.

WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE OF UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS OF RURAL COMMUNITIES WHICH SO MUCH OF DISTRICT 2 IS?

>> YES, DISTRICT 2 IS A RURAL COMMUNITY.

I HAD MY HOUSE BUILT 38 YEARS AGO IN DISTRICT 2.

SO I'VE LIVED IN DISTRICT 2 FOR 38 YEARS.

AND I KNOW A LOT ABOUT OUR NEEDS.

AND MOSTLY FROM TALKING TO PEOPLE, BECAUSE I HAVE A CUSHIONY LIFE, I WILL SAY.

BUT NOT EVERYONE IN MY COMMUNITY DOES HAVE ONE, AND I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE A HIGH STANDARD OF LIFE LIKE I ENJOY.

AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO.

I WANT TO HELP HEM GET THEIR NEEDS MET -- THEM GET THEIR NEEDS MET IN DISTRICT 2.

>> WE'LL WIND UP WITH YOU, LYNDAING BELL.

>> THANK YOU.

YES, I WAS THE MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR OF HOMESTEAD FOR 6 YEARS.

WHEN PEOPLE WOULD COME SOUTH, THEY WOULD GET THEIR STRAWBERRIES, YOU NAME IT.

I MOVED UP HERE ABOUT 6 YEARS AGO, SO I'M VERY, VERY FAMILIAR9 WITH THE NEEDS OF A RURAL COMMUNITY.

I REALLY HELPED TREMENDOUSLY, WAS VERY INVOLVED.

I WON THE AGRICULTURE AWARD FOR BEING THE AGRICULTURE ADVOCATE.

I WON AWARDS PROSECUTE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AS WELL AS OTHERS FOR UNDERSTANDING THE RURAL COMMUNITY, AND BEING HERE FOR 6 YEARS HAS REALLY GIVEN ME A CLEAR PICTURE, AND JUST KIND OF COMING TO FRUITION.

>> THANK YOU ALL.

>> SO SWITCH IT UP HERE AND TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

DO YOU BELIEVE THE COUNTY COMMISSION IS DOING ALL IT SHOULD TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS, AND IF NOT, WHAT SHOULD THE COMMISSION BE DOING?

HANNAH CROW, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> WELL, YES.

I KNOW THAT THIS IS A VERY PRESSING MATTER, AND I WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE AND KNOW THAT OUR COMMISSION IS FIGHTING AS HARD AS POSSIBLE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS.

WHAT I WOULD DO AND BE IN AGREEANCE WITH IS ABSOLUTELY VOTING TO EXTEND THAT URBAN SERVICE AREA IN SMART POCKETS OF OUR COMMUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TO BE CREATIVE IN HOW WE'RE DOING THAT AND TO BE STRATEGIC IN WHAT AREAS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE DOING IT AS WELL.

SO I'M PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.

I WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE TO BE A PART OF CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO, ROLL OUR SLEEVES UP AND TACKLE THIS ISSUE.

>> THANK YOU.

WILL CROWLEY?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT OUR LEADERSHIP HAS DONE NEARLY ENOUGH TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE FACING.

I WOULD SAY THAT WE NEED TO LEVERAGE ALL OF OUR RESOURCES.

WE NEED TO INCREASE SPENDING FOR SOCIAL SERVICES TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES.

WE NEED TO LEVERAGE OUR PUBLIC LAND AND STOP SELLING IT OFF SO THAT WE CAN USE THAT TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS ADDRESSING OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, ADDRESSING ZONING ISSUES WHERE WE CAN GET ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS BUILT ON PEOPLE'S PROPERTIES WITH LESS RESISTANCE THAN WE HAVE NOW, AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT PUBLIC LOCKERS AT OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM SO FOLKS CAN MAKE SURE THAT THEIR IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS AND BELONGINGS AREN'T LOST EVERY TIME THEY LEAVE THEM.

I'VE GOT THE BUDGET EXPERIENCE AND THE URBAN PLANNING EXPERIENCE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE TAKING A BROAD APPROACH.

NO TWO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOUSING INSECURITY HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE, AND AND OUR POLICY SHOULD REFLECT THAT FACT.

>> THANK YOU.

MAX EPSTEIN, PLEASE.

>> I DO NOT THINK THAT THE COUNTY'S DOING ENOUGH.

FIRST OF ALL, I THINK WE NEED TO STOP THE DEMOLISHING PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS.

THE ORANGE AVENUE DEVELOPMENT'S GOING TO PRIVATIZE ABOUT A THIRD OF OUR UNITS.

I ALSO HELPED BRING ABOUT AND EXPOSE THE FACT THAT BLUEPRINT AND OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT MAY HAVE VIOLATED FEDERAL LAW WHEN THEY DISPLACED PEOPLE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF FAMU WAY AND DEMOLISHED A HUNDRED AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS WITHOUT REPLACING THEM.

WE NEED TO NOT TEAR THESE THINGS DOWN, AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO THESE FOLKS AS WELL.

I DO THINK WE WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO INVEST IN OUR PUBLIC HOUSING AND REALLY, THAT'S IT.

THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT WE CAN DO, AND ALSO WE NEED TO INCENTIVIZE BUILDING MERCHANDISER YOU ARE -- INSIDE OUR URBAN SERVICES AREA AND EMPTY LOTS INSIDE THE CORE WITHOUT EXPANDING.

>> THANK YOU.

MANNY JOANOS.

>> I DO NOT THINK LEON COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS DOING ENOUGH FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DISTRICT 2.

NOT JUST AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ANY HOUSING.

THERE'S A TOTAL LACK OF HOUSING IN DISTRICT 2.

IF WE ARE TO CREATE 1500 JOBS, 1000 JOBS AT AIRPORT, THEY'RE GOING TO NEED HOUSING.

SO SOMEONE HAS TO BE ABLE TO DIG INTO THAT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, LOOK AT THE ZONING, LOOK AT ALL THOSE ISSUES AND, OH, BY THE WAY, IN THE '90s I HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING AND LAND DEVELOPMENT REGS.

SO I FEEL THAT THERE'S A HUGE NEED FOR THE LEON COUNTY COMMISSION AND, AS A COMMISSIONER, I WILL LOOK INTO THE ABILITY TO INCREASE HOUSING FOR THAT AREA.

>> THANK YOU.

SABRINA A THAT M -- SABRINA M. ALLEN, YOUR TAKE.

>> I THINK THAT WHEN DEVELOPERS COME TO TOWN, AND EVERYWHERE I LOOK THERE SEEMS TO BE NEW HOUSING POPPING UP.

I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE THE DEVELOPERS COMMIT TO 10-20% OF THAT HOUSING BEING LOW INCOME AND MIDDLE INCOME SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GET INTO THOSE HOUSES.

ANYTIME A DEVELOP OR BUILDS, THEY NEED TO BUILD -- HAVE SOME SET ASIDE FOR LOW INCOME PEOPLE.

AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR CITY AND COUNTY LAND AND SEE IF WE CAN BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I DON'T SEE HOW IT COULD BE A PROBLEM.

LET'S BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?

IF LET'S DO IT.

>> THANK YOU.

AND, LYNKA BELL.

>> NO, I DO NOT THINK THE COUNTY IS DOING ENOUGH, BUT THE COUNTY COUNTY CANNOT DO IT ALONE.

WHEN A WE DID AS A MAYOR IS WE TOOK SOME CITY LAWS AND DID INFIL HOUSING WORKING WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, AND WE PICKED SPECIFIC, TARGETED AREAS, AND THERE WAS A VETTING PROCESS, AND FAMILIES WERE PLACED.

I LOVE THAT A BECAUSE OF THE SWEAT EQUITY.

AND WHEN I WAS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, I DID A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH A MAN WHO HAD A FANTASTIC, VERY LARGE, VALUABLE PIECE OF PROPERTY, AND WE PARTNERED WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOLLARS FROM THE COUNTY AND WE PARTNERED WITH HIM IN MY DISTRICT, AND WE BUILT SENIOR HOUSING, 101 UNITS FOR THE SENIORS.

AND I WAS SO PROUD TO SEE HOW QUICKLY THAT FILLED UP.

AND THERE'S A GREAT NEED FOR SENIORS IF MANY OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEY'RE OFTEN OVERLOOKED.

I HAVE GREAT EXPERIENCE IN HOW TO HANDLE THIS, AND I WAS ALSO THE BUDGET CHAIR OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND DID STRICT GUIDELINES EDUCATION.

SO, YEAH, I'M ABSOLUTELY PREPARED FOR THAT, THANK YOU.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU.

AND, CHRISTIAN CABAN, TOUGH THE FINAL WORD.

>> THANK YOU -- YOU HAVE THE FINAL WORD.

>> THANK YOU.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TO ME, HITS HOME BECAUSE I GREW UP IN A FAMILY WHERE WE FORECLOSED, SO I CAN RELATE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH THIS MATTER.

EVEN THOUGH I DO NOT BELIEVE OUR COUNTY IS DOING ENOUGH, I ALSO DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS A POLICY ISSUE.

I THINK THIS IS A COMMUNITY ISSUE.

WE NEED TO ATTACK THIS AT THE ROOT, WHICH IS POVERTY.

WE NEED TO GET FOLKS HIGHER PAYING JOBS, WE NEED TO FOCUS ON CREATING SMARTER, EQUITABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND LASTLY, WE HAVE A SUPPLY ISSUE.

WE NEED TO INCREASE OUR DENSITY, AND WE ALSO NEED TO BUILD MORE HOMES.

THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT.

CHANGING GEARS TO CRIME, A VARIATION OF THIS QUESTION COMES FROM THE URBAN LEAGUE.

BY OUR COUNT ON TALLAHASSEE.COM, 13 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED, 50 HAVE BEEN INJURED IN 77 SERIOUS SHOOTINGS THIS YEAR IN THE CAPITAL CITY AND THE COUNTY.

WHAT SPECIFIC INITIATIVES WILL YOU TAKE TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFE FROM SHOOTINGS AND CRIME IN GENERAL?

45 SECONDS, WE WILL START WITH YOU, WILL CROWLEY.

>> THANK YOU.

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE PAYING MORE ATTENTION TO THE.

I READ THE ANATOMY OF A HOMICIDE REPORT FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND, FRANKLY, I THINK IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE TO SEE A PROBLEM AND LOOK INWARD TO SEE HOW YOU CAN BETTER ADDRESS THAT PROBLEM.

WHAT WE'VE LEARNED FROM THAT REPORT, AMONG MANY OTHER LESSONS, IS THAT A LOT OF YOUNG MEN TIED UP IN THESE ISSUES DON'T SEE A WAY OUT FOR THEM.

AND I THINK THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

WE'RE NOT A POOR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE THE RESOURCES, WE JUST NEED A BUDGET THAT ALIGNS WITH OUR VALUES SO THAT WE CAN FUND THE SOCIAL SERVICES WHETHER IT'S AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, START-UP GRANTS FOR FOLKS THAT START THEIR OWN BUSINESSES.

WHAT WE NEED IS TO GIVE FOLKS A WAY OUT SO THAT WE CAN STOP THESE DEATHS.

>> THANK YOU.

MAX EPSTEIN, SAME QUESTION.

>> SO AS THE PARTNER OF AN EDUCATOR, I HEAR ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME AND HOW WE NEED AFTER A-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, WE NEED INTERVENTIONIST PROGRAMS.

AND THE ANATOMY OF A HOMICIDE REALLY DOES HIGHLIGHT ISSUES THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS FACING.

I'M ACTUALLY FOUR YEARS AGO I PROPOSED A, AN AFTER-SCHOOL AT-RISK GLASS BLOWING PROGRAM FOR THE ASH MORE'S PROPERTY IN FRENCHTOWN THAT EVENTUALLY GOT FUNDED, $750,000 FROM THE STATE.

SO I REALLY THINK THAT INVESTING IN THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS EARLY ON TO CAPTURE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ISSUES, WHO ARE AT RISK, THAT IS THE WAY THE ADDRESS THE VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT AND ELIMINATING THE POVERTY WHICH EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT.

LET'S DO IT.

>> THANK YOU.

MANNY JOANOS.

>> AS I MENTIONED IN THE OPENING COMMENT, I DO BELIEVE CRIME IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE.

PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN FEAR.

THEY ARE SCARED IN THEIR OWN HOMES.

YES, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

I COBELIEVE EDUCATION IS -- DO BELIEVE EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO ALL OF THIS, BECAUSE YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A PATHWAY FOR FOLKS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

THAT'S WHY I CONTRIBUTE MY TIME AT GOTBY HIGH SCHOOL FOR SCHOLARSHIPS THROUGH THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION.

IT'S WHY I'M WORKING AT LIVELY, TRYING TO MAKE A PATHWAY FOR STUDENTS TO FIND A TRADE THAT THEY CAN MAKE A LIVING, A GOOD LIVING, AND BE ABLE TO TO BUY GROCERIES.

I DO BELIEVE EDUCATION IS THE KEY, AND I DO ALSO SUPPORT THAT, FULLY SUPPORT SHERIFF McNEAL IN HIS EFFORTS.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

SABRINA M. ALLEN.

>> EDUCATION IS THE ONLY WAY THAT I KNOW TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD.

THAT'S HOW I LEVELED THE PLAYING FIELD FOR MYSELF.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE DOING CRIME, THAT THEY ARE KEPT IN SCHOOL.

WHEN WE KEEP THEM IN SCHOOL, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE DRUG ADDICTION AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET AN EDUCATION.

THEY DO NOT IMMEDIATE TO BE OUT ON THE -- THE NOT NEED TO BE OUT ON THE STREET.

EDUCATION IS -- IT WILL DETER CRIME.

YOU HAVE MORE TO LOSE IF YOU'RE EDUCATED.

>> THANK YOU.

LINDA BELL.

>> THANK YOU.

CRIME IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TOPIC, AND WE DISCUSSED THIS IN OUR SCREENINGS WITH THE POLICE, THE PBA AND THE LEON COUNTY SHERIFFS, AND I WAS VERY PROUD TO GET THEIR ENDORSEMENT FROM THE PBA AS WELL AS THE LEON COUNTY SHERIFFS.

THERE'S THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM THAT NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IS THAT MANY OF THESE HOMES ARE FATHERLESS.

MANY OF THE CRIMES THAT ARE BEING COMMITTED ARE THOSE WITH FATHERLESS HOMES.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE PRISONS, HOW MANY HAVE NO FATHERS IN THE HOME, WE NEED MENTORING PROGRAMS, WE NEED TO PARTNER WITH CHURCHES.

WE HAVE COMMUNITY-BASEDDED ORGANIZATIONS RIGHT NOW, AND IF WE WOULD TAKE THE FUNDS THAT ARE ALREADY IN EXISTENCE, PROPERLY FUN THOSE, WORK WITH THEM, WE HAVE COMMUNITY CENTERS ALL OVER TALLAHASSEE.

WE HAVE THE FACILITIES THAT WE CAN HAVE THESE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THEM AND WORK WITH THE EXISTING ORGANIZATIONS -- >> THANK YOU.

>> -- BECAUSE THEY COA GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU.

>> CHRISTIAN CABAN.

>> THANK YOU.

ANY RESIDENT IN LEON COUNTY SHOULD AND PROBABLY WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CRIME IS A PROBLEM, SPECIFICALLY VIOLENT CRIME.

BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A POLICING ISSUE.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT A WE SHOULD BE TRYING TO POLICE OUR WAY OUT OF CRIME.

IF YOU LOOK AT WALT McNEIL'S ANATOMY OF A HOMICIDE, THAT DATA SHOWS US WHAT WE ALREADY KNEW, AND THAT IS VIOLENT CRIME IS TIED TO POVERTY AND TROUBLES WITH OUR YOUTH.

TO ME, THE SOLUTION TO THIS IS HOW ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT POVERTY AND PROVIDE SMARTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SO THAT WAY WE CAN GET FOLKS GREAT, HIGH PAYING JOBS.

ADDITIONALLY, WE NEED TO LOOK AT ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR YOUTH.

WE KNOWICKING THEM OUT OF -- KNOW KICKING THEM OUT OF SCHOOL IS NOT A SOLUTION.

I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS WITH OUR YOUTH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> HANNAH CROW.

>> I'M PROUD OF US FOR HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.

THAT'S THE FIRST STEP, IS ADDRESSING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND IT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THE FIRST STEP IS SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AND I COMMEND SHERIFF McNEIL FOR THE EFFORT THAT HE HAS DONE TO LOOK INWARDLY ON HOW TO CONSTANTLY BE IMPROVING WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

I THINK ANOTHER STEP TO TAKING ANOTHER INITIATIVE WHICH I HAVE BEEN DOING IN OUR COMMUNITY, PARTNERING LEON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TRAINING PROGRAM WITH OUR BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE PREPARED FOR WHATEVER MAY COME THEIR WAY.

WORKING IN OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS AND IN OUR LIBRARIES ON THE GROUND LEVEL.

AND THEN FINALLY, WE'VE SAID THAT CRIME HAPPENS BECAUSE OFTEN TIMES TAKE STEPS IN THE WRONG DIRECTION WHEN THEY ARE IN POVERTY, NO EXCESS TO JOBS, NO ACCESS TO EDUCATION, MENTAL HEALTH.

>> THANK YOU.

STAYING WITH THE TOPIC OF CRIME, WE HEARD FROM NUMEROUS SPEAKERS AT A RECENT CITY COMMISSION MEETING THAT WE SHOULD BE TAKING MONEY PROSECUTE LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGET -- FROM THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGET AND FUNNELING IT INTO SOCIAL SERVICES.

IS THAT A CONCEPT YOU SUPPORT?

MAX EPSTEIN.

>> I DEFINITELY THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED THE TAKE A LOOK AT.

WE HAD A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY WITH ANTONIO GILLAM, I BELIEVE IS HIS LAST NAME, WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OUR NEXT POLICE CHIEF WHO HAS ENACTED PROGRAMS IN ST. PETE THAT DO THAT, THAT TAKE A AWAY SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF POLICE OFFICERS AND PUT IT ON SOCIAL SERVICES.

AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS AND FOLKS THAT KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THOSE TYPES OF SITUATIONS.

SO I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE BUDGET TO SEE IF THERE'S A WAY TO SHIFT RESOURCES OR TO FIND EXTERNAL RESOURCES -- >> THANK YOU.

MANNY JOANOS, SAME QUESTION, 30 SECONDS.

>> NO, SIR, AT AT THIS POINT IN TIME I DO NOT RECOMMEND REDUCING FUNDING FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

NO.

ANYTHING, WE NEED TO INCREASE FUNDING.

IF HE'S GOT SOCIAL SERVICES EMBEDDED, I'M OKAY WITH THAT.

BUT TO REDUCE CAN HIS BUDGET IS NOT, IS NOT WHERE I'M AT.

>> THANK YOU.

SABRINA M. ALLEN.

>> I OPPOSE DEFUND THE POLICE IN ANY TERMS, ANY WAY YOU SAY IT.

BUT I WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET AND SEE HOW THE MONEY'S BEING SPENT.

HOW THE MONEY'S BEING USED.

I DO THINK THAT POLICE OFFICERS MAKE A GOOD SALARY, AND WE'VE HIRED MORE POLICE OFFICERS, AND THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

BUT I'D HAVE TO LOOK AND SEE WHETHER -- HOW TO USE THE MONEY AND HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THE MONEY.

BUT DEFUNDING THE POLICE IS NOT AN OPTION.

>> THANK YOU.

LINDA BELL.

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST ABSURD IDEAS I'VE EVER HEARD.

THIS IS, YOU KNOW, I KEEP HEARING ABOUT POR FEW CREATES CRIME.

NO, CRIME CREATES POVERTY.

IT'S THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

WHEN THERE'S A LOT OF POVERTY IN A HIGH POVERTY AREA, IT HURTS MINORITY COMMUNITY THE MOST.

IT'S THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT I'M HEARING HERE.

SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DEFUNDING, YOU HURT VERY COMMUNITY A THAT YOU'RE PURR PURPORTING TO SUPPORT -- PURPORTING TO SUPPORT, SO IT'S ABSURD.

ALSO GOVERNOR DeSANTIS GAVE ALL THE STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT A RAISE, BUT WHO DID THAT EXEMPT?

THE SHERIFFS AND THE TPD -- >> THANK YOU.

>> -- THEY NEED TO BE COMPENSATED PROPERLY.

THANK YOU.

>> CHRISTIAN CABAN.

>> FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT I BELIEVE MENTAL HEALTH IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY FOR OUR YOUTH.

BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT DETHE FUNDING THE POLICE OR TAKING FUNDS AWAY FROM THE POLICE WHEN WE ALREADY HAVE A CRIME PROBLEM.

INSTEAD, I WOULD LOOK AT OUR BUDGET AND SEE IF WE CAN ALLOCATE FUNDS FROM A DIFFERENT SOURCE, OR I WOULD LOOK AT PARTNERING WITH OUR SCHOOL BOARD AND SEEING IF THEY WOULD PROVIDE FUNDING TO ALLOW MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS IN OUR SCHOOL FOR OUR YOUTH.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

HANNAH CROW.

>> NO, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AND, MAN, THEY ARE ASKED TO WEAR A LOT OF DIFFERENT HATS IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND THEIR JOB IS TOUGH.

AND WE CANNOT HOLD THEM TO A STANDARD OF PERFECTION, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE TAKE AWAY THEIR FUNDS TO DO THE JOB TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.

I THINK WE NEED TO GET CREATIVE IN OTHER WAYS.

YES, WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE REVIEWING OUR BUDGET, ALWAYS TRYING TO TO GET BETTER, BUT THAT IS SIMPLY NOT WAY TO GET THE JOB DONE.

THERE'S OTHER PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE CAN CREATE AND BE BETTER PROBLEM SOLVERS TO GET THE JOB DONE.

>> THANK YOU.

WILL CROWLEY.

>> YES.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FEAR MONGERING AROUND THE ISSUE, AND ANYONE WHO'S TELLING YOU WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GETTING RID OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EITHER DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE OR ISN'T BEING STRAIGHT WITH YOU.

I BELIEVE WE NEED TO TALK A HOLISTIC LOOK AT OUR BUDGET.

WE NEED AN AUDIT OF ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS TO SEE WHERE WE SHOULD BE SPENDING MONEY MORE WISELY SO WE CAN TACKLE ISSUES ON THE FRONT END WHICH IS MUCH MORE EFFICIENT, MUCH CHEAPER THAN DEALING WITH IT ON BACK ENEND.

NOW, IT MAY NOT BE POLITICALLY CORRECT TO THINK THAT WAY, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO LET POLITICS INFLUENCE MY DECISION.

I'M VERY INTERESTED IN WHAT IS BEST FOR THE BUDGET.

>> THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

REALLY QUICK FOLLOW UP HERE.

ON A SCALE OF 1-10, HOW WOULD YOU RATE THE CURRENT EFFECTIVENESS OF LCSO IN ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF GUN VIOLENCE AND CRIME?

30 -- 15 SECONDS, MANNY JANUARY NOSE.

>> I THINK SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS DOING A WONDERFUL JOB IN SETTING THE PATH TOWARDS A VICTORY DOWN THE ROAD.

IT IS IN THE -- IT IS IN THE EARLY STAGE.

IT IS NOT A SILVER BULLET THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

SO IN HIS EFFORTS TO RETRAIN -- >> A SCALE OF 1-10?

>> OH, 8.

>> 8.

SABRINA M. ALLEN.

>> 7.

I CAN'T GIVE THEM MORE THAN A 7 BECAUSE OF THE HIGH CRIME AND VIOLENT CRIME RATE IN OUR CITY.

>> THANK YOU.

LYNDA BELL.

>> I SUPPORT SHERIFF McNEIL AND HIS EFFORTS, AND I'D GIVE HIM A 9 BECAUSE I THINK THE PLAN IS IN PLACE AND IT'S THE READY TO GO, AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE TREMENDOUS STRIDES OF IMPROVEMENT MANY TALLAHASSEE.

>> THANK YOU.

CHRISTIAN CABAN.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE SHERIFF McNEIL AN 8.

ING I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PREVENT CRIME.

I THINK IT'S THEIR JOB TO RESPOND TO CRIME.

I THINK IT'S OUR JOB AS A COMMUNITY TO PREVENT CRIME.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

HANNAH CROW.

>> I WOULD GIVE THEM A 9.5.

I'M VERY PROUD OF THE RESEARCH THAT THAT THEY ARE DOING.

THERE IS NO MAGIC BUTTON ON THIS ISSUE, AND SHERIFF McNEIL WOULD SAY THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, SO THAT'S WHY I'M GIVING THEM THAT A SCORE.

>> WILL CROWLEY.

>> >> I'M NOT INTERESTED IN PROVIDING A NUMERICAL SCORE.

I WOULD SAY IT'S INADEQUATE.

WE CAN SEE THE GUN VIOLENCE INCREASING, HOWEVER, I'M OPTIMISTIC SEEING THE APPROACHES, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE DATA A SAYS ABOUT HOW EFFECTIVE TEXAS BEEN.

>> MAX ENSTEEN.

LAST WORD ON THIS.

>> I WOULD GO WITH A 7.

IF YOU LOOK ON THE ILY, WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON IS NOT WORKING.

WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX THIS ISSUE, AND I ALSO DON'T HI IT'S NECESSARILY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FAULT AT POINT.

>> FROM IF CRIME TO COMMERCE.

NUMEROUS NEIGHBORHOODS WITHIN TALLAHASSEE AND LEON COUNTY ARE, OF COURSE, STRUGGLING WITH POVERTY.

WHAT ROLE DO YOU THINK LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS AND DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES PLAY IN PROMOTING MORE EQUITABLE PROSPERITY IN DISTRICT 2?

AND WHAT'S ONE SPECIFIC PLAN THAT YOU'D IMPLEMENT TO MAKE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS IN THIS GENERATIONAL CHALLENGE.

LET'S GET A MINUTE RESPONSE ON THIS FROM EVEN OF YOU AND START WITH SABRINA M. ALLEN.

>> SAY THAT AGAIN, TOM.

>> SURE.

YOU'VE GOT NUMEROUS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS AND INITIATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED OVER THE YEARS FOR OUR CHALLENGED AREAS WHEN IT COMES TO THE ECONOMY IN OUR COUNTY.

IS THERE A SPECIFIC PLAN THAT YOU WOULD ENDORSE TO KIND OF GET US OFF, YOU KNOW, GROUND ZERO AND INTO A BETTER POSTURE?

>> YES.

PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THEY COULD NOT BE PUT OUT OF IT UNLESS THEY HAVE SOMEPLACE ELSE TO GO.

I WOULD MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAD A PLACE TO GO AND THAT THERE IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE CHALLENGED OR NOT DOING AS WELL AS THE REST OF US.

THEY NEED A PLACE TO STAY TOO.

SO, YES, GIVE THEM SOME KIND OF WORK.

MAKE HEM EARN THEIR MONEY -- THEM EARN THEIR MONEY.

YES, THEY NEED TO WORK, AND THEY NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND I'D MAKE SURE THAT THEY GOT IT.

WITH THE DEVELOPERS THAT ARE COMING TO TOWN, THEY COULD HELP.

AND THE ONES THAT ARE ALREADY HERE, THEY WILL HELP.

I DON'T SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.

I GUESS YOU DON'T HAVE ANYBODY THAT'S ADVOCATING FOR IT.

>> THANK YOU, MA'AM.

LYNDA BELL.

>> YEAH, THIS IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE.

ANYTIME YOU HAVE AN ECONOMY THAT'S SUFFERING LIKE WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW AND YOU WANT BUSINESSES TO COME, YOU WANT TO ENTICE BUSINESSES.

BUT YOU CAN'T -- YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS REAL LIST REALISTICALLY.

IT'S A COMMUNITY ISSUE.

YOU CAN'T FORCE BUSINESSES TO GO WHERE THEY DON'T WANT TO GO.

IT'S CALLED RETAIL FOLLOWS ROOFTOPS.

AND SO IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT EVERY TIME YOU'RE GOING TO A STORE AND YOU SWIPE A CARD, THEY'RE TRACKING THAT ZIP CODE, AND THEY WANT TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY SHOPPING WHEN THEY SEE A HIGH RATE OF PEOPLE SHOPPING IN A PARTICULAR AREA, YOU MIGHT SEE ANOTHER STORE SPRING UP.

BUT YOU CAN'T OFFER INCENTIVES IN LIEU OF A PILOT, IF YOU WANT GROCERY STORES, YOU CAN GO TO THAT CHAIN AND SAY, LISTEN, WHAT IF WE WORK WITH YOU AND WE BRING YOU IN AND WE TAKE A RISK HERE?

AND IN LIEU OF TAXES, THAT WOULD BE A PILOT, A PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES.

SO WE NEED TO GET CREATIVE TO ENTICE BUSINESSES TO COME TO OUR COMMUNITY.

RATHER THAN A STICK, A CARROT.

AND I THINK WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT, THANKS.

>> CHRISTIAN CABAN.

>> THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION, THANK YOU.

I THINK THAT WE SHOULD START BY UTILIZING OUR RESOURCES THAT ARE ALREADY PRESENT TO US IN DISTRICT 2.

WE HAVE INNOVATION PARK, WE HAVE THE TCC DEVELOPMENTAL WORK FORCE PROGRAM, LIVELY TECHNICAL INSTITUTE.

A LOT OF RESOURCES ARE ALREADY IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT I BELIEVE ARE BEING UNDERUTILIZED TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CREATE MORE JOBS.

NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO WORK ON BRIDGING THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR.

WE COULD CONTINUE TO RECRUIT MORE BUSINESSES AND, QUITE FRANKLY,ING CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

HANNAH CROW.

>> WE NEED TO JUST CONTINUE TO DO -- I MEAN, WE HAD BROUGHT -- WE HAVE BROUGHT WONDERFUL BUSINESSES TO THE AREA AS A WHOLE.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS AND AT VERY SAME TIME BE SUPPORTIVE OF OUR MOM AND POP LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT ARE BACKBONE OF DISTRICT 2 AS A BLUE COLLAR DISTRICT.

SO WE NEED TO BE INARE RICHING HEM AS WELL -- ENRICHING THEM AS WELL, BUILDING OUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE MORE BUSINESSES WANT TO COME NEAR THE AREA PROVIDING QUICK ACCESS TO JOBS, TO EDUCATION, WORKING WITH LIVELY TECH, WORKING WITH TCC, ADULT AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION.

SAT ON THEIR COUNCIL FOR A WHILE.

SAW MANY PEOPLE GETTING GEDs AND CERTIFICATIONS TO MOVE THEMSELVES FORWARD.

IT'S JUST, AGAIN, CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING, GETTING -- TALKING TO PUBLIC SECTOR, PRIVATE SECTOR, FIGURING OUT HOW TO FIND BEST SOLUTION BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT AREAS TO SERVE.

SOMETHING I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SEE IS UTILIZATION OF OUR COMMUNITY CENTER FOR FINANCIAL LITERACY, HELPING BRIDGE THAT GAP WHICH I HAVE DONE PREVIOUSLY IN MY CAREER.

>> THANKS.

WILL CROWLEY, YOU'RE UP NEXT.

>> DISTRICT 2 HAS BEEN NEGLECTED AND DISRESPECTED FOR GENERATIONS.

WE HAVE SEEN INFRASTRUCTURE -- WE HAVE SEEN THEM DEPRIVED OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND WORK FORCE INVESTMENT.

WE'VE SEEN $80 MILLION ROAD TO NOWHERE ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE, MEANWHILE PEOPLE ARE WALKING DIRT PATHS ALONG ORANGE.

WE SPENT 8 YEARS OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DOLLARS, ALMOST $30 MILLION, TO SUBSIDIZE LUXURY STADIUM IMPROVEMENTS.

MEANWHILE, WE'VE GOT SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS LEAVING THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND HOUSING.

THAT MONEY COULD HAVE BEEN USED TO IMPROVE OUR STOREFRONTS, FOR TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND NOW IT'S GONE.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE WHY OUR LEADERS ARE -- I'M NOT SURE WHO OUR LEADERS ARE LISTENING TO.

I'M NOT SURE WHERE THEIR PRIORITIES ARE.

BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS THEY'RE OUT OF STEP WITH THE NEEDS OF THIS COMMUNITY.

I'VE GOT THE BUDGET EXPERIENCE TO FIND WHERE THE MONEY CAN BE MOVED FROM, AND I'VE GOT THE INDEPENDENCE OF MY CAMPAIGN THAT I DON'T OWE ANYBODY ANY FAVORS WHEN I GET IN THERE.

I CAN LISTEN TO WHAT THE PEOPLE NEED.

>> MAX EPSTEIN, YOU'RE UP NEXT.

>> THE CITY, COUNTY, CRA AND BLUEPRINT HAS BEEN HIGHLY INEFFECTIVE FROM THE CRA THAT HAS FUNNELED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO GAINS STREET AND OTHER PROJECTS THAT DO NOT ALLEVIATE WITH IMPOVERISHED COMMUNITIES LIKE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DESIGNED, BLIGHTED COMMUNITIES.

WE NEED TO HAVE THIS MONEY DESIGNED TO COME FROM THE PEOPLE AND IDEAS THAT COME FROM THEM AND IS WHAT THEY NEED.

I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A LITMUS TEST FOR HOW IS IT GOING TO ALLEVIATE POVERTY, HOW MANY JOBS IS IT GOING TO CREATE.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS LIKE A BANK.

AND YOU LOOK AT BLUEPRINT WHO HAS SPENT ALL OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MONEY, YOU'VE HAD GREAT PROJECTS LIKE DAN FOSS THAT HAVE BROUGHT IN HUNDREDS OF HIGH PAYING JOBS AND WORK FORCE TRAINING, BUT WE GOT NOTHING.

WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO NOW?

WE DON'T HAVE ANY CARROTS LEFT.

I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE REIN IN ALL OF THIS WASTEFUL SPENDING AND GET THE MONEY GOING WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO.

THE LAST THING -- I'LL HAVE TO COME BACK TO THAT.

>> OKAY.

LAST TAKE HERE FROM MINNESOTA NEY -- MANNY IF JOANOS.

>> THE QUESTION IS SUPPORT COMMERCE TO HELP RESOLVE POVERTY ISSUE IS?

AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, I WANT TO WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THE CITY BECAUSE I DO THINK IT'S KEY TO OUR DISTRICT THAT WE INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF JOBS THAT ARE LOCATED AT THE AIRPORT.

1500 JOBS IS HUGE, HUGE.

IT WILL TAKE, IT WILL TAKE A LOOK AT OUR ENTERPRISE ZONES THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE TO EXPAND THOSE ENTERPRISE ZONES.

WE DEFINITELY NEED MORE RETAIL AND HOUSING.

>> HOMELESSNESS, OF COURSE, A HUGE ISSUE AND EVER MORE VISIBLE PROBLEM IN LEON COUNTY.

WHERE DO YOU THINK WE'VE FALLEN SHORT IN CONFRONTING THIS PARTICULAR CHALLENGE?

LINDA BELL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S REALLY TERRIBLE, ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT 2.

WE HAVEN'T TAKEN A HOLISTIC APPROACH.

YOU HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE WHOLE PROBLEM.

YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, DRUGS, ALCOHOL.

OF COURSE THERE ARE PARENTS WHO HAVE ECONOMIC HOMELESSNESS, BUT A VERY, VERY STRONG, OVERWHELMING MAJORITY HAVE THESE ISSUES, THE UNDERLYING ISSUES.

IN HOMESTEAD WE TOOK A BUNCH OF EXTRA LEFT OVERLAND FROM THE RESERVE BASE AND TURNED IT INTO HOMELESS HOUSING AND BUILT A BUNCH OF TINY HOUSES.

BUT THOSE PEOPLE WERE PROPERLY VETTED, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF PARK SPACE FOR THEM AND OUTSIDE SPACE.

SO THERE IS A SOLUTION TO THIS.

WE HAVE TO REALLY LOOK AT IT 40 LISTLY.

>> OKAY, FINE.

CHRISTIAN CABAN.

>> I THINK ANYBODY WHO DRIVES DOWN PENSACOLA STREET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY OR NIGHT WILL UNDERSTAND THIS IS A SEVERE PROBLEM IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S EFFORTS BY ADDRESSING THIS.

I THINK AS A COUNTY COMMISSION OUR JOB SHOULD BE TO LISTEN FIRST TO THE EXPERTS WHO ARE BATTLING THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO DO THEIR JOB.

ADDITIONALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE A STEP BY STEP PROCESS THAT'S, FIRST, EMPATHETIC.

BUT SECOND, GETS FOLKS FROM THE STREETS INTO HOUSING, GETS THEM MENTAL HEALTH AND HEALTH PROBLEMS ADDRESSED AND, ULTIMATELY, GETTING THEM TRAINING SO HE CAN GET BACK INTO THE WORK FORCE.

THANK YOU.

>> HANNAH CROW?

>> I FIRMLY BELIEVE MANY COMPASSIONATE ACTION ON THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE FALLEN ON VERY HARD TIMES FOR WHATEVER REASON THAT MAY BE.

THERE'S NO MAGIC BUTTON TO THIS ISSUE.

IT'S A HOLISTIC APPROACH.

MANY OF US HAVE SAID THIS.

MANY PROGRAMS AND TASK FORCES DO THE SAME THING.

AND WE ALSO NEED TO REALIZE THERE'S A NEW FACE OF HOMELESSNESS.

INFLATION AND COVID LEFT MANY PEOPLE ONE PAYCHECK AWAY FROM BEING IN A SITUATION THEY WOULD HAVE NEVER DREAM OF.

WE NEED TO PARTNER WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERTS AND START COMING TO RESOLUTION AT LOT FASTER AND WAY MORE CREATIVELY.

>> WILL CROWLEY.

>> I SPEND TIME WITH PEOPLE WHO DO INCREDIBLE WORK AT COMMUNITY CENTER.

OF WE'RE NOT TREATING THESE PEOPLE AS HUMAN BEINGS.

THEY LIVE IN LEON COUNTY JUST LIKE WE DO, THEY JUST DON'T HAPPEN TO HAVE A ROOF TO SLEEP UNDER.

I THINK OUR POLICIES HAVE FOCUSED ON HIDING PROBLEM RATHER THAN TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

POVERTY IS NOT A MORAL FAILING.

THESE PEOPLE ARE OUR NEIGHBOR AND FAMILY, AND WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, WE JUST LACK THE POLITICAL WILL TO MAKE A BUDGET THAT REFLECTS THAT VALUE.

>> MAX EPSTEIN.

>> SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE THE ANSWERS.

WE HAVE THE BIG BEND CONTINUUM OF CARE.

WE KNOW HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

TIME TO FUND IT AND GET IT DONE.

AND I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, AND I SUFFER FROM DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, AND I'D LIKE TO BRING THAT TO THE COMMISSION TO BE A REPRESENTATIVE, TO TALK ABOUT IT.

I DON'T HEAR ANY ONE OF OUR ELECTED LEADERS TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL.

I HEAR HOW THEY TALK ABOUT HOW OTHER PEOPLE FEEL.

SO I WILL BE THERE FOR A REPRESENTATIVE FOR YOU.

>> MANNY IF JOANOS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH -- MANNY JOANOS.

>> THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT DISTRICT 2 HAS SHOULDEREDDED THE BURDEN OF HOMELESSNESS MORE THAN ANY OTHER DISTRICT.

BUT IT IS A, IT IS AN ISSUE THAT ALL THE DISTRICTS, THE ENTIRE COUNTY, NEEDS TO HELP ADDRESS.

IT'S OKAY.

IT'S OKAY BECAUSE WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF FOLKS AND HELP THEM GET BACK ON THE PATH.

BUT TRAINING, SKILLED TRAINING, ALL OF THAT NEEDS TO BE PART OF IT.

AND I'M, MY PROPOSAL IS TO LOOK AT HOW TO APPROPRIATE DOLLARS TO HELP IN TRAINING, BECAUSE IT'S NOT HAPPENING AS WELL AS IT SHOULD.

THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL WIND UP WITH SABRINA M. ALLEN.

>> WE NEED TO AND I WOULD LOOK AT THE MENTAL HEALTH PART OF IT AND THE DRUG ADDICTION PART OF IT.

THAT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED.

GET THESE PEOPLE JOBS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

GET THEM TRAINING.

THE DRUG ADDICTION NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

SO I'D WORK WITH THAT.

>> VERY FINE.

MS. NEELY.

>> OKAY.

WITH THIS QUESTION LET'S START WITH CHRISTIAN CABAN.

SO PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW YOU CAME TO YOUR POSITION ON THE RECENT ALLOCATION OF $27 MILLION TO RENOVATE DOAK CAMPBELL STADIUM FROM THE MONEY THAT WAS REQUIRED TO BE SPENT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.

>> THE QUESTION, ARE YOU ASKING IF I WAS IN PAVER OR AGAINST IT?

>> JUST HOW YOU CAME TO YOUR POSITION.

>> THEN, YES, WHETHER YOU WERE THE MANY FAVOR OF IT.

>> OKAY.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A VERY CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC, SO ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO PAYS ATTENTION SAW HOW KEY VICIVE THIS ISSUE WAS.

-- DIVISIVE.

I WAS PROBABLY -- I AM AGAINST PROVIDING DOAK CAMPBELL STADIUM MONEY, $20 MILLION.

I WOULD HAVE IDEALLY LIKED TO HAVE SEEN A COMPROMISE.

BUT FACTORING IN BLUEPRINT GIVING, FAMU AND TCC MONEY, I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW, HOW THE DECISION WAS MADE TO TO GIVE FSU THE MONEY.

>> WHAT WOULD THAT COMPROMISE HAVE LOOKED LIKE?

>> 15 MILLION.

>> OKAY.

>> HANNAH CROW?

>> WELL, ONE, I JUST WANT TO COMMEND AND REALIZE ALL THE EFFORT THAT OUR COMMISSIONERS PUT INTO THIS ISSUE.

IT WAS A LONG TIME COMING, THERE WAS A LOT OF DEBATE, A LOT OF RESEARCH AND SOME HARD, BOLD DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL HERE TODAY, AND WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS ONE DAY AS WELL.

I WANT TO START OFF WITH THAT AND ALSO SAY I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT MY STANCE WAS THERE WAS A MIDDLE GROUND TO TAKE ON THIS ISSUE.

THAT WOULD HAVE LOOKED LIKE ABOUT HALF OF THE FUNDING.

DOAK AND OUR OTHER INSTITUTIONS ARE 100% ECONOMIC DRIVERS THAT SHOULD BE SUPPORTED.

IN FACT, THEY SUPPORT MANY OTHER LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT SURROUND WHERE THEY ARE.

HAY COUNT ON THEM TO DO WELL -- THEY COUNT ON THEM TO DO WELL AND BE MORE USEFUL THAN JUST A FEW GAMES A YEAR.

SO THAT'S WHERE I WOULD HAVE FALLEN ON THAT ISSUE.

>> OKAY.

WILLIAM CROWLEY.

>> I WAS A VOCAL AND OUTSPOKEN OPPONENT WHEN THIS ISSUE MATTERED, AND I BELIEVE THE LOCAL PAPER OF RECORD WILL REFLECT THAT, MAY 2021 ISSUE OF THE TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT HAS A QUOTE WHERE I'M TALKING ABOUT HOW IRRESPONSIBLE A MISUSE OF FUNDS THIS WAS.

THIS IS EXACTLY THE SPENDING THAT HAS -- WHEN I I HIRE SOMEONE AT THE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE FOR $35,000 A YEAR, I'M REQUIRED BY POLICY TO INTERVIEW THREE CANDIDATES SO I CAN MAKE SURE I'M SPENDING TAXPAYERS' MONEY AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE.

WHEN BLUEPRINT GHEI THIS MONEY, THEY DOESN'T LOOK AT THREE OPTIONS, THEY DIDN'T LOOK AT TWO OPTIONS.

THEY ONLY LOOKED AT ONE OPTION, AND BEFORE WE EVEN HAD THAT JOBS REPORT, THEY WERE READY TO GREEN LIGHT IT.

AND IF YOU PAID ATTENTION TO THIS PROCESS, YOU WOULD KNOW THERE WAS NEVER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COMPROMISE.

IT WAS VOTED DOWN.

AND, FRANKLY, THE FACT THAT WE EVEN SUGGEST A COMPROMISE, IT FRUSTRATES ME BECAUSE IT ASSUMES THEY'RE ENTITLED TO THAT MONEY.

FOLKS WHO HAVE THE MEANSES, WHO ARE FLUSH WITH CASH, SHOULD NOT BE COMING TO GOVERNMENT LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE.

>> THANK YOU.

MAX EPSTEIN.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE WHERE THIS CAME FROM, THIS MONEY.

SERVICE ORIGINALLY $20 MILLION ALLOCATED FOR A CONVENTION CENTER, AND WITH ONE WEEK'S NOTICE, IT INCREASED TO $40 MILLION.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A $40 MILLION CONVENTION CENTER.

AND THEN WE MET AS CITIZENS WITH ALL OF OUR COMMISSIONERS, AND THEY TOLD US THAT THEY WANTED TO LOOK AT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH, EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AS A POSSIBILITY FOR THAT MONEY.

KID THEY LIE TO US?

IF I DON'T REALLY KNOW BECAUSE THEN VERY NEXT MEETING WE WERE TRYING TO PUT THIS MONEY INTO THE FSU STADIUM.

IT HAD 34 PERMANENT JOBS, NO BANK WOULD EVER HAVE GREEN LIGHTED THIS PROJECT.

WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THE FUNDAMENTALS AND FROM A FISCAL, YOU KNOW, PERSPECTIVE.

SO THAT MONEY IS GONE WITH.

THEY COULD HAVE DONE SO MUCH FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

I WOULD NOT HAVE SUPPORTED IT, AND I BELIEVE THAT LOOKING BACK AND SAYING, WELL, SOMEONE ELSE GOT MONEY IS NOT A GOOD EXCUSE.

YOU NEED TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT COMES BEFORE YOU EQUALLY.

>> THANK YOU.

MANNY JOANOS, YOUR RESPONSE.

>> CLEARLY IN DISTRICT 2 THE ECONOMY AND JOBS ARE IN SEVERE DEFICIT, AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS PROJECT WILL SUPPLY MANY, MANY, MANY JOBS FOR SKILLED WORKERS AND FOR TRADE WORKERS.

I DO BELIEVE THAT THE PREVIOUS COMMISSIONER, REST HIS SOUL, SUPPORTED THIS PROJECT FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING SKILLED WORKERS FOR THIS PROJECT.

SO I DEFEND THE PREVIOUS COMMISSIONER AND SUPPORT HIM.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU.

SABRINA M. ALLEN, YOUR RESPONSE, PLEASE.

>> I THINK $0 MILLION MAY HAVE BEEN REASONABLE -- 20 MILLION MAY HAVE BEEN REASONABLE CONSIDERING THAT FSU -- $50 MILLION LOCALLY FROM US, FROM THE COMMUNITY.

FAMU GOT $10 MILLION, AND THEY HAVE 9,000 STUDENTS, AND FSU HAS 33,000.

SO I THINK THAT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN FAIR WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT -- I'M AN ALUMNI, AND I LIKE FSU.

I LOVE FSU.

I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING BAD ABOUT FSU.

I THINK THAT WE WILL GET A RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT.

I THINK IT WAS AN INVESTMENT TO RENOVATE AND FIX DOAK.

BECAUSE FSU FOOTBALL AND THE SPORTS MAKE A LOT OF MONEY.

AND PEOPLE COME TO SEE IT, AND THAT'S REVENUE FOR US.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU.

AND, LYNDA BELL, FINAL WORD.

>> THANK YOU.

WHILE I MAY NOT AGREE WITH MR. EPSTEIN AND CROWLEY ON QUITE A FEW ISSUES, I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THEM ON ONE.

I THINK THERE WAS NO COMPROMISE THAT WAS GOING TO BE HAD.

AND I THINK WHEN PEOPLE SAY THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A COMPROMISE, THAT'S FALSE.

THEY WERE LOOKING FOR THE FULL AMOUNT, AND THEY WERE NOT GOING TO HEAR ANYTHING LESS.

AND THIS IS PROBLEM OF RUBBER STAMPING EVERYTHING THAT COMES DOWN FROM THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE, AND THIS IS ANOTHER REASON WHY YOU NEED TO MAKE IT A FULL-TIME POSITION SO YOU CAN STUDY THE ISSUE AND MAKE IT, BASICALLY, YOUR PRIORITY.

THIS WAS POORLY SPENT.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN SPENT IN MANY ORE AREAS -- OTHER AREAS.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S AN EXCUSE FOR THIS.

YOU HAVE SO MANY BENEFACTORS OF FSU, YOU HAVE SO MUCH MONEY THAT IS POURING INTO THE STADIUM AND INTO THIS UNIVERSITY THAT'S A GREAT UNIVERSITY WHERE A BUNCH OF MY FAMILY WENT TO FSU.

THAT DOESN'T EXCUSE IT.

TO SAY THAT IT'S AN ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION OR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THOSE ARE TEMPORARY JOBS.

ONCE STADIUM IS COMPLETEDDED ON THE CONSTRUCTION, THOSE JOBS GO AWAY.

THAT IS NOT A LONG-TERM SOLUTION, AND I THINK IT WAS VERY POORLY DONE.

I ALSO OPPOSED IT AND STILL OPPOSE IT TO THIS DAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO SHIFT INTO THE LIGHTNING ROUND, BUT BEFORE THAT WE'RE GOING TO EASE IS IT.

I'VE GOT ONE QUICK QUESTION.

WE'LL START WITH YOU, HANNAH CROW.

THIS IS A RACE THAT IS OPEN BECAUSE OF THE TRAGIC DEATH OF JIMBO JACKSON.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE COMMISSIONER JACKSON'S LEGACY FOR DISTRICT 2 IN JUST ONE SENTENCE?

HANNAH CROW.

>> THIS IS HOME, FOR SURE, FOR US -- THIS HITS HOME, FOR SURE, FOR US.

HE WAS INVOLVED ON GROUND LEVEL.

HE CARE ABOUT HIS STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, AND HE ADVOCATED PASSIONATELY.

AND I'M HONORED TO HAVE LEARNED FROM THAT.

>> THANK YOU.

WILL CROWLEY.

>> THE LATE COMMISSIONER JIMBO JACKSON LOVED THE CHILDREN OF DISTRICT 2.

>> MAX EPSTEIN.

>> I THINK HE WAS A TERRIFIC EDUCATOR AND A CORNERSTONE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

>> MANNY JOANOS.

>> ONE WORD, INTEGRITY.

>> SABRINA M. ALLEN.

>> I DIDN'T KNOW HIM.

>> LYNDA BELL.

>> A GREAT MAN AND A GREAT SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.

>> CHRISTIAN CABAN.

>> ONE WORD, BELOVED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THE LIGHTNING ROUND.

THE WAY IT WORKS, MIDWEST OF THESE QUESTIONS ARE GOING TO BE KIND OF YES OR NO, OR YOU'LL HAVE A SENTENCE.

AND YOU CAN EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER IN KIND OF ONE SENTENCE.

OF COURSE, YOU CAN USE AN AND, YOU CAN USE A BECAUSE, BUT WE DON'T WANT TOO MUCH OF A RUN-ON SENTENCE HERE.

SO WE ARE GOING TO START AT THE TOP OF THE ORDER WITH SABRINA ALLEN.

WHAT SINGLE THING MAKES DISTRICT 2 DISTINCT FROM ALL OTHERS?

ONE THING, ONE SENTENCE, SABRINA ALLEN.

>> I GUESS IT'S PEOPLE.

WE CARE ABOUT A EACH OTHER.

IF.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

LYNDA BELL.

>> WE'RE KEEP -- ACCEPTING OF EACH OTHER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE ARE AMAZING.

>> CHRISTIAN CABAN.

>> THIS IS A ONE-WORD ANSWER, DIVERSITY.

>> HANNAH CROW.

>> DIVERSITY, THE PEOPLE9 AND THE RICH HISTORY OF OUR DISTRICT IS WONDERFUL.

>> WILL CROWLEY.

>> FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF FORT BRADEN, TO JACKSON BLUFF, PEOPLE COME FROM EVERY WALK OF LIFE TO WEAVE TOGETHER FABRIC THAT MAKES DISTRICT 2.

>> THANK YOU.

MAX EPSTEIN.

>> AS WELL AS BEING SOME OF THE POOREST ZIP CODES, WE ARE SOME OF THE MOST INTEGRATED AND DIVERSE IN THE ENTIRE STATE.

>> THANK YOU.

MANNY JOANOS.

>> DIVERSE POPULATION.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THE LAKE HALL SCHOOLHOUSE IS ONE OF THE LAST SINGLE-ROOM AFRICAN-AMERICAN SCHOOLHOUSES THAT STILL EXISTS IN FLORIDA.

EFFORTS TO PRESERVE IT, TALK OF CARRYING A $3 MILLION PRICE TAGGED TO DO THAT.

DO YOU SUPPORT PRESERVING LAKE HALL SCHOOLHOUSE?

STARTING WITH HAWAIIAN -- LINDA BELL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HISTORY MUST BE PRESERVED, AND WHATEVER THE COST IS, WE CAN ANALYZE THAT LATER -- >> OKAY.

OF.

>> THE ANSWER IS YES.

>> CHRISTIAN CABAN.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

>> HANNAH CROW.

>> YES.

HISTORY'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY, SO WE MUST PRESERVE IT.

>> WILL CROWLEY.

>> ABSOLUTELY AM IN FAVOR, ESPECIALLY WITH BLACK HISTORY BEING UNDER ATTACK IN THIS STATE.

>> MAX EPSTEIN.

>> AS SOMEONE WHO'S SPOKEN MANY TIMES ABOUT, IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AND I DO NOT THINK THE COUNTY HAS HANDLED IT WELL AT ALL.

>> MANNY JOANOS.

>> YES.

>> SABRINA M. ALLEN.

>> YES, PRESERVE IT, BUT NOT FOR $3 MILLION.

I CAN GET THAT A PRICE DOWN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

DID WE MAKE IT THROUGH EVERYBODY?

YES, WE DID.

OKAY.

THIS IS GOING TO BE WHERE I'M GOING TO BE STRUGGLING HERE.

WILL ALL RIGHT.

CHRISTIAN CABAN, HOW MANY COUNTY COMMISSION MEETINGS HAVE YOU ATTENDED, AND HOW MANY HAVE YOU SPOKEN AT AND ON WHAT TOPICS IN.

>> I HAVE NOT SPOKEN AT ANY MEETINGS, BUT I'VE BEEN PRESENT FOR MULTIPLE.

>> HAN NO CROW.

>> I'VE ATTENDED MEETINGS MULTIPLE TIME OVER ZOOM WHEN I BAN DOING GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY, AND I'M PROUD OF THE ITEM I WAS ABLE TO GET ON THE AGENDA.

>> YOU WERE PROUD OF THE ITEM?

WHAT WAS THAT?

>> THE WALKING PATH IN FORT BRADEN.

>> OKAY.

>> WILL I CROWLEY.

>> PUBLIC MEETINGS, I'VE SPOKEN AT MANY MOSTLY ON ISSUES OF EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT.

BUT IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET TO A COMMISSION MEETING, AND I WOULDN'T HOLD IT AGAINST ANYBODY.

>> MAX EPSTEIN.

>> WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THE BOARDS THAT THE COUNTY VOTES ON, I'D SAY ABOUT 30 IN THE LAST 3 YEARS.

I'VE SPOKEN ON THE FERTILIZER ORDINANCE, LAKE HALL, LAKE MUNSON, BLUEPRINT TRANSPARENCY, REZONING AND OTHERS.

>> THANK YOU.

MANNY JOANOS.

>> I HAVE NOT LATELY, BUT I SERVED ON THE LEON COUNTY COMMISSION IN THE '90s FOR 8 YEARS, WAS CHAIRMAN TWICE.

>> SABRINA M. ALLEN.

>> I'VE BEEN WATCHING THEM ONLINE.

I'VE BEEN RAISING FOUR GRANDCHILDREN BUT THEY'RE ALL GROWN AND OUT ON THEIR OWN, SO I CAN BE A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, AND THAT WOULD BE -- I WOULDN'T MISS A MEETING.

>> THANK YOU.

LINDA BELL.

>> I'VE AENDED MANY IN PERSON, I'VE WATCHED IN, AND I'VE SPOKE SPOKEN, I BELIEVE, AT THREE, ON EXPANSION OF POWER, CHILDREN'S TRUST AND ONE OTHER ISSUE I CANNOT EVEN REMEMBER AT THIS POINT.

>> OKAY.

WHAT IS ONE PLEDGE YOU WOULD MAKE TO VOTERS RIGHT NOW IF ELECTED?

HANNAH CROW.

>> I'M HERE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.

YOU CAN TRUST THAT.

I'VE BEEN DOING THE WORK BEFORE THERE WAS A RACE TO RUN.

MY FAMILY'S HERE, I HAVE A STAKE IN THE GAME, AND YOU CAN TRUST ME AS A VOICE OF V.A.ED -- ADVOCACY.

>> WILL CROWLEY.

>> YOU'LL NEVER SEE ME UP ON THAT DIE THEY S AND HAVE TO WONDER IF I'M MAKING MY DECISION AS A FAVOR TO SOMEONE AHA I OWE.

>> MAX EPSTEIN.

>> I'M CURRENTLY WORK WORKING ON THE ASH DOCTOR CAN 3 MILLION GRANT WITH THE COUNTY TO CLEAN UP LAKE MUNSON.

THAT WOULD HAPPEN DURING MY FEN YOUR.

>> MANNY JOANOS.

>> I PLEDGE HONESTY AND INTEGRITY.

>> SABRINA M. ALLEN.

>> MY TAGLINE IS PEOPLE, NOT POLITICS.

>> LINDA BELL.

>> I WILL BE A FULL-TIME COMMISSIONER.

IT'S NOT A POLITICAL BUBBLE TO DEDICATE 100% OF THE TIME TO DEDICATE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT IS PAYING YOUR FULL-TIME SALARY.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU.

>> I KNOW IT WELL AND I HAVE KNOWLEDGE.

>> CHRISTIAN CABAN.

>> I WILL BE UNAPOLOGETICALLY SELFISH FOR DISTRICT 2.

>> OKAY.

AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, YOU'D BE WORKING WITH YOUR COUNTERPARTS ON THE CITY COMMISSION.

TOWARD THAT END, WHO WILL YOU ENFORCE FOR MAYOR OF TALLAHASSEE AND WHY?

WILL CROWLEY.

>> I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEW LEADERSHIP AT THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE.

>> MANNY JOANOS.

OH, MAX EPSTEIN, THANK YOU.

>> NO PROBLEM.

I SUPPORT ALL THE CHALLENGERS.

I WILL BE VOTING FOR WHITFIELD LELAND, BUT I SUPPORT CHRISTIAN DOZIER AS WELL.

>> MANNY JOANOS.

>> I'VE HAD A LONG HISTORY OF WORKING WELL WITHTY COMMISSIONERS -- CITY COMMISSIONERS, AND I DO SERVE -- I DO SUPPORT MAYOR DALEY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SABRINA M. ALLEN.

>> I HAVEN'T MADE A DECISION YET.

>> OKAY.

LINDA BELL.

IF.

>> I AM NOT GOING TO ENDORSE ANY OF THE CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CITY COMMISSION, AND I WILL HAVE OF A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH HEM.

>> CHRISTIAN CA A BAN.

>> I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT JOHN DALY.

>> HANNAH CROW.

>> I AM FOCUSING ON THE RACE AND DIVING INTO DISTRICT 2 AND ALL OF THEIR NEEDS, I WILL NOT BE ENDORSING FOR MAYOR.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THE QUESTION I AM MOST ASKED BY VOTERS TO ASK THE CANDIDATES HAS LITTLE TO DO WITH THE COUNTY, BUT IT'S BECOME A LITMUS TEST FOR THEM AND SPEAKS THE OUR DEMOCRACY AT LARGE.

DO YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE OUTCOME OF THE 20 THE 20 -- 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

MAX EPSTEIN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST FAIR IN HISTORY, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT BY REPUBLICAN STATES CONDUCTING THEIR OWN REVIEWS AND CERTIFYING THE ELECTION.

>> THANK YOU.

MANNY JOANOS.

>> I HAVE NO QUARRELS WITH THE 2020 ELECTION.

>> OKAY.

SABRINA M. ALLEN.

>> THE AUDIT AND REVIEW SHOWED THAT THERE WERE SOME INCONSISTENCIES AND THERE WERE SOME PROBLEMS, BUT THEY WERE NOT ENOUGH TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION.

>> LINDA BELL.

>> I DO THINK THE, I DO THINK THE 2020 THE ELECTION HAD ISSUES.

DID IT AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION?

I HAVE NO IDEA.

>> CHRISTIAN CA A BAN.

>> I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ANY ISSUES WITH THE 2020 ELECTION.

>> HANNAH CROW.

>> I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE ARE ANY ISSUES WITH THE ELECTION.

>> DID I GET WILL CROWLEY?

NOPE.

>> I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IN THE RESULTS OF THE 2020 ELECTION.

>> THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

PLEASE TELL US YOUR PARTY AFFILIATION AND WHETHER THAT SHOULD HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS RACE FOR VOTERS.

MANNY JOANOS.

>> MY PARTY AFFILIATION WILL HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH HOW I SERVE THE DISTRICT 2.

I AM A REGISTERED REPUBLICAN.

>> THANK YOU.

SABRINA M. ALLEN.

>> I'M A CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRAT.

>> THANK YOU.

LINDA BELL.

>> I AM A REPUBLICAN, AND I WILL SERVE AS A CONSERVATIVE, BUT MY PARTY SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO BECAUSE THIS IS ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT 2, AND THAT'S WHERE I WILL DEDICATE MY TIME.

>> CHRISTIAN CABAN.

>> I'M A REGISTERED DEMOCRAT, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT, IN A NONPARTISAN RACE, I DON'T THINK THAT HAS ANY OUTCOME ON HELPING POVERTY AND HELPING YOUTH.

>> HANNAH CROW.

>> I'M A REGISTERED REPUBLICAN, BUT I BELIEVE THE NUMBER TWO IS A LOT BIGGER THAN BEING AN R, AND NOBODY'S ASKING YOU YOUR AFFILIATION WHEN YOU'RE DOING THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT I'VE DONE ALREADY.

>> WILL CROWLEY.

>> I'M A REGISTERED DEMOCRAT, I'M PROUD OF MY AFFILIATION AS A DEMOCRAT, BUT I'M WILLING TO WORK WITH ANYONE TOWARDS A BETTER GOVERNMENT.

>> THANK YOU.

MAX EPSTEIN.

>> I'M A REGISTERED DEMOCRAT, BUT I CONSIDER MYSELF MORE INDEPENDENT.

I LOOK AT EVERYTHING AND THE FACTS THROUGH AN INDEPENDENT LENS ARE.

>> OKAY.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THE SECOND MOST QUESTION I'M ASKED TO ASK CANDIDATES AFTER ROE V. WADE WAS OVERTURNED BY THE SUPREME COURT, WHAT WAS YOUR INSTANT REACTION TO THAT?

DID YOU SUPPORT THE RULING?

SHOULD THE COUNTY BE PURSUING ANY POLICY AS IT PERTAINS TO ABORTION?

SABRINA M. ALLEN.

>> OVERTURNING ROE V. WADE..

PUT THE RESPONSIBILITY BACK ON THE STATE.

AND HOW DID I FEEL ABOUT THAT?

LET'S SEE, DOES THE COUNTY -- SHOULD THE COUNTY PARTICIPATE IF IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH?

WE COULD, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE PRO-CHOICE PEOPLE APT TABLE AND PRO-LIFE PEOPLE AT TABLE.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU.

LINDA BELL.

>> I AM PROUDLY PRO-LIFE ARE, I'M A PRO-LIFE CONSERVATIVE.

I'M THRILLED THAT THE COURT RIGHTLY SAW THIS DESERVES TO BE BACK IN THE STATES, THAT THERE'S NO CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO ABORTION.

IT DID NOT OUTLAW -- >> ANYTHING FOR THE COUNTY -- >> I DON'T THINK IT'S THE COUNTY'S -- >> THANK YOU.

CHRISTIAN CABAN.

>> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT IS, THAT THE GOVERNMENT POSITION TO TELL WOMEN WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR BODIES.

I AM PRO-CHOICE.

AND I DO NOT BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ISSUE.

>> THANK YOU.

HANNAH CROW.

>> HERE'S WHAT I WILL SAY, IT IS MY JOB AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER TO MAKE SURE WOMEN HAVE ALL THE EDUCATION THAT THEY NEED TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THE LIFE OF THE UNBORN CHILD.

>> OKAY.

WILL CROWLEY.

>> YES.

WHEN I FIRST HEARD THE NEWS, I WAS OUTRAGED AT THE ASSAULT THAT THE FREEDOM OF WOMEN, AND I WENT STRAIGHT TO THE COURTHOUSE TO JOIN MY COMMUNITY DEMONSTRATING EXISTENCE THEM.

AND I DO BELIEVE -- >> COUNTY ROLE.

>> YES, I COBELIEVE THAT AS PUBLIC SERVANTS WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO PROTECT THESE RIGHTS.

>> THANK YOU.

MAX EPSTEIN.

>> I THINK IT WAS AN AWFUL DECISION, AND I THINK THE COUNTY SHOULD HAVE RESOURCES FOR FOLKS WHO NEED HELP TO NAVIGATE THE NEW LAWS.

LACK OF LAW.

>> ALL RIGHT.

MANNY JOANOS.

>> I AM PRO-LIFE, I SUPPORT THE DECISION, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD BE IN RESPONSE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

REALLY QUICKLY, WHO ARE YOUR TOP DONORS TO YOUR CAMPAIGN?

AND DO YOU.

ACCEPT BUNDLED CONTRIBUTIONS?

THOSE ARE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ARE GIVEN BY THE SAME COMPANY UNDER MULTIPLE NAMES OR ADDRESSES OR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CONNECTED.

IF YOU'RE NEEDING HELP ON WHO ARE TOP DONORS, YOU CAN TELL US WHO THE TOP DOLLAR DONORS.

OBVIOUSLY, THE MAX IS $1,000.

LINDA BELL, WE START WITH YOU.

>> MY TOP DONOR SO FAR IS $500, AND IT'S MOSTLY ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, PEOPLE I USED TO SERVE WITH, JUST FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND THERE ARE NO CORPORATIONS, NO ANYTHING THAT I HAVE RECEIVED THAT WAS BUNDLED ORING ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

>> CHRISTIAN CABAN.

>> I BELIEVE EVERY TAXPAYER AND TAX-PAYING ENTITY HAS THE RIGHT TO GIVE, AND THE MOST OF MY CONTRIBUTIONS COME FROM VERY SUCCESSFUL LOCAL BUSINESSMEN WHO WANT TO SUPPORT A FELLOW BUSINESSMAN IN SUPPORTING HIS COMMUNITY.

>> THANK YOU.

HANNAH CROW.

>> MY TOP CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE BEEN AT $1,000.

I'M VERY PROUD THAT THESE ARE OUT OF DISTRICT 2, A MAJORITY OF THEM, AND ESPECIALLY FROM BLUE COLLAR WORKERS THAT ARE BACKBONE OF OUR DISTRICT.

AND AS FAR AS CONTRIBUTIONS THAT HAVE COME FROM CLOSE FAMILY FRIENDS WHO BELIEVE IN WHAT I'M DOING AND SUPPORTING ME.

>> WILL CROWLEY.

>> I'M PROUD TO SAY I'VE GOT THE LOWEST AVERAGE CONTRIBUTION, THE ONLY ONE UNDER $100, SO I HAVE NO IDEA WHO'S MY BIGGEST DONOR, BUT THEY'RE NOT A BUSINESS, NO LLC, NO STACKED CONTRIBUTIONS.

AND THAT'S WHY YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO WONDER WHERE MY PRIORITIES LIE.

>> OKAY.

MAX EPSTEIN.

>> MY BIGGEST CONTRIBUTOR IS ME.

I'M SELF-FUNDING MOST OF MY CAMPAIGN.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT MY MONEY WHERE MY MOUTH IS, AND I'VE HAD SUPPORT FROM CLOSE FRIENDS.

>> LIKE MAX, MY BIGGEST CONTRIBUTOR IS ME, BUT I DO HAVE SUPPORT FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

>> SABRINA ALLEN.

>> I'M MY BIGGEST E DOE OR NOR -- DONOR.

I AM FUNDING MY OWN CAMPAIGN.

I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO OWE ANYBODY ANYTHING.

WHEN I RAN FOR SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS 10 YEARS AGO, A LADY ASKED TO VOLUNTEER AND SAID WILL YOU GIVE ME A JOB?

I SAID, I'LL GIVE YOU AN INTERVIEW.

THAT'S BETTER THAN -- >> THANK YOU.

[LAUGHTER] >> NAME ONE THING COUNTY IS NOT SPENDING ENOUGH MONEY ON AND ONE THING THE COUNTY IS SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY ON.

CHRISTIAN CABAN.

>> I THINK WE'RE SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY OUTSIDE OF DISTRICT 2, AND I WANT TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IN DISTRICT 2.

>> THANK YOU.

HANNAH CROW.

>> I WOULD SAY POTENTIALLY HAVING TOO MANY BUNDLED SERVICES AT ONE TIME FOR TOO MUCH MONEY AND THEN NOT ENOUGH AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THAT NEEDS TO BE THE TOP PRIORITY.

>> WILL CROWLEY.

>> SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY ON SWEETHEART DEALS AND GIVEAWAYS LIKE STADIUM DEAL, WE'RE NOT SPENDING NEARLY ENOUGH ON SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE PEOPLE NEED TO LIVE DIGNIFIED LIVES IN DISTRICT 2.

>> MAX EPSTEIN.

>> WE'RE SPENDING TOO MUCH SUBSIDIZING NEW DEVELOPMENT.

IT COSTS $3 FOR EVERY $1 OF NEW TAXPAYER MONEY COMING IN.

AND I ALSO THINK THAT WE'RE NOT SPENDING ENOUGH MONEY ON ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION BECAUSE THAT THE SAVES US TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS DOWN THE ROAD -- >> OKAY.

MANNY JOANOS.

>> I AGREE WITH CHRISTIAN, NOT ENOUGH IN DISTRICT 2, TOO MUCH OUTSIDE OF DISTRICT 2.

>> SABRINA ALLEN.

SABRINA IF M. ALLEN.

>> THANK YOU, WILLIAM.

I THINK WE'RE NOT SPENDING ENOUGH MONEY ON OUR YOUTH AND TOO MUCH MONEY ON -- I'M NOT SURE.

>> LINDA BELL.

>> TOO MUCH MONEY ON SPECIAL POLITICS LIKE -- PROJECTS LIKE DOAK CAMPBELL STADIUM, SPECIFIC INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS AND THINGS THAT AFFECT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE IN DISTRICT 2 THE.

>> OKAY.

HANNAH CROW, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR SERVES AT THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION.

WOW.

[LAUGHTER] VINCE LONG HAS BEEN SERVING SINCE 2011 WITH.

WHAT LETTER GRADE WOULD YOU GIVE TO VINCE LONG THIS YEAR AND WHY?

ONE SENTENCE.

HANNA ESCROW.

>> VINCE LONG IS A -- HAS A WILDLY DIFFICULT JOB AND, I'M SURE, VERY, VERY REWARDING.

I AM NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF GIVING MY BOSS A LETTER GRADE, BUT I DO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM IF I'M FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SERVE.

>> WILL CROWLEY.

>> THE STAFF SERVES AT THE PLEASURE OF THE COMMISSION, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT I'LL NEED TO THE TO LOOK MORE CLOSELY AT HIS RECORD.

I WOULD NOT GIVE HIM A LETTER GRADE.

I WOULD SAY BASED ON THE ISSUES WE'RE STILL DEALING WITH, I WOULD SAY UNSATISFACTORY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

MAX EPSTEIN.

>> I WOULD SAY THIS YEAR I'D GIVE HIM A C- WITH HIS UNEQUAL HANDLING OF THE LAKE HALL SCHOOL AND TRANSPARENCY ISSUES WITH BLUEPRINTS INC., AND HIS CLOSE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE NAMED BY SCOTT MADDOX.

HE'S AN EXCELLENT ADMINISTRATOR, BUT HE NEEDS TO ORE SOLVE THESE ETHICAL ISSUES.

>> MANNY JOANOS.

>> I THINK VINCE IS WELL RESPECTED.

I BELIEVE THAT HE HAS A VERY TOUGH JOB.

LET HER BE.

>> SABRINA M. ALLEN.

>> I'VE HEARD NOTHING BUT GOOD THINGS ABOUT HIM.

BUT I DON'T HAVE A LETTER GRADE.

>> OKAY.

>> I'VE HEARD GOOD THINGS ABOUT HIM.

>> LYNDA BELL.

>> I WOULD GIVE HIM A C, AND THE COUNTY MANAGER IS NOT THE BOSS.

AND I THINK THAT'S BEEN PART OF THE PROBLEM -- >> CHRISTIAN CABAN.

>> THEY CAN RUBBER STAMP ANYTHING HE BRINGS.

>> AN A- BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

HE WAS RECOGNIZED FOR BEING A GREAT COUNTY LEADER, AND I THINK HE'S DOING A FANTASTIC JOB.

>> ONE MORE FROM THE LIGHTNING ROUND.

FROM A READER, IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, WHAT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT HAVE YOU COORDINATE IF OR PARTICIPATED SPECIFICALLY IN DISTRICT 2 THE?

WILL CROWLEY.

>> YES.

I JOINED MEMBERS OF MY COMMUNITY ON THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS TO GO INTO THE MEADOWS MOBILE HOME PARK CANVASSING THE COMMUNITY, FINDING OUT ABOUT THEIR DISPLACEMENT, BRINGING THEM TO A LEGAL AID CLINIC AND DOCUMENTING THEIR RESPONDS TO LIFT UP THEIR VOICES.

>> THANK YOU.

MAX EPSTEIN.

>> I'M SORRY, COULD YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION?

>> SURELY.

IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, WHAT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT HAVE YOU COORDINATED OR PARTICIPATED IN SPECIFICALLY IN DISTRICT 2?

>> SPECIFICALLY, THE CLEAN-UP OF LAKE MUNSON AND LOOKING AT OUR WATERWAYS.

RIGHT NOW, AGAIN, WORKING ON A $3 MILLION GRANT WITH THE COUNTY.

AND ALSO FIXING THE EMINENT DOMAIN ISSUES FOR THE AIRPORT GATEWAY -- >> THANK YOU.

MANNY JOANOS.

>> MY BIGGEST VOLUNTEER EFFORTS HAVE BEEN WORKING 17 YEARS WITH THE GOTBY HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION.

IN THOSE 17 YEARS WE HAVE RAISED OVER $200,000 TO HELP STUDENTS GO ON TO TCC.

>> THANK YOU.

SABRINA M. ALLEN.

>> I RAISED FOUR GRANDCHILDREN IN DISTRICT 2 TO BECOME GOOD CITIZENS AND EAGER LEARNERS ASK JUST GOOD PEOPLE.

AND I'M PROUD OF THEM.

THAT WAS MY CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> THANK YOU.

LYNDA BELL.

>> I'VE BEEN THE CURMUDGEON WHO GETS THINGS DONE IN THE DISTRICT AS WELL AS SERVED ON THE FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST AS AN AN POI POINT TEE OF THE GOVERNOR -- APPOINTEE OF GOVERNOR.

>> CHRISTIAN CABAN.

>> I'M PROUD TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY OF THE BIG BEND, AND LAST YEAR I FOUNDED A LITTLE PROJECT WHERE WE PROVIDED 70 PLUS FOSTER CHILDREN WITH FREE DENTAL CARE, ALL PREDOMINANTLY RESIDING IN 32 THE 304 AND 5 AREA CODE.

>> HANNAH CROW.

>> LEON COUNTY STAFF AND OUR COMMISSION DOING CAN THINGS LIKE FARMERS' MARKET, LITTLE FREE LIBRARY PROGRAMS, OUR WALKING PATH INITIATIVE, BLOOD DRIVES AND MULTIPLE ANNUAL EVENTS TO BE ENGAGE OUR RESIDENTS AND TO CREATE AN OVERALL BETTER QUIET OF -- QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR DISTRICT.

>> MAX EPSTEIN, THIS IS THE THE LAST LIGHTNING ROUND QUESTION.

WE'RE SEEING RECORD HEAT WAVES, TALLAHASSEE RESIDENTS ARE OPENING THEIR HIGHEST UTILITY BILLS EVER.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN CLINT COURTROOM CHANGE, AND SO, HOW URGENT IS IT AS A PROBLEM, AND WHAT CAN A COUNTY COMMISSIONER DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

15 SECONDS.

WE ARE RACING OTT INHERE.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

CLIMATE CHANGE WAS AN EMERGENCY ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO.

AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR ROOFTOP SOLAR, SUBSIDIZING TO HELP BRING DOWN THOSE UTILITIES BILLS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND KEEPING MONEY IN PEOPLE'S POCKETS.

>> MANNY JOANOS.

>> I BELIEVE WE HAVE WITNESSED EVEN HOTTER SUMMERS THAN WHAT WE HAVE NOW.

I'M NOT A CLIMATE CHANGE ADVOCATE.

I DO THINK THE CITY OF OF TALLAHASSEE FOR HEDGING PURPOSES ON NATURAL GAS, AND THAT HAS HELPED KEEP THE CREW TILT BILL LORE.

>> THANK YOU.

SABRINA M. ALLEN.

>> I RECENTLY GOT A METAL ROOF, AND MY YOU IT BILL HAS BEEN CHEAPER.

I CAN AFFORD ONE.

EVERYBODY CAN'T.

BUT THAT'S WHAT -- LET'S SEE, THAT'S WHAT ILL DO -- I WOULD DO IS STOP SO MUCH WASTE OF FOOD.

I HAVE STARTED REALLY -- I'M FRUGAL ANYWAY.

I HAVE NO UNSECURED DEBT.

I HAVEN'T USED A CREDIT CARD -- >> THANK YOU.

>> SO I WOULD, I WOULD -- ENERGY.

USE LESS.

>> OKAY.

LYNDA BELLE.

>> 20 YEARS AGO IT WAS CHANGED TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

THE CLIMATE IS ALWAYS CHANGING.

THE QUESTION IS WHETHER IT'S ANTHROTO GENERALLIC OR NOT MANMADE.

SO I DO NOT TEND TO LEAN ON THE FACT THAT IT'S MANMADE.

THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE CLIMATE CHANGE.

BUT I'LL GIVE YOU A QUOTE FROM JOHN KERRY.

HE SAID IF WE WENT TO ZERO EMISSIONS AND HAD A ZERO CARBON FOOTPRINT, IT WOULD DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING BECAUSE 90% OF OUR EMISSIONS ARE COMING FROM OUTSIDE THIS COUNTRY.

>> THANK YOU.

CHRISTIAN CABAN.

>> I THINK ANYONE WHO WAS PRESENT IN LEON COUNTY ABOUT A MONTH AGO WHO WITNESSED THE RECORD HEAT WAVE THAT CAME THROUGH WOULD IDENTIFY THAT CLIMATE CHANGE, WE ARE EXPERIENCING CLIMATE CHANGE IN LEON COUNTY.

I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE CONTINUAL ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON IN OUR CONSTITUENTS' BACKYARDS.

LAKE MUNSON AND WOODVILLE, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE SEPTIC TANK CRISIS DOWN THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

HANNAH CROW.

>> ABSOLUTELY, ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ARE ALL AROUND US.

AS A COUNTY COMMISSION, AS A RESIDENT, WE SHOULD BE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO IMPROVE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT, BE GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR ENVIRONMENT.

AND AS A COMMISSIONER, I WOULD LOVE TO STEP UP, LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT AND BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

>> THANK YOU.

WILL CROWLEY.

>> ASKING IF I BELIEVE IN THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS LIKE ASKING IF I BELIEVE IN GRAVITY.

WE SEE IS IT ALL AROUND US, AND IT'S THREATENING THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES, AND WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

WE NEED TO, IN ADDITION TO INCREASING THOSE INCENTIVES, WE NEED TO SHORE UP THE RESILIENCY OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU ALL MADE IT TO CLOSING ARGUMENTS, AND WE'VE GOT TO GO QUICK, SO WE'VE GOT A MINUTE FOR EACH OF YOU TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO VOTERS.

MANNY JANUARY NOT, BRING US -- MANNY JOANOS, BRING US THROUGH TO THE CLOSE.

>> I'M MANNY JOANOS, AND I'VE LIVED IN LEEN ONCOUNTY ALL MY LIFE, BORN HERE IN 1956.

I HAVE A GREAT PASSION TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND TO SERVE PEOPLE.

I THINK YOU CAN LOOK AT MY HISTORY.

I'VE HAD A HISTORY OF SERVING THE POPULATION HERE IN LEON COUNTY.

I HAVE A GREAT LOVE FOR DISTRICT 2.

I WANT TO SEE IT DO BETTER, AND I HOPE THAT THE FOLKS WILL CONSIDER ME FOR THEIR VOTE.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

SABRINA M. ALLEN.

>> I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN TALLAHASSEE AT THE FLORIDA A&M HOSPITAL.

I'VE BEEN HERE ALL MY LIFE.

I'VE LIVED IN DISTRICT 2 THE FOR 38 YEARS.

I HAVE TAUGHT FOR 25 THE YEARS.

I WAS A SECRETARY FOR 20 YEARS WITH THE STATE AND CITY.

I AM, AS A TEACHER, HIGHLY EFFECTIVE TEACHER.

I HAVE VERY FEW DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS.

I HAVE TWO GRADUATE DEGREES, ONE FROM FSU AND ONE FROM FAMU.

AND I RAN FOR -- >> THANK YOU.

>> I RAN FOR SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS TEN YEARS AGO.

I RECEIVED 25,000 VOTES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

HANG.

LYNDA BELL.

>> AS A FORMER CITY MANAGER, COMMISSIONER AND MAYOR, I'M UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING ON DAY ONE WITHOUT HAVING TO BE SO STAFF-DEPENDENT.

I WOULD BE AN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR THE GOOD PEOPLE OF DISTRICT 2 AND PROPERLY CHALLENGE THINGS THAT NEED ON CHALLENGED RATHER THAN RUBBER OR STAMPING WHAT THE COUNTY MANAGER SAYS BECAUSE I HAVE ANOTHER FULL-TIME JOB.

I I THINK THAT CAUSES GREAT COMPROMISE, AND SO I REALLY BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART THAT IT WILL NEED TO BE A FULL-TIME POSITION, AND I DEDICATE THAT MY FULL-TIME POSITION TO THAT BECAUSE I THINK GOOD PEOPLE OF DISTRICT 2 DESERVE NOTHING LESS THAN A FULL-TIME COMMISSIONER.

>> KRIS -- CHRISTIAN CABAN.

>> I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR HOSTING US, AND I THINK IT'S AWESOME TO SEE SEVEN DIFFERENT PEOPLE WANTING TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY.

THAT MAKES ME FEEL VERY CONFIDENT FOR LEON COUNTY AS A WHOLE.

AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, I'M A PRODUCT OF DISTRICT 2.

I'M NOT SOMEONE THAT TALKS RHETORIC.

I WANT TO CONTINUE TO GIVE BACK TO MY COMMUNITY.

MY TRACK RECORD IS GETTING THINGS DONE, AND THAT'S ALL I REALLY HAVE TO SAY.

MY MAIM IS.

>> CHRISTIAN CABAN, PLEASE CHECK OUT MY WEB SITE, CHRISTIANCABAN.COM.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

HANNA ESCROW.

>> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.

I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR YEARS BEFORE THERE WAS A RACE TO RUN.

I'VE BEEN ON THE GROUND IN OUR COMMUNITY WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS, WORKING WITH BUSINESSES, WORKING WITH RESIDENTS ASKING THESE HARD QUESTIONS WAY BEFORE WE WERE HERE TODAY.

YOU CAN TRUST ME AND KNOW WHERE MY HEART AND MY INTENTIONS ARE.

MY FAMILY IS IN THE DISTRICT.

THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR DECADES.

WE ARE LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS, BLUE COLLAR AND COLLEGE-EDUCATED FAMILY.

SO I'M HERE, OUR FAMILY IS HERE.

I WANT TO SEE DISTRICT 2 CONTINUE TO GET BETTER, AND YOU CAN LEARN MORE AT VOTE HANNAH CROW.COM.

>> THANK YOU.

WILL CROWLEY.

>> THERE ARE THREE THINGS THAT SET ME APART FROM EVERYONE ELSE.

FIRST IS FISCAL INDEPENDENCE OF MY CAMPAIGN SO YOU NEVER HAVE TO WONDER WHERE MY LOYALTY LIES.

THE SECOND IS MY STRONG BACKGROUND IN PUBLIC POLICY AND BUDGET SO I DON'T HAVE TO RELY ON UNELECTED STAFF TO DO MY THINKING FOR ME.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I'VE GOT A WORKING CLASS BACKGROUND.

I WAITED TABLES FOR 010 YEARS, I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO PAY YOUR RENT WITH TIPS THERE FROM FOLKS WHO DON'T SEE YOU AS FULLY HUMAN, WHAT IT'S LIKE WHEN YOUR LANDLORD SELLS YOUR HOUSE OUT FROM UNDERNEATH YOU WITH 15 DAYS' NOTICE.

THAT'S WYOMING I'M ASKING YOU TO VOTE FOR ME ON AUGUST 23RD SO WE CAN TEAR DOWN THAT WALL TOGETHER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

MAX EPSTEIN.

>> SO I HOPE YOU JUST LOOK AT MY RECORD AND EVERYTHING THAT I'VE DONE IN OUR COMMUNITY FROM FRENCHTOWN TO FAMU WAY, TO LAKE MUNSON.

AND I PROMISE YOU THAT I WILL RESOLVE THOSE ISSUES, ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WHETHER OR NOT I'M ELECTED OR NOT.

YOU CAN SEE ME AT MAX FOR LEON.COM, AND YOU CAN TRUST ME BECAUSE I HAVE YOUR BEST INTERESTS AT HEART.

I'M DOING THIS FOR THE PEOPLE.

I'M NOT DOING THIS FOR ME.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS I COULD HAVE DONE THAT PERSONALLY ENRICHED MYSELF, BUT THAT'S NOT WHO I AM.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WELL, WE WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR CANDIDATES, ALL SEVEN OF THEM, FOR APPEARING IN PERSON WITH US TODAY.

ALSO THANKS TO THE TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERSES OF TALLAHASSEE, WFSU PUBLIC MEDIA AND ALL OF OUR VIEWERS FOR JOINING US FOR THE PROGRAM.

YOU CAN FIND AN AUDIO REPLAY OF THE FORUM AND ALL OF THE OTHERS IN THE SERIES ON OUR YouTUBE PAGES, PLUS TALLAHASSEE.COM AND WFSU.ORG.

AND THAT THAT RECORDED BROADCAST, AUDIO ONLY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 9TH AT 11 IN THE MORNING ON WFSU.

THAT'S AT 88.9 FM.

>> AND WE PLAN TO HAVE MORE FORUMS THIS FALL FOR THE 2022 GENERAL ELECTION, SO PLEASE LIKE AND FOLLOW ALL OF US ON OUR VARIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS FOR UPDATES.

>> AND YOU CAN LOOK FOR OUR SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION GUIDE IN THE TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT WITH INTERVIEWS WITH ALL OF THE CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT INCLUDING THESE.

THAT WILL BE INSERTED IN THE PAPER ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 7TH.

I CAN'T THANK THE CREW ENOUGH FOR MAKING THESE FORUMS POSSIBLE.

THANK YOU ALL WHO HAVE VIEWED AND SUBMITTED QUESTIONS AND HAVE AN EXCELLENT DAY.

♪ ♪