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

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

OUR CANDIDATES ARE RUNNING FOR LEON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DISTRICT 3.

I'M TOM FLANIGAN FROM W WFSU PUBLIC MEDIA JOINED BY WILLIAM HATFIELD FROM THE TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT AND DANIELLE IRWIN FROM THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF TALLAHASSEE.

WE'LL BE QUESTIONING THE CANDIDATES ON VARIOUS TOPICS, SO LET'S ARE GET A QUICK LOOK AT THE GROUND RULES AND MEET OUR CANDIDATES.

>> EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU, TOM.

THE CANDIDATES FOR COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT 3 SITTING LEFT TO RIGHT IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER ARE ARE JOEY LA MAR, RICK MINOR, WHO'S THE INCUMBENT, AND DAMON VICTOR.

WELCOME.

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

SO HERE IS HOW THE FORUM ARE WILL WORK.

WE WILL ROTATE WHICH CANDIDATES GET TO ANSWER FIRST.

WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, SO WE'RE GOING TO ASK CANDIDATES TO KEEP YOUR ANSWERS TO ABOUT 60 SECONDS.

WE'LL TELL YOU AHEAD OF TIME WHAT THE TIME LIMIT IS, SOME OF THE FOLLOW-UPS MAY BE SHORTER TIME FRAMES.

WE WILL KEEP TIME, WHICH WE WILL DING A BELL WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP.

THIS IS HIGHLY TECHNICAL.

THIS IS WHAT THE BELL WILL SOUND LIKE.

HAS A NICE ECHO REVERB.

AT THAT POINT WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME TO A DEAD STOP RIGHT THEN, BUT FINISH YOUR SENTENCE AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON.

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FORUM, WE WILL HAVE OUR FABLED LIGHTNING ROUND WHERE WE ASK YOU TO KEEP YOUR ANSWERS TO JUST ONE SENTENCE.

AT THE END OF THE FORUM, WE ARE GIVE YOU -- WE WILL GIVE YOU 90 SECONDS TO GIVE YOUR INFORMATION DIRECTLY TO VOTERS, SHARE YOUR WEB SITE OR ANY OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

>> AND YOU'RE WATCHING ON FACEBOOK AND YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE CANDIDATES, GO AHEAD AND I'M THEM IN THE COMMENTS, AND OUR LEAGUE VOLUNTEERS WILL GET TO AS MANY AS WE CAN.

TIME IS VERY LIMITED, AND YOU CAN IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES THAT A QUESTION WILL BE HEARD IF YOU KEEP IT CONCISE AND MAKE IT APPLICABLE TO ALL CANDIDATES.

AND WITH THAT, I THINK WE'RE READY TO BEGIN.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE CANDIDATES?

>> NO, I THINK WE'RE GOOD.

>> GREAT.

LET'S DIVE INTO THE QUESTIONS.

>> OKAY, LET'S GET THIS THING STARTED RIGHT NOW.

AND OUR FIRST QUESTION -- AND WE WILL START WITH YOU, MR. LAMAR, AND MR. MINOR, THEN ON TO MR. VICTOR.

AND YOU GET A WHOLE MINUTE TO RESPOND TO ONE HERE.

WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE AFFECTING DISTRICT 3, AND HOW DO YOU PROPOSE TO ADDRESS IT?

ONE MINUTE.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING THIS DEBATE.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, SO I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR TAKING THE TIME.

THE NUMBER ONISH ISSUE FACING DISTRICT 3 IS GROWTH, RIGHT?

WHETHER IT'S THE NEW, THE NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING UP UP ON BAY BRIDGE, WE'RE SEEING UNMANAGED, UNBRIDLED GROWTH.

SO WHAT'S HAPPENING IS IT'S PUTTING A LOT OF STRESS ON ROADS LIKE OLD BANE BRIDGE.

THIS USED TO BE A TOWN WHERE YOU COULD GET ANYWHERE YOU WANTED IN 15 MINUTES, NOW THAT COMMUTE IS GOING UP AND UP.

AND SOMETIMES WHEN PEOPLE ARE GOING ACROSS TOWN, THAT'S UP TO 30 MINUTES AND SOMETIMES EVEN AN HOUR.

AND WHAT'S HAPPENING WE'RE SEEING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO CUT THROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS TO AVOID THE TRAFFIC, AND SO PARENTS FEEL LIE THEY CAN'T ALLOW THEIR CHILDREN TO GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY.

AND THAT HURTS MY HEART TO HEAR THAT.

IF WE WANT TO GROW, WHAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING IS HAVING A PLAN FOR THE TRAFFIC THAT IS GOING TO COME ALONG WITH THE GROWTH.

AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT.

SO WE HAVE TO PUT A PROPER PLAN IN PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN FEEL SAFE IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS AND KIDS CAN GO ODDS AND PLAY, BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPENING.

>> THANK YOU.

>> RICK MINOR, SAME QUESTION HERE, NUMBER ONE CONCERN FOR DISTRICT 3.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT THE COUNTY AND DISTRICT 3 NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON.

ONE THING I'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON PERHAPS AMONG THE MOST HAS BEEN REVITALIZING NORTH MONROE.

NUMBER ONE, GATEWAY TO TALLAHASSEE, MORE PEOPLE COME THROUGH NORTH MONROE, I-10 INTERCHANGE THAN ANY PLACE IN THE COUNTY, YET THE NEIGHBORS WILL AGREE WE'VE SEEN A DECLINE IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

WHAT I'VE DONE IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS, WE SET UP A CITIZENS' TASK FORCE WITH A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE NORTH MONOEAU ROW.

THEN WE WENT ONE STEP FURTHER, WE ACTUALLY PUT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN IN LEON COUNTY, SO WE WILL TRACK THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FIVE YEARS IMPROVING NORTH MONROE.

ALSO AT THE LAST MEETING I REQUESTED THAT WE ESTABLISH A CRA SO WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE SOME OF PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS -- DOESN'T INCREASE TAXES, BUT IT TAKES SOME OF THE PROPERTY TAX DEALS AND DIVERTS THAT TO MAKE NORTH MONROE SOMETHING WE CAN BE PROUD OF AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND WE END WITH YOU, MR. DAMON VICTOR HERE.

YOUR TOP PRIORITY FOR DISTRICT 3.

>> THANK YOU.

CERTAINLY, NORTH MONROE IS A SORE THUMB, THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, AND I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY RICK MINOR IS SO PROUD OF HIS CITIZENS' TASK FORCE TO FIGURE OUT WHY THINGS HAVE GOTTEN SO BAD OVER THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS AND ALSO FUNDING CRACKS -- CRA, AN ADDITIONAL GROUP, FOR MORE MONEY.

WE HAVE PEOPLE IN DISTRICT 3 THAT ARE SUFFERING AND NEGLECTED DUE TO BAD PUBLIC POLICY PUT IN PLACE BY THIS INCUMBENT.

HE SEEMS TO GO AGAINST THE PUBLIC INTEREST TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

AND SIDELINING NORTH MONROE OR SHIPPING $8 MILLION OUT TO LEILANI WAS NO ANSWER.

AND GIVEN THE FACT THAT HE'S RUN FOR CITY COMMISSION THREE TIMES AND ENDED UP IN DISTRICT 3, IT'S CLEAR THIS MIGHT NOT HAVE EVEN BEEN THE JOB YOU WANTED.

FOR ME, BEING THE LEON COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 3 IS NOT A CONSOLATION PRIZE, IT'S A CALLING.

THANK YOU.

>> MR. MINOR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND?

>> I DEFINITELY WOULD.

>> 20 THE SECONDS.

>> I DEFINITELY WOULD.

MY OPPONENTS ARE EITHER UNINFORMED OR PURPOSEFULLY MISLEADING THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT 3 AND THE COUNTY.

NORTH MONROE, THE BLUEPRINT PROJECT WHICH HE SAYS HAS BEEN NOT FUNDED, HAS BEEN FUNDED.

AND IS WE'RE WORKING ON CREATING THE CRA FOR NORTH MONROE TO BRING IT BACK.

I THINK DURING THIS HOUR YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MY OPPONENTS MAKE UP ALL KINDS OF NARRATIVES TO BENEFIT THEMSELVES.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU.

>> 10 SECONDS?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND AS WELL.

>> YOU WEREN'T NAMED, SO WE'RE -- >> HE SAID MY OPPONENTS, THAT'S ME.

>> OKAY, SURE.

FAIR ENOUGH.

>> SO WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT NORTH MONROE SEEING A DECREASE, LIKE, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY -- THAT'S A LIE.

I MEAN, WHEN PEOPLE GO OUTSIDE AND LOOK AT THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, THEY SEE HOMELESSNESS ALL OVER, ESPECIALLY ALONG THE I-10 CORRIDOR, AND THEY WANT -- WE HAVE TO PROVIDE HOUSING TO THESE PEOPLE SO WE CAN GET THEM WHATEVER HELP THEY NEED TO GET THEM INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.

IT IS A -- >> I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED HOUSING BECAUSE THAT'S THE TOPIC WE'RE GOING TO STAY ON, AND WE'LL CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION.

>> YES, LET'S TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

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

WE'RE GOING TO START WITH RICK MINOR.

>> ONE MINUTE, RIGHT?

>> YES, ONE MINUTE.

>> ACTUALLY, A MINUTE 30.

>> PARDON ME.

>> WE HAVE FUNDING THAT COMES TO THE COUNTY TO PAY FOR, TO HELP WITH DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE AND HELPING PEOPLE BUY HOMES.

WHAT WE DID BACK IN FEBRUARY IS ACTUALLY SET UP A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY TO WHERE WE ARE GOING TO CREATE A NEW INCLUSIONARY HOUSING ORDINANCE THAT ENCOURAGES MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

STATE LAW PREVENTS US FROM FORCING DEVELOPERS TO BILL MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE HAVE TO ENTICE THEM TO DO IT, AND IF WE WERE TO ENFORCE THEM, WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY PAY DEVELOPERS TO MAKE THEM WHOLE.

SO WE ARE WORKING WITHIN THE LAW TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENCOURAGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE WILL BE HAVING DENSITY BONUSES THAT WILL ALLOW US TO INCORPORATE MORE MOTIVATION FOR DEVELOPERS TO BRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO LEON COUNTY.

>> THANK YOU.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO DAMON VICTOR.

WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO REPEAT THE QUESTIONSOME.

>> NO, THANK.

THE ANSWER IS, NO, THE COUNTY IS NOT DOING ENOUGH.

WE NEED TO BE PROACTIVE, PROTECT TENANTS' RIGHTS, AND WE NEED TO PREVENT FAMILIES FROM LOSING THEIR HOME.

FLORIDA LAW DOES PREVENT -- DOES HEAVILY FAVOR LANDLORDS AND OWNERS.

BUT THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION WILL RESTRICT US FROM MAKING ANY SORT OF RENT CONTROLS UNLESS THERE'S AN EMERGENCY.

BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF TOOLS IN THE TOOLBOX, WE'RE JUST NOT USING THEM.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE MENTIONED IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE COULD ROOK AT OUR ZONING LAWS REGARDING PARKING.

WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CONVERT THOSE INTO PROPERTIES THAT COULD BE USED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE NEED TO EMBRACE INNOVATIONS AND MODULAR HOUSING THAT'S AVAILABLE AND MOBILE HOUSING THAT'S AVAILABLE AND COUPLE THAT WITH USING LEON COUNTY LANDS TO CREATE MORE LAND TRUSTS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY AFFORD TO LIVE.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

WE'LL MOVE TO JOEY LAMAR FOR THE LAST RESPONSE HERE, IS THE COUNTY COMMISSION DOING ALL IT CAN FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS AND, IF NOT, WHAT SHOULD THE COMMISSION BE DOING?

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE KIND OF AT THIS DICHOTOMY, RIGHT?

WE SAY WE WANT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT YET THE COUNTY JUST VOTED TO LOOKED AT GIVING $151 AN HOUR.

BUT -- $15.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE PROJECTS THEY VOTE ON, THOSE PROJECTS ARE STARTING AT $200,000, SO NOBODY MAKING $15 AN HOUR CAN A AFFORD A HOME THERE.

SO HOW ARE WE BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOMES WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THE SALARIES AND WAGES THAT MATCH THOSE DEMANDS?

IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A REAL COMMITMENT, WE NEED TO DO THAT.

ANYTIME YOU PRESENT A PROBLEM, THE SOLUTION HAS TO MATCH THE PROBLEM.

IT HAS TO BE AS BIG.

AND WHAT YOU -- WHEN YOU DON'T DO THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO GET BAD RESULTS.

PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING $15 AN HOUR CANNOT AFFORD A NEW HOME RIGHT NOW.

SO HOW CAN YOU SAY YOU'RE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE WAGES TO MATCH THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING?

>> THANK YOU, JOEY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

OUR NEXT -- WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE TOPICS HERE.

NEXT QUESTION IS INSPIRED FROM THE URBAN LEAGUE.

BY OUR COUNT ON TALLAHASSEE.COM, 12 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED, 44 HAVE BEEN INJURED AND 70 SERIOUS SHOOTINGS THIS YEAR IN THE CAPITAL CITY AND COUNTY.

JUST THIS WEEK TWO PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN GO DRIVE THE-BY -- TWO DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS AN HOUR APART, AND A MAN WAS STABBED BY A STRANGER.

WHAT SPECIFIC INITIATIVES WILL YOU TAKE TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE FROM CRIME?

THIS IS A MINUTE AND 30, AND THIS QUESTION WE ARE STARTING WITH YOU, DAMON VICTOR.

>> YOU KNOW, THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO RICK MINOR STOOD HERE AND TOLL US THAT HE WAS GOING TO REDUCE CRIME -- TOLL US -- AND NOW DISTRICT 3 IS ARGUE BY ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACES IN TOWN.

CERTAINLY, THE NORTH MONROE GREAT GATEWAY IS NEITHER WELCOMING, NOR SAFE.

PEOPLE WERE GOING TO REBUILD, REPAIR AND REVITALIZE NORTH MONROE THROUGH BLUEPRINT WHICH, AGAIN, WAS SIDELINED DUE TO THE VOTES BY MANY MINOR.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU IGNORE COMMUNITIES.

WOULD HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE CRUMB CRUMBLE, BUSINESSES CLOSING, POLICE PATROLS LESS FREQUENT AND, EVENTUALLY, POLICE NOT RESPONDING TO CALLS.

WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE, BECAUSE WHEN THEY FEEL LEFT BEHIND AND NO OPPORTUNITY, SOME WILL TURN TO CRIME.

RICK MINOR ISN'T TAKING CARE OF THE PEOPLE IN HIS DISTRICT, BUTLY MAKE THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT 3 MY TOP PRIORITY.

>> THANK YOU.

MR. LAMAR.

>> YEAH.

SO CRIME IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE, AND ON THE NORTH MONROE CORRIDOR, AGAIN, IT'S OUT OF CONTROL.

AND IT'S OUT OF CONTROL IN OUR DISTRICT, AND THE CURRENT COMMISSIONER HASN'T DONE ANYTHING TO FIX THAT PROBLEM.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT CRIME, YOU'RE LOOK AT AN EDUCATION PROBLEM, YOU'RE LOOKING AT A WAGES PROBLEM, LOOKING AT A JOBS PROBLEM.

SO IT'S NOT JUST CRIME.

SEE, IT'S OUR JOB TO GET AHEAD OF CRIME, RIGHT?

THAT'S A SOCIAL ISSUE, RIGHT?

IT'S POLICE'S JOB TO INVESTIGATE CRIME.

THAT'S WHEN IT'S ALREADY HAPPENED.

IS SO WHEN WE REALLY WANT TO PREVENT CRIME, WE NEED TO START PROVIDING BETTER JOBS.

WE NEED TO START MAKING SURE WE HAVE BETTER HOUSING SO PEOPLE STAY IN THEIR HOUSING SO THEY DON'T HAVE MULTIPLE ADDICTIONS ON THEIR RECORD.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING OR WE CAN TO GIVE HEM AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS INCLUSIVE BECAUSE PREVENTING CRIME AND GETTING AHEAD OF IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY T NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS WHEN IT COMES TO CRIME.

>> THANK YOU, MR. MINOR.

WE'LL GIVE YOU 20 SECONDS ADDITIONAL IF YOU WANT TO TALK SINCE BOTH OF CANDIDATES INVOKED YOUR NAME.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I THINK MY OPPONENTS NEED TO START PAYING ATTENTION.

SHERIFF McNEIL HAS PUT TOGETHER HIS ALL IN INITIATIVE WHICH ASKS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO HELP US FIGHT CRIME.

COUNTY COMMISSION, INCLUDING MYSELF, HAVE ENTHUSIASTICALLY ARE SUPPORTING THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF MEN AND BOYS WHICH WILL HELP US IDENTIFY AT-RISK AND HELP DIVERT HEM FROM A POTENTIAL LIFE OF CRIME TO ANOTHER CAREER OR SOMETHING THAT AVOIDS CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.

AND I MYSELF HAVE PUSHED FOR FUNDING FROM THE COUNTY WHICH PASSED FOR ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRAINING.

SO BECAUSE OF MY INITIATIVE WORKING WITH A NONPROFIT, WE NOW HAVE FREE ONLINE TRAINING AVAILABLE TO ANYONE IN LEON COUNTY TO GO AND TAKE A LOOK AT HOW WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER TO FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF ME.

NOW, ONE THING THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR US EVERY DAY.

IN FACT, JUST ON JUNE 8TH WE HAD AN OFFICER WHO WAS KILLED IN THE HINE OF DUTY.

ONE OF MY TO OPPONENTS -- WE WERE ALL INVITED TO SPEAK TO LAW ENFORCEMENT ABOUT THE ISSUES OF THIS THIS COMMUNITY.

ONE OF MY OPPONENTS REFUSED TO TALK TO LAW ENFORCEMENT ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT ARE HERE IN LEON COUNTY.

THAT'S NOT LEADERSHIP.

WHAT I ARE HAVE DONE, THE HISTORY OF WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, BRINGING DIFFERENT PEOPLE TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS.

WHAT MY OPPONENT DID WAS BASICALLY PUT UP A WALL BETWEEN HIMSELF AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THAT'S NOT THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP WE WE NEED IN THIS COUNTY.

WE DON'T NEED SOMEONE BEING DIVISIVE, WE NEED PEOPLE REACHING ACROSS THE AISLE BUILDING BRIDGES TO SOLVE PROBLEMS.

>> THANK YOU.

NOT SURE WHICH CANDIDATE THAT WOULD BE, BUT IF THAT CANDIDATE WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND, YOU'RE WELCOME TO.

OKAY.

>> I DO HAVE A FOLLOW UP ON THIS QUESTION, AND THIS IS A 30-SECOND FOLLOW-UP.

IT'S GOING TO BE TIGHT.

IF ON A SCALE OF 1-10, HOW WOULD YOU RATE CURRENT EFFECTIVENESS OF LCSO AND TPD TO ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF GUN VIOLENCE.

THIS IS A QUICK ONE STARTING WITH YOU, JOEY LAMAR.

>> I MEAN, I WOULD GIVE THEM ABOUT AN 8 OR A 9.

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, GUN VIOLENCE IS THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE HERE AS WE LOOK AT WALT McNEIL'S REPORT.

BUT I THINK, AGAIN, THE SOLUTION HAS TO BE AS BIG AS THE PROBLEM, SO IT CAN'T JUST WITH ONE WITH INITIATIVE OR TWO INITIATIVES.

WE HAVE TO ATTACK THIS FROM EVERY SINGLE ANGLE.

FULL FRONTAL ATTACK ON THIS PROBLEM, WE CAN GET THE JOB DONE.

BUT GUN VIOLENCE IS ONE OF MOST PREF INNOCENT ISSUES IN OUR COUNTY.

ATTACK IT FROM EVERY SINGLE ANGLE THAT YOU CAN.

>> THANK YOU.

RICK MINOR.

>> ILL GIVE THEM AN 8.

PLEASURE THEY ARE DOING, I THINK, A PRETTY GOOD JOB WITHIN THE STATE LAW AND FEDERAL LAW.

TO TRY TO CURB GUN VIOLENCE.

AND PART OF WHAT I TALKED ABOUT WITH ALL IN AND THE COMMISSION ON STATUS OF MEN AND BOYS IS GOING TO HELP WITH THAT.

ONE THING THAT WE ALL HAVE BEEN WATCHING, I THINK, HAS BEEN HOUSE AND SENATE WITH THE GUN LEGISLATION THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING DEBATED.

AT THE LAST MEETING OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION, I ASKED MY COLLEAGUES TO APPROVE A LETTER GOING TO THE U.S.

SENATORS IN OUR STATE URGING THEM TO SUPPORT THAT LEGISLATION.

SO WE ALL NEED TO WORK ON THAT TOGETHER AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> THANK YOU.

DAMON RUBBING TO HAVE.

>> THANK YOU.

7.5 ONLY BECAUSE IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION PEOPLE WANT TO SEE MORE HAPPENING, AND WE CAN LOOK AT THE STATS, AND THAT MIGHT, YOU KNOW, BEAR OUT.

BUT I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO SEE MORE HAPPENING.

AND I DO APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS BY BOTH THE TPD AND LEON COUNTY SHERIFFS ON MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES AND DEVELOPING NEW OFFICERS TO DEAL WITH THOSE CALLS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> FOLKS, WE HAVE A SERIES OF QUESTIONS HERE WHICH IS COMPRISED OF ONE MAIN QUESTION AND A NUMBER OF FOLLOW-UPS THAT THAT REGARD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN REFERENCED WITH PARTICULAR INTENSITY HERE FOR DISTRICT 3.

OF COURSE, NUMEROUS NEIGHBORHOODS WITHIN TALLAHASSEE AND LEON COUNTY INCLUDING DISTRICT 3 STRUGGLING WITH POVERTY AND WHAT ROLE SHOULD LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES PLAY IN PROMOTING A MORE EQUITABLE PROSPERITY, AND WHAT IS ONE SPECIFIC PLAN YOU WOULD IMPLEMENT TO MAKE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS IN THIS CHALLENGE.

DAMON VICTOR, IF WE CAN START WITH YOU ON THAT, PLEASE, AND YOU HAVE A MINUTE, 30 ON THIS ONE, SIR.

>> THANK YOU.

I THINK ABOUT THE NEIGHBORS DOWN ON WEST STARK STREET AND HOW THEY ARE DEALING WITH INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE RESIDENTS THERE AND THE BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE HARD OVER THE YEARS EMPTY PROMISES FROM POLITICIANS ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO IMPROVE THEIR SIDEWALKS AND MAKE THINGS SAFER.

AND MEANWHILE, PEDESTRIANS ARE DYING AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST NOT RIGHT.

AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE PUT INTO NEIGHBORHOODS, THESE SOCIAL -- HAVE SOCIAL IMPACT SUCH AS SIDEWALKS IS SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO RISK THEIR LIVES, GET TO SCHOOL, GROCERY STORES OR A NEARBY PARK.

SO WHAT I THINK WE BELIEVED DO IS REMEMBER THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE WORKS HAND IN HAND WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AND WE DON'T JUST LET THE DEVELOPERS RUN ROUGHSHOD.

IN MY LINE OF WORK, OTTER NOTTICS AND PROSTHETICS, WE IMTO VISE FIRST -- IMPROVISE FIRST.

WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO PAY FOR THESE BIG PROJECTS AND SHOE HORN THEM IN, AND THAT'S NOT RIGHT WAY TO DEVELOP.

>> OKAY.

MR. MINOR, SAME QUESTION FOR YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

BEFORE I BECAME A COUNTY COMMISSION, I WAS THE CEO OF OUR REGIONAL FOOD BANK HERE, AND I SAW FIRSTHAND PEOPLE WHO WERE STRUGGLING WITH JUST GETTING ACCESS TO KNEW DECISION THAL FOOD.

AND ONE THING -- NUTRITIONAL FOOD.

AND ONE THING THAT CAN HELP US ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY, POVERTY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHORTAGES AND THE LACK OF IT AS WELL AS CRIME IS TO HELP PEOPLE EARN MORE.

YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT WE CAN DO, I'VE TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE PAST, IS HELPING US CULTIVATE IN THE MAG LAB A MAGNETICS INDUSTRY CLUSTER TO HELP PUSH UP SALARIES.

I WAS ACTUALLY IN D.C. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AT THE AWS SUMMIT TO FOCUS ON CLOUD PILOTING -- COMPUTING SKILLS, I.T.

SKILLS IN PEOPLE THAT LIVE, WITHIN PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE.

WITH SOME OF I.T.

SKILLS THAT ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO US, WE CAN HELP PEOPLE EVEN WITHOUT A COLLEGE DEGREE EARN SKILLS THAT CAN MAKE THEM MORE MARKETABLE AND EARN INCOME.

BECAUSE THE KEY TO A LOT OF OUR SOCIAL PROBLEMS, POVERTY, FOOD INSECURITY AND SUCH, IS HELPING PEOPLE BE ABLE TO EARN MORE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

>> OKAY.

AND IF WE COULD END UP WITH YOU, PLEASE, MR. LAMAR, ON THAT THAT QUESTION.

>> THIS IS ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT?

>> THIS WOULD BE ECONOMIC -- >> ALL RIGHT.

BECAUSE MY OPPONENT WAS TALKING ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY.

>> [INAUDIBLE] >> WHEN I'M TALKING, DON'T TALK.

ALL RIGHT.

SO THE ISSUE THAT I WOULD DO THIS, SMALL BUSINESSES.

WE HAVE TO INVEST MANY OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.

THEY ARE THE LIFELINE OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INVESTING PROPERLY IN THEM.

SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S NICE TO HAVE THESE CHAIN RESTAURANTS, BUT I WANT TO SEE LOCAL BUSINESS BE THE LEADING EMPLOYER IN OUR COUNTY.

RIGHT?

AND TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO MAKE A MASSIVE INVESTMENT IN IT.

SO THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC VIALINGTY CAN'T DO THAT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE'VE GIVEN $20 MILLION TO FLORIDA STATE.

SO WE HAVE BANKRUPTED THAT FUND UNTIL 2028.

AND SO WE HAVE TO MAKE A BIGGER INVESTMENT IN SMALL BUSINESSES.

AND I'M DISAPPOINTED IN MY OPPONENT BECAUSE HE WAS TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE ASIDE FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND WHAT THAT TELLS YOU IS HE DOES NOT IS HAVE A PLAN.

DO NOT ELECT SOMEBODY WHO DOES NOT HAVE A PLAN.

>> WE HAVE A FOLLOW-UP HERE AND SINCE YOU BROUGHT IT UP HERE, MR. LAMAR, LET'S GIVE YOU THE FIRST CRACK AT THE FOLLOW-UP.

WHAT SPECIFIC KINDS OF DEVELOPMENT FOR DISTRICT 3, WHICH YOU BEGAN TO MENTION THERE, DO YOU THINK WOULD BE MOST AMENABLE TO THE KINDS OF GOALS AND OBJECTIVES THAT YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT?

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW DO YOU GET THEM TO LOCATE THERE?

AND LET'S GIVE YOU 45 SECONDS ON THAT.

>> WELL, AGAIN, THE EMPHASIS SHOULD BE SMALL BUSINESSES.

AND SO WORKING WITH OUR SMALL BUSINESSES TO SAY, OKAY, WHAT TYPE OF SHOP DO YOU WANT TO SET UP, HOW CAN WE HELP YOU, OKAY, CAN WE GIVE YOU THIS INVESTMENT TO GET YOU STARTED WITH CAPITAL.

A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES AND EVEN SOME OF OUR ELECT OFFICIALS HAVE HAD HELP THROUGH THE CITY OR THE COUNTY TO HELP GET THIS DONE.

AND SO, AGAIN, INVESTING IN LOCAL BUSINESSES AND GIVING THEM THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES THEY NEED TO START UP CAPITAL IS ESSENTIAL.

MOST BUSINESSES DON'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE FIRST YEAR, AND IT'S A CAPITAL ISSUE.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT ON THE FRONT END WE ARE HELPING THEM IN AS MANY WAYS AS WE CAN.

SO, AGAIN, LET'S GROW THIS THING FROM THE SMALL UP.

SMALL BUSINESSES FIRST.

THAT SHOULD BE OUR FOCUS, AND THAT'S HOW WE SAVE THIS LOCAL ECONOMY.

>> DAMON VICTOR, YOUR THOUGHT ON LOCAL TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT, ENTREPRENEURS, WHATEVER, AND HOW DO YOU MAKE THAT HAPPEN SPECIFICALLY?

>> WELL, IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE WE DON'T ARE HAVE A LOT OF INNOVATION, THERE'S NO INNOVATION PARK.

A LOT OF ACTIVITY THAT WE SEE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISN'T REALLY HAPPENING, AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF SOME DIFFICULT LAND USE ISSUES REGARDING LAKE JACKSON AND SOME OTHER THING.

SOMETHING I WOULD WORK ON IS WHEN WE'RE IMPROVING THE INFRASTRUCTURE ON THARP STREET BUT ALSO WORKING WITH THE HOUSING FINANCE ADMINISTRATION THAT CAN ENCOURAGE DEVELOPERS TO OBTAIN FINANCING TO BUILD SOME PROJECTS THAT WE WANT TO SEE, LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DISTRICT 3.

THANK YOU.

>> OKAY, VERY GOOD.

AND MR. MINOR.

>> WELL, MY OPPONENT, JOEY, MAY NOT KNOW THIS BECAUSE HE HASN'T BEEN LIVING IN TALLAHASSEE FOR VERY LONG, BUT ONE OF BEST WAYS WE CAN DO THIS IS WORK WITH THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ALREADY EXIST.

THERE'S HUNDREDS OF I.T.

BUSINESSES, MAUL BUSINESSES HERE IN LEON COUNTY, THAT ARE ACTIVELY WORKING TOGETHER TO BUILD UP THAT INDUSTRY HERE IN TALLAHASSEE.

LAUNCH TALLY IS LED BY SOME REALLY GREAT I.T.

SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THAT ARE DOING A GREAT JOB ON THEIR OWN AND AND ALSO PARTNERING WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND AND OTHER PARTNERS TO REALLY MAKE SOME INROADS.

IN FACT, IF YOU TALK TO THEM, AND I HAVE HAVE, THEY WOULD TELL YOU THAT IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, MAYBE TEN YEARS WE'RE GOING TO SEE TALLAHASSEE MERGE AS A REGIONAL TECH HUB WHICH IS TERRIFIC NEWS.

AND WE'VE GOT TO WORK WITH OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND REACH OUT TO THOSE KEY BUSINESSES AND GET THOSE RELATIONSHIPS GOING SO WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> ALL RIGHT, SIR -- >> MAY I RESPOND?

BY NAME?

>> JUST, YEAH.

20 SECONDS.

>> RICK, IF I COULD HUG YOU RIGHT NOW, I WOULD.

BECAUSE THAT'S THE BEST THING YOU'VE EVER SAID.

I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE THAT LONG, AND THAT MEANS I DON'T KNOW WHO'S SUPPOSED TO BE RUNNING THE CITY, COUNTY.

YOU WANT SOMEBODY WHO CAN ALWAYS WORK FOR PEOPLE, AND THAT'S ME.

THAT'S THE BEST THING ABOUT MY CAMPAIGN, AND I'M SO GLAD YOU BROUGHT IT UP.

THANK YOU.

IF I COULD HUG YOU, I WOULD.

>> THANK YOU.

CAN I GET A ME BUTTAL?

YOU'VE -- REBUTTAL ON THAT?

YOU'VE LIVED HERE TWO YEARS IN I'VE GOT FOOD IN MY FREEZER THAT'S BEEN HERE LONGER -- >> WELL, DON'T EAT IT.

[LAUGHTER] >> WELCOME TO TALLAHASSEE, WELCOME TO LEON COUNTY.

I THINK THAT, I THINK DISTRICT 3 VOTERS WELCOME PEOPLE LIKE JOEY LAMAR COMING INTO TOWN.

WE WANT MORE PEOPLE COMING IN, BUT THEY WANT SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN HERE LONGER -- WHOA, CAN I REBUT?

>> I THINK ONE REBUTTAL -- WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THIS -- >> I WANT TO THANK RICK MINOR FOR SAYING THAT -- >> ONE REBUTTAL PER -- THE WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THINGS MOVING.

>> YEAH.

BECAUSE WE HAVE SOMETHING ELSE HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO A VERY TIGHTLY-RELATED TOPIC TO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING WHICH IS WORK FORCE AND JOBS.

YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE BUSINESSES IN THE WORLD, BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A DEVELOPED WORK FORCE TO GO AHEAD AND HELP THOSE BUSINESSES TO ACHIEVE AND THRIVE, IT'S KIND OF A MOOT POINT.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATION SPECIFICALLY IN DISTRICT 3, HOW DO YOU MAKE THAT HAPPEN?

BEING VERY FOCUSED GEOGRAPHICALLY IN YOUR OWN DISTRICT.

AND WHILE WE'RE TALK TO YOU HERE, MR. LAMAR, GO AHEAD AND TALK ABOUT HOW YOU'D DO THAT.

>> OKAY.

REPEAT THE QUESTION ONE MORE TIME.

>> WORK FORCE AND JOB DEVELOPMENT SPECIFICALLY FOR DISTRICT 3.

WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, JOB DEVELOPMENT AND THE TYPE OF, DEVELOPMENT AS FAR AS THE ACTUAL PHYSICAL PRESENCE OF STRUCTURES AND ENTERPRISES IN THAT AREA.

BUT HOW DO YOU THEN GET WORK FORCE THAT THOSE PLACES WILL NEED TO THRIVE AND SUCCEED?

IS.

>> WELL, WITH MOST PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY LOOK AT WHEN THEY LOOK TO A JOB IS SALARY.

SO WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE OFFERING COMPETITIVE WAGES, YOU KNOW?

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT KIND OF BOTHERS ME ABOUT LEON COUNTY RIGHT NOW IS WE HAVE FLORIDA STATE, FAMU AND TCC, RIGHT?

LEE OF THE BEST INSTITUTIONS IN THE NATION -- THREE OF THE BEST INSTITUTIONS IN THE NATION.

AND WE TRAIN UP PEOPLE EVERY YEAR, THESE COLLEGE GRADUATES, AND THEN WE SEND THEM OFF TO NEW YORK, HOUSTON, YOU KNOW, ATLANTA, YOU KNOW, CHICAGO, WHEREVER YOU WANT TO GO.

WE'VE GOT TO KEEP SOME OF THAT TALENT HERE, RIGHT?

LIKE, WE'VE GOT TO GET SOME OF THESE BOUTIQUE ACCOUNTING FIRMS, MARKETING FIRMS.

WE'VE GOT TO GET THEM HERE SO WE CAN KEEP OUR HOME GROWN TALENT IN TALLAHASSEE.

>> DAMON VICTOR, YOUR THOUGHTS, SIR, ON WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT AND JOBS IN DISTRICT 3.

>> THANK YOU.

IN MY WORK, ORR NOT YOU CANS AND PROSTHETICS, I TRAIN.

I GO ON INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL SERVICE TRIPS AND TRAIN INTERNATIONALLY, AND SOME OF THOSE LESSONS A I'VE BROUGHT HOME, WE CAN UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN MAKE THESE THINGS WORK WITH.

APPRENTICESHIPS WORK.

YOU GIVE SOMEBODY A SKILL, THEY CARRY THAT WITH HEM FOR THEIR WHOLE LIFE.

CURRENTLY NOW IN DISTRICT 3 IN LEON COUNTY, WE ARE IN A CHILDCARE CRISIS.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FACILITIES AND CHILD CAWR PROFESSIONALS TO TAKE CARE OF CHILDREN WHILE WOMEN GO TO WORK.

WE'RE ALSO IN A DEMOGRAPHIC DROUGHT WHICH MEANS WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TRADES WORKERS AND BLUE COLLAR WORKERS, SO WE NEED TO WORK ON THAT.

THANK YOU.

>> OKAY.

THANK YOU.

AND, MR. MINOR, WE'LL END UP WITH YOU.

>> THANK YOU, YEAH.

IT COMES DOWN TO WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AT TCC AND LIVELY AND AT COMPANY LABS.

IT COMES WITH WORKING WITH THOSE FOLKS AND CONNECTING SMALL BUSINESSES AS WELL AS FOLKS WHO WANT TO START UP NEW BUSINESSES SO THAT WE CAN BUILD THOSE SKILLS.

IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO THAT.

YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY TO WORK WITH THEM IN ORDER TO GET THINGS DONE.

AND YOU'VE GOT A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN THAT ARE ALL WORKING VERY HARD.

THEY'RE VERY TALENTED TRYING TO MAKE THIS COMMUNITY BETTER.

I THINK I'M ONE OF THEM.

I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN THAT WORKED WITH US TO MAKE THOSE THINGS HAPPEN.

>> FINAL FOLLOW-UP HERE, GENTLEMEN.

ONE MINUTE HERE IF WE COULD, PLEASE.

HOMELESSNESS, WHICH WE HAVE ALREADY REFERENCED, HAS BECOME A VERY VISIBLE PROBLEM THROUGHOUT LEON COUNTY BUT SPECIFICALLY, AS HAS ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED IN THIS FORUM, IN DISTRICT 3.

WHAT'S ONE THING YOU THINK COULD BE DONE TO HELP ON THAT FRONT?

MR. SICK VICTOR, START WITH YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

WHEN COVID HIT, THERE WERE VOUCHERS THAT WERE GIVEN TO MAKE SURE HOMELESS HAD A PLACE TO STAY.

I BELIEVE THAT THE KEARNEY CENTER DOES A GOOD JOB, BUT THEY'RE OVERLOADED.

THEY JUST ASKED FOR $3 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING, AND I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S GOING TO GET APPROVED, BUT I BELIEVE THAT'S MONEY WE COULD SPEND ON OUR OWN BUILTS IN LEON COUNTY FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND PATIENT CARE.

AND I JUST THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE SHOULD WORK ON MENTAL HEALTH ASPECT OF IT AND HAVE A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GO BEFORE THEY END UP HOMELESS SO THAT THEY CAN DEAL WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES BEFORE IT TURNS INTO A SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUE AND BEFORE THEY LOSE THEIR JOB AND THEIR HOME.

THANK YOU.

>> RICK MINOR, HOMELESSNESS.

YOUR TURN.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HOMELESSNESS IS A PROBLEM AROUND THE COUNTRY.

IF YOU GO TO WASHINGTON, D.C., PORTLAND, OREGON, EVERY MAJOR CITY HAS SEEN A MARKED INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS.

IT'S A TERRIBLE NATIONAL TREND.

BUT HERE LOCALLY WE NEED TO ADDRESS IT.

WE NEED TO SOLVE PROBLEM.

DURING THE PANDEMIC KEARNEY CENTER BASICALLIED HAD OVER 300 PEOPLE THAT WERE STRUGGLING WITH HOMELESSNESS LIVE IN HOTEL ROOMS IN THE NORTH MONROE I-10 CORRIDOR.

I PROTECTERRED WITH THE CONSIDERNY CENTER TO HAVE THOSE FOLKS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

, EARLIER THAN PLANNED, COME INTO THE CENTER AND RECEIVE SOME OF THE COMPREHENSIVE CARE THEY NEED.

AT COUNTY AND THE CITY, WE INVESTED A RECORD AMOUNT OF FUNDING INTO OUR HOMELESSNESS EFFORTS BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S A PROBLEM.

WE'VE ALSO SET UP THE STREET OUTREACH TEAM WHICH I HAVE USED MYSELF TO ACTUALLY GO.

THESE ARE TRAINS COUNSELORS THAT GO TO HOMELESSNESS CAMPS TALKING WITH FOLKS, GAINING THEIR TRUST AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO GET OFF THE STREETS AND INTO SOME OF THE FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE TO HELP THEM FIND STABLE HOUSING.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU.

MR. LAMAR.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

LIKE, THIS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES I'M REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT.

AND IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT THE CURRENT COMMISSIONER HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ON HOMELESSNESS AND HAS NOT, YOU KNOW, HAS NOT REALLY TACKLED THIS PROBLEM AS AGGRESSIVELY AS HE SHOULD.

WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS GET PEOPLE IN HOUSING FIRST, INDIVIDUAL UNITS.

THIS DOES SO MUCH FOR THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

IT WILL HELP STABILIZE THEM.

THEN WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THEM ANY SERVICE WITH WHERE THERE'S MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, DRUG ABUSE, THEN OUR GOAL SHOULD BE TO HELP THEM FIND JOBS, GET THEM OUT OF TEMPORARY HOUSING INTO WITH PERMANENT HOUSING OF THEIR OWN.

HOMELESSNESS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE NORMALIZED.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE ACCEPTING MANY OUR DISTRICT CAN, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE, EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO GET IT DONE.

AND AND SO I HAVE A PLAN TO GET THAT DONE, AND WE ARE BO -- GOING TO GET IT DONE.

AND IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES IN OUR DISTRICT, FOR PEOPLE TO FEEL SAFE IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.

SO I AM REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS CRISIS THAT HAS NOT BEEN MANAGED.

>> ALL RIGHT, SIR, A NAME CHECK BRINGS A 0-SECOND RESPONSE -- 20-SECOND RESPONSE.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF MY OPPONENTS ARE UNINFORMED OR PURPOSEFULLY MISLEADING TO PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY.

AND OF THE THREE OF US, I BELIEVE I'VE GOT MOST EXPERIENCE WHEN IT COMES TO SOLVING HOMELESSNESS, FOOD INSECURITY AND POLICY WITH REAL SOLUTIONS.

WE HAD 135 AGENCY PARTNERS AT THE FOOD BANK THAT THAT WORKED WITH PEOPLE MANY MANY CASES DELIVERING FOOD -- >> QUICK RESPONSE FROM EACH OF YOU HERE SINCE THIS IS VERY, VERY TIMELY.

A HEAT CRISIS NOW IN EFFECT.

WHAT DO YOU DO IMMEDIATELY TO HELP PEOPLE ON THE STREET AS WE HIT TRIPLE-DIGIT TEMPERATURES THERE, MR. LAMAR?

>> AND THIS QUESTION COMES FROM OUR FACEBOOK AUDIENCE.

>> AGAIN, IT'S GOT TO BE TO HOUSING, RIGHT IN THERE ARE 100-DEGREE TEMPERATURES, AND WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE THEY'RE IN THEIR ENCAMPMENTS, WHAT I'VE SEEN ON NORTH MONROE, SO THAT MEANS THEY WANT HOUSING.

THEY'RE TELLING YOU THIS, SO WE NEED TO LISTEN AND GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEED.

WE HAVE TO GET THAT DONE.

>> MR.-- >> I DON'T THINK MY OPPONENT HEARD THE QUESTION.

IT'S ABOUT EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE NOW WHEN YOU HAVE THREE-DIGIT-DEGREE TEMPERATURES.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS BASICALLY THE SAME MODELS FOR THE COLD NIGHT SHELTERS WHERE WE HAVE NONPROFITS OFFER UP SPACE, BED SPACE FOR FOLKS THAT NEED TO BE SOMEWHERE UNDER AIR-CONDITIONING SO THAT THEY CAN SPEND THE NIGHT THERE AND THE DAY WHEN THE TEMPERATURES ARE AS HIGH AS HER.

WHEN IT'S FREEZING, WE DO THE SAME THING.

WE NEED TO SET UP THAT SAME MODEL WITH OUR PARTNERS TO MAKE IT HAPPENED DURING TODAY, FOR EXAMPLE.

>> OKAY, VERY GOOD.

MANY VICTOR.

>> WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ROOM FOR THE HOMELESS WE HAVE NOW, LET ALONE WHEN IT'S HOT.

WE SHOULD BE TREATING IT AS A COLD NIGHT SHELTER AS A HOT NIGHT SHELTER, BUT WE NEED TO NOT FIGHT AGAINST ENTITIES SUCH AS CITY WALK.

WE NEED TO WORK WITH THEM, HELP THEM BECOME COMPLIANT AND GET THEM NOT NECESSARILY THE RESOURCES, BUT HELP THEM DO THE JOB THEY WANT TO DO, AND THAT IS TO HELP THE HOMELESSNESS ESPECIALLY DURING HOT OR COLD, THANK YOU.

>> GREAT.

SO LET'S TURN THE CONVERSATION TO BLUEPRINT.

OKAY.

SO FUNDS FROM THE PENNY SALES TAX PROGRAM, AS YOU HOPEFULLY KNOW, IS KNOWN AS BLUEPRINT, AND THEY'RE REQUIRED TO BE ALLOCATED INTO DIFFERENT POTS AND USED FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES.

MOST OF THE FUNDS WOULD BE SPENT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS ROADSIDE PARKS, AND 12% OF THE FUNDS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS SUCH AS THOSE HAVING A GENERAL PUBLIC PURPOSE OF IMPROVING LOCAL ECONOMIES.

SO ASSUMING YOU HAD A POSITION ON CAMPBELL AND THE ALLOCATION OF $27 MILLION TO RENOVATE IT, EXPLAIN HOW YOU AIM CAME -- YOU CAME TO YOUR POSITION FOR THIS MONEY.

WE'RE GOING TO START WITH RICK MINOR, AND YOU HAVE A MINNESOTA, 30 SECONDS FOR THIS RESPONSE -- MIN, 30 SECONDS.

>> INITIALLY, I HAD SUPPORTED IDEA OF HELPING FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY WITH HOSE DOLLARS.

WITH THOSE DOLLARS.

BUT AFTER THAT FIRST VOTE, I HEARD FROM EVERYONE, EVERYONE, IT SEEMS, ABOUT THAT PROJECT.

AND WHAT THEY TOLD ME WAS VIRTUALLY THE SAME THING.

THEY LOVE FSU.

MANY OF THEM WENT TO FSU, THEY'RE SEMINOLES, BUT THEY DIDN'T WANT THOSE TAX DOLLARS, THOSE BLUEPRINT SALES TAX DOLLARS GOING TO THAT PROJECT.

AND THEY HAD VERY SOUND REASONS, VERY GOOD ARGUMENTS.

THE OPPORTUNITY IS TOO HIGH, THERE ARE TOO MANY OTHER NEEDS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND RAISING $20 THE MILLION PLUS $7 MILLION OF DEBT SERVICE IS NOT AN EASY TASK FOR ANYBODY.

BUT FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY HAS WHEREWITHAL TO DO THAT MORE THAN ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION IN THIS COUNTY INCLUDING BLUEPRINT.

SO ONE THING I REALLY TAKE PRIDE IN IS LISTENING TO THE FOLKS I WORK FOR, THE PEOPLE AND THE VOTERS OF DISTRICT 3.

SO AFTER HEARING FROM THEM, YOU KNOW, MEETINGS, PHONE CALLS, E-MAILS, E MADE THE DECISION THAT THESE DOLLARS SHOULD BE SPENT IN OTHER WAYS.

ONCE I MADE THAT DECISION, I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH IT, I'VE NEVER LOOKED BACK.

I'M VERY UPSET BY IT, BUT YOU HAVE TO STAND FOR WHAT I DID, AND I'M PROUD OF IT.

>> THANK YOU, RICK MINOR.

DAMON VICTOR, WE'LL GO TO YOU.

1% OF THE FUNDS FOR BLUE -- 12% OF THE FUNDS FOR BLUEPRINT, EXPLAIN HOW YOU CAME TO A POSITIVE ON THE -- POSITION.

>> FROM THE BEGINNING RICK MINOR WAS FOR THIS FUNDING, I WAS AGAINST IT.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DOLLARS COULD HAVE BEEN USED FOR MORT MONROE STREET AND TO HELP THE BUSINESSES OUT THERE, FOR EXAMPLE.

BUT FOR SEVEN MONTHS THE INCUMBENT -- ONLY TO MAKE AN 11TH HOUR REVERSAL TO SAVE POLITICAL FACE.

I THINK THAT'S SAVING YOUR OWN SKIN.

FSU HAS SO MUCH FUNDING COMING FROM THE STATE, COMING PROSECUTE BOOSTERS, COMING FROM TUITION THAT THEY DIDN'T NEED TO COME AND RYE AND TAKE ALL THE -- TRY AND TAKE ALL THE MONEY OFF OUR TABLE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN OUR FUTURE.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, DAMON VICTOR.

JOEY LAMAR, WHY DON'T YOU FINISH US OFF.

>> YES, THANK YOU.

WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN HIS LAST MINUTE REVERSAL IS THAT THE COMMISSIONER'S VALUES NO LONGER ALIGN WITH THE DISTRICT.

IT JUST MEANS WE NEED SOMEBODY ELSE IN OFFICE.

THIS MONEY COULD HAVE BEEN USED TO ATTRACT A COMPANY LIKE FORD.

FORD WAS LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO DEAL THEIR ELECTRIC VEHICLES, WE COULD HAVE AT LEAST MADE AN OVERTURE TO FORD TO COME TO TALLAHASSEE AND BUILD THEIR ELECTRIC VEHICLE PLANT.

WE CAN'T DO THAT NOW.

AND THE OTHER THING, THE LAST THING IS WHEN THAT VOTE HAPPENED, THIS WAS A PROCEDURAL THING, AND MY OPPONENT DOESN'T KNOW RULES OF ORDER.

SO WHEN THE AMENDMENT WAS MADE, CHRIS TELEPHONE -- KRISTIN DOZIER MADE A MOTION, HE COULD HAVE MADE A SECONDARY AMENDMENT TO THE PRIMARY AMENDMENT, RIGHT?

AND SO HE COULD HAVE GONE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION, HE COULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING.

BUT WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW RULES OF THE GAME, YOU CAN'T PLAY.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A COMMISSIONER WHO JUST FIGURED OUT, LET'S SAY HE'S A FOOTBALL COACH AND HE JUST FIGURED OUT THERE ARE FOUR QUARTERS TO THE GAME, RIGHT?

WE'VE GOT A LAWYER WHO JUST WALKED INTO THE COURTROOM, OH, I DON'T HAVE A DEGREE, BUT I'VE WATCHED EVERY EPISODE OF LAW AND ORDER.

YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW THE PROCEDURE AND RULES, AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE RULES, HOW CAN YOU REPRESENT THE DISTRICT?

>> RICK MINOR, 20-SECOND REBUTTAL, PLEASE.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

I THINK MY OPPONENTS AREN'T AWARE OF HOW THE PROCESS WORKS, YOU KNOW?

THERE WERE THREE VOTES.

THE FIRST VOTE WAS TAKEN, AND AS TAKEN, THAT THAT'S WHEN WE BOT THE VAST MAJORITY OF COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE.

AND I SAID AT THE TIME AT NEXT MEETING WHEN I VOTED AGAINST IT AND THEN AT THIRD SOCIETY WHEN I VOTED AGAINST IT AGAIN, THE RATIO OF PEOPLE THAT WANTED THE FUNDING NOT TO GO FORWARD WAS 28 TO 1.

FOR EVERY 28 PLAYERS AGAINST THE FUNDING -- >> WE GO AHEAD AND KEEP TALKING?

>> THANK YOU.

WE HAVE A FOLLOW UP AND, JOEY, I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU ON THIS FOLLOW-UP.

WAS THERE A MIDDLE GROUND?

WHY COULDN'T WE HAVE REACHED IT IF THERE WAS?

>> 30 SECONDS.

>> SO IT'S ALWAYS VERY IMPORTANT TO TO WORK WITH PEOPLE FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, BUT THE THING I DON'T LIKE ABOUT THIS MIDDLE GROUND IDEA IS SOMEHOW IT FEELS AS IF FSU WAS ENTITLED TO IT.

YOU ARE NOT IN NEED, THEN WE SHOULDN'T BE ASSISTING YOU.

AND SO I'M VERY BIG ON SELF-RELIANCE.

IF YOU HAVE A STADIUM, YOU NEED TO BE TAKING CARE OF IT.

BUT IF YOU'RE IN NEED, WE CAN HELP YOU.

BUT WE SHOULDN'T BE GIVING FUNDS WHEN THEY'RE NOT NEEDED.

SO THAT HAS TO BE ON A NEEDS BASIS, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS WAS.

>> THANK YOU.

DAY MORNINGS WE'RE GOING TO GO TO YOU, DAMON VICTOR.

WAS THERE A MIDDLE GROUND AND WHY COULDN'T WE REACH IT?

>> THANK YOU.

THIS FUNDING ORIGINATED AS A CONFERENCE CENTER THAT WOULD HAVE INVOLVED THE MAG LAB AND A NATIONAL MAGNETIC SIMILAR POSE YOUR EVERY YEAR THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT INVESTMENT, IT WOULD HAVE BROUGHT IN A LOT OF ECONOMIC VITALITY AND INTEREST TO OUR AREA.

BUT WHEN THAT CHANGED AND MORPHED INTO A STADIUM UPGRADE, YOU KNOW, THAT MONEY WAS NEVER PROMISED TO HEM X THERE'S NO PRECEDENT SET.

YOU KNOW, I HONESTLY DON'T BLAME THEM FOR COMING FOR THE MONEY.

I BLAME THE COMMISSIONERS FOR GIVING IT TO THEM.

>> THANK YOU, DAMON VICTOR.

RICK MINOR, YOU'LL HAVE THE FINAL WORD ON THIS ONE, WAS THIS A MIDDLE GROUND ON THE STADIUM VOTE, AND WHY COULDN'T WE REACH IT?

>> I THINK THERE COULD HAVE BEEN.

YOU'VE GOT CAN COUNTY COMMISSIONER MARION HILLY, FORMER COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PROPOSED THAT.

AND ONE THING THAT WE HAD AT THAT VERY FIRST MEETING, I ACTUALLY TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO PROPOSAL POSE SOME TYPE OF MIDDLE GROUND.

BUT WE DIDN'T IS HAVE THE VOTES.

YOU NEED TO HAVE MAJORITY OF VOTES BOTH ON THE COUNTY AND CITY SIDE AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT.

ONCE PEOPLE REALLY STARTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS PROJECT WAS ALL ABOUT AND WE HEARD FROM EVERYBODY AT RATIO OF 28 TO 1, THOSE AGAINST AND FOR, I THINK WE HAD TO GO THE DIRECTION WE -- MY VOTE HAD TO GO THE DIRECTION IT HAD TO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THINGS UP AND GO TO OUR LIGHTNING ROUND.

YOU ALL KEPT THIS MOVING PRETTY SWIFTLY, SO YOU'RE GOING TO BE PROS.

MOST OF THESE QUESTIONS ARE KIND OF A YES OR NO OR A -- BUT EACH OF THEM ALLOWS ONE-SENTENCE RESPONSE.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU CAN ADD AND A BECAUSE, BUT HOPEFULLY YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE US RUN-ON SENTENCES.

WHAT SINGLE THING MAKES DISTRICT 3 DISTINCT FROM ALL OTHERS?

DAMON VICTOR.

>> WELL, IT'S THE JEWEL OF LEON COUNTY.

LAKE JACKSON.

IT'S A WONDERFUL AREA.

WE HAVE MANY PARKS.

IT'S DOWN A LITTLE BIT NOW -- >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT.

JOE LAMAR.

>> THE BEST THING, TO ME, ABOUT LEON COUNTY WHEN I KNOCK DOORS IS THE PEOPLE, AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES ME WANT TO RUN.

I'M SO HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

>> RICK MINOR.

>> JOEY TOOK MY ANSWER, IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE.

IT'S A VERY DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, ALL DIFFERENT OCCUPATIONS, AND A GREAT DISTRICT.

I'M PROUD OF IT.

WOULDN'T WANT TO TO REPRESENT ANY OTHER ONE.

[LAUGHTER] >> HOW MANY COUNTY COMMISSION MEETINGS HAVE YOU ATTENDED, AND HOW MANY HAVE YOU SPOKEN AT AND ON WHAT TOPICS?

>> JOEY LAMAR.

>> I READ THE MINUTES, AND I'VE SPOKEN AT BLUE PRINT.

>> RICK MINOR?

>> TOO MANY TO COUNT, BOTH -- >> DAMON VICTOR.

>> IT'S ABOUT 10 AT POINT.

AND WHEN I DID SPEAK IT WAS AT A BLUEPRINT MEETING ABOUT MISUSE OF BLUEPRINT FUNDING, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

WHAT ISSUE OR CIRCUMSTANCE KEEPS YOU AT NIGHT WHEN IT COMES TO BEING A LEADER OR POTENTIAL LEADER OFFAL HAS SEE AND LEON COUNTY STARTING WITH YOU, RICK.

>> THERE'S NOT ONE.

SMART IF GROWTH, GUN VIOLENCE, CRIME, WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT.

>> OKAY.

>> POVERTY.

>> DAMON VICTOR.

>> I WOULD WORRY ABOUT THE HOMELESS AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT ON THE STREETS AND KEEPING THEM SAFE.

>> OKAY OF JOEY LAMAR.

>> THE PUBLICTURE, MAKING SURE KIDS HAVE A SAFE SIDEWALK TO WALK TO GET TO THE SCHOOL BUS.

THAT REALLY IS IMPORTANT TO ME.

>> THANK YOU.

AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, YOU WILL BE WORKING WITH YOUR COUNTERPARTS ON CITY COMMISSION.

HOW WILL YOU ENDORSE FOR MAYOR OF TALLAHASSEE AND WHY?

DAMON VICTOR.

>> I CAN'T GET BEHIND MAJOR JOHN DALY WITH 12 YEARS OF MISMANAGEMENT IN THIS DISTRICT, SO I'LL BE SUPPORTING -- [INAUDIBLE] >> JOEY LAMAR.

>> I'M NOT GOING TO ENDORSE ANY CANDIDATE.

I WISH THEM BEST IN THEIR RACE.

>> RICK MINOR.

>> I KNOW BOTH OF THEM.

THERE ARE, THERE ARE PARTS OF THEM I LIKE IN EACH OF THEM.

THEY'RE VERY DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN TERMS OF PERSONALITY AND MANAGEMENT STYLE.

I'M GOING TO LET THE VOTERS DECIDE.

>> OKAY.

WHAT'S ONE PLEDGE YOU WOULD MAKE TO VOTERS RIGHT NOW YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH IF ELECTED?

JOEY LAMAR.

>> WE ARE GOING TO TACKLE HOMELESSNESS.

>> THANK YOU.

RICK MINOR.

>> WE'RE GOING TO REVITALIZE NORTH MONROE, BRING IT BACK.

>> THANK YOU.

DAMON VICTOR.

>> WE'RE GOING TO IMPROVE AND FINISH STARK STREET, FINALLY.

>> THANK YOU.

WILL ANY LIMITS ON WHO YOU WILL ACCEPT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM?

RICK MINOR.

>> YES.

I HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT IT IN PARTICULAR, BUT WITH I HAVE ACTUALLY IN THE PAST HAVE PLEDGED NOT TO SHE ACCEPT ANY FUNDS IN THE NRA, AND I WOULD DO THAT AGAIN.

>> OKAY.

DAMON VICTOR.

>> I WILL NOT ACCEPT BUNDLED DONATIONS FROM THE LARGE-MONEYED INTERESTS THAT HAVE CONTROLLED AND DOMINATED LOCAL POLITICS, AND AND I ARE HAVE RETURNED PAC MONEY THAT HAVE BEEN DONATED TO THE THIS MANY PAIN -- THE CAMPAIGN.

>> YOU GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE?

>> I DON'T WANT TO TO GIVE A NAME, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO WALK THE WALK.

>> OKAY.

JOEY LAMAR.

>> DEVELOPERS, MAKING SURE THAT I'M FUNDED BY THE PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT'S WHO I'M GOING TO BE WORKING FOR.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU.

ASIDE THE FROM FAMILY, VERY IMPORTANT CAVEAT, ASIDE FROM FAMILY WHO DO YOU VIEW AS YOUR LOCAL MENTOR IN LIFE AND IN PURSUING THIS SEAT?

DAMON VICTOR.

>> THAT WOULD BE BOB RATCLIFFE.

HE VOTED ON THE MERITS.

HE DIDN'T TAKE ANY GULF, AND HE CAN LOOK HIMSELF IN THE MIRROR AFTER END OF THIS WHOLE PROCESS.

>> JOEY LAMAR.

>> MENTOR, I DON'T REALLY HAVE HAVE A MENTOR.

I JUST WANT TO WORK FOR THE PEOPLE, SO THAT'S WHO I'M WORKING FOR.

>> OKAY.

RICK MINOR.

>> THERE'S NOT ONE.

I KNOW I'M SUPPOSED TO ANSWER THE QUESTION WITH ONE.

I THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE GREAT STATESMEN, MARY ANN LINDLEY AND A LOT OF FOLKS I CONSIDER FRIENDS AND IS HAVE COFFEE WITH.

>> THANK YOU.

NAME ONE SPECIFIC THING THE COUNTY IS NOT SPENDING ENOUGH MONEY ON AND ONE THING THE COUNTY IS SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY ON.

JOEY LAMAR.

>> SO ONE OF THE THINGS IT'S NOT SPENDING ENOUGH IS ON STAR METRO BECAUSE WE NEED TO EXPAND THAT.

I KNOW THAT'S A CITY ISSUE, BUT WE'VE GOT TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON STAR METRO.

WE ARE SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY ON -- >> RICK MINOR.

>> -- TOURISM.

>> I WOULD SAY NORTH MONROE, BUT WE ARE CHANGING THAT AND IT'S COMING.

WE KNOW THAT IT'S COMING, AND I'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT, AND IT'S PAYING OFF.

IN TERMS OF TOO MUCH,LY TELL YOU LEON COUNTY'S BUDGET IS ONE OF LEANEST IN THE STATE.

WE ARE VERY, VERY GOOD AT MAKING SURE WE MAXIMIZE TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

>> THANK YOU.

DAMON VICTOR.

>> I THINK WE COULD DEFINITELY BE SPENDING MORE ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND LEVERAGING AT THE FINISHING HA TO MAKE HAPPEN, AND WE SPEND TOO MUCH AS A COUNTY ON BLUEPRINT BOARD SPENDING AND ALL THIS MONEY FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T EVEN LIVE HERE.

WE NEED TO CAKE TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RIGHT HERE.

>> LAST LIGHTNING ROUND QUESTION, YOU'VE ALMOST MADE IT THROUGH.

WHAT'S THE SINGLE BIGGEST THING YOU'VE DONE IN THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE DISTRICT 3 A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE?

LOOKING FOR ONE THING.

RICK MINOR.

>> IT'S A LOT MORE THAN THIS, BUT I REALLY AM PROUD OF WORK, WE ARE CHANGING NORTH MONROE.

WE'RE TRYING TO -- TURNING THE DECLINE INTO SOMETHING WITH WE OUGHT TO BE PROUD OF BECAUSE ONCE WE DO THAT, THE REST OF DISTRICT 3 IS GOING TO BE IMPROVING AS WELL.

>> OKAY.

DAMON VICTOR.

>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE BLUEPRINT WEB SITE, IT SAYS INACTIVE ON NORTH MONROE, BY WAY.

>> IT DOES.

>> THE ONE THING I'M MOST PROUD OF IS HELPING WITH NUMBER ONE NONPROFIT FOR TWO YEARS IN A ROW, THANK YOU.

>> JOEY LAMAR.

>> ACTUALLY GETTING OUT AND DOING THE WORK, SO GOING AND HAVING A COMMUNITY CLEAN ARE-UP DAY AND GOING THROUGH ON FULLER STREET AND PICKING UP TRASH IN MY COMMUNITY TO HELP MAKE IT CLEANER, SAFER AND BETTER.

>> THANK YOU.

OKAY.

WELL DONE.

>> VERY GOOD.

>> WE'RE BACK TO A LITTLE BIT LONGER FORM.

THE END IS CLOSER IN SIGHT.

I THINK WE'VE GOT A FEW QUESTIONS BEFORE CLOSING ARGUMENTS.

WFSU - >> HERE WE GO.

ALL RIGHT.

SINCE WE SEEM TO BE RETURNING TO CERTAIN THEMES, IF YOU WILL, AND ONE OF THEM IS WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE BLUEPRINT INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES.

AND AS I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL AWARE, RECENT MEETINGS OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION AND BLUEPRINT HAVE BEEN IN SOME INSTANCES, SHALL WE SAY, LESS THAN CORDIAL.

>> CONTENTIOUS.

>> THERE'S BEEN SOME TENSION THERE, FOR SURE.

SO HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS LEVEL OF CIVILITY IN THESE ENCOUNTERS, AND SHOULD WE BE DOING SOMETHING BETTER TO KIND OF BRING THE TEMPERATURE DOWN?

MR. LAMAR, WE'LL START WITH YOU ON THAT ONE.

>> SO WHEN YOU SAY IT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, LESS THAN CIVIL, THAT MEANS THE PEOPLE ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT WHERE THEIR STATE AND WHERE THEY LIVE.

AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY GREAT.

WE NEED PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THEIR CITY AND THEIR COMMUNITY, SO WE NEED THAT.

BUT THE RHETORIC HAS TO BE TONED DOWN, BUT THE PASSION IS THERE, AND WE WANT TO KEEP IT THERE.

ALSO I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE BLUEPRINT BECAUSE BLUEPRINT 2020 WAS VOTED IN SIX YEARS AHEAD OF BLUEPRINT 2000 BEING VOTED OUT.

AND RIGHT NOW IF THAT WERE ON THE BALLOT TODAY, I DON'T THINK THE VOTERS WOULD VOTE FOR AN EXTENSION.

AND IF IT CAME UP TO CANCEL IT, THEY NO LONGER THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN OFFICE CURRENTLY TO GET THE JOB DONE AND MANAGE THOSE FUNDS RESPONSIBLY.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU, SIR.

MR. MINOR.

>> WE NEED TO FOCUS MORE ON ISSUES AND LESS ON TRIBES, AND I'VE SAID THAT BEFORE.

WE NEED FOLKS THAT HAVE A RECORD OF BUILDING BRIDGES AND BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND NOT BEING DIVISIVE.

AND I GO BACK TO MY EXAMPLE OF REFUSING TO MEET WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I THINK JUST, THAT'S JUST A SIGN THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF MY OPPONENTS HAS JUST NOT GOT RIGHT PRIORITIES IN TERMS OF TRYING TO OFFER WHAT'S GOOD FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

I WE NEED COMMISSIONERS, AND I BELIEVE I'M ONE WILL MEET WITH DIFFERENT GROUPS, WE ALL LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

SO WE'VE GOT TO WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS.

EVEN IF YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT ONE GROUP DOES OR ONE POLICY THAT THEY ADD ADVOCATE FOR, YOU'VE GOT TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE AND BUILD THOSE BRIDGES.

I'VE GOT THAT PERSONALITY.

I THINK THEY'LL TELL YOU I AGREE, I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

NATIONAL POLITICS, STATE, LOCAL, I MEAN, CHAOS SO OUT THERE.

YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DIAL THAT BACK AND BUILD SOME MORE CAMARADERIE.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU.

MR. VICTOR, PLEASE.

>> THANK YOU.

EXCUSE ME, CON CONFRONTATIONS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN AND WE HAVE TO DO THAT WITHOUT LOSING OUR COOL.

THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

THOSE E PEOPLE CONCERN THOUGH PEOPLE MAY OPPOSE MY OPINION, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO NOT TAKE THAT PERSONALLY.

BUT WE MUST HAVE THE ABILITY TO DEFEND OUR CONCEPTS IN THE MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS.

AND I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS IT SEEMS LIKE RICK MINOR'S POINTING AT ME.

I HAVEN'T HAD ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT INVITE ME ANYWHERE, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT, AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE WOULD GET THAT INFORMATION -- >> [INAUDIBLE] >> BUT I DON'T KNOW.

>> OKAY.

MR. MINOR, ANY COMMENT ON THAT?

20 SECONDS.

>> WE WERE ALL INVITED TO GO TO AN INTERVIEW WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT TO TALK ABOUT OUR CANDIDACIES.

WE ALL GOT THE SAME LETTER, I BELIEVE, AND MR. VICTOR DID NOT FEND TEND, REFUSED TO -- >> THAT IS LOBBYING ARM FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, THAT'S NOT LOBBY -- THAT'S NOT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SO I'VE NEVER TURN DOWN ANY INVITATION TO MEET WITH OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> OKAY.

SO LET'S MOVE ON A LITTLE BIT ASK AND TALK ABOUT ETHICS.

PLEASE DISCUSS WHETHER YOU FEEL THE CURRENT ETHICS CODE FOR LEON COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND FOR THE BLUEPRINT INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGENCY ARE ADEQUATE, ESPECIALLY REGARDING LOBBYIST REGULATION.

WOULD YOU SUPPORT INDEPENDENT ETHICS OVERSIGHT FOR EITHER OR BOTH OF THOSE TWO WITH BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.

ONE MINUTE AND WE'RE GOING TO START WITH RICK MINOR.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ONE THING I'VE DONE AND I'M VERY PROUD OF OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND I'VE LED EFFORTS ON STRENGTHENING POLICIES FOR THE COUNTY.

I INITIATED IT.

WORKING WITH SOME FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT REALLY ARE ETHICS EXPERTS, I INITIATED THAT AT COUNTY COMMISSION, AND WE GOT THOSE REFORMS ADOPTED.

OR I ALSO TOOK THE LEAD ON -- WITHIN THE COUNTY COMMISSION.

AND WE NOW ARE HAVE A NEW PROCESS WITH A MORE CLEAR PROCESS WITH A MORE CLEAR TESTIFY IN ADDITION OF WHAT A LOBBYIST IS AS WELL AS FINES AND JAIL TIME FOR PEOPLE THAT VIOLATE THE LOBBYING POLICIES THAT WE HAVE.

AND THEN I WENT TO BLUEPRINT AND STARTED THE SAME THING REGARDING LOBBYING REFORM.

SO I'M PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE DONE.

WE CAN DO MORE.

I THINK THERE ARE GROUPS OUT THERE THAT ARE LOBBYING BUT NOT GETTING PAID DIRECTLY FOR THEIR LOBBYING.

THEY'RE GETTING PAID FOR OTHER TYPE OF CONSULTING ADVICE.

I THINK THAT'S THE NEXT STEP WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT.

>> THANK YOU, RICK MINOR.

DAMON VICTOR, PLEASE DISCUSS WHETHER YOU FEEL THE CURRENT ETHICS CODES ARE ADEQUATE ESPECIALLY REGARDING LOBBYIST REGULATION.

AND WOULD YOU SUPPORT AN INDEPENDENT EARTH HICKS OVERSIGHT FOR -- ETHICS OVERSIGHT FOR EITHER OF BOTH OF THEM?

>> ONE OF THE REASONS I WANT TO BE A COUNTY COMMISSIONER IS BECAUSE IT IS HELD IN HIGH REGARD ON THE SUBJECT OF ETHICS.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT CARRIED OVER INTO BLUEPRINT ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE WHICH IS ONLY MADE UP OF THREE PEOPLE, THE CITY MANAGER, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND THE HEAD OF PLACE.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME SUNSHINE LAWS, SOME OVERSIGHT THERE.

AND INITIALLY SPEAKING WITH SOME OF THE ETHICS OFFICERS AND THE BOARD OF INDEPENDENT EARTH THIS THICKS AT CITY SEEING HOW WE COULD MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE MOTHER OF ALL ETHICS PROBLEMS IN LOCAL POLITICS IS CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

AND THAT'S WHY FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OUR CAMPAIGN WAS FOCUSED ON DOING THE RIGHT THING AND WALKING WALK.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, DAMON VICTOR.

JOEY LAMAR, FINISH US OFF HERE PLEASE.

>> WHAT YOU'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT IS TRUST AND HAVING THE PUBLIC BE ABLE TO TRUST YOU WHEN YOU'RE ON THE BOARD.

AND SO ILL LIKE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, STRONG STRONGER THICKS.

YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE OUR CURRENT COMMISSIONER WHO WILL TAKE CAMPAIGN FUNDS FROM COMPANIES WHO HAVE DONE GOVERNMENT PROJECTS IN THE PAST, AND IS THAT ILLEGAL?

NO.

IS IT ETHICAL?

NO, BECAUSE IT LOOK LIKE YOU ARE TAKING A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION KICKBACK IN THE FORM OF A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION.

SO IT'S GOOD TO TALK THE TALK, BUT ARE ARE YOU REALLY WALKING THE WALK?

WE'VE GOT OF TO HAVE COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO DO WHAT THEY SAY THEY'RE TRYING TO DO.

>> THANK YOU.

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR SERVES AT THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION.

VINCE LONG HAS BEEN SERVING SINCE 2011.

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

WHAT'S HE DONE WELL, WHAT CAN HE DO BETTER?

ONE MINUTE, AND WE BEGIN YOU, DAMON VICTOR.

>> COULD YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION AGAIN?

>> SURE, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR SERVES AT THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION.

WHAT LETTER GRADE WOULD YOU GIVE TO VINCE YEAR AND WHY, WHAT'S HE DONE WELL, WHAT CAN HE DO BETTER?

>> I GIVE HIM A B+.

I THINK HE HANDLED THE PANDEMIC VERY WELL.

I KNOW HE TOOK VAN FORWARD OF A LOT OF COUNTIES NOT JUST IN FLORIDA, BUT AROUND THE COUNTRY.

I THINK HE'S TRACHING CARE OF HIS -- TAKING CARE OF HIS WORKERS.

I WOULD OOH LIKE TO SEE VINCE LONG EMBRACE COMMON SENSE ETHICS REFORMS AT BLUEPRINT BOARD IN REGARDS TO THE IMC.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

JOEY LAMAR.

>> I WILL GIVE HIM A B+IF AS WELL.

I THINK HE'S DONE GREAT ON A LOT OF THINGS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE KIND OF HEARD FROM KNOCKING DOORS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY FEEL LIKE HE'S NOT AS ACCESSIBLE AS THEY NEED HIM TO BE WHEN THEY NEED HIM TO KIND OF DO THE WORK, LIKE THE EVERYDAY WORK.

AND SO IF HE COULD BE A LITTLE MORE ACCESSIBLE, BUT OVERALL GIVE HIM A B+.

>> RICK MINOR.

>> I WOULD GIVE HIM AN A-.

I'VE SAID THIS MANY TIMES BEFORE, I THINK HE'S PERHAPS ONE OF THE BEST COUNTIED A MORERS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

HE'S EXCEPTIONAL AT RUNNING COUNTY GOVERNMENTS ON HIRING BEST PEOPLE AND WORKING TO RETAIN THOSE PEOPLE.

HE DID A GREAT JOB DURING THE PANDEMIC, DIDN'T PLAY POLITICS, HELPED US MAKE OUR POLICY DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT WAS GOING TO PROTECT THE LIVES AND THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE: IN TERMS OF AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT, I THINK HE'S SO PROUD OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT, WAY IT RUNS, I THINK SOMETIMES HE MAYBE TRIES TO SUGAR COAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON.

I SOMETIMES TRY TO PUSH HIM TO JUST TELL ME STRAIGHT WHAT'S GOING ON, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO HEAR.

BUT ALL IN ALL, A-.

HE'S DEFINITELY ONE OF THE BEST ADMINISTRATORS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

>> FOR THOSE LISTENING TO THE RECORDED VERSION OF THIS FORUM ON WFSU, 88.9 FM, WE'RE GOING BACK TO TO OUR REGULAR PROGRAMMING.

REST OF THE FORUM AND OTHERS WILL BE ARCHIVED ON OUR WFSU AND TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT WEB SITES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE FOR THE CANDIDATES FOR LEON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, DISTRICT 3 AND MORE TO COME.

THANKS FOR TUNING IN.

>> DO WE GO TO COMMERCIAL BREAK?

>> NO, WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE -- [LAUGHTER] >> BUT THE END IS IN SIGHT.

ONE MORE LONG FORM -- >> USUALLY WHEN THEY COUNT YOU DOWN ON TV, LIKE, IT'S DONE.

LIKE, IT'S OVER.

[LAUGHTER] >> SEE YOU TOMORROW.

>> THE BEAUTY OF BEING ONLINE.

>> OKAY.

JOEY LAMAR, THIS IS GOING TO GO TO YOU FIRST.

CLIMATE CHANGE CAN SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE TOO DISTANT A CONCERN WHEN WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH SO MANY CHALLENGES IN OUR COMMUNITY TODAY.

ARE THERE SIGNS OF CLIMATE CHANGE YOU SEE ALREADY IN LEON COUNTY, AND WHO IS OR MAY BECOME MOST AFFECTED?

WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?

WHAT CAN THE COMMISSION DO ABOUT IT?

YEAH.

SO -- >> YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> OKAY.

SO WHEN WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, CLIMATE CHANGE, I'M A REALLY BIG ADVOCATE IN SUPPORTING AND BELIEVING IN CLIMATE CHANGE.

BUT THEIRS IS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S MERIT THAT HAS TO GO ALONG WITH BUSINESS.

BUSINESS MEANS DEVELOPMENT, IT MEANS PUTTING MORE CARBON EMISSIONS IN THE AIR, SO PEOPLE HAVE TO BALANCE.

WE WANT TO SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO HAVE FOOD ON TABLE.

WHERE I HAVE HAVE SEEN THE MOST PEOPLE BEING AFFECTED RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF A HEAT WAVE, AND WE HAVE HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL OUT ON THE STREETS.

AND WE'RE GOING TO CLEC TERRORIST BILLS GO THROUGH THE -- ELECTRICITY BILLS GO THROUGH THE ROOF.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYBODY IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT TO GET SOLAR PANELS TO TRY TO LOWER YOUR BILL.

I MYSELF DON'T WANT AIR-CONDITIONING, SO I LET IT GET UP TO ABOUT 85, 86.

I CAN TAKE IT, I'M A BIG BOY, BUT I AM A BIG BELIEVER IN MAKING SURE WE TRY TO REDUCE OUR CARBON EMISSIONS BY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

BUT THE MOST VULNERABLE WOULD BE OUR HOMELESS RIGHT NOW.

>> THANK YOU.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO RICK MINOR, SAME QUESTION.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YES, I MEAN, GO OUTSIDE FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS, AND YOU'LL SEE THE 104-DEGREE TEMPERATURE.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS HERE, IT'S REAL.

IT'S BEEN CAUSED MAINLY BY HUMANKIND.

WHAT WE'VE DONE AT THE COUNTY IS INCORPORATE IT INTO OUR FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, REDUCTION OF CARBON EMISSIONS WITHIN OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

WE ARE PLEDGING ALSO TO INCREASE OUR LEK TREK -- TREK -- ELECTRIC VEHICLE COMPLETE.

AND I'VE PLEDGED TO HAVE MY CAMPAIGN BE CARBON NEUTRAL.

SO AT THE END OF THE CAMPAIGN, WE'RE GOING TO CALCULATE THE CARBON GENERATED BY MY CAMPAIGN'S ACTIVITIES, MAIL PIECES, DRIVING AROUND TOWN, AND THEN WE PAY AN OFFSET TO NEGATE THE EFFECTS OF THAT CARBON.

I'VE DONE THAT BEFORE FOR MY OTHER RATE -- RACES.

I HOPE MY OPPONENTS WILL DO THE SAME.

LAST ELECTION CYCLE, 2020, I WENT OUT TO ALL THE LOCAL CANDIDATES RUN RUNNING THEN, ENCOURAGES THEM TO -- ENCOURAGED THEM TO GO CARBON NEUTRAL.

WE'VE GOT 211 CANDIDATES HERE LOCALLY THAT MADE THAT PLEDGE.

WE BELIEVE IT ISST THE ONLY PROGRAM OF ITS TYPE IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

>> THANK YOU.

DAMON VICTOR, CLIMATE CHANGE.

ARE YOU SEEING SIGNS HERE LOCALLY AND WHAT, IF ANYTHING, CAN WE DO ABOUT IT, AND WHO'S MOST AFFECTED?

ONE MINUTE.

>> WE'VE ALL SEEN THE WEATHER PATTERNS CHANGE OVER -- I'VE BEEN HERE 35 YEARS, AND THE WEATHER PATTERNS HAVE COMPLETELY CHANGED.

THE HEAT IS RISING, WE'RE NOT GETTING AS MUCH RAIN AS WE USED TO GET OFF THE GULF, SO THOSE ARE THINGS WE CAN ALL PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE PATTERN IN EARNS.

AND WHAT I THINK WE NEEDED TO DO IS BE VERY AWARE OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE.

WE NEED TO CARE FOR OUR ELDERS, MAKE SURE THAT AS THEY AGE THEY HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH CORRECT AIR-CONDITIONING THAT PROVIDES COMMUNITIES FOR HEALTHY LIVING BECAUSE AS PEOPLE AGE OUT, AS AGES INCREASE, THEY NEED THESE AFFORDABLE PLACES TO LIVE.

I THINK WE NEED SHADED SIDEWALKS, AND WE SHOULD DESIGN MORE PARKS WITH WATER FEATURES FOR CHILDREN TO PLAY ON HOT DAYS.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> OKAY.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FOLLOW-UP ON THAT SIMILAR LINE OF QUESTIONING.

RICK, WE'LL START WITH YOU, AND YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS.

ARE ADDITIONAL MEASURES NEEDED TO PROTECT OUR WATER RESOURCES?

PLEASE EXPLAIN.

>> YES.

YES, VERY MUCH SO.

YOU KNOW, AT TIMES LAKE JACKSON HAS HAD SOME ALGAE BLOOMS, AND SO WE DO NEED TO INVEST MORE EFFORT INTO MAKING SURE THAT OUR WATER BODIES ARE CLEAN ARE.

LAKE MUNSON WAS JUST DECLARED TO HAVE SOME SERIOUS ISSUES WITH ALGAE.

I THINK THE COUNTY DOES A GOOD JOB.

WE THE U.S.

THE WATER ON A VERY REGULAR BASIS.

WE WORK WITH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE THEM SAFE, BUT THERE'S MORE AHA WE CAN COIN THAT AREA OR ESPECIALLY AS THE TEMPERATURES RISE.

YOU DO SEE THESE ALGAE BLOOMS TAKE PLACE MORE FREQUENTLY.

>> THANK YOU.

DAMON VICTOR, SAME QUESTION, WATER RESOURCES.

>> THANK YOU.

OVER THE COURSE OF THE CAMPAIGN, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO FOLLOW SOME SEWAGE SPILLS THAT HAVE HAPPENED, LOOKED AT OUR STORM WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS, TOURED THE WASTE WATER FACILITY AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN WORK AROUND CLIMATE CHANGE AND WE CAN ACTUALLY USE METHANE RECLAMATION TO PROVIDE NATURAL GAS TO OUR AREA.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR WATER QUALITY, WE NEED TO INITIATE MORE SOURCE POINT TESTING, WHICH LETS US KNOW HOW MUCH NITROGEN.

BY THE TIME IT GETS TO WAKULLA, IT'S TWICE AS MUCH AS IT SHOULD BE, SO WE NEED TO WORK ON DOING THAT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> THANK YOU.

JOEY LAMAR.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

LAKE JACKSON IS, YOU KNOW, THE PRIMARY LAKE IN DISTRICT 3, AND IT'S BEEN DEEMED NOT SAFE.

SO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER UNDERSTOOD THIS COMMISSIONER HASN'T DONE A GOOD JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT IT'S GOTTEN TO AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL.

AND SO THE ALGAE BLOOM IS OUT OF CONTROL.

WHEN I KNOCK ON THOSE DOORS IN THE LAKE SHORE AREA, THEY SAID THE COUNTY WILL COME BUT ONLY WHEN WE CALL THEM.

WELL, WE NEED TO HAVE A COMMISSIONER THAT IS MAKING SURE THEY'RE MAKING THE FIRST STEPS THEMSELVES.

YOU SHOULD BE CONTACTING THEM SAYING WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THIS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU ALL MADE IT TO CLOSING TIME.

SO THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO VOTERS.

WHY SHOULD VOTERS CHOOSE YOU?

STARTING WITH YOU, DAMON VICTOR.

>> THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE Y'ALL HAVING ME HERE.

IT'S BEEN A GREAT DEBATE, GREAT FORUM.

I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THEY SHOULD VOTE FOR ME BECAUSE I WANT NEIGHBORHOODS TO BE PROACTIVE AND NOT REACTIVE.

IT SEEMS THAT WHEN DEVELOPMENTS HAPPEN OR INFRASTRUCTURE'S BUILT, THAT THEY'RE LEFT OUT OF THE PROCESS OR THEY COME IN TOO LATE, AND THEN THEIR OPINION ISN'T ACTUALLY TAKEN IN AND ACTED UPON.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WHEN IT COMES TO MY POLITICAL LIFE THAT I'VE STARTED HERE RECENTLY, YOU KNOW, I DID THIS DOING THE RIGHT HINGE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT I'M TAKING MONEY FROM FOLKS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND I'M JUST OVERWHELMED WITH THE GOODWILL AND THE GRACIOUSNESS OF MY NEIGHBORS.

AND I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT I PUT MY HEART INTO THIS.

I WON'T PLAY GAMES WITH POLITICAL VOTES AND THAT THE PEOPLE CAN COUNT ON THE FACT THAT I WILL STAND WITH THEM.

I'VE GONE TO THESE MEETINGS, AND YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE.

THERE'S THE PEOPLE IN THE SUITS WHO SEEM TO HAVE THE MONEY AND THE POWER AND THEN YOU HAVE THE PEOPLE OVER HERE IN THE FLANNEL SHIRTS AND T-SHIRTS.

WELL, I'M GENERALLY ON THIS SIDE.

AND ALTHOUGH I'M PART OF A POLITICAL PARTY, I'LL WORK ACROSS THE AISLE TO GET THINGS DONE AND FIND BEST SOLUTIONS.

I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT I STAND WITH THE REGULAR FOLKS IN LEON COUNTY.

>> THANK YOU.

JOEY LAMAR.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO WE'VE GOT OF TO HAVE A CHAMPIONSHIP MENTALITY, RIGHT IN CHAMPIONS GET THE JOB DONE.

THEY DON'T MAKE EXCUSES, RIGHT?

HAY GET RESULTS.

AND SOMETHING THAT WE TALK ABOUT IN E MY CAMPAIGN ALL THE TIME, CHAMPIONSHIPPEN MENTALITY.

THAT MEANS ARE YOU GETTING THE JOB DONE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO GET IT DONE.

AND REALLY PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HEAR HOW HARD YOU WORKED BECAUSE THEY ASSUME EVERYBODY WORKS HARD.

HAY WANT TO SEE THE RESULT.

SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PRODUCING RESULTS.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT CHAMPIONSHIP MENTALITY, AND WE HAVE TO HAVE IT IN THIS SEAT.

RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE IT, AND WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A CHAMPIONSHIP MENTALITY, YOU DON'T HAVE THAT WINNER'S MENTALITY, YOU HAVE HOMELESSNESS THAT'S OUT OF CONTROL, CRIME ON THE RISE, UNMANAGED, UNBRIDLED GROWTH, RIGHT?

AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE CRIME CONTINUING TO RISE.

AND SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT CHAMPIONSHIP MENTALITY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE DELIVERING FOR THE PEOPLE.

IT IS THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED US, AND THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WE SHOULD BE SERVING FIRST.

AND SO MY CAMPAIGN HAS A CHAMPIONSHIP MENTALITY, AND THAT'S WHY WE WILL GET RESULTS DONE, BECAUSE IT'S THE MINDSET.

YOU CAN'T MAKE EXCUSES, YOU GOTTA GET IT DONE.

HAVE TO HAVE A CHAMPIONSHIP MENTALITY.

>> THANK YOU.

RICK MINOR, YOU HAVE THE LAST WORD TODAY.

>> IF MY OPPONENTS WERE RUNNING IN A DIFFERENT RACE, IN OTHER WORDS, IF THEY WERE RUNNING FOR A DIFFERENT OFFICE, I STILL WOULDN'T VOTE FOR THEM.

NOTHING AGAINST THEM, BUT IT'S -- THEY JUST HAVE NOT SHOWN A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO DISTRICT 3 AND THIS COMMUNITY.

IT'S LIKE EACH OF THEM WOKE UP ONE MORNING AND THOUGHT BE NEAT TO BE A COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

AND RIGHT ABOUT THE TIME THEY STARTED RUNNING FOR OFFICE, THEY STARTED LOOKING REALLY BUSY AND TRYING TO SHOW EVERYBODY HOW MUCH THEY CARE.

I THINK VOTERS WILL SEE IT FOR WHAT IT IS.

I HOPE PEOPLE WILL BO TO THE WEB SITES AND STUDY THE ISSUES AND TAKE SOME REAL TIME TO MAKE A DECISION BETWEEN THE THREE OF US.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT TIME, I HOPE YOU'LL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT TALLAHASSEE PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS.

THEY INTERVIEWED ALL THREE OF US, THEY STUDY THED THE BACKGROUND OF US, THEY ASKED US REALLY DEEP QUESTIONS, AND THEY DECIDED TO ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORT MY CANDIDACY FOR MY RE-ELECTION TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION.

SO I HOPE YOU'LL ARE A CHANCE TO STUDY THESE CANDIDATES BY YOURSELF.

BUT IF YOU CAN'T, THE FIREFIGHTERS REALLY DID THAT, IF THEY CHOSE ME.

>> FOLKS, THE FINISH LINE HAS BEEN CROSSED.

THANKS TO THE TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF TALLAHASSEE, WFSU PUBLIC MEDIA AND THE CANDIDATES FOR JOINING US FOR THIS PROGRAM.

AND AND YOU CAN FIND A REPLAY OF THE FORUM ON OUR YouTUBE PAGES, TALLAHASSEE.COM AND WF WFSU.ORG.

AND THE RECORDED BROADCAST WILL BE THIS TUESDAY, JUNE 28TH AT IS 1 -- 11 AT IN -- 11 IN THE MORNING ON WFSU, 88.9 FM.

>> TUESDAY, JUNE 28TH AT 1 P.M. WILL BE WITH THE FOUR CANDIDATES FOR LEON COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT 5.

PAULA -- AND DUSTIN LION -- RYAN.

>> AND YOU CAN LOOK FOR OUR SPECIAL ELECTIONS SECTION OF THE TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT WITH INTERVIEWS WITH ALL THE CANDIDATES ON BALLOT WHICH WILL BE PRINTED AND INSERTS ON SUNDA, AUGUST 7TH.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU, CANDIDATES.

THANK YOU, THE AUDIENCE.

A GREAT DISCUSSION, WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

PLEASURE.

♪ ♪