IS THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, A RISING NUMBER OF DENGUE FEVER CASES HAS PARTS OF THE STATE CALLING FOR REINFORCEMENTS.

WE DON'T HAVE A PREDICTION OF HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO BE HERE.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE.

>> A LOT OF THE COUNTIES ARE THROWING A LOT OF EFFORTS AT THIS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WE'RE ON THE DOWNSIDE OF IT.

BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET.

>> IN ORDER TO STOP THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE.

EXPERTS FROM LEE COUNTY ARE BEING CALLED UPON TO HELP CONTROL MOSQUITO POPULATIONS.

LEE COUNTY IS THE LARGEST AMONG THE STATE'S 67 COUNTIES AND ALEXA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THROUGH AN AT-LARGE VOTING SYSTEM.

BUT VOTERS WILL DECIDE THIS NOVEMBER IF A CHANGE IN THE PROCESS IS NEEDED.

AND IT TAKES MORE THAN A GREAT PRODUCT OR SERVICE TO BUILD A SUSTAINABLE SMALL BUSINESS.

ONE GROUP IS HEADING BACK TO THE MALL TO SHOW FELLOW COMPANIES WHAT IT TAKES TO ATTRACT NEW CUSTOMERS.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

EFFORTS TO STOP THE SPREAD OF DENGUE FEVER HAS LEE COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL ON THE FRONT LINES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, WHICH INCLUDES TAMPA, LEE COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL CHOPPER PILOTS AND CREWS JOINED FORCES WITH MANATEE AND PASCO COUNTIES TO HELP WITH ARIEL PESTICIDE SPRAYING TODAY.

PINELLAS, PASCO AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTIES ARE ALL UNDER A LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY DUE TO A RISING NUMBER OF CASES OF THE MOSQUITO-BORNE VIRUS.

LEE COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL SAYS IT'S FLYING DAYTIME MISSIONS LOW OVER TAMPA NEIGHBORHOODS TO SPRAY TREATMENTS TO KILL MOSQUITO LARVAE AS THE AREA OF CONCERN IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAS NOW EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ONE 3RD OF THE COUNTY.

>> JENNIFER MCBRIDE OF THE LEE COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICT JOINS US NOW.

>> AND YOU LITERALLY JUST GOT OFF OF A HELICOPTER.

>> THAT WAS SPRAYING IN HILL, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.

WHAT'S THE HEADLINE OUT OF THIS NEWS CONFERENCE WITH THE AUTHORITIES REGARDING WHAT'S GOING ON AS FAR AS EFFORTS AND THE NUMBERS.

>> AND IN HILLSBOROUGH, IT'S INTERESTING.

THEY'VE SOME CRYPTIC PLACES THAT WE'RE DETERMINING THAT EVEN THERE IS A RESTAURANT.

WE HAD 3 CASES OF SOMEONE THAT ARE 3 DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT VISITED THIS RESTAURANT AND IT TURNS OUT THEY JUST HAD STANDING WATER IN SOME KIND OF DISH AND THERE IT THE BACK OF THE RESTAURANT.

SO WHAT'S HAPPENING IS WE REALLY NEED PEOPLE TO DUMP OUT THAT STANDING WATER BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET TO EVERY LITTLE PLACE.

AND THAT'S WHERE THOSE THINGS ARE POPPING UP OR IN THE UNSUSPECTED CRYPTIC PLACES THAT WE CAN'T GET TO.

>> CAN YOU TELL US THE LATEST NUMBERS THAT ARE COMING IN REGARDING THE NUMBER OF BANK, A FEVER CASES?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAD OUR LAST UPDATE ON LAST THURSDAY AND WE'RE SEEING ABOUT 252 CASES IN FLORIDA.

LOCALIZE CASES.

SO AND MOST OF THOSE, OF COURSE, STEMMING FROM THE HILLS, EARL AREA AND THEN JUST KIND OF BRANCHING OUT FROM THERE.

>> I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE ABOUT 223 LOCALLY ACQUIRED CASES IN A TAMPA BAY AREA.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY SAID THERE IN THE TAMPA, VERY BAY AREA.

BUT WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THEM GO INTO THAT SOME OF THOSE OTHER COUNTIES AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE BIGGEST THING TO REMEMBER IS AND WE ACTUALLY TALKED TO THE DIRECTOR OF HILLSBOROUGH, IS THAT IN IN HILLSBOROUGH, PEOPLE TRAVEL FOR WORK FOR FOR SCHOOL.

THEY'RE NOT TO STAYING IN THAT COUNTY.

THEY'RE MOVING FROM COUNTY TO COUNTY.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE STARTING TO SEE SOME OF THIS OTHER LOCATIONS POPPING UP.

>> AND WHAT KIND OF FORCES?

>> HAVE YOU GUYS DEPLOYED TO THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AREA TO HELP IN THIS FIGHT?

>> SO FOR US, WE HAVE A LARGE AERIAL CREW, OF COURSE, BECAUSE OF OUR HABITAT AREA HERE IN LEE COUNTY.

WE'VE GOT THAT ARE HERE AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE MOST AERIAL EQUIPMENT FOR MOSQUITO CONTROLS IS BECAUSE OF THAT MOSQUITO.

SO WE'RE SENDING UP AREA ALL TO HELP OUT.

AND OF COURSE, THERE COVERING THE COST OF THE CHEMICALS AND THE FUEL.

AND WE'RE SUPPLYING THE THE AERIAL PEACE.

AND I JUST WANT TO MENTION, TOO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE UP THERE, BUT WE'RE ALSO BACK HERE AT NUMBER ONE IS OUR COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE WE'RE TREATING OUR COMMUNITY TOO.

SO WE'RE KIND ALL WORKING A LITTLE BIT OF OVERTIME TO REALLY KIND OF BEAT DOWN THE BAN AND ALSO TAKE CARE OF OUR ASSISTANCE HERE IN LEE COUNTY >> WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT LEE COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL HELP IN THIS FIGHT WITH OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH?

>> YEAH, WE GET ASKED THAT AND REALLY IT'S ABOUT HOW THE VIRUS WORKS.

IT DOESN'T JUST STAY IN THAT COUNTY.

WHAT HAPPENS IS IF YOU HAVE A MOSQUITO THAT BITE SOMEONE INFECTS THEM AND THAT PERSON TRAVELS, FOR INSTANCE, TO LEE COUNTY, WHICH WE HAD LAST WEEK IN A TAURUS LOCATION AND THEN A LOCAL MOSQUITO HERE IN LEE COUNTY BITES THEM.

THEN THAT'S HOW THAT SPREAD IT.

THAT'S HOW IT SPREAD.

IS IT 2 DIFFERENT COUNTIES?

IS PEOPLE TRAVELING AND ALSO MOSQUITOES.

BUT THIS MOSQUITO ACTUALLY DOESN'T TRAVEL VERY FAR.

IT'S IT'S REALLY BACKYARD TO BACKYARD THAT SPOT AS FAR AS IT'S GOING TO GO UNLESS IT GETS IN A CAR, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

TYPICALLY IT'S GOING TO BE SPREAD BY HUMANS.

>> WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THAT CASE?

YOU ARE TRACKING IN LEE COUNTY BECAUSE TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WE STILL DON'T HAVE ANY LOCALLY ACQUIRED CASES, BUT THERE COULD BE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTIONS.

SO ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE DO IS WE SET TRAPS AND WE'RE ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESS WILL BE TESTING PROBABLY TOMORROW.

THE THE SPECIES THAT THEY TEASE AEGYPTI AND THAT LOCATION AND WHAT WE DO IS WE LOOK TO SEE IF WE HAVE ANY POSITIVE MOSQUITOES.

BEFORE THAT, THOUGH, WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN THERE AND TREATED THAT AREA.

SEVERAL TIMES.

WE'VE GONE THROUGH A FEW TIMES AND DUMP OUT STANDING WATER.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S CERTAINLY A LOCATION THAT IS ON OUR RADAR.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE THING TO REMEMBER IS WE HAVE TO DUMP OUT THAT STANDING WATER BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE DON'T HAVE SYMPTOMS.

SO WE JUST WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND OUT ABOUT THIS ONE.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS THAT SOMEONE MIGHT EXHIBIT IF THEY ARE SICK WITH THIS MOSQUITO-BORNE VIRUS?

>> YEAH, IT'S NOT FUN.

IT'S CALLED BREAK BEEN FEVER AND IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE PROBABLY IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS, YOU'RE GOING TO PROBABLY GET A FEVER, A HEADACHE BEHIND EYES.

AND THEN IT FEELS LIKE A VERY, VERY DEEP BONE PAIN.

THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED GREAT PHONE FEVER.

IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THE FLU.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE WANT ANYBODY THAT'S TRAVELED, ESPECIALLY OUT OF COUNTRY.

THAT'S COMING BACK IN.

IF THEY'RE HAVING THESE SYMPTOMS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE CONTACTING THEIR PHYSICIAN.

AND THEN, OF COURSE IT THEY'VE HAD CONTACT, YOU KNOW WHAT, THEY KNOW, TRAVEL TO HILLSBOROUGH AND THEY'RE HAVING ANY SYMPTOMS.

THEN I WOULD GO TO THE PHYSICIAN.

ALSO.

>> YOU ALSO HAD MENTIONED TO ME THAT THERE IS CONCERN THIS COULD BECOME ENDEMIC TO OUR STATE.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

STILL RECENTLY I SPOKE WITH ONE OF OUR BUYERS DOCTOR DAY WHO IS VERY WELL KNOWN AROUND THE WORLD.

HE ACTUALLY PREDICTS KIND OF FIRE US IS AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THEM.

AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED THAT THIS MIGHT BE OUR NEW NORM THAT ONCE IT GET HERE, IT'S VERY HARD TO CONTAIN IT AND GET RID OF IT.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE THROWING ALL THESE EFFORTS AT IT BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THIS TO BE ENDEMIC.

WE DON'T WANT THIS TO BE AN EVERYDAY PART OF LIFE FOR EVERYONE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

JENNIFER MCBRIDE FROM LEE COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL.

THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE TODAY.

ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU.

>> FOR MORE STORIES ON THE SURGE AND DENGUE FEVER CASES.

>> AND OTHER HEALTH RELATED STORIES, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU VISIT WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP NEXT, A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE COULD BE COMING FOR LEE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THE PROS IN NOVEMBER.

VOTERS IN LEE COUNTY WILL DECIDE THE FATE OF A REFERENDUM THAT COULD DRAMATICALLY CHANGE HOW COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE ELECTED GOING FORWARD.

JOINING ME NOW FOR A CLOSER LOOK IS WGCU HOST AND REPORTER JOHN DAVIS AND JOHN, FIRST OF ALL, CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW LEE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE ELECTED CURRENTLY AND THEN IF THE REFERENDUM DOES INDEED PASS HOW THAT WOULD CHANGE THE PROCESS MOVING FORWARD.

>> SURE.

SO RIGHT NOW, LEE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THEY HAVE TO LIVE IN THIS SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICTS THAT THEY'RE RUNNING TO REPRESENT.

BUT THEY'RE VOTED ON BY EVERY VOTER IN THE COUNTY, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE.

THAT'S THE AT-LARGE SYSTEM.

THE MODEL THAT THIS REFERENDUM PROPOSES CHANGING TOO, AS THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WOULD ONLY BE ELECTED BY VOTERS WHO LIVE WITHIN THE GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES OF THAT DISTRICT.

>> HOW DOES THIS SYSTEM THAT WE USE IN LEE COUNTY COMPARED TO THE OTHER 66 COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA?

>> WELL, IT'S INTERESTING.

MOST COUNTIES IN FLORIDA, 40 OF THEM ACTUALLY HAVE THE OUT LARGE SYSTEM THAT LEE COUNTY HAS NOW 20 OF THOSE COUNTIES.

AND THEY TEND TO BE THE LARGER ONES LIKELY HAVE THIS SINGLE MEMBER VOTING DISTRICTS SYSTEM.

AND THEN THERE ARE 7 COUNTIES THAT HAVE SOME KIND OF MIXTURE OF THE 2 WERE.

SOME COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE VOTED ON JUST WITHIN THE GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES OF THEIR DISTRICT.

AND THEN THERE MIGHT BE ONE OR 2 THAT ARE VOTED ON OUT LARGE.

I THINK ABOUT HOW WE ELECT LEE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS BUT IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT LEE COUNTY WITH MORE THAN 860,000 RESIDENTS IS THE LARGEST COUNTY IN FLORIDA TO STILL HAVE THIS AT LARGE SYSTEM.

>> NOW, HOW DID LEE COUNTY BECOME THE LARGEST COUNTY TO STILL USE THIS MODEL >> WELL, THAT'S WHAT'S INTERESTING.

WHAT THIS REFERENDUM IS PROPOSING TO DO WOULD ACTUALLY BE RETURNING LEE COUNTY TO THE SYSTEM.

WE USED TO ELECT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BACK WHEN LEE COUNTY WAS FIRST FOUNDED IN 18.

87.

AND THAT SYSTEM REMAINED IN PLACE UNTIL THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED A LAW IN 1951.

REQUIRING LEE COUNTY TO CHANGE HOW IT ELECTS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THIS MORROW WAS SPECIFIC TO LEE COUNTY AND IT MAY COME AS NO SURPRISE.

THAT WAS PROMPTED BY A POLITICAL SCANDAL TO AUDI LEE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS LEON SMITH.

AN ADMIN CAME HAD BEEN ACCUSED OF EMBEZZLEMENT.

THE GOVERNMENT GOVERNOR AT THE TIME FOR WARREN SUSPENDED THEM.

AND THEN THE LEGISLATURE SUBSEQUENTLY CHANGE THE METHOD THROUGH THAT LAW.

THAT LAW TOOK EFFECT IN 1952.

AND SO THAT'S THE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE BEEN UNDER SINCE 1952.

NOW THERE HAVE BEEN EFFORTS GOING BACK DECADES THROUGH THEIR COUNTY LIKE CHARTER REVIEW PROCESS, WHICH HAPPENS PERIODICALLY TO CHANGE BACK TO A SINGLE MEMBER VOTING SYSTEM.

BUT THOSE EFFORTS HAVE ALL FAILED.

SO PROPONENTS OF THIS IDEA THEN DECIDED TO HOLD CIRCUMVENT THE CHARTER REVIEW PROCESS.

THEY APPEALED TO THE LEGISLATURE.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE MIKE GIALLOMBARDO SPONSORED A BILL IN 2025.

PAST GOVERNOR DESANTIS SIGNED IT INTO LAW AND WHILE THAT BILL DID WAS SAY, LET THE VOTERS DECIDE IN 2026.

THAT'S HOW WE GOT WHERE WE ARE NOW.

>> NOW ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PROS AND THE CONS THAT VOTERS MIGHT WANT TO THINK OF AS THEY HEAD TO THE POLLS REGARDING THIS.

>> SO I I THINK THE BIGGEST ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MAKING THIS CHANGE IS THE IDEA THAT PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN A DISTRICT SHOULD CHOOSE WHO THEIR COMMISSIONER IS GOING TO BE, BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD INSTANCES, MANY INSTANCES ACTUALLY WHERE THE COMMISSIONER, THE PERSON WHO WON THE MAJORITY OF VOTES OF PEOPLE WITHIN THE DISTRICT DIDN'T ACTUALLY END UP WINNING THE RACE BECAUSE AGAIN, EVERY REGISTERED VOTER IN THE COUNTY GETS TO HAVE A SAY THAT HAPPENED IN THE 2024 GOP PRIMARY IN THE DISTRICT 5 RACE WHERE AMANDA COCHRAN LOST TO MIKE GREENWELL DESPITE WINNING LIKE 62% OF THE VOTE WITHIN THE DISTRICT.

OF AT THE COCHRANE JUST RECENTLY WON HER AUGUST PRIMARY AND SHE'S GOING TO BE SWORN IN NOVEMBER.

BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN LIKE 14 OF 23 PASSES.

LEE COUNTY COMMISSION RACES.

IT THE CURRENT SYSTEM WE HAVE NOW, IT CERTAINLY SHAPES THE COMMISSION.

ANOTHER MAJOR ARGUMENT IS THAT IT WOULD MAKE REPRESENTATION MORE RESPONSIVE TO LOCAL CONCERNS BECAUSE ELECTED OFFICIALS WOULD HAVE A STRONGER INCENTIVE TO LISTEN CLOSELY TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

AND IT WOULD ALSO JUST LOWER THE COSTS OF RUNNING A COUNTY COMMISSION CAMPAIGN BECAUSE INSTEAD OF HAVING TO APPEAL, DO YOU KNOW MORE THAN 860,000 PEOPLE?

YOU'RE JUST HAVING TO APPEAL TO THE VOTERS WITHIN YOUR DISTRICTS AND IT CAN ALSO POTENTIALLY CREATE A MORE DIVERSE POLITICAL REPRESENTATION ON THE COMMISSION.

AND THIS REALLY GOES BACK TO THE FACT THAT THE SYSTEM, LEE COUNTY HAS NOW WAS ADOPTED WITH THE AND WHAT WAS THE JIM CROW ERA I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY OR EXPLICITLY IN THIS CASE.

WILEY COUNTY ADOPTED THIS SYSTEM TO DISENFRANCHISE BLACK VOTERS.

BUT THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL HISTORICAL AND LEGAL EVIDENCE.

THE OVERALL AT-LARGE ELECTIONS HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN USED IN THE SOUTH TO DILUTE CLOCK VOTING POWER.

AND SO THAT IS AN ARGUMENT THAT WE HEAR FROM FOLKS LIKE MATT CALDWELL, FORMER STATE LAWMAKER CURRENT TIME PROPERTY APPRAISER FOR LEE COUNTY.

NOW THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST IT ARE ALSO VERY COMPELLING.

THEY'RE SAYING EVERY COMMISSIONER REPRESENTS THE ENTIRE COUNTY AND THOSE EVERY VOTER SHOULD HAVE A VOICE IN ELECTING THEM.

AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, THERE'S SOME TRUTH BEHIND THAT.

THEY MIGHT ONLY LIVE IN A SPECIFIC DISTRICT, BUT THEY'RE VOTING ON THINGS THAT AFFECT THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

LIKE WHAT THE MILEAGE RATES GOING TO BE ON PROPERTY TAXES THAT YEAR OR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, ALL MANNER OF THINGS THEY SAY IT COULD ALSO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN ONLY VOTE IN ONE OF 5 COMMISSION DISTRICTS THAT REDUCES VOTER POWER, IT REDUCES VOTERS ABILITY TO HOLD EVERY MEMBER ON THAT COMMISSION ACCOUNTABLE.

ULTIMATELY, LEE COUNTY VOTERS ARE GOING TO SIDE AND IF THIS PASSES, IT'S GOING TO HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON HOW WE ELECT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COME 2028.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

JOHN DAVIS, THANK YOU.

MEANTIME, FOR VOTERS IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY VOTE BY MAIL, BALLOTS ARE ARRIVING IN HOUSEHOLDS ALL ACROSS THE AREA.

AND ONE OF THE MAIN DECISIONS FOR VOTERS WILL BE AN EXTENSION OF THE LOCAL OPTION.

SALES TAX.

CHARLOTTE COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE ALREADY RENEWED THE TAX 6 PREVIOUS TIMES.

BUT THIS YEAR VOTERS WILL LOOK TO MAINTAIN A ONE PERCENT OPTION SALES TAX FOR 20 YEARS.

HE'S JUST ONE OF MANY DECISIONS.

CHARLOTTE COUNTY VOTERS WILL MAKE IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION.

>> I'M JOINED BY LEE OF A LENGHTY CHARLOTTE COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY FROM GORDA.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS HAVE ALL BEEN SENT OUT TO YOUR COUNTY.

HAD A DRAMATIC DROP OFF IN THE ABOUT A VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT REQUESTS.

I UNDERSTAND THERE WERE JUST 28,000 SO FAR THIS YEAR COMPARED TO ALMOST 50,002 YEARS AGO.

WHAT EXPLAINS THIS DECLINE?

>> SO WE'RE SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPTICK RIGHT NOW WITH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PUSH US AND IT OUT.

MEDIA LIKE THIS.

IT REALLY IMPLORING PEOPLE TO GET THEIR VOTE BY MAIL REQUEST.

AND SO WE'VE SEEN A SLIGHT UPTICK, BUT WE ARE STILL DOWN ABOUT 12, 13,000 FROM THIS EXACT TIME LAST OUR 2024, I THINK THE PEOPLE LISTENING TO MISINFORMATION, DISINFORMATION AND BELIEVING, YOU KNOW, IF THEY HEAR INSTEAD OF CALLING A TRUSTED SOURCE, WHICH IS THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS TO UNDERSTAND THAT VOTE BY MAIL REQUEST STILL WOULD HAVE GONE OUT DURING OUR INITIAL DOMESTIC DROP WHICH WAS AT SEPTEMBER 24TH.

AND NOW THAT PEOPLE ARE SEEING THEIR NEIGHBORS AND THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY ARE GETTING THEM I THINK THAT'S WHY WE'RE SEEING THE UPTICK.

BUT I I BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT VOTE BY MAIL WASN'T GOING TO BE ONE OF THE 3 WAYS THAT THEY COULD VOTE IN FLORIDA BECAUSE OF RECENT NEWS STORIES WITH THE SUPREME COURT.

>> HOW DOES THAT CHANGE IMPACT IN PERSON?

EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION DAY?

>> WE ALWAYS PLAN FOR A HIGH VOLUME AS SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS.

WE WHITE MAXIMUM PARTICIPATION.

SO IT WAS PLANNED FOR IT.

BUT WE TRY TO MITIGATE AND HAVING 3 WAYS TO VOTE AND ALLOWS FOR ESPECIALLY OUR AND FOLKS THAT MAYBE NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE OF ASSISTANCE AT THE POLLS.

WE DON'T WANT THEM WAITING IN LINES AND POTENTIAL LINE.

SO THAT'S WHY VOTE BY MAIL IS SUCH A WONDERFUL OPTION.

AND ALSO OUR STUDENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY GONE OFF TO SCHOOL.

WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE VOTING.

BUT WE HAVE PLANS JUST IN CASE WE DON'T SEE AND THE VOTE BY MAIL REQUEST RETURN BACK TO WHAT THEY WERE IN 2024, AS YOU STATED, 49,000 WERE SENT OUT.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE HOVERING ABOUT 31,000 THAT HAVE BEEN SENT OUT.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO PREPARE.

WE HAVE ADDED ONE MORE EARLY VOTING SITE.

SO FROM 2024 TO NOW HOPING TO MITIGATE THERE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT LONG LINES.

WE DON'T HAVE TO.

>> IF SOMEONE STILL WANTS TO REQUEST A VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT, IT'S NOT TOO LATE.

CORRECT?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

SO EVERY DAY WE'RE GETTING VOTE BY MAIL REQUEST.

AS I SAID, AND WE MAIL THEM OUT DAILY.

SO AT TODAY WE GET THAT ABOUT 400 VOTE BY MAIL REQUEST WILL GO OUT TOMORROW.

SO I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO THINK THAT IF THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN THEIR REQUEST AND THEY CANNOT THEY HAVE UNTIL OCTOBER 22ND AT 05:00PM THEY CAN ABSOLUTELY GO ONLINE.

THEY CAN CALL OUR OFFICE OR STOP BY ANYONE OF OUR OFFICE LOCATIONS TO GET THEIR VOTE BY MAIL REQUEST.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S OCTOBER 22ND AT 05:00PM.

>> THEIR CHARLOTTE COUNTY VOTERS WILL VOTE.

>> ON A 20 YEAR EXTENSION ON THE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX.

>> ARE YOU SEEING INCREASED INTEREST IN THE UPCOMING MIDTERMS BECAUSE OF THIS?

>> I THINK ALL THE WE HAVE 3 COUNTY REFERENDUMS AND WE ALSO OBVIOUSLY HAVE THE 3 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

SO I THINK THAT IS ALWAYS GOING TO MAKE FOLKS VOTE THAT MAYBE DON'T CARE SO MUCH ABOUT A BALLOT.

BUT I THINK THAT THE REFERENDUMS AND AMENDMENTS AFFECTS PEOPLE'S POCKETBOOKS.

SO, YES, I DO THINK WE WILL SEE A SLIGHT VOTER UPTICK IN TERMS OF SHOW OUT, SHOW UP.

I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE I THINK TURNOUT WILL SEE CLOSE TO 70%.

THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

SULLY.

>> NOW, VOTER REGISTRATION ENDED ON OCTOBER 5TH.

WHAT ARE SOME OTHER DATES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE VOTERS TO BE AWARE OF?

>> SO OCTOBER FASHION IS THE VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE CLOSING AND OUR EARLY VOTING AND CHARLOTTE COUNTY IS OCTOBER 19, 2, THE 31ST AND OUR POLLS ARE OPEN.

07:00AM TO 07:00PM AT 4 LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTY IN ENGLEWOOD, 2 IN PORT CHARLOTTE AND GORDA.

AND OF COURSE, ELECTION DAY IS NOVEMBER 3RD, THE POLLS ARE OPEN.

07:00AM TO 07:00PM.

AND WE WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS BRING IN THEY'RE FILLED OUT SAMPLE BALLOT AND BRING THEIR PHOTO SIGNATURE ID TO THE POLLS.

AND THAT STREAMLINES THE PROCESS FOR EVERYBODY, ESPECIALLY HAVING A FILLED OUT SAMPLE BALLOT.

YOU CAN GET IN AND OUT.

AND ALSO OUR SAMPLE BALLOTS AS WHERE TO VOTE JUST IN CASE YOU WANT TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY.

IT'S WRITTEN RIGHT ON.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF COLLIER COUNTY AND CHARLOTTE COUNTY AND LEE COUNTY CAUSE.

I KNOW THE DATES ARE KIND OF ALL THE SAME THAT WE HAVE COMING UP.

>> UPDATE YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION.

GO ON OUR SO WE CHARLOTTE COUNTY FL DOT GOV OR CALL THE OFFICE AND MAKE SURE YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION IS UP TO DATE AND ACCURATE SO THAT WE WILL HAVE THE MOST STREAMLINED VOTING EXPERIENCE ON ELECTION DAY AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE.

DON'T SIT ON THE SIDELINES OF THESE LANDMARK ELECTIONS.

IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT IT, GET OUT AND VOTE.

THAT'S WHY FLORIDA HAS 3 WAYS TO VOTE BY MAIL IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING OR ON ELECTION DAY.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO EXERCISE THAT RIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

WE HAVE A LENGHTY SUPERVISOR OF CHARLOTTE COUNTY ELECTIONS.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND WITH UNDER ONE MONTH TO GO BEFORE THE MIDTERMS.

>> MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF KEY DATES AND IMPORTANT CANDIDATE INFORMATION BY KEEPING UP WITH W G C DOT ORG.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HAS BEEN A HUB FOR SMALL AND EMERGING BUSINESSES AND ONE COMPANY IS WE OFTEN HEAR THAT SMALL AND MICRO BUSINESSES ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE ECONOMY.

SMALL IS USUALLY DEFINED AS EMPLOYING LESS THAN 500 PEOPLE.

MICRO LESS THAN 10 WORKERS THAT ARGUMENT IS ESPECIALLY STRONG RIGHT HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

NOW A LOCAL EFFORT IS UNDERWAY TO HELP SMALLER ENTERPRISES GROW.

WGCUS MIKE WALCHER HAS DETAILS IN THIS WEEK'S BUSINESS REPORT.

>> EVEN THE TINIEST COMPANIES LEARNED YEARS AGO.

YOU MUST HAVE A WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE.

BUT IT'S TO A POINT NOW THAT INFORMATION IS OVERWHELMING.

CONSUMERS CAN TELL OR CROSSED WHO'S BEST IN A GIVEN FIELD OR SERVICE, AT LEAST THAT'S THE BELIEF OF THIS VETERAN BUSINESS WOMAN.

>> 95% OF BUSINESSES, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY, THE INFORMATION I YOU KNOW, SOCIAL MEDIA, THEY'RE STILL NOT BEING ABLE TO GET TO THAT NEXT LEVEL.

>> BUSH TAKING YOU ON A SAYS THE RULES OF SURVIVAL HAVE CHANGED AND BUSINESS OWNERS MUST FIND THEIR UNIQUE DIFFERENCE TO STAND OUT OF THE AVALANCHE OF HEY, LOOK AT ME MESSAGES.

AND ONCE YOU FIND CLARITY WHETHER ITS THROUGH MENTORSHIP OR COACHING OR GUIDANCE OR DIRECTION.

>> YOU THEN START TO FIND THOSE UNIQUE VALUE PROPOSITIONS THAT MAKE YOU ON MATCH A BULL.

>> WE WONDERED WHY A MALL >> OKAY.

DEALNEWS SAYS IT'S A GREAT PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO MEET AND TRAIN AND SHE SAYS THERE STILL ARE A LOT MORE CUSTOMERS AND MALLS THAT YOU MIGHT IMAGINE.

AND THAT'S WHY KENYA ONUS IS STARTING THE BUSINESS ROSE GALLERY AND EDISON MALL IN FORT MYERS, THE RECENT OPENING DREW DOZENS OF BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS FROM ALL OVER THE REGION.

WE SAW THAT OURSELVES ON A RECENT RAINY THURSDAY NIGHT, A FORMER CLIENT OF CANADA'S BELIEVES THIS LOCATION TO NOT ONLY TRAIN BUSINESS OWNERS, BUT ALSO DRAWING MALL GOERS.

>> FOR SOMEONE THAT CAME IN AND WHAT SPEAKERS IN.

HAPPENS TO WALK IN.

THEY MAY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET SOMEONE FROM MY POINT IS THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

SO ONE THAT CAN MAYBE HELP THE SET UP THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME LIKE YOU TAKE THEM BY THE HAND AND HAVE THEM BY THE FIRST HOLE.

>> UNISON, SOME INVESTORS ARE PAYING FOR THE SPACE AND SHE SAYS SHE WILL OFFER FREE INTRODUCTORY SESSIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

THEN SHE WILL CHARGE FOR MORE IN-DEPTH TRAINING THE CALORIES AMBASSADOR BELIEVES IT WILL SUCCEED.

AND ALSO BENEFITS THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

A LOT OF STUFF AND IT'S PEOPLE NEED HELP.

>> GUIDANCE.

AND WHO SAYS KIND OF HAVE THAT HERE.

SO I HAVE GOOD HARD ABOUT IT.

WE'RE FEELING A BODY.

>> OF EVERETT AND LOCAL REAL ESTATE SAYS CAN YOU NOTICE IS THE REAL DEAL?

AND OUR MISSION IS VITAL.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE, HALF OF THIS KEELED FULL THING THAT THESE THIS BUT THE FOOD SEAT UNIQUE, THE KNICKS THAT ARE IN A BOWL OF PAINTING COACHING AND ABILITIES.

AND I BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT YOU THINK.

YOU KNOW, THE COMPANY DOING SOME OF THESE THIS THAT MAYBE THEN THEY'LL HAVE THE SPEED IS HOW TO DO IT.

>> CAN YOU HONESTLY ACKNOWLEDGES SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO MAKE THIS EFFORT?

>> BUT I'VE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT I'VE BEEN CALLED TO DO MORE.

AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WHEN YOU COMBINE YOUR KNOWLEDGE, YOUR TRAJECTORY WITH A PURPOSE THAT WILL DRIVE YOU AND A VISION THAT WILL MAKE YOU PASSION US THEN PROFITS JUST COME BY >> THEY COME ON THEIR OWN LUCY Q WHERE SHE'S KNOWN TO MANY SAYS SHE'S PLEASED TO PUT HER COACHING TO THE TEST AND HELPING SMALL PLACES GROW BIGGER AND STRONGER.

WITH VIDEOGRAPHY BY ANDREA MELENDEZ.

THE WGCU YOUR NEWS.

MY CULTURE.

>> FOR MORE ON THE BUSINESS HAPPENINGS AROUND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

MAKE SURE YOU VISIT WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM, CREATING A CLEANER COASTAL WATERS WITH THE POWER OF CLAMS.

HOW RESEARCHERS ARE USING CLANS TO HELP PROTECT FRAGILE UNDERWATER ECOSYSTEMS.

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