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>> THIS ORIGINAL WSRE
PRESENTATION IS MADE POSSIBLE BY
VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR
FLORIDA'S HOUSE DISTRICT 2 TAKES
PLACE JUNE 11th.
STAND BY FOR A SPECIAL EDITION
OF RALLY.
>> GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO
RALLY.
I'M DREXELL GILBERT WITH
WSRE-TV, PBS FOR THE GULF COAST.
COMING UP THREE WEEKS FROM TODAY
THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL ELECTION
TO FILL THE FLORIDA HOUSE
DISTRICT 2 SEAT.
THIS ELECTION WAS SCHEDULEDDED
FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF
REPRESENTATIVE CLAY FORD WHO
REPRESENTED DISTRICT 2 FROM THE
TIME OF HIS ELECTION IN 2007
UNTIL HIS DEATH MARCH 18th
OF THIS YEAR.
FORD DIED AT AGE 74 FOLLOWING A
BATTLE WITH CANCER.
FLORIDA HOUSE DISTRICT 2 COVERS
GULF BREEZE, AND ALSO PENSACOLA.
AGAIN, THE ELECTION TO FILL THE
SEAT WILL BE HELD TUESDAY,
JUNE 11th.
ONLY REGISTERED VOTERS IN
DISTRICT 2 WILL BE ALLOWED TO
VOTE IN THIS ELECTION.
RALLY IS A SERVICE OF WSRE THAT
ALLOWS VOTERS TO MEET CANDIDATES
IN UPCOMING RACES AND HEAR THEIR
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS RELATED TO
ISSUES THAT ARE PERTINENT TO THE
ELECTION.
THERE ARE TWO CANDIDATES IN THE
SPECIAL ELECTION, A DEMOCRAT AND
REPUBLICAN.
IN THE STUDIO TONIGHT IS
CANDIDATE JEREMY LAU, RUNNING ON
THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET AND WAS
UNOPPOSED DURING THE PRIMARY
PORTION OF THIS ELECTION.
WELCOME TO RALLY, MR. LAU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
>> CANDIDATE MIKE HILL IS
REPUBLICAN TICKET AFTER WINNING
THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY ELECTION.
THAT TOOK PLACE EARLIER THIS
MONTH.
MR. HILL WAS INVITED TO
PARTICIPATE IN TONIGHT'S RALLY
PROGRAM BUT WAS UNABLE TO
ATTEND.
THE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED
TO US BY THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN
VOTERS OF THE PENSACOLA BAY
AREA.
THE CANDIDATE HAS NOT SEEN THE
QUESTIONS, HE WILL HAVE 45
SECONDS TO RESPOND TO EACH
QUESTION, AND AT THE CONCLUSION
OF THOSE QUESTIONS HE WILL HAVE
ADDITIONAL 45 SECONDS FOR A
CLOSING STATEMENT.
IT IS TIME NOW TO BEGIN
QUESTIONS.
BOTH FLORIDA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
AND ASSOCIATED INDUSTRIES OF
FLORIDA SUPPORTED THE MEDICAID
EXPANSION CITING INCREASE IN NEW
JOBS AND PREVENTION OF PENALTIES
TO LARGER FLORIDA EMPLOYERS WHO
DO NOT OFFER HEALTH INSURANCE.
WHAT ACTION DO YOU BELIEVE
SHOULD BE TAKEN TO ADDRESS
RESULTS OF NOT EXPANDING
MEDICAID?
MR. LAU, YOU HAVE 45 SECONDS.
>> DREXELL, FIRST I WOULD LIKE
TO THANK WSRE AND LEG OF WOMEN
VOTERS FOR PUTTING THIS THIS
EVENT ON.
I BELIEVE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I
SUPPORT GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT'S
EFFORTS TO EXPAND MEDICAID AND
MEDICARE PROGRAM AND I WOULD
CALL ON HIM TO CALL A SPECIAL
SESSION AND ALLOW THE
LEGISLATURE TO GO AFTER AND
BRING THAT $51 BILLION WORTH OF
EXPANSION MONEY HOME.
IT WOULD CREATE ALMOST 1900 NEW
JOBS IN THE DISTRICT.
JOBS DESPERATELY NEEDED.
THOSE JOBS WOULD CREATE OTHER
SERVICE RELATED JOBS, IT KIND OF
PER P PET WAITS ITSELF SO I
SUPPORT THE CALL BY THE GOVERNOR
TO EXPAND THOSE PROGRAMS AND I
WOULD HOPE THAT HE WOULD CALL
THAT SPECIAL SESSION.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
QUESTION NUMBER 2, GIVEN THE
FACT THAT 24 DEATH ROW INMATES
IN FLORIDA HAVE BEEN EXONERATED
PARTLY THROUGH DNA SINCE 1973,
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THE
LEGISLATURE'S RECENT ACTION TO
SPEED UP THE EXECUTION OF DEATH
ROW INMATES?
>> IF THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT CAN
CLEAR A MAN WRONGFULLY CONVICTED
THEY SHOULD HAVE THE CHANCE TO
HAVE THAT EVIDENCE HEARD IN
COURT.
NOBODY SHOULD BE PUT TO DEATH
WRONGFULLY.
THAT'S JUST A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE
THING FOR THE STATE TO DO.
IF THERE'S NEW EVIDENCE, DNA
EVIDENCE THAT CAN COLOR A
WRONGLY CONVICTED INDIVIDUAL,
THEY SHOULD HEAR THAT EVIDENCE
IN COURT.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
QUESTION NUMBER 3.
WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES FOR THE
LEGISLATURE TO ADDRESS IN THE
NEXT SESSION?
>> OBVIOUSLY WE NEED TO WORK ON
INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE DISTRICT,
I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AND WALKING
THE COMMUNITIES AN RIDING BUSES
AND WE HAVE SERIOUS
INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS HERE IN THE
DISTRICT.
WE HAVE STREETS THAT NEED TO BE
PAVED AND DRAINAGE ISSUES THAT
IMPACT BUSINESSES SUCH AS
BAPTIST HOSPITAL.
SO INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS FOR THE
DISTRICT ARE IMPORTANT.
AND EDUCATION ESPECIALLY, WE
NEED TO TREAT OUR TEACHERS WITH
WITH RESPECT AND PUT OUR
CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS THAT ARE
SAFE AND READY FOR THEM TO GO TO
SCHOOL AND LEARN.
TOO MANY CHILDREN ARE GOING TO
SCHOOL IN PORTABLE TRAILERS THAT
ARE NOT SAFE AND NOT ADEQUATE
PLACES FOR CHILDREN TO LEARN
EVERY DAY.
>> THANK YOU CH MOVING ALONG WE
COME TO QUESTION NUMBER 4,
REMINDER THAT OUR QUESTIONS
TONIGHT WERE PROVIDED BY THE
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS PENSACOLA
BAY AREA.
QUESTION NUMBER 4, RECOGNIZING
MANY STUDENTS WHO ARE GRADUATING
FROM HIGH SCHOOL ARE NOT
PREPARED FOR COLLEGE, WHAT IS
YOUR OPINION OF ESTABLISHING
MORE TECHNICAL PROGRAMS TO HELP
STUDENTS PREPARE FOR JOBS?
>> THERE ARE MANY JOB FIELDS
THAT DON'T REQUIRE COLLEGE
EDUCATION.
FOR OUR SCHOOLS TO EMBRACE THOSE
TECHNICAL L FIELDS AND PUT
CHILDREN IN A TECHNICAL TRAINING
PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS THEM A
MARKETABLE SKILL UPON GRADUATION
FROM HIGH SCHOOL, I'M FOR THAT.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF OUR
EDUCATION PROGRAM IN THIS STATE.
MANY KIDS WILL BE ABLE TO EARN
VERY GOOD WAGES WITHOUT GOING TO
COLLEGE.
I'M NOT -- I'M A COLLEGE
GRADUATE, I WENT TO UWF, BUT
THERE'S SOME KIDS THAT JUST --
WHEN THEY FINISH HIGH SCHOOL,
THEY WANT TO GO OUT AND WORK AND
WE SHOULD PREPARE THEM FOR THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
WE ARE ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE
QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION OF
TONIGHT'S SPECIAL RALLY PROGRAM.
WE WILL PAUSE FOR A MOMENT AND
AS WE DO THAT WE'RE GOING TO
GIVE YOU INFORMATION ON EARLY
VOTING IN ESCAMBIA COUNTY.
INFORMATION ON SANTA ROSA COUNTY
WILL COME A LITTLE BIT LATER IN
THE PROGRAM.
ALSO AHEAD, A MESSAGE FROM
PENSACOLA STATE COLLEGE
PRESIDENT, DR. ED MEADOWS.
YOU'RE WATCHING RALLY ON
WSRE-TV, PBS FOR THE GULF COAST.
Q. EARLY VOTING FOR THE FLORIDA
HOUSE DISTRICT 2 SPECIAL GENERAL
ELECTION IS FROM SATURDAY
JUNE 1st, THROUGH SATURDAY
JUNE 8TH.
EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS IN
ESCAMBIA COUNTY ARE AT THE
SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS OFFICE.
213 PALAFOX PLACE T TRYON BRANCH
LIBRARY AND 1200 LANBLEY AVENUE
AND SOUTHWEST BRANCH LIBRARY AT
12248 GULF BEACH HIGHWAY.
EARLY VOTING TIMES ARE FROM
10 A.M. TO 4 P.M. SATURDAY
JUNE 1st AND SUNDAY
JUNE 2ND.
EARLY VOTING TIMES ON MONDAY,
JUNE 3RD THROUGH FRIDAY JUNE 7
ARE 8 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. AND
SATURDAY JUNE 8 FROM 10 A.M. TO
4 P.M. ON THE DAY OF THE SPECIAL
ELECTION TUESDAY JUNE 11.
VOTING TAKES PLACE AT DISTRICT 2
POLLING LOCATION FROM 7 A.M. TO
7 P.M. YOU MUST IN THE PRECINCT
WHERE YOU LIVE AND WHERE YOU'RE
REGISTERED.
TAKE A PHOTO TOE AND SIGNATURE
ID WITH YOU.
LOG ON TO ESCAMBIAVOTES.COM.
♪♪
>> THERE IS NOTHING MORE
IMPORTANT TO OUR DEMOCRATIC
PROCESS THAN HAVING AN INFORMED
ELECTORATE VOTING ON ELECTION
DAY.
GOOD EVENING.
I'M ED MEADOWS, PRESIDENT OF
PENSACOLA STATE COLLEGE THANKING
YOU FOR TUNING IN TO THIS
SPECIAL ELECTION EDITION OF
RALLY.
A JOINT PRESENTATION OF THE
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, WSRE-TV
AND PENSACOLA STATE COLLEGE.
RALLY OFFERS YOU THE OPPORTUNITY
TO WATCH AND LISTEN AS
CANDIDATES ANSWER THE TOUGH
QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE NEEDS
OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WSRE, A SERVICE OF PENSACOLA
STATE COLLEGE IS PROUD TO BRING
THIS PROGRAM TO YOU AS A PUBLIC
SERVICE AND AS ALWAYS, WE INVITE
YOUR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
ABOUT HOW WE CAN FURTHER FULFILL
OUR COMMUNITY OBLIGATIONS.
LET'S ALL REMEMBER THE
IMPORTANCE OF PARTICIPATING IN
THE GOVERNANCE PROCESS BY VOTING
IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION.
>> WELCOME BACK TO RALLY AS WE
LOOK AHEAD TO THE SPECIAL
ELECTION THAT HAS BEEN CALLED TO
FILL THE SEAT FOR FLORIDA'S
HOUSE DISTRICT 2.
THIS SEAT BECAME VACANT IN MARCH
FOLLOWING
FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF
REPRESENTATIVE CLAY FORD.
DEMOCRAT JEREMY LAU AND
REPUBLICAN MIKE HILL ARE ON THE
BALLOT FOR THIS ELECTION.
MR. LAU IS IN STUDIO TONIGHT.
MR. HILL WAS ALSO INVITED TO
PARTICIPATE IN THIS
QUESTION-AND-ANSWER SESSION OF
KALLEY BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO
ATTEND.
MR. LAU, IT IS TIME NOW FOR US
TO MOVE AHEAD.
WE ARE MOVING TO QUESTION NUMBER
5.
A REMINDER TO OUR VIEWERS THE
QUESTIONS THIS EVENING ARE
PROVIDED TO RALLY BY THE LEAGUE
OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE PENSACOLA
BAY AREA.
QUESTION NUMBER 5 IS FLORIDA IS
REPEATEDLY IDENTIFIED AS THE
MOST VULNERABLE STATE IN THE
COUNTRY TO THE EFFECTS OF THE
SEA LEVEL RISE AND INCREASED
SEVERITY OF STORMS AS A RESULT
OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
WHAT POLICIES WOULD YOU PROPOSE
TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES?
>> FIRST, CLIMATE CHANGE IS
GOING TO BE A SERIOUS ISSUE FOR
THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, NOT JUST
FLORIDA.
OBVIOUSLY WITH AS MANY LOW LYING
AREAS AN WET LANDS ESPECIALLY IN
THIS DISTRICT THAT WE HAVE, IT
CAN BE A REAL CONCERN.
SOME OF THE ISSUES, I'M OPPOSED
TO OFFSHORE DRILLING.
WE HAVE SEEN OUR FAIR SHARE OF
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN OFFSHORE
DRILLING IS DONE POORLY AND
WITHOUT PROPER EQUIPMENT AND
PROPER TESTING.
I WOULD SUPPORT EFFORTS TO MOVE
TO A MORE CLIMATE-FRIENDLY TYPE
ENERGY SOURCE.
THE TECHNOLOGY IS THERE, AND
JUST NEEDS TO BE SUPPORTED.
>> THANK YOU, MR. LAU.
NOW THE NEXT QUESTION THAT WE
HAVE FOR YOU, WHAT IS YOUR
OPINION OF ALLOWING A MAJORITY
OF PARENTS OF CHILDREN IN
FAILING SCHOOL TO DETERMINE
WHETHER OR NOT THE SCHOOL
BECOMES A CHARTER SCHOOL?
>> I'M NOT FOR TURNING PUBLIC
SCHOOLS OVER TO PRIVATE
COMPANIES FOR PROFIT.
WHEN YOU START TEACHING CHILDREN
AND THAT'S THE PRIORITY.
THESE COMPANIES ARE GOING TO
HAVE TO MAKE A PROFIT SOMEHOW
AND WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GET
PROFITS FROM?
ULTIMATELY IT WILL BE THE
CHILDREN AND SCHOOLS THIS LOSE.
IF THE SCHOOLS ARE FAILING THAT
WILL BE I THINK THE JOB WOULD BE
ADMINISTRATORS THE PRINCIPLES IN
THE SCHOOLS SHOULD BE
ACCOUNTABLE AND PARENTS SHOULD
BE ASKING ADMINISTRATORS TO COME
IN AND IMPROVE THAT SCHOOL, NOT
TURN THAT SCHOOL OVER FOR A FOR
PROFIT CORPORATION.
IT'S GOING THE TAKE PROFITS OUT
OF OUR CHILDREN.
>> THANK YOU.
THE FINAL QUESTION FOR THIS
EVENING'S SPECIAL EDITION OF
RALLY, 25% OF THE PEOPLE IN THE
UNITED STATES WHO CANNOT VOTE
DUE TO PREVIOUS FELONY
CONVICTIONS RESIDE IN THE STATE
OF FLORIDA.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO REDUCE THE
TIME AND COMPLEXITY OF PROCESS
TO RESTORE THE RIGHT TO VOTE TO
THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLETED THEIR
SENTENCES, MR. LAU?
>> DREXELL, WE IN AMERICA HAVE A
TRADITION OF ALLOWING PEOPLE TO
MOVE ON WITH THEIR LIVES AND IF
SOMEBODY HAS VIOLATED THE LAW
AND THEY HAVE SERVED THEIR TIME,
THEY SHOULD HAVE THEIR RIGHTS
RESTORED.
IN FLORIDA IF YOU'RE CONVICTED
OF A FELONY, WHEN YOU COMPLETED
YOUR SENTENCE YOU STILL DO NOT
HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
THAT MAKES EVERY SENTENCE A LIFE
SENTENCE.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR
TIME AND YOU SERVED YOUR
SENTENCE AND MADE YOUR
RESTITUTION TO SOCIETY, YOUR
RIGHTS SHOULD BE RESTORED.
1.3 MILLION PEOPLE IN FLORIDA
CAN'T VOTE.
THAT'S THE HIGHEST IN THE
COUNTRY, IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT CONCLUDES THE
QUESTION-AND-ANSWER SESSION OF
TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.
THE CLOSING STATEMENTS AHEAD.
A FEW MINUTES AGO WE GAVE YOU
INFORMATION ON ESCAMBIA COUNTY,
NOW INFORMATION ON EARLY VOTING
FOR SANTA ROSA COUNTY.
YOU'RE WATCHING RALLY ON
WSRE-TV, PBS FOR THE BUSTLE
COAST.
>> EARLY VOTING FOR THE FLORIDA
HOUSE DISTRICT 2 SPECIAL GENERAL
ELECTION IS FROM SATURDAY
JUNE 1st THROUGH SATURDAY
JUNE 8TH.
EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS IN SANTA
ROSA COUNTY ARE AT THE SOUTH
SERVICE CENTER IN GULF BREEZE
AND MAIN OFFICE ADMINISTRATIVE
COMPLEX IN MILTON.
EARLY VOTING TIMES IN SANTA ROSA
COUNTY FROM 10 A.M. TO 4 P.M.
SATURDAY JUNE 1st AND SUNDAY
JUNE 2ND.
EARLY VOTING TIMES ON MONDAY
JUNE 3RD THROUGH FRIDAY JUNE 7TH
ARE FROM 8 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. AND
SATURDAY JUNE 8 FROM 10 A.M. TO
4 P.M. N. SANTA ROSA COUNTY,
THIS ELECTION APPLIES TO
PRECINCTS 22, 25 AND 32.
ON THE DAY OF THE SPECIAL
GENERAL ELECTION, TUESDAY
JUNE 11th VOTING TAKE PLACE
AT YOUR POLLING LOCATION FROM
7 A.M. UNTIL 7 P.M. YOU MUST
VOTE IN THE PRECINCT WHICH YOU
LIVE AND ARE REGISTERED.
MAKE SURE TO TAKE YOUR PHOTO AND
SIGNATURE ID WITH YOU.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION LOG
ON TO WWW.SANTA
ROSA.FL.GOV/ELECTIONS.
♪♪
>> WELCOME BACK, IT IS NOW TIME
FOR THE CLOSING STATEMENT
PORTION OF RALLY.
JEREMY LAU IS DEMOCRATIC
CANDIDATE, SIR YOU HAVE 45
SECONDS FOR YOUR CLOSING
STATEMENT.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE
CONSTITUENTS OF PENSACOLA AND
GULF BREEZE FORGIVING US THIS
OPPORTUNITY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I'M ALSO A
MILITARY VETERAN OF TEN YEARS.
I HAVE BEEN DECORATED, I'M A
FORMER SCHOOLTEACHER AND I WILL
WORK VERY HARD FOR THE MEN AND
WOMEN OF DISTRICT 2 NOT JUST THE
PRIVILEGED, NOT JUST THE
LOBBYISTS AND SPECIAL INTERESTS.
I'M GOING TO GO TO TALLAHASSEE
AND REPRESENT EVERYBODY IN THE
DISTRICT THAT HAS A CONCERN.
I ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.
I WANT YOUR VOTE.
I NEED YOUR SUPPORT.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT
FEW WEEKS OF GETTING --
CONTINUING TO GO AROUND AND MEET
THE PEOPLE AND CONSTITUENTS OF
DISTRICT 2.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS
MOMENT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, MR. LAU.
A REMINDER AGAIN THERE IS A
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IN THE
ELECTION.
MIKE HILL WON PRIMARY EARLIER
THIS MONTH AND HE WAS INVITEED
TO PARTICIPATE IN RALLY BUT WAS
UNABLE TO ATTENDS.
THAT WRAPS UP TONIGHT'S RALLY
PROGRAM.
THE FLORIDA HOUSE DISTRICT 2 IS
JUNE 11th.
EARLY VOTING WILL BEGIN SATURDAY
JUNE 1st AND RUN THROUGH
SATURDAY JUNE 8TH.
THE INFORMATION ON EARLY VOTING
HAS BEEN ON YOUR SCREEN.
IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION YOU
CAN GO TO THESE WEBSITES.
IN ESCAMBIA COUNTY IT IS
WWW.ESCAMBIAVOTES.COM IF YOU'RE
A DISTRICT 2 VOTE ANYWHERE SANTA
ROSA COUNTY AND NEED MORE
INFORMATION GO TO WWW.SANTA
ROSA.FL.GOV.
THAT DOES IT FOR RALLY 2013.
THANKS TO THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN
VOTERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING
US AND MAKING US A PART OF YOUR
VOTING EXPERIENCE.
HAVE A GREAT EVENING.
♪♪
[CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY WSRE-TV
AND COASTAL CAPTIONING]