THIS TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, WE ARE JUST 6 WEEKS AWAY FROM THE MIDTERMS.

AND DESPITE SEVERAL HOTLY CONTESTED RACES, FLORIDIANS MAY NOT GET THE CHANCE TO HEAR CANDIDATES DEBATE AND SOME OF THE KEY STATE RACES AND A NEW POLL SHOWS A ONE PERCENT DIFFERENCE IN THE RACE TO BE FLORIDA'S NEXT ATTORNEY GENERAL.

WE BREAK DOWN SOME OF THE ISSUES FOR CANDIDATES VYING TO BE THE STATE'S TOP LEGAL ADVISER AND THE CITY OF NORTHPORT IS EXPECTED TO VOTE ON A DATA CENTER MORATORIUM.

THE IMPACT THE VOTE COULD HAVE ON AN ALREADY APPROVED A FACILITY THAT CITY COMMISSIONERS ALREADY ADVANCED.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE NOVEMBER MIDTERMS ARE JUST 6 WEEKS AWAY AND COULD MAKE THE HISTORY BOOKS AS THE FIRST IN MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY TO GO WITHOUT A GENERAL ELECTION DEBATE FOR FLORIDA'S GOVERNOR, THE LEADING CANDIDATES HAVE NOT AGREES TO A DEBATE AND RIGHT NOW THERE ARE NO SCHEDULED DEBATES OR ANY OF THE STATE RACES, POLITICAL EXPERTS SAY FLORIDA APPEARS TO BE IN LINE WITH A TREND ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHERE MANY FRONTRUNNER CZAR SIMPLY SKIPPING DEBATES TO PROTECT THEIR LEAD.

>> WITH MORE, WE'RE JOINED BY WGCU HOST AND REPORTER JOHN DAVIS.

JOHN, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

OF COURSE.

>> IN A NEWS RELEASE ON SUNDAY, THE DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE DAVID JOLLY HAS SAID HE IS NOT GOING TO DEBATE BYRON DONALDS.

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE SITUATION?

LET'S JUST TAKE A CHRONOLOGICAL OVERVIEW HERE.

EVEN GOING BACK TO BEFORE THE PRIMARY.

>> DONALDSON WOULD NOT DEBATE HIS 9 REPUBLICAN OPPONENTS IN THE PRIMARY.

THEY ACTUALLY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HOW THIS BIG EVENT IN HOLLYWOOD.

HE WAS THE ONLY ONE OF THE 10 CANDIDATES WHO MET THE PARTY'S MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS TO BE ON THE DEBATE STAGE.

SO THAT WAS UNUSUAL FOR THERE TO NOT BE DEBATED.

THAT EVENT.

BUT THEN ALSO BEFORE THE PRIMARY DONALDS HAD CHALLENGE JOLLY TO A SERIES OF 3 DEBATES.

JOLLY'S RESPONSE WAS LET'S GET THROUGH OUR PRIMARIES FIRST.

NEITHER ONE OF US IS OUR PARTY'S RESPECTIVE NOMINEE AT THAT POINT.

THEN IN LATE JULY AGAIN, THAT WAS WHEN DONALDS A CHALLENGE JOLLY TO THE 3 DEBATES.

BUT OVER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND, THE 2 TRADED BARBS OVER WHAT HAD DONE THIS PLANNED EVENT WITH BOTH THE CANDIDATES THROUGH THE TIGER BAY CLUB.

THE CLUB ITSELF HAS CONFIRMED TO OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS THAT DONALDS CAMPAIGN INITIALLY AGREED TO APPEAR JOINTLY WITH JOLLY.

THEN LATER, THEY SAID DONALD'S WANTED TO APPEAR SEPARATELY.

THEN THEY SAID DONALD'S WOULDN'T APPEAR AT ALL.

BUT THEY OFFERED UP HIS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RUNNING MATE.

BE LAW DONALDS CAMPAIGN DISPUTES THIS NARRATIVE SAYING THAT HE NEVER ACTUALLY CONFIRMED THAT THE PARENTS JOLLY HAD ALSO ACCEPTED A SECOND DEBATE APPEARANCE THAT WOULD'VE BEEN MODERATED BY CBS NEWS.

MIAMI IS JIM DEFEAT E DONALDS EITHER DECLINED TO PARTICIPATE OR JUST DECLINED TO RESPOND TO THAT DEBATE PROPOSAL.

HOW ABOUT ONE DOWN ISN'T EXACTLY CRYSTAL CLEAR.

THERE'S COMPETING NARRATIVES THEN LAST WEEK DONNELL'S ANNOUNCED THAT HE'D ACCEPTED 3 DEBATES SAID ON X THE PARAMETERS WOULD BE QUOTE, 2 PODIUMS, NO AUDIENCE, JUST POLICY.

ONE WAS GOING TO BE AT FLORIDA.

AM ONE WAS GOING TO BE THROUGH NEWS.

4 JAX AND ONE WAS GOING TO BE A JOINT THING BETWEEN NBC, TELEMUNDO JOLLY HEAD BACK ON THE DONALDS CAMPAIGN SAYING THIS WAS NEWS TO THEM.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT BEFORE DONALDSON MADE HIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THEY HAD HAD NO SAY AHEAD OF TIME AND WHAT THE DEBATE PARAMETERS WOULD EVEN BE.

AND SO THEN JUST A COUPLE DAYS AFTER THAT, JUST THIS PAST SUNDAY JOLLY'S CAMPAIGN RELEASED A STATEMENT ACCUSING DONNELL'S OF REPEATED LIES AND ACTING IN BAD FAITH AND SAYING HE'S NOT GOING TO BE DEBATING DONALD AT ALL BEFORE THIS ELECTION AND THE MUDSLINGING AND FINGER POINTING CONTINUES OVER WHO AGREED TO WIDEN WHEN AND WHO ABOUT OUT EITHER WAY.

HOWEVER, THE NARRATIVE GOES DOWN FOR YOU.

THIS IS A STARK.

FLORIDA HAS NOT HAD A GUBERNATORIAL RACE WITHOUT A GENERAL ELECTION DEBATES SINCE 1974.

THAT YEAR, THE DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT JUST HE WAS FAVORED TO WIN BY SO MUCH.

I GUESS YOU JUST SAW NO STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE, TOO.

SHARING A PLATFORM WITH THE REPUBLICAN OPPONENT AND ENDED UP WINNING THAT RACE HANDILY.

WHAT ALSO APPEARS AT THIS POINT THE PUBLIC WILL NOT HAVE THE BENEFIT >> OF THE DEBATE IN ANY OF OUR STATE RACES, FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL TO THE CFO TO AT COMMISSIONER.

>> WRITE U.S., SENATOR ASHLEY MOODY.

THE REPUBLICAN HAS SAID SHE WILL NOT FACE THE DEMOCRAT.

ANGIE NIXON SAYING SHE DOESN'T WANT TO GIVE A STAGE OR ANY ATTENTION TO NIXON AND CONTINUING TO CRITICIZE HER FOR HER DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST AFFILIATIONS.

MIXON HAS CLAWED BACK SAYING THAT HER DECISION NOT TO FACE OR IS PURE COWARDICE.

AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL RAISED WGCU IS ACTUALLY WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE NEWS PRESS AND THE NONPARTISAN NONPROFIT FLORIDIANS FOR DEMOCRACY FOR SOME KIND OF ONLINE FORUM WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL JAMES ALTMEYER AND HIS DEMOCRATIC OPPONENT, FORMER STATE SENATOR JOSE JAVIER RODRIGUEZ.

RODRIGUEZ HAS AGREED.

WE'RE STILL JUST WEARING TO HEAR BACK FROM MYERS CAMPAIGN AND I WOULD LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING LIKE THAT WILL LET YOU KNOW IF THAT HAPPENS.

HOW UNUSUAL IS IT THAT WE HAVE ALL THESE CANDIDATES FOR STATEWIDE RACES AND NO DEBATE?

>> IN MY EXPERIENCE, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS BECOMING MORE COMMON, BUT IT'S A BIT OF A MIXED BAG.

I DID MODERATE A DEBATE THAT INCLUDED DONALD'S BACK IN 2020 AGAINST HIS DEMOCRATIC OPPONENT FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

19 SEAT.

BUT PRIOR TO THAT IN 2016, FORMER CONGRESSMAN FRANCIS ROONEY DECLINED A CANDIDATE FORUM THAT I HELD WITH HIS REPUBLICAN OPPONENTS IN THE PRIMARY.

AND THAT INCLUDED ON BENJI KNOW CURRENT DEPUTY FBI DIRECTOR AND CHAUNCEY GOSS.

NOW ROMNEY DIDN'T END UP WINNING THAT RACE.

AND IN THE CURRENT REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL SEAT, JIM SCHWARTZEL, AS PEOPLE HAVE TOLD US OUTRIGHT THAT THEY SEE NO STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE TO DEBATING THE DEMOCRATIC VICTOR AREAS SAYING IT JUST WOULD BE LENDING HIM A PLATFORM.

THIS IS A HEAVILY REPUBLICAN DISTRICT.

SO THEY HAVE THE VOTER REGISTRATION EDGE AND THEY HAVE THE FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE AT.

>> THEY DON'T SEE THE NEED FOR IT.

BUT >> DOESN'T THE PUBLIC LOSE OUT BY NOT GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THESE CANDIDATES?

>> IN A ONE-ON-ONE BACK AND FORTH, ABSOLUTELY.

THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA POLITICAL SCIENTIST AUBREY JEWETT TOLD OUR COLLEAGUE WITH SOUTH DOUGLAS, SO >> THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WHILE DEBATES ARE NOT PERFECT VEHICLES FOR CAMPAIGNS ARE FOR VOTERS, THEY PROVIDE INFORMATION THE VOTERS AREN'T GOING TO GET ANYWHERE ELSE BECAUSE THE DEBATE STAGE IS WHERE YOU'RE HEARING THEM.

TALK OFF SCRIPT AS OPPOSED TO CAREFULLY CURATED CAMPAIGN ADS OR MEMORIZE STUMP SPEECHES THERE REPEATING AT NAUSEUM.

AND IT REALLY GIVES VOTERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHETHER THEY UNDERSTAND POLICY, WHETHER THEY CAN EXPLAIN UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES, WHETHER HOW THEY HANDLE UNEXPECTED QUESTIONS, THEY CAN FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THESE CANDIDATES ARE CHALLENGE.

TOM, SOME APPARENT CONTRADICTION AND WHETHER THEY CAN MODIFY THEIR POSITION WHEN CONFRONTED WITH NEW INFORMATION AND HISTORICALLY DEBATES LIKE THIS, BOTH AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND THE NATIONAL LEVEL, THEY CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON HOW VOTERS OR REVISE THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF BOTH CANDIDATES ISSUES AND POSITIONS AND CHARACTER TRAITS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

JOHN DAVIS, THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

AS THE NOVEMBER MIDTERM ELECTIONS DRAW CLOSER.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE STAYING INFORMED WITH EVERY RACE BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE.

WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP, ACCUSATIONS OF IMPROPRIETY HAVE BEEN DIRECTED AT THE MAYOR OF FORT MYERS.

THE MAYOR DENIES THE ALLEGATIONS FROM 2 MEN WHO SPOKE OUT AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING THE STORY JUST AHEAD.

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST FORT MYERS, MAYOR KEVIN ANDERSON WERE BROUGHT TO THE PUBLIC LAST NIGHT AFTER 2 MEN SPOKE AT MONDAY'S FORT MYERS CITY COUNCIL MEETING ACCUSING THE MAYOR OF IMPROPRIETY UNDERLIE THE 4TH OF THIS YEAR OF AMERICA.

2.50, BAD DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS.

>> HE MADE ADVANCES SORT THROUGH THAT WERE NOT CALLED FOR HE HE TRIED SOLICITING FOR.

AND I WAS A COUPLE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE THING.

>> WGCU NEWS REPORTER DAYNA HARPSTER WAS AT THE MEETING WHEN YOU ENTERED CITY HALL.

WHAT WAS THAT LIKE LAST NIGHT?

>> THERE WERE SOME PROTESTERS OUT FRONT HOLDING SOME SIGNS AND REPEATING SOME OF THE ALLEGATIONS THAT THE YOUNG MEN WE'RE ABOUT TO MAKE.

AND THEN WE WENT INTO THE MEETING AND IT WAS OURS.

ACTUALLY, WHILE WE SAT THERE IN SUSPENSE, KNOWING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO COME UP, BUT WAITING FOR IT TO HAPPEN FOR THE COUNCIL TO GO THROUGH OUT OF THEIR BUSINESS.

HARRIS IN THE COUNCIL HAD THEIR NORMAL AGENDA AND THEN THIS WAS AT THE END DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.

ABSOLUTELY.

THERE ARE SEVERAL TIMES WHEN THE PUBLIC AND SPEAK DURING THE MEETING AND WHEN NON-AGENDA ITEMS CAN BE ADDRESSED.

IS THAT THE END OF THE MEETING?

AND WE WERE WAITING FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

>> IT CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT ARE THE ALLEGATIONS AND WHO IS MAKING THEM?

>> WELL, DOMINIC HENDRICKS AND KAGAN VAN DOMINIC IS 18 KING IN VENICE.

23 BOTH ALLEGED THAT MAYOR ANDERSON BEFRIENDED THEM AND THEN BEGIN TO MAKE SOME INAPPROPRIATE COMMENTS AND THEN SOLICITED THEM FOR FAVORS >> AND THEY WERE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.

WHAT WAS THE REACTION OF THOSE THAT WERE ATTENDING THE MEETING?

>> WELL, THE PEOPLE WHO KNEW ABOUT IT, WE'RE SITTING THERE WAITING FOR THIS TO COME UP.

BUT OTHER PEOPLE THEN WE'RE SURPRISE TO AND PRINT TAKEN ABACK KIND OF.

A LITTLE BIT OF CASTING KIND OF GOING ON.

IT WAS AND EMOTIONAL.

>> EXPERIENCE AND THESE ARE SIGNIFICANT ALLEGATIONS.

WHAT DID THE MAYOR OF FORT MYERS HAVE TO SAY IN RESPONSE?

HE SAID THAT THIS IS A FALSE NARRATIVE.

HE'S STANCE.

THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN.

IT FAUCI IS FALSELY ACCUSED AND HE WILL CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF FORT MYERS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

>> AND THEN WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP IN THIS IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS TO TIE BOTH YOUNG MEMBER CALLING FOR AN INVESTIGATION BY THE POLICE FORCE.

>> AND HIS RESIGNATION AND MAYOR, THE MAYOR'S RESIGNATION.

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF ANYTHING WILL HAPPEN HE LEFT THE ROOM.

THE MAYOR LEFT THE ROOM ESCORTED BY POLICE.

NOT BECAUSE HE HAD TO BE, BUT I ASSUME FOR HIS SAFETY BECAUSE THERE WAS AN ERUPTION AT THE END OF THE MEETING.

I MEAN, PEOPLE WERE YELLING SAME SAME YOU AND THIS KIND OF THING AND YELLING ACCUSATIONS AT THE MAYOR.

AND SO HE WAS TAKEN OUT BY THE POLICE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

DANA HARPSTER, THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE.

>> FOR MORE ON THIS STORY AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

>> YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG BY VISITING WDC, YOU DOT ORG.

THE CITY OF NORTH PORT IS JOINING A GROWING COLLECTION OF FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TO POTENTIALLY PASS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DATA CENTERS ALREADY 19 JURISDICTIONS IN FLORIDA HAVE INSTITUTED TEMPORARY PAUSES ON FACILITIES THAT HOUSE THE TECHNOLOGY AS WGCU REPORTER JAN TO PARK EXPLAINS THE LATEST VOTE IN NORTH PORT COULD IMPACT A MAJOR DATA CENTER THAT'S ALREADY PROPOSED.

>> THE FUTURE OF A DATA CENTER IS AT THE HEART OF CITY OF NORTH PORT'S DISCUSSIONS THIS WEEK ON TUESDAY, CITY COMMISSIONERS WILL VOTE ON A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM REGARDING THE BUILDING OF DATA CENTERS.

ONE PROPOSED CENTER WOULD BE BUILT ON 282 ACRES OF PRIVATELY OWNED PROPERTY IN NORTHEASTERN NORTH PORT ABOVE.

I-75 IN THE YORKSHIRE AREA.

THE CITY IS GETTING ADVICE FROM THE FLORIDA DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND SECURITY ALLIANCE AND NONPARTISAN GROUP THAT ADVISES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IMRAN SEDIQQI SAYS TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE TO DEVELOP THIS DATA CENTER.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE ONE, THIS IS WHERE ECONOMIES HAD IT.

SO.

>> FLORIDA NEEDS REMAIN COMPETITIVE AS THE STATE.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR US AS A NATION BECAUSE OF THE TOP BUILT HERE.

IT WILL BE BUILT SOMEWHERE AND THEY DO NOT HAVE US BE.

44 OR CHAPTER 3.73 OR ACTIVE CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT OR A LAND USE A DEPARTMENT THAT IS MAKING SURE THESE APPLICATIONS ARE ROBUST.

>> SIMILAR TO MOST DISCUSSIONS AROUND THE NATION.

THE DATA CENTER IS RAISING CONCERNS WHICH BROUGHT RESIDENTS TO A CITY MEETING AT THE START OF SEPTEMBER.

NORTH PORT RESIDENT DORIS GOMEZ SAYS INFORMATION ABOUT LOGISTICS.

>> IS NOT FORTHCOMING.

THEY WON'T TELL US HOW MUCH WATER IS GOING TO USE WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO GET THE WATER.

THE HUMMING NOISE.

WHAT IS GOING TO DETOUR?

HEALTH SEDIQQI SAYS FRAMEWORKS ARE IN PLACE TO ACCOUNT FOR ENERGY USE AND OTHER CONCERNS.

>> REPAIRS DON'T FACE INCREASED COSTS TO CONTROL WATER CONSUMPTION.

THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES CAN SELL FOR THAT.

YOU CAN SEE ALL FOR US TO DICK'S LAND USE LAWS, LAND-USE REGULATIONS CAN SAW FOR OFFSETS OR LET'S SAY LANDSCAPING SO THAT IT'S NOT AN EYESORE THAT YOU'RE DRIVING BY.

>> THERE ARE MULTIPLE UNKNOWNS THAT RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROJECT.

THE NORTH PORT RESIDENT TO THE PIER IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE IDEA OF ESTABLISHING A DATA CENTER.

>> I THINK THIS IMMENSE OPPORTUNITY.

>> EVERYTHING I'M HEARING IS FILLED WITH EMOTION PLAN TO KUZ.

>> I'M NOT A LOT OF FACTS FROM PEOPLE FROM ONE OF THE U.S.

THINGS THAT I'VE WRITTEN LOOKED AT HIS WAY TO CONTAIN AND CONTROL ALL OF THE CONCERNS AND FEARS THAT EVERYBODY HAS ABOUT IT.

THE WATER, THE POWER OF THE SOUND.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF PUTTING THE RESTRICTIONS IN AND MAKING THEM FOLLOW.

>> IF NORTH PORT COUNCIL MEMBERS PROCEED WITH THE MORATORIUM, IT COULD HALT ANY POTENTIAL DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENTS FOR AT LEAST 18 MONTHS.

FOR WGCU NEWS WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY ELIZABETH AND ARCHIE.

I'M JAN TO PARK.

>> DATA CENTERS ARE AT THE CENTER OF MANY POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS THIS NOVEMBER, INCLUDING IN THE RACE FOR FLORIDA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL, BOTH CURRENT AG JAMES MEYER AND HIS DEMOCRATIC OPPONENT, JOSE JAVIER RODRIGUEZ WANT REGULATIONS ON DATA CENTERS AND TO SLOW THEIR EXPANSION IN THE STATE.

A RECENT POLL BY FLORIDA POLITICS SHOWS THE RACE FOR FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL MIGHT BE ONE OF THE CLOSEST THIS NOVEMBER.

MEYER HOLDS A NARROW LEAD OVER RODRIGUEZ.

43 1% TO 42% WITH 15% UNDECIDED.

WE ARE WELCOMING BACK SANDY PARKER.

THE PERSON BEHIND A NON-PARTISAN ELECTION RESOURCE CALLED SPARK ERS SOAPBOX AND WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO THE RACE FOR FLORIDA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL.

CAN YOU FIRST EXPLAIN WHAT DOES FLORIDA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL TO WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL POSITIONS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS THE CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER.

ONE OF 3 MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA CABINET AND HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BOTH DEFENSE AND PROSECUTIONS.

SO HE DEFENDS THE STATE OF FLORIDA AGAINST ANY LAWSUITS BROUGHT AGAINST THE STATE.

BUT HE ALSO INITIATE LAWSUITS ON BEHALF OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

AND WE'VE SEEN QUITE A BIT OF THIS PLAYING OUT OF THE STATE GOVERNMENTS FOR SAYS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SOMETIMES PARTICULARLY WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME PARTY IN CONTROL OF THE EXECUTIVE HAS IN THE STATE.

BUT IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT POSITION.

>> LET'S START WITH OUR CURRENT ATTORNEY GENERAL, REPUBLICAN JAMES UTHMEIER.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT HIS PLATFORM IN IN KEY GOALS?

RIGHT?

SQUIRE HAS AN INTERESTING BACKGROUND BECAUSE >> THIS IS HIS FIRST ACTUAL POLITICAL POSITION.

HE, OF COURSE, IS A LAWYER BY TRAINING.

HE WAS APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR DESANTIS TO THIS POSITION JUST IN FEBRUARY OF 2025.

TO FILL THE SEAT THAT WAS VACATED BY ASHLEY MOODY.

WE HAD A SERIES OF DOMINOES THAT WENT ON IN HERE WHEN MARCO RUBIO WAS FIRST APPOINTED SECRETARY OF STATE.

SO PRIOR TO 2025, US MEYER WAS DESANTIS IS CHIEF OF STAFF AND GENERAL COUNSEL.

SO HE COMES OUT OF THAT LEGAL PROSECUTORIAL CHIEF OF STAFF ROLE.

HIS CAMPAIGN IS REALLY EMPHASIZING PUBLIC SAFETY, IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

REMEMBER ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, PARENTAL RIGHTS AND CONTINUING THE CONSERVATIVE LEGAL AN AGENDA.

THAT'S WHAT HE TALKS ABOUT ON HIS WEBSITE.

>> AND WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT HIS DEMOCRATIC OPPONENT?

>> HIS DEMOCRATIC OPPONENT IS JOSE JAVIER RODRIGUEZ HE IS A FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE IN FLORIDA FROM 2012 TO 2016 AND THEN A FORMER STATE SEN FROM 2016 TO 2020.

HE'S FROM MIAMI-DADE.

HE'S OBVIOUSLY AN ATTORNEY AND A FORMER U.S.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE LATE OF LABOR AND WHAT ARE HIS PRIORITIES WITH HIS PLATFORM.

SO HE IS LOOKING FOR THINGS LIKE RELIEF FOR HOMEOWNERS FROM THE HIGH COST OF LIVING HIGH COST OF INSURANCE IN FLORIDA, SMALL BUSINESSES AND HOW THEY'RE BEING AFFECTED BY ALL OF THAT.

HE WANTS TO CRACK DOWN ON CORRUPTION.

INTERESTINGLY, HE SAYS CORRUPTION AND FRAUD IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE SECTORS AND HOLDING LARGE POWERFUL CORPORATIONS ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY HURT FLORIDA FAMILIES.

>> NOW THAT IS NO TO NOTABLE.

I KNOW IN 2020 HE WAS INVOLVED IN SOME CONTROVERSY REGARDING HIS CAMPAIGN.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, THAT WAS AN INTERESTING RACE.

HE WAS A DEMOCRAT RUNNING FOR A POSITION IN FLORIDA.

AND IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER CANDIDATE WHO WAS OFF ACTUALLY HAD BEEN A REPUBLICAN HIMSELF WHOSE LAST NAME IS ALSO RODRIGUEZ.

SO WHEN VOTERS GOT TO THE POLLS IN NOVEMBER, THEY HAD A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE.

THEY HAD JOSE JAVIER RODRIGUEZ SAYS THE DEMOCRAT AND THEY HAD A 3RD CHOICE WHOSE LAST NAME WAS ALSO RODRIGUEZ.

SO DEMOCRATS RODRIGUEZ LOST THAT RACE BY 32 VOTES.

JUST 32 VOTES AND THE 3RD RODRIGUEZ, THE SECOND RODRIGUEZ, 1, 6,000 VOTES.

AND SO THAT IS, I THINK, A TERRIFIC EXAMPLE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF EVERY SINGLE VOTERS VOTE.

YOU CAN HAVE THESE GHOST CANDIDATES WHO ARE JUST ON THE BALLOT TO DISTRACT VOTERS.

ATTENTION.

AND THIS WAS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.

>> IT ALSO UNDERSCORES WHY VOTERS BEING EDUCATED IS SO IMPORTANT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I'M GLAD I'M GLAD YOU SAID THAT BECAUSE MANY TIMES PEOPLE SHOW UP TO VOTE AND ALL THEY SAY IS A LIST OF NAMES ON THE BALLOT.

AND I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE THEY HAVE BACKGROUNDS.

THEY HAVE BELIEFS AND IT'S SO EASY TO FIND OUT WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE.

IF YOU JUST TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO DO THE RESEARCH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, SANDY PARKER, GREAT INFORMATION.

THANK YOU, JENNIFER.

>> FOR MORE NON-PARTISAN POLITICAL INFORMATION YOU CAN GET READY FOR THE UPCOMING MIDTERMS BY CHECKING OUT SPARK OR DASH SOAPBOX COM.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK.

WHEN A SPORT BECOMES MORE THAN JUST A GAME, HOW ONE MAN TOOK A LOVE FOR PICKLEBALL TO INSPIRE OTHERS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRINGING THE LOVE OF PICKLEBALL HALFWAY ACROSS THE GLOBE.

A PICKLEBALL PRO WHO COMPETED IN THE U.S.

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN NAPLES EARLIER THIS YEAR PICKED UP THE GAME WHEN HE WAS STEALING FROM CANCER AS WGCU CARY BARBOR REPORTS HIS LOVE FOR THE GAME RUNS SO DEEP THAT HE IS SHARING IT ALL THE WAY IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC.

>> IT'S A SUNNY, WINDY SUNDAY AT THE U.S.

OPEN PICKLEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN NAPLES.

YEAH.

SPHERE AT THE TOURNAMENT IS COLLEGIAL FRIENDS WHO'VE MET THROUGH THE SPORT GREET ONE ANOTHER ENTHUSIASTICALLY MARK PALM IS PLAYING WITH HIS DOUBLES PARTNER.

HIS 22 YEAR-OLD SON, DRAKE.

THEY'RE IN THE SPLIT PRO CATEGORY, MEANING BOTH ARE PICKLEBALL PROS, BUT ONE IS OVER 51 IS UNDER 50.

BOTH MEN ARE 5TH MOVING NIMBLY AROUND THE COURT, SLAMMING ARE TAPPING THE LIGHTWEIGHT PLASTIC BALL OVER THE NET.

THEY'RE WEARING THE FAMILY UNIFORM, BLACK SHORTS AND BLACK T-SHIRTS.

MARK PALM, NOW, 51 DISCOVERED PICKLEBALL IN 2019.

HE WAS ON THE ROAD RAISING MONEY FOR HIS NONPROFIT WHEN THE PEOPLE HE WAS MEETING WITH GOT HIM INTO THEIR PICKLE BALL GAME.

HE LOVED IT.

HE KEPT AFTER THE GAME EVEN WHEN HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH B-CELL LYMPHOMA, A TYPE OF BLOOD CANCER, IT.

PICKLEBALL BECAME A PART OF HIS RECOVERY PROCESS, HELPING HIM THROUGH EACH OF 6 ROUNDS OF CHEMOTHERAPY.

>> AND THEN ABOUT DAY 3, SLOWLY START GETTING INTO BACK.

AND SO I WOULD GET UP AND I WOULD GET OUT TO THE TO THE PARK AND I WOULD ON THE CHALLENGER SIDE BECAUSE I HAD NO VERY LITTLE ENERGY.

AND I WOULD JUST STUMBLE AROUND.

BUT I'LL GET ONE GAME IN AND IT WAS JUST THAT SOCIAL, SOMETHING.

IT WAS JUST KIND OF THIS MENTAL HEALTH BOOST FOR ME.

AND THEN EVERY DAY I WOULD GET A LITTLE STRONGER THAN THE NEXT GUY CAN PLAY, YOU KNOW, 3 GAMES.

AND THEN BY THE TIME I GO BACK TO CHEMO, ANOTHER CAME AROUND.

I COULD PLAY 7 GAMES.

SO EVERY TIME I GOT TO GO BACK TO THE COURT WAS A REALLY BIG DEAL.

AND MY DOCTOR AND SAID, LOOK, LIVE YOUR LIFE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN BECAUSE THE MENTAL SIDE OF RECOVERING FROM CANCER DEALING WITH WITH A SIDE EFFECTS OF CANCER AND ALL THE UNKNOWNS.

IT'S SUCH A BIG PART OF RECOVERY.

SO PICKLEBALL FOR ME BECAME THAT.

>> 7 YEARS LATER, PAUL IS 6 YEARS FREE OF CANCER AND COMPETING AS A PRO.

WHEN HE'S NOT ON THE PICKLEBALL COURT.

PALM IS RUNNING SAMARITAN AVIATION, THE NONPROFIT HE AND HIS WIFE KIRSTEN, STARTED IN 2000.

IT PROVIDES EMERGENCY MEDICAL FLIGHTS AND MEDICAL CARE AT NO COST TO THE RESIDENTS OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA, 80% OF WHOM LIVE IN RURAL AREAS WITHOUT ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE OR A HOSPITAL >> SO OUR NAVY ATION DOES 7 DAYS A WEEK RESPONSE TO MEDICAL EVACUATION FLIGHTS.

WE DROP MEDICINES, MEDICAL SUPPLIES INTO REMOTE VILLAGES, TAKE DOCTORS AND REMOTE AREAS AND I REALLY DID SAVE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO REALLY HAVE NO HOPE IF WE'RE NOT THERE.

>> NATURALLY, IN ADDITION TO EMERGENCY HEALTH CARE, THE PALM FAMILY BROUGHT PICKLEBALL TO PAPUA NEW GUINEA.

>> AND SO THEY'RE OUR SPONSORS.

PEOPLE DONATED PADDLES AND WE GOT NETS AND FALLS AND THERE'S THIS ONE COMMUNITY THAT'S 50 MILES FROM THE NEAREST ROAD.

IT'S A SWAMP OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND THERE'S A HELICOPTER PAD THERE.

AND SO I'M LIKE WE SHOULD BRING PICKLEBALL.

THERE'S A SCHOOL THERE.

THE BOARDING SCHOOL FOR KIDS.

AND SO WE BROUGHT PICKLEBALL.

WE TAUGHT HIM HOW TO PLAY ABOUT THE NETS IN THE BATTLES AND IT'S BEEN SO FUN TO SEE IN A COUNTRY THAT REALLY WOMEN ARE KIND OF SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS IN A LOT OF WAYS TO SEE THE GIRLS PLAYING WITH THE GUYS AND TO SEE ACTUALLY THE GIRLS BEATING THE GUYS.

IT'S JUST AWESOME.

>> THE NONPROFIT HAS 30 STAFF AND 3 PLANES OPERATING ON THE ISLAND AND THE PALM SPEND PART OF EVERY YEAR.

THERE.

MOM SAYS THE ENTIRE OPERATION IS FUNDED 80% BY DONATIONS AND 20% BY THE PAPUA NEW GUINEA GOVERNMENT.

TOM AND HIS SON LOST THEIR PICKLEBALL MATCH ON SUNDAY IN NAPLES.

HE SHRUGS IT OFF.

THERE'S ANOTHER MATCH LATER IN THE WEEK AND OTHER IMPORTANT PROJECTS TO GET TO.

FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M CARY BARBOR.

>> COMING UP ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM.

THE STATE OF FLORIDA SAYS IT HAS MORE THAN 4.5 BILLION DOLLARS IN UNCLAIMED MONEY AND ASSETS WAITING TO BE RETURNED TO THE RIGHTFUL OWNERS.

WE'LL SHOW YOU HOW TO FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE TREASURE IN STATE COFFERS.

JUST WAITING TO BE CLAIMED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HAD A WGCU ORG WHERE YOU WILL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.