Welcome to Perspectives online and also Welcome to Perspectives online and also on air from WFSU Public Media I'm Tom on air from WFSU Public Media I'm Tom Flanigan this program Flanigan this program using the zoom platform that we all know using the zoom platform that we all know and love and love was pre-recorded on Thursday september was pre-recorded on Thursday september 24th for playback 24th for playback on Tuesday september 29th the show to on Tuesday september 29th the show to appear appear on both WFSU FM and the WFSU on both WFSU FM and the WFSU Public Media Facebook page all at the Public Media Facebook page all at the same time same time this is the third in our series of this is the third in our series of political Perspectives here in the political Perspectives here in the run up to the November third general run up to the November third general election in Leon County election in Leon County and our conversations uh are including and our conversations uh are including the candidates uh for several offices the candidates uh for several offices including two including two Leon County commission contests one Leon County commission contests one Tallahassee Tallahassee city commission race we're also going to city commission race we're also going to get into uh that local referendum on a get into uh that local referendum on a proposed children's council for leon proposed children's council for leon county county and uh we'll yakk a little bit about and uh we'll yakk a little bit about that in the course of this next hour to that in the course of this next hour to come too because both of come too because both of our candidates here I'm sure will have our candidates here I'm sure will have some interesting Perspectives some interesting Perspectives get that on about that particular issue get that on about that particular issue uh today's political Perspectives uh today's political Perspectives features the two candidates for the Leon features the two candidates for the Leon County board of county commissioners County board of county commissioners this is the seat representing this is the seat representing the residents of district four that the residents of district four that encompasses encompasses the northeast part of the county roughly the northeast part of the county roughly and since 2006 the commissioner and since 2006 the commissioner representing the district representing the district has been Bryan Desloge this election for has been Bryan Desloge this election for the first time in a dozen years the first time in a dozen years also features the challenger and he is also features the challenger and he is Brian Welch Brian Welch a 13-year veteran teacher at Chiles high a 13-year veteran teacher at Chiles high school school we'll start off uh giving each candidate we'll start off uh giving each candidate a few minutes to introduce themselves a few minutes to introduce themselves and talk about their background unique and talk about their background unique qualifications all that qualifications all that and uh we want them to really make the and uh we want them to really make the case for what makes them the preferred case for what makes them the preferred person to do the job and after that person to do the job and after that we'll get into some more we'll get into some more specific kinds of uh county specific kinds of uh county topics that will be of interest to topics that will be of interest to everyone everyone and although we don't follow strict time and although we don't follow strict time limits as far as statements are limits as far as statements are concerned concerned you know i'll jump in in case anyone you you know i'll jump in in case anyone you know decides to know decides to go on a 15 minute diatribe or that sort go on a 15 minute diatribe or that sort of thing so we'll try to keep it of thing so we'll try to keep it short and sweet in advance of the short and sweet in advance of the program we did hold a random drawing for program we did hold a random drawing for who will start us off the name that came who will start us off the name that came up was Brian up was Brian Welch so uh please Brian if you would Welch so uh please Brian if you would talk about your background and how that talk about your background and how that contributes to your qualifications for contributes to your qualifications for the job the job of Leon County commissioner representing of Leon County commissioner representing district four all year sir district four all year sir well thank you Tom it's a pleasure to be well thank you Tom it's a pleasure to be here on the uh here on the uh on the show with you I've listened to so on the show with you I've listened to so many times and you know that familiar many times and you know that familiar voice yours so I'm honored to be here voice yours so I'm honored to be here uh my name is Bryan Welch and uh I am uh my name is Bryan Welch and uh I am a school teacher at Chile high school a school teacher at Chile high school I've been there since I've been there since 2006 2007 so this is my 14th year in the 2006 2007 so this is my 14th year in the classroom classroom i teach social studies world history and i teach social studies world history and advanced advanced placement human geography I've taught placement human geography I've taught some placement human geography I've taught US history in there and some US history in there and some advanced advanced placement world history I have lived in placement world history I have lived in northeast Tallahassee northeast Tallahassee since 1998.

I moved here since 1998.

I moved here from Jackson, Mississippi the day after I from Jackson, Mississippi the day after I graduated high school to go to college graduated high school to go to college and uh I went to tcc for and uh I went to tcc for two years and then I went to FSU because two years and then I went to FSU because my goal in life as a young man my goal in life as a young man was to be a knoll and so I was able to was to be a knoll and so I was able to graduate from FSU graduate from FSU and then I got a master's degree from and then I got a master's degree from FSU in 2003 FSU in 2003 and then I got another master's degree and then I got another master's degree in 2016 from the University of West in 2016 from the University of West Florida Florida I met my wife at the Killearn country I met my wife at the Killearn country club club about a day after I moved to Tallahassee about a day after I moved to Tallahassee actually and she was my girlfriend at actually and she was my girlfriend at the time the time i got a job at the country club worked i got a job at the country club worked there on off all the way through college there on off all the way through college and ended up marrying and ended up marrying my wife Kim at the Killearn Country Club my wife Kim at the Killearn Country Club we have three beautiful children, Chloe, we have three beautiful children, Chloe, Cameron and Carter Cameron and Carter uh all with c's I tell people you know uh all with c's I tell people you know if we had a fourth child we would have if we had a fourth child we would have named it cliche named it cliche uh jokingly that was not on purpose that uh jokingly that was not on purpose that we did that is how it worked out we did that is how it worked out my kids go to the public schools in the my kids go to the public schools in the northeast I've got one at Chiles with northeast I've got one at Chiles with me me and I've got a middle schooler at and I've got a middle schooler at Montford and my son the youngest Montford and my son the youngest is at Roberts Elementary School I've is at Roberts Elementary School I've lived all over northeast Tallahassee lived all over northeast Tallahassee Killearn Estates, Killearn Acres, Killearn Killearn Estates, Killearn Acres, Killearn Lakes uh now live up off Centerville Lakes uh now live up off Centerville road in the Centerville conservation road in the Centerville conservation community community I decided to run for this seat in june I decided to run for this seat in june uh well I filed in june of 2019 I uh well I filed in june of 2019 I decided about decided about six months before that I started having six months before that I started having conversations in early 2019 conversations in early 2019 felt like I had committed myself to felt like I had committed myself to public service as a school teacher for public service as a school teacher for 14 years and I work every day in the 14 years and I work every day in the classroom with young people classroom with young people whose families all live in northeast whose families all live in northeast Tallahassee and I felt like that it was Tallahassee and I felt like that it was time for a change and time for a fresh time for a change and time for a fresh perspective and perspective and and uh the voters in northeast and uh the voters in northeast Tallahassee haven't really had a choice Tallahassee haven't really had a choice in quite a while about in quite a while about who would be their representative on the who would be their representative on the county commission and county commission and i felt like it was just a furtherance of i felt like it was just a furtherance of my commitment to service in the my commitment to service in the community community and I'm looking forward to the and I'm looking forward to the opportunities that it's providing opportunities that it's providing uh for our community and for me to uh for our community and for me to further that service further that service thank you Mr.

Welch uh let's turn things thank you Mr.

Welch uh let's turn things over now for some introductory comments over now for some introductory comments to the incumbent Bryan Desloge go ahead to the incumbent Bryan Desloge go ahead Bryan thanks Bryan thanks Tom appreciate you having us on here Tom appreciate you having us on here this afternoon um this afternoon um so I'm Bryan Desloge I'm your current so I'm Bryan Desloge I'm your current Leon County commissioner for district Leon County commissioner for district four four um I was born in Tallahassee I was born um I was born in Tallahassee I was born in 1959 in 1959 in Tallahassee memorial I moved to in Tallahassee memorial I moved to Bradfordville in 1985 and I have lived Bradfordville in 1985 and I have lived in the northeast in the northeast part of town for all of my adult life my part of town for all of my adult life my parents parents still live in the house I grew up in in still live in the house I grew up in in benton hills benton hills which is 55 years I guess they've been which is 55 years I guess they've been there there um I i have got what I would consider um I i have got what I would consider a kind of a broad brush of experience a kind of a broad brush of experience I'm a Leon High School grad I'm a Leon High School grad a Florida State grad I started a small a Florida State grad I started a small business here in town became an inc 500 business here in town became an inc 500 business sold that about six or eight business sold that about six or eight years ago years ago spent a decade at IBM so I think I have spent a decade at IBM so I think I have a wealth of business experience the a wealth of business experience the county is about a 280 million dollar county is about a 280 million dollar budget so you budget so you have to have some ability to deal with a have to have some ability to deal with a fairly large and complex organization fairly large and complex organization and I feel like I walked into this job and I feel like I walked into this job 14 years ago and had little or no 14 years ago and had little or no public sector or government experience public sector or government experience well now I find well now I find i have been chairman I'm the current i have been chairman I'm the current chairman of the county I've been chairman of the county I've been chairman twice chairman twice i was president of our State Association i was president of our State Association representing 67 counties and traveled representing 67 counties and traveled all over the state all over the state and and testified from the legislature and and testified from the legislature numerous times numerous times i was the president of the national i was the president of the national association of counties and got a chance association of counties and got a chance to literally to literally travel to just about every state in the travel to just about every state in the country and I'd like to stop there and country and I'd like to stop there and just say just say there's been some criticism of me being there's been some criticism of me being out of town I will tell you I out of town I will tell you I phoned in for the overwhelming majority phoned in for the overwhelming majority of the commission meetings of the commission meetings and I represented 3069 counties I was in and I represented 3069 counties I was in the white house under the the white house under the obama administration and the trump obama administration and the trump administration probably 10 or 15 times a administration probably 10 or 15 times a piece piece from a local government standpoint I from a local government standpoint I would say I have a kind of a wealth of would say I have a kind of a wealth of experience experience and then I've got the relationships here and then I've got the relationships here in the community in the community whether it be the city commission the whether it be the city commission the county commission the school board county commission the school board florida state fanu FSU florida state fanu FSU you know I've had a chance to work with you know I've had a chance to work with the leadership over the years and i the leadership over the years and i think it's it's important for us at this think it's it's important for us at this point point that you have the ability to kind of that you have the ability to kind of move around move around and I think I've got a proven track and I think I've got a proven track record the business that the county record the business that the county budget is actually smaller than the budget is actually smaller than the proposed budget that was online when i proposed budget that was online when i first walked in the door 14 years ago first walked in the door 14 years ago we have less employees and we've never we have less employees and we've never had a layoff had a layoff i will tell you we have done more with i will tell you we have done more with less over the years less over the years and I'm real proud of what we've done and I'm real proud of what we've done I've delivered 40 plus I've delivered 40 plus million dollars worth of infrastructure million dollars worth of infrastructure improvements to the northeast part of improvements to the northeast part of town town i love Tallahassee the reason I do this i love Tallahassee the reason I do this similar to Brian which is you know I similar to Brian which is you know I raised my kids here I grew up here and raised my kids here I grew up here and this is my way of giving back this is my way of giving back and and it's been a great community to and and it's been a great community to me and I like to continue to serve me and I like to continue to serve and that's me thanks Tom okay we got i and that's me thanks Tom okay we got i got a couple of got a couple of individual questions and Mr.

Welch if i individual questions and Mr.

Welch if i could start with you here could start with you here um you said in your introductory um you said in your introductory comments that comments that uh you thought hey fresh approach maybe uh you thought hey fresh approach maybe time for a change time for a change that thing let's get a little bit more that thing let's get a little bit more specific here what would you specific here what would you do that Mr.

Desloge is not do that Mr.

Desloge is not currently doing and how could you do it currently doing and how could you do it maybe better maybe better yeah um I appreciate that question Tom i yeah um I appreciate that question Tom i think that think that Mr.

Desloge um you know has done Mr.

Desloge um you know has done a good job in the sort of early segment a good job in the sort of early segment of his tenure of his tenure I think over the previous most recent I think over the previous most recent years there are some issues that have years there are some issues that have come up honestly one of the come up honestly one of the first things that got me thinking about first things that got me thinking about doing this was the northeast park doing this was the northeast park Mr.

Desloge you know admittedly wanted to Mr.

Desloge you know admittedly wanted to build that park in 2006 and build that park in 2006 and and we still don't have that park my 14 and we still don't have that park my 14 year old daughter's never had an year old daughter's never had an opportunity to play opportunity to play baseball in a park in northeast baseball in a park in northeast Tallahassee and Tallahassee and it's just something that we desperately it's just something that we desperately need and so for me need and so for me those kinds of things sort of shine a those kinds of things sort of shine a light on bigger issues throughout light on bigger issues throughout northeast Tallahassee when it comes to northeast Tallahassee when it comes to recreational infrastructure and then you recreational infrastructure and then you can get into transportation can get into transportation infrastructure and infrastructure and and I've said repeatedly that and I've said repeatedly that development issues and concerns in development issues and concerns in northeast Tallahassee really have taken northeast Tallahassee really have taken center stage in terms of center stage in terms of how are we growing in northeast how are we growing in northeast Tallahassee how are we allowing growth Tallahassee how are we allowing growth how are we regulating growth you know how are we regulating growth you know we've got to we've got to provide balance for our community when provide balance for our community when it comes to growing northeast it comes to growing northeast Tallahassee can't continue to bear Tallahassee can't continue to bear all the burden of all the residential all the burden of all the residential growth in the county growth in the county now I get it that we have good schools now I get it that we have good schools in northeast Tallahassee and that kind in northeast Tallahassee and that kind of drives growth and development of drives growth and development but if we're going to if we're going to but if we're going to if we're going to continue to push growth into the continue to push growth into the northeast where I live northeast where I live work and play and drive the roads every work and play and drive the roads every day we've got to provide the day we've got to provide the infrastructure I mean the community infrastructure I mean the community center in Bradfordville is a 400 square center in Bradfordville is a 400 square foot 135 year old foot 135 year old schoolhouse it's it's patently schoolhouse it's it's patently inadequate inadequate for the services and the community for the services and the community organizations that want to use it organizations that want to use it and so I think that it is natural for and so I think that it is natural for people who've been in positions a long people who've been in positions a long time to kind of take their eye off the time to kind of take their eye off the ball or lose focus and not necessarily ball or lose focus and not necessarily provide provide the attention to detail that folks in the attention to detail that folks in the community deserve the community deserve and so for me I saw it as an opportunity and so for me I saw it as an opportunity to provide a fresh perspective provide a to provide a fresh perspective provide a fresh level of energy and perhaps fresh level of energy and perhaps try and prioritize those kinds of try and prioritize those kinds of infrastructure improvements infrastructure improvements and then generally just advocacy for the and then generally just advocacy for the community in general that is impacted so community in general that is impacted so heavily heavily by the growth and the pressures of of by the growth and the pressures of of Tallahassees growing Tallahassees growing you know population and then certainly you know population and then certainly when you look at the walani development when you look at the walani development i live on north central road and that i live on north central road and that greatly concerns me because I will again greatly concerns me because I will again be heavily impacted by it so my family i be heavily impacted by it so my family i have young children all in the schools have young children all in the schools we want parks to play in we want ball we want parks to play in we want ball fields to play on fields to play on and we just don't currently have a lot and we just don't currently have a lot of access to that stuff and there's of access to that stuff and there's really no excuse why we why we shouldn't really no excuse why we why we shouldn't get it we deserve that kind of stuff in get it we deserve that kind of stuff in the northeast just as much as anybody the northeast just as much as anybody else in the community else in the community and I want to ensure that northeast and I want to ensure that northeast Tallahassee's community is kind of woven Tallahassee's community is kind of woven into the larger fabric of the into the larger fabric of the of the county all right now I i want to of the county all right now I i want to also give also give Mr.

Desloge a chance to respond to some of Mr.

Desloge a chance to respond to some of those uh specific those uh specific proposals that you just made there but proposals that you just made there but uh first uh first a a question and we know that both city a a question and we know that both city and uh county commission seats are and uh county commission seats are nonpartisan nonpartisan here in Tallahassee and Leon County but here in Tallahassee and Leon County but because of the hyper-partisan nature of because of the hyper-partisan nature of our politics on a national level our politics on a national level um Bryan I have seen and I'm sure you um Bryan I have seen and I'm sure you have too a lot of have too a lot of uh should we say hesitancy expressed in uh should we say hesitancy expressed in social media social media you are registered republican make no you are registered republican make no bones about that absolutely bones about that absolutely but you find yourself in a position of but you find yourself in a position of being being in a county that is two to one in a county that is two to one democratic democratic but we have a legislature and a governor but we have a legislature and a governor who are republican you kind of have a who are republican you kind of have a narrow tap dance narrow tap dance right there and I see some people saying right there and I see some people saying oh don't oh don't don't go for delos he is he's another don't go for Desloge he is he's another trumper he's another trumper he's another one of those guys how do you do that one of those guys how do you do that tap dance and make yourself a tap dance and make yourself a commissioner for everyone at least commissioner for everyone at least in district four all right so so two questions Tom let me all right so so two questions Tom let me answer yours first so answer yours first so um I started village square 15 years ago um I started Village Square 15 years ago on this premise which is on this premise which is you know how do you have a civil debate you know how do you have a civil debate about the facts when you come to the about the facts when you come to the world with a different set of world with a different set of experiences so experiences so you know we are all the product of the you know we are all the product of the way we're raised the people we know way we're raised the people we know the schools we attended and the the schools we attended and the experiences we've had that's the lens we experiences we've had that's the lens we all see the world through all see the world through and because I see the world differently and because I see the world differently than somebody else it doesn't make me than somebody else it doesn't make me good or them bad good or them bad or even us right or wrong as long as or even us right or wrong as long as you're dealing with the facts you're dealing with the facts and I have found repeatedly at the local and I have found repeatedly at the local level level that frankly there is no room for that frankly there is no room for partisan politics certainly I'm a partisan politics certainly I'm a business owner business owner and I understand what it takes to drive and I understand what it takes to drive a business and hire fire people and I a business and hire fire people and I understand all of those understand all of those but partisan politics has little or no but partisan politics has little or no uh place at local politics stormwater uh place at local politics stormwater doesn't know doesn't know party lines you know we have to figure party lines you know we have to figure out how to have that discussion and out how to have that discussion and I'm real proud of what we've done I'm real proud of what we've done village square we're in Pinellas and village square we're in Pinellas and Broward and Kansas and California and Broward and Kansas and California and Pennsylvania and Utah and it's Pennsylvania and Utah and it's how do you have a civil conversation on how do you have a civil conversation on a tough issue a tough issue and bring it forward we do race and bring it forward we do race relations energy issues relations energy issues pick a topic that tends to see people pick a topic that tends to see people get really uh polarized we did one years get really uh polarized we did one years ago when the amendments that were coming ago when the amendments that were coming out if you remember we had 10 or 12 out if you remember we had 10 or 12 amendments on the amendments on the ballot and they were very confusing and ballot and they were very confusing and two of them were pro-life pro-choice two of them were pro-life pro-choice and we had the head of planned and we had the head of planned parenthood and the parenthood and the head of the Catholic conference for the head of the Catholic conference for the state of Florida in front of 300 people state of Florida in front of 300 people talking about talking about why this particular thing was good or why this particular thing was good or bad nobody's going to change their mind bad nobody's going to change their mind let's face it pro-life pro-choice is not let's face it pro-life pro-choice is not the kind of thing you just dance back the kind of thing you just dance back and forth and forth but what happened was people said I for but what happened was people said I for the first time I understand why the first time I understand why somebody thinks that way and there's a somebody thinks that way and there's a little bit of respect and there's a little bit of respect and there's a little bit of knowledge and there's a little bit of knowledge and there's a little bit of the ability just to little bit of the ability just to look through the lens that the other look through the lens that the other person sees it so person sees it so you're right it has been an interesting you're right it has been an interesting dance and I don't you know dance and I don't you know when people ask you know are you a when people ask you know are you a republican I said that's the way I republican I said that's the way I register I certainly don't vote that way register I certainly don't vote that way consistently I vote for the character of consistently I vote for the character of the person that's in the office the person that's in the office so that's I don't know if that answers so that's I don't know if that answers that question Tom and then I'll back up that question Tom and then I'll back up for a minute for a minute and i'll kind of respond to some of and i'll kind of respond to some of Bryan's comments so Bryan's comments so we do have a northeast park we bought a we do have a northeast park we bought a hundred acres off of childs hundred acres off of childs off of uh proctor road on the off of uh proctor road on the Thomasville side and we've got about Thomasville side and we've got about eight to nine million dollars eight to nine million dollars in blueprint to develop that I will tell in blueprint to develop that I will tell you you that the northeast when I moved to that the northeast when I moved to bradfordville in 1985 it was a two-lane bradfordville in 1985 it was a two-lane road road we had a sing store and a Moby Dick's we had a sing store and a Moby Dick's the only restaurant out there and it was the only restaurant out there and it was in the middle of nowhere I mean it was in the middle of nowhere I mean it was for a lot of people might as well have for a lot of people might as well have been Thomasville well that's certainly been Thomasville well that's certainly not the case now not the case now but what's happened in the last 40 years but what's happened in the last 40 years is you've had is you've had unchecked development and most of this i unchecked development and most of this i mean frankly 80 mean frankly 80 of it was prior to my coming on board of it was prior to my coming on board Killearn Lakes we would never allow Killearn Lakes we would never allow to be built without the infrastructure to be built without the infrastructure to support it we've got 4,000 to support it we've got 4,000 homes in Killearn Lakes on a two-lane homes in Killearn Lakes on a two-lane road road but it's been there for 25 or 30 years but it's been there for 25 or 30 years so we're backpedaling to try and put the so we're backpedaling to try and put the infrastructure in place infrastructure in place Killearn a little bit of the same Summer Killearn a little bit of the same Summer Brook, Golden Eagle you start go down the Brook, Golden Eagle you start go down the list list it is the most desirable part of town it is the most desirable part of town and it is where people want to live as and it is where people want to live as for Bryan pointed out because the for Bryan pointed out because the schools are great schools are great and I mean it's a good part of and I mean it's a good part of town to live in so town to live in so my job for the last 14 years has been to my job for the last 14 years has been to try and backfill some of those things try and backfill some of those things call them sins of my predecessors but call them sins of my predecessors but it's basically it's basically you know hindsight's 2020 we can look at you know hindsight's 2020 we can look at killarn lakes now and say it sure would killarn lakes now and say it sure would have could have but at the time that have could have but at the time that owner had property rights and he wanted owner had property rights and he wanted to make a development and it was to make a development and it was out in what was considered kind of the out in what was considered kind of the country and we learned some hard lessons country and we learned some hard lessons today we would never allow that to go today we would never allow that to go forward as it did forward as it did so widening of bannermen which we are so widening of bannermen which we are doing we bought the northeast park doing we bought the northeast park actually you know we've got a couple new actually you know we've got a couple new parks coming online and Killearn here parks coming online and Killearn here soon soon we've got a dog park we've got frankly i we've got a dog park we've got frankly i think we've think we've done a pretty good job with what we've done a pretty good job with what we've been handed been handed certainly there's lots of room for certainly there's lots of room for improvement and I've got a lot of plans improvement and I've got a lot of plans on what I think we can do going forward on what I think we can do going forward okay before we go back to Mr.

Welch okay before we go back to Mr.

Welch your thoughts on the milani plantation your thoughts on the milani plantation that has riled more feathers that has riled more feathers than just about anything I've seen in than just about anything I've seen in the past 15 years the past 15 years okay that's a great question so if you okay that's a great question so if you go back and look at the way this started go back and look at the way this started there 30 years ago the city signed a there 30 years ago the city signed a development agreement with development agreement with the owners of the Welaunee plantation the owners of the Welaunee plantation there let's start with there is no there let's start with there is no developer in sight right now okay right developer in sight right now okay right now now you have basically land owners that have you have basically land owners that have owned this property for 100 years that owned this property for 100 years that want to do the right thing want to do the right thing you've got almost 3 000 acres that are you've got almost 3 000 acres that are outside of the urban service area outside of the urban service area but inside the city limits and the but inside the city limits and the planners looked at this a year ago planners looked at this a year ago and said we need to correct this this and said we need to correct this this needs to and so we in September of last year started needs to and so we in September of last year started needs to and so we in September of last year started advertising and noticing people that advertising and noticing people that we need to have a discussion about this we need to have a discussion about this because we're going to expand the urban because we're going to expand the urban service area which we don't do lightly service area which we don't do lightly when coveted started February, March when coveted started February, March everybody suddenly got everybody suddenly got excited and said we're not getting a excited and said we're not getting a chance to have public input so we chance to have public input so we stopped stopped and we had 11 different charettes and we had 11 different charettes invited the public in invited the public in frankly I give staff a lot of credit frankly I give staff a lot of credit they really jump through they really jump through hoops to accommodate and then we have a hoops to accommodate and then we have a workshop coming up in a couple of weeks workshop coming up in a couple of weeks to to talk about it further the family's talk about it further the family's trying to make plans and I will tell you trying to make plans and I will tell you there's only two master plan there's only two master plan developments in all of Leon County developments in all of Leon County that's Southwood and Canopy and if we that's Southwood and Canopy and if we want to repeat what's happening in the want to repeat what's happening in the northeast part of town northeast part of town which is Killearn and Killearn Lakes, Golden which is Killearn and Killearn Lakes, Golden Eagle, Hawks Bottom Eagle, Hawks Bottom all which is a little bit palm out and all which is a little bit palm out and we are backpedaling to try and put the we are backpedaling to try and put the infrastructure in infrastructure in we need the master plan and the family we need the master plan and the family wants to wants to work with us on this and it's a chance work with us on this and it's a chance to do that I will also tell you to do that I will also tell you the largest single economic driver today the largest single economic driver today in our community in our community is canopy 600 people show up every is canopy 600 people show up every morning morning these are roofers contractors plumbers these are roofers contractors plumbers electricians cement guys electricians cement guys and that's what they will be doing for and that's what they will be doing for the next 10 years 15 years the next 10 years 15 years walani represents 15 years plus out walani represents 15 years plus out before it even starts if if in fact they before it even starts if if in fact they ever sell the property there's no ever sell the property there's no developer even on the table right now developer even on the table right now but what we need to be able to do but what we need to be able to do is do the planning now with the owners is do the planning now with the owners so that we can make sure that the trails so that we can make sure that the trails and the parks and the infrastructure and the parks and the infrastructure all maps out and meets the needs of the all maps out and meets the needs of the community okay thank you Brian Welch community okay thank you Brian Welch your thoughts on that since you had your thoughts on that since you had brought up Welaunee and some of the other brought up Welaunee and some of the other developments that are going on there developments that are going on there are are we taking the right approach or are are we taking the right approach or do you have a better idea do you think do you have a better idea do you think well I mean frankly I think it's well I mean frankly I think it's you know I think we have to own the fact you know I think we have to own the fact that Mr.

duloz has been in office for 14 that Mr.

duloz has been in office for 14 years of the 40 years years of the 40 years that he claims development has been that he claims development has been unchecked and we allowed a two-lane road unchecked and we allowed a two-lane road to be built into kolar lakes but we've to be built into kolar lakes but we've had a two-lane road on Bannerman road had a two-lane road on Bannerman road for a long time for a long time and yet if you look at it right now and yet if you look at it right now we've got developments going in all over we've got developments going in all over the place near that bull healy the place near that bull healy intersection and intersection and so I think it's a little disingenuous to so I think it's a little disingenuous to sort of separate sort of separate yourself from that when you have yourself from that when you have overseen a large large part of the overseen a large large part of the development along batman road development along batman road specifically specifically the the residential shopping center and the the residential shopping center and now another I'm sorry the commercial now another I'm sorry the commercial shopping center and now another shopping center and now another residential shopping center and I'm not residential shopping center and I'm not again I'm not anti-development again I'm not anti-development i agree with Mr.

deloach I know it's an i agree with Mr.

deloach I know it's an economic driver and I know it's good for economic driver and I know it's good for the community at large but there has to the community at large but there has to be balance be balance if you look at the canopy development if you look at the canopy development that did not start off well that did not start off well okay there was a huge clear cut of trees okay there was a huge clear cut of trees that caused a pond to overflow that caused a pond to overflow and create storm water issues and sewer and create storm water issues and sewer issues for the communities along issues for the communities along centerville road centerville road that border that and so the perception that border that and so the perception amongst folks in northeast Tallahassee amongst folks in northeast Tallahassee is that we're bending over backwards to is that we're bending over backwards to accommodate accommodate developers or land owners at the expense developers or land owners at the expense of established communities that exist of established communities that exist along those transportation corridors along those transportation corridors that we acknowledge are congested that that we acknowledge are congested that we have a lot of traffic in we have a lot of traffic in if you talk about the northeast park if you talk about the northeast park yeah that's great it's a passive park yeah that's great it's a passive park it's 100 acres of trails my kid needs a it's 100 acres of trails my kid needs a ball field to play on ball field to play on my eight-year-old son has to play my eight-year-old son has to play baseball in the outfield at roberts baseball in the outfield at roberts elementary school elementary school with a backstop and a porta potty and with a backstop and a porta potty and that's not acceptable and that's not the that's not acceptable and that's not the city's fault city's fault they bring a program out to roberts they bring a program out to roberts elementary school and it's not the elementary school and it's not the school district's fault they let the school district's fault they let the city use the school district's city use the school district's facilities facilities we don't have a park in northeast we don't have a park in northeast Tallahassee for kids to play ball at Tallahassee for kids to play ball at Meridian park is not in district 4 even Meridian park is not in district 4 even though it's on the border but you go though it's on the border but you go there on a Tuesday night or a Thursday there on a Tuesday night or a Thursday night night and during ball seasons and it's you and during ball seasons and it's you can't get in and out of it because of can't get in and out of it because of the traffic the traffic you have to walk 200 yards to get to the you have to walk 200 yards to get to the bathroom bathroom and you're fortunate that you even have and you're fortunate that you even have a bathroom and it's not a porta john a bathroom and it's not a porta john so I think that some of those arguments so I think that some of those arguments are a little disingenuous and I think are a little disingenuous and I think that that it's fair to criticize Mr.

Desloge it's fair to criticize Mr.

Desloge for the the the way that development has for the the the way that development has played out in northeast Tallahassee and played out in northeast Tallahassee and when you talk about walani when you talk about walani wellani is going to happen I have said wellani is going to happen I have said vocally that I would have supported vocally that I would have supported the comp plan amendments just on their the comp plan amendments just on their face face but the process by which we've but the process by which we've transmitted the comp plan amendments transmitted the comp plan amendments i think it's fair to say is suspect i think it's fair to say is suspect we shouldn't do land use planning based we shouldn't do land use planning based on the needs of a family's estate on the needs of a family's estate planning planning land use planning should be done to the land use planning should be done to the benefit of the community at large benefit of the community at large and there certainly should be balance and there certainly should be balance given to the impacts that that given to the impacts that that development and that development and that that that planning is going to have that that planning is going to have on people who live along those corridors on people who live along those corridors so I think Welaunee is it's I think so I think Welaunee is it's I think people are people are fair it's fair for people to criticize fair it's fair for people to criticize the processes that have gone on in the processes that have gone on in lulani lulani and I think if you live on Centerville and I think if you live on Centerville road court on the central road corridor road court on the central road corridor like I do like I do you have a legitimate concern if you you have a legitimate concern if you look at the Bannerman road corridor and look at the Bannerman road corridor and just development just development along Thomasville road in general along Thomasville road in general especially over the past 15 years especially over the past 15 years we've had all we acknowledge we've had we've had all we acknowledge we've had all this growth that it used to just be all this growth that it used to just be a two-lane road I remember when it was a a two-lane road I remember when it was a two-lane road out to Bradfordville with two-lane road out to Bradfordville with a blinking red light a blinking red light and you look at that and it was a it was and you look at that and it was a it was a little rural and a little bucolic a little rural and a little bucolic and now look at it it looks like orlando and now look at it it looks like orlando or atlanta or atlanta and that is not what we really signed up and that is not what we really signed up for in northeast Tallahassee so I think for in northeast Tallahassee so I think that the that the criticisms are fair I think Welaunee we criticisms are fair I think Welaunee we really need engagement we need advocacy really need engagement we need advocacy we need somebody that's going to speak we need somebody that's going to speak for those residents and not just for those residents and not just sort of acquiesce to every development sort of acquiesce to every development interest or every landowner interest interest or every landowner interest along the way along the way yes we need to develop walani we it's yes we need to develop walani we it's gonna happen but it has to be done gonna happen but it has to be done with balance and it has to be done with balance and it has to be done adequately and appropriately adequately and appropriately the two contenders for Leon County board the two contenders for Leon County board of County Commissioners District Four of County Commissioners District Four the challenger we just heard from Bryan the challenger we just heard from Bryan Welch the incumbent Welch the incumbent uh Bryan Desloge on that to come some uh Bryan Desloge on that to come some dates to keep in mind here dates to keep in mind here as we just bear in on that general as we just bear in on that general election election on November 3rd vote by mail ballots are on November 3rd vote by mail ballots are now now in the mail they are going out to those in the mail they are going out to those voters who have requested them I know voters who have requested them I know i just got an email from mark early i just got an email from mark early today he said hey your ballot is in the today he said hey your ballot is in the mail mail talk about cusTomer service deadline for talk about cusTomer service deadline for voter registration is October 5th early voter registration is October 5th early voting will kick off October 19th voting will kick off October 19th with those early voting locations listed with those early voting locations listed on the Supervisor of Elections website on the Supervisor of Elections website and the general election Tuesday and the general election Tuesday November third November third speaking of development now whoever speaking of development now whoever wins this contest here for district four wins this contest here for district four will represent that high growth will represent that high growth high return area of Leon County high return area of Leon County but there is accelerating discussion but there is accelerating discussion concerning concerning other parts of the county that do not other parts of the county that do not have a lot of commercial development have a lot of commercial development and investment and infrastructure and and investment and infrastructure and those kinds of things so whoever those kinds of things so whoever sits in the district 4 position is going sits in the district 4 position is going to have to also to have to also be part of that discussion of how we be part of that discussion of how we look at some look at some not so fortunate parts of Leon County not so fortunate parts of Leon County starting with you Brian Welch starting with you Brian Welch what ideas do you have again realizing what ideas do you have again realizing you'd be you'd be representing that very specific district representing that very specific district form but form but how would you tie into that larger how would you tie into that larger conversation conversation of trying to address the the incredible of trying to address the the incredible income and development inequality that income and development inequality that we have we have in this county yeah uh in this county yeah uh you know I've said repeatedly I think you know I've said repeatedly I think that when we when we commit to investing that when we when we commit to investing millions upon millions I mean I think millions upon millions I mean I think Welaunee boulevard is 47 million dollars Welaunee boulevard is 47 million dollars with another potentially 40 million with another potentially 40 million dollar interstate exchange over the dollar interstate exchange over the course the next 15 or 20 years course the next 15 or 20 years with blueprint dollars I think that we with blueprint dollars I think that we by doing that we sort of neglect by doing that we sort of neglect the other infrastructure needs and the other infrastructure needs and elements of economic development in elements of economic development in other parts of the community so again other parts of the community so again northeast Tallahassee is in a unique northeast Tallahassee is in a unique situation where you have a lot of situation where you have a lot of development pressure and citizens don't development pressure and citizens don't really want it really want it and then you have a lot of expenditure and then you have a lot of expenditure of public dollars in areas where of public dollars in areas where people don't really need it and so i people don't really need it and so i think you've got a bit of a double think you've got a bit of a double a negative there potentially I think a negative there potentially I think northeast Tallahassee northeast Tallahassee people kind of exclude northeast people kind of exclude northeast Tallahassee and assume that we don't Tallahassee and assume that we don't have have a dog in the fight when it comes to a dog in the fight when it comes to broader community issues and that is broader community issues and that is just just not true I think that's because we don't not true I think that's because we don't have a seat at the table have a seat at the table and so when you look at the broader and so when you look at the broader elements in the community with economic elements in the community with economic and educational segregation and educational segregation northeast Tallahassee has a crucial role northeast Tallahassee has a crucial role to play in fixing those problems to play in fixing those problems and it starts with having a seat at the and it starts with having a seat at the table and acknowledging table and acknowledging that our even though northeast that our even though northeast Tallahassee kind of exists in an insular Tallahassee kind of exists in an insular bubble bubble we have a responsibility to ensure that we have a responsibility to ensure that the rest of the community thrives and the rest of the community thrives and the rest of the community is successful the rest of the community is successful and so that just starts with having a and so that just starts with having a seat at the table investing in those seat at the table investing in those communities communities making sure that we are being smart with making sure that we are being smart with our development dollars with our our development dollars with our blueprint dollars blueprint dollars we've got to economic development is we've got to economic development is going to be the number one way with going to be the number one way with which you can improve somebody's which you can improve somebody's situation as a high school teacher i situation as a high school teacher i work with young people every day work with young people every day teenagers that's a teenagers that's a very difficult time in their lives very difficult time in their lives parents and adults often forget what parents and adults often forget what it's like to be 14 and 15 and the it's like to be 14 and 15 and the pressures pressures that they have to exist in now with that they have to exist in now with social media and all the exposures that social media and all the exposures that they get they get it's a very treacherous situation to be it's a very treacherous situation to be a teenager these days a teenager these days and now you add in poverty you add in and now you add in poverty you add in single family homes you add in poor single family homes you add in poor educational experiences educational experiences and all of that contributes to problems and all of that contributes to problems we have seen we have seen all across our community whether it's all across our community whether it's crime educational inequality lack of crime educational inequality lack of kids participating kids participating in in school activities and so in in school activities and so it's a complicated situation I think it's a complicated situation I think northeast Tallahassee has a role to play northeast Tallahassee has a role to play in that in a solution to those problems in that in a solution to those problems but it starts with prioritizing how we but it starts with prioritizing how we spend our tax paying dollars spend our tax paying dollars we can't just put band-aids on every we can't just put band-aids on every issue by building infrastructure in issue by building infrastructure in communities that don't necessarily need communities that don't necessarily need it it we have to meet people where they are we we have to meet people where they are we have to excuse me we have to engage with have to excuse me we have to engage with the non-profit community the non-profit community and we have to we have to have some and we have to we have to have some empathy for young people empathy for young people we have to have our finger on the pulse we have to have our finger on the pulse of what causes problems in of what causes problems in people's lives and do our best to meet people's lives and do our best to meet them where they are and help them them where they are and help them get over the hump that's keeping them get over the hump that's keeping them from success from success i recall a certain county commission i recall a certain county commission meeting not all that long ago when meeting not all that long ago when uh a statement I won't tell you by whom uh a statement I won't tell you by whom but but uh was uttered that said essentially the uh was uttered that said essentially the problems problems in the south city area and the 32304 in the south city area and the 32304 area code were not exclusively the area code were not exclusively the purview purview of commissioners Jackson and proctor of commissioners Jackson and proctor uh Mr.

deloage uh what do you do as you uh Mr.

deloage uh what do you do as you look ahead to how we look ahead to how we get some more equanimity here in those get some more equanimity here in those areas areas Tom that's a great question so you're Tom that's a great question so you're right although I represent the northeast right although I represent the northeast side of Leon County side of Leon County when I vote I vote for the entire county when I vote I vote for the entire county and let's start with Blueprint the and let's start with Blueprint the projects that are on Blueprint projects that are on Blueprint were approved by the citizens of our were approved by the citizens of our community and there's a list that was on community and there's a list that was on the referendum so the referendum so we made a deal with the citizens of this we made a deal with the citizens of this community and I'd like to fulfill that community and I'd like to fulfill that deal so things like the northeast park deal so things like the northeast park and the northeast gateway and a lot of and the northeast gateway and a lot of the projects that have been the projects that have been listed we need to make sure that we give listed we need to make sure that we give the citizens what they voted for the citizens what they voted for overwhelmingly overwhelmingly um as far as the south side goes I think um as far as the south side goes I think it's no secret that 32304 is it's no secret that 32304 is the highest poverty rate in the state of the highest poverty rate in the state of Florida by zip code which is Florida by zip code which is the west side of town I've got a seat at the west side of town I've got a seat at the table I actually had a meeting the table I actually had a meeting yesterday with yesterday with Sue Dick who's the president of the Sue Dick who's the president of the chamber our sheriff Walt McNeil chamber our sheriff Walt McNeil reverend RB Holmes and Skip Foster who reverend RB Holmes and Skip Foster who used to be the publisher of the democrat used to be the publisher of the democrat and the whole and the whole topic was for an hour or so was what can topic was for an hour or so was what can we do we do let's quit talking about it let's figure let's quit talking about it let's figure out what's out there that we can start out what's out there that we can start to move forward to move forward and what became painfully obvious was and what became painfully obvious was we've got this mishmash of programs and we've got this mishmash of programs and issues and things issues and things that are people are working on and that are people are working on and nobody quite understands and i'll give nobody quite understands and i'll give you an example so we you an example so we the things that we took away was how do the things that we took away was how do we inventory the we inventory the the job creators in our community and the job creators in our community and not just jobs in the south side I've not just jobs in the south side I've mentioned walani earlier mentioned walani earlier 600 people are showing up every day to 600 people are showing up every day to work there work there and not every one of those people lives and not every one of those people lives in the northeast side of town in the northeast side of town a large number of those trades people a large number of those trades people probably are coming from the south side probably are coming from the south side so so we need to make sure that that pipeline we need to make sure that that pipeline of jobs of jobs continues we also need to look at what continues we also need to look at what are the other ways that are out there we are the other ways that are out there we just got a 10 million dollar just got a 10 million dollar uh grant from the federal government uh grant from the federal government wilbur ross from was here this last week wilbur ross from was here this last week to build a wet lab to build a wet lab out at uh innovation park well that's out at uh innovation park well that's you know 40 000 foot you know 40 000 foot building that's going to create 600 jobs building that's going to create 600 jobs is the estimate so is the estimate so you look at that and say how do we how you look at that and say how do we how do we inventory all the job creators do we inventory all the job creators that we've got out there and make sure that we've got out there and make sure everybody knows everybody knows what each other doing the civic center what each other doing the civic center the convention center that we talked the convention center that we talked about in blueprint the other day about in blueprint the other day has a 100 million a year impact there has a 100 million a year impact there are 400 associations in Leon County are 400 associations in Leon County that cannot have a convention here and that cannot have a convention here and it's probably one of the single biggest it's probably one of the single biggest producers of economic drivers then you producers of economic drivers then you got to look at what are the programs got to look at what are the programs already in place we've got purpose-built already in place we've got purpose-built communities which is going on communities which is going on in the south side of town to try and in the south side of town to try and basically ramp up not only the basically ramp up not only the neighborhoods but the schools neighborhoods but the schools frankly I'm not up to speed on where it frankly I'm not up to speed on where it is right now so shonda knight was in the is right now so shonda knight was in the meeting with us as well from the meeting with us as well from the sheriff's office so she's sheriff's office so she's on that board um you know what about on that board um you know what about we've got two or three housing we've got two or three housing initiatives to basically go initiatives to basically go in and redo some of the uh subsidized in and redo some of the uh subsidized housing on the south side housing on the south side where is that right now what's going on where is that right now what's going on with it so as a community I think we with it so as a community I think we need to do a better job need to do a better job of pulling all the resources together of pulling all the resources together and make sure all the people who are in and make sure all the people who are in levels of leadership are talking to each levels of leadership are talking to each other we are making some differences but other we are making some differences but frankly having the highest poverty level frankly having the highest poverty level in the state is unacceptable no matter in the state is unacceptable no matter how you how you try and explain it away it's a problem try and explain it away it's a problem and we need to deal with it and we need to deal with it at the outset of the show we mentioned at the outset of the show we mentioned the proposed children's services council the proposed children's services council also on the ballot also on the ballot with you guys uh coming up on November with you guys uh coming up on November 3rd Bryan Desloge your thoughts 3rd Bryan Desloge your thoughts on that council uh like it don't like it on that council uh like it don't like it how come how come so I i like I will vote for it I will so I i like I will vote for it I will tell you I had a lot of hesitation and tell you I had a lot of hesitation and i'll give you a little bit of history i i'll give you a little bit of history i i flew to miami on my time and money to i flew to miami on my time and money to go meet with david lawrence go meet with david lawrence about three years ago david lawrence if about three years ago david lawrence if you don't know is the kind of the you don't know is the kind of the grandfather of grandfather of these type children services councils these type children services councils and he runs the one in dade county and and he runs the one in dade county and has he was the publisher of the miami has he was the publisher of the miami herald herald his sister lives here in town and so i his sister lives here in town and so i sat down with him and said you know how sat down with him and said you know how does it work what does it look like walk does it work what does it look like walk me through the nuances me through the nuances i know commissioners in palm beach and i know commissioners in palm beach and in broward in broward that are on the board of these so I've that are on the board of these so I've kind of picked their brain talked to the kind of picked their brain talked to the executive director executive director there's seven in the state of florida as there's seven in the state of florida as we sit right now we sit right now um you know I was the one when this um you know I was the one when this brought up brought up first brought up two years ago or last first brought up two years ago or last year I guess and they said let's just go year I guess and they said let's just go ahead and put it on the ballot now ahead and put it on the ballot now and I said we need to have a little bit and I said we need to have a little bit more work done on this and so the more work done on this and so the committee was put in place that judge committee was put in place that judge Shurstrom chaired which he did a Shurstrom chaired which he did a spectacular job of spectacular job of hurting cats a lot of people in the hurting cats a lot of people in the community to come together and say community to come together and say what exactly are you planning to do what what exactly are you planning to do what exactly do you hope to accomplish with exactly do you hope to accomplish with this and I'm still a little nervous this and I'm still a little nervous about setting up an entirely new about setting up an entirely new organization with taxing authority organization with taxing authority but if it can help the children in our but if it can help the children in our community which I'm confident it will community which I'm confident it will I plan to support it okay Brian Welch I plan to support it okay Brian Welch your thoughts on the your thoughts on the proposal I support the children's proposal I support the children's services council have since I first read services council have since I first read their white paper and learned everything their white paper and learned everything about it about it yeah I am hesitant for a new tax but yeah I am hesitant for a new tax but it's a referendum it's not like any it's a referendum it's not like any individual entity or board is passing a individual entity or board is passing a tax down to anybody tax down to anybody it's an opportunity for the citizens in it's an opportunity for the citizens in Tallahassee to uh to vote on whether or Tallahassee to uh to vote on whether or not they want to extend that tax and not they want to extend that tax and and um I i just think that when it comes and um I i just think that when it comes to tax to tax payer money uh if we have really really payer money uh if we have really really smart targeted investments you can have smart targeted investments you can have tremendous tremendous tremendous outcomes and so when I read tremendous outcomes and so when I read the children's services council white the children's services council white paper paper i see it as a effective tool to try and i see it as a effective tool to try and fix some of the problems that run cross fix some of the problems that run cross sections across Leon County sections across Leon County whether it be economic segregation whether it be economic segregation whether it be early childhood education whether it be early childhood education uh a crime uh you know the children's uh a crime uh you know the children's services council dollars services council dollars if applied correctly and managed if applied correctly and managed appropriately appropriately should have a tremendous impact on should have a tremendous impact on outcomes for young people outcomes for young people as a school teacher again I work every as a school teacher again I work every day with young people I think we all can day with young people I think we all can acknowledge acknowledge that that early childhood education that that early childhood education investments in that stuff investments in that stuff pay huge dividends not just not just in pay huge dividends not just not just in your crime rates or your poverty rates your crime rates or your poverty rates but economically but economically I think it's a lot of bang for the buck I think it's a lot of bang for the buck yes I'm hesitant about attacks yes I'm hesitant about attacks but I think it's a vote I like the idea but I think it's a vote I like the idea of a referendum I like the idea of of a referendum I like the idea of letting citizens be as engaged as letting citizens be as engaged as possible in every process that that our possible in every process that that our government engages in and so I think the government engages in and so I think the children's services council children's services council on paper looks really good I think it'll on paper looks really good I think it'll be a success I will be voting for it be a success I will be voting for it i think that uh you know it's it's the i think that uh you know it's it's the management structure there's been management structure there's been com there's been communication about the com there's been communication about the management structure and uh appointed management structure and uh appointed board board uh administering tax dollars I think uh administering tax dollars I think that that uh the appointees that that will have to uh the appointees that that will have to be on the superintendent of schools the be on the superintendent of schools the county commissioner, city commissioner county commissioner, city commissioner the governor appoints I think four the governor appoints I think four people to the board um people to the board um i would like to think that that's enough i would like to think that that's enough layers of oversight layers of oversight to manage those dollars effectively i to manage those dollars effectively i think it's about eight million dollars think it's about eight million dollars is the annual is the annual uh realization of the tax so uh realization of the tax so if applied correctly the children's if applied correctly the children's services council should services council should have tremendous impacts on outcomes have tremendous impacts on outcomes however however just like with blueprint we have to make just like with blueprint we have to make sure that that is sure that that is managed appropriately and that those uh managed appropriately and that those uh whatever we target in terms of services whatever we target in terms of services have to be appropriate they have to be have to be appropriate they have to be targeted and they have to be correct targeted and they have to be correct they have to be the right thing we can't they have to be the right thing we can't just squander that money or allow people just squander that money or allow people to to serve some kind of special to to serve some kind of special interest with interest with as a high school teacher Brian have you as a high school teacher Brian have you picked up any scuttlebutt from the picked up any scuttlebutt from the the kids that you interface with their the kids that you interface with their child's as far as their child's as far as their reaction to the current curfew and the reaction to the current curfew and the idea of minimizing the number of people idea of minimizing the number of people who can gather in things like who can gather in things like convenience store or parking lots what convenience store or parking lots what are the kids saying are the kids saying yeah our kids don't really I don't think yeah our kids don't really I don't think they really are they really are concerned about that they really should concerned about that they really should not high school kids should not be out not high school kids should not be out at those hours anyway especially not in at those hours anyway especially not in northeast Tallahassee so northeast Tallahassee so i don't necessarily think that the uh i don't necessarily think that the uh the curfew is really targeted at them the curfew is really targeted at them um and I don't think it really impacts um and I don't think it really impacts them most of the parents in northeast them most of the parents in northeast Tallahassee are pretty responsible and Tallahassee are pretty responsible and keep a pretty good eye on their kids now keep a pretty good eye on their kids now you know we've had several unfortunate you know we've had several unfortunate incidents we had a car accident out here incidents we had a car accident out here uh uh ironically near the northeast park ironically near the northeast park property on procter and childs property on procter and childs i mean on Thomasville and Proctor roads i mean on Thomasville and Proctor roads on saturday night and so you know on saturday night and so you know Chiles kids are just like any other kids Chiles kids are just like any other kids uh they make mistakes and they do things uh they make mistakes and they do things from time to time but I don't think the from time to time but I don't think the bigger issues of the of the county bigger issues of the of the county curfew are really targeted at them and i curfew are really targeted at them and i don't they don't don't they don't they don't care man they don't really they don't care man they don't really know what's going on with that kind of know what's going on with that kind of stuff they don't know about stuff they don't know about the local politics and stuff okay the local politics and stuff okay Bryan Desloge um you know that curfew was Bryan Desloge um you know that curfew was your your your jam here so uh uh how do you see your jam here so uh uh how do you see that that playing out as we move down the road playing out as we move down the road well well let's start by saying the curfew is no let's start by saying the curfew is no longer in place today longer in place today okay we lasted a week after we had an okay we lasted a week after we had an incident where the incident where the gentleman was waving a gun and the gentleman was waving a gun and the sheriff came to me sheriff came to me after that and formally approached me after that and formally approached me and said I'd like to go ahead and put a and said I'd like to go ahead and put a curfew in place the city had been asking curfew in place the city had been asking for it for quite a while there were a for it for quite a while there were a number of commissioners that felt like number of commissioners that felt like the pop-up parties in in downtown the pop-up parties in in downtown Tallahassee were becoming a problem Tallahassee were becoming a problem but the sheriff and the chief both saw but the sheriff and the chief both saw from intelligence they had that there from intelligence they had that there was going to be an escalation the was going to be an escalation the protesters made protesters made had some comments relative behind the had some comments relative behind the scenes to let's raise the bar scenes to let's raise the bar the anti-protesters the same thing which the anti-protesters the same thing which is the worst nightmare for us as a is the worst nightmare for us as a community so community so in an abundance of caution the sheriff in an abundance of caution the sheriff contacted me and said would you be contacted me and said would you be willing to do it so we enacted a curfew willing to do it so we enacted a curfew for a week over the labor day weekend for a week over the labor day weekend um we obviously we had some arrests um we obviously we had some arrests downtown people that broke the law downtown people that broke the law but nobody got hurt no businesses got but nobody got hurt no businesses got damaged I was real proud of that damaged I was real proud of that and um you know the arrests were for and um you know the arrests were for moving violations or resisting arrest moving violations or resisting arrest and so and so um and when you talk about um and lose um and when you talk about um and lose my train of thought here so the curfew my train of thought here so the curfew and then oh and the other side was and then oh and the other side was limiting the size of the people well limiting the size of the people well that's we don't have that's we don't have anything in place in the county today anything in place in the county today the city brought the city brought up an issue the other night and I'm up an issue the other night and I'm pretty certain it went through pretty certain it went through and it's after midnight and before 5am and it's after midnight and before 5am no more than 10 people gathering in a no more than 10 people gathering in a place unless it's a church or it's a place unless it's a church or it's a restaurant or it's a restaurant or it's a place of business and it's solely to try place of business and it's solely to try and tamp down we've and tamp down we've got these pop-up parties that are got these pop-up parties that are occurring mostly in downtown Tallahassee occurring mostly in downtown Tallahassee where you have two three 400 people that where you have two three 400 people that show up after either the bars closed and show up after either the bars closed and restaurants close restaurants close and you know unfortunately about six or and you know unfortunately about six or eight weeks ago we had a couple of eight weeks ago we had a couple of shootings shootings over one weekend and we had a couple of over one weekend and we had a couple of deaths in most cases deaths in most cases you know that's drug dealing or things you know that's drug dealing or things that shouldn't be going on in the middle that shouldn't be going on in the middle of the night so of the night so this gives the police Tallahassee police this gives the police Tallahassee police department department a little bit of authority to walk in and a little bit of authority to walk in and disperse those type of things so disperse those type of things so that's not a county driven initiative that's not a county driven initiative and it does not impact anybody in the and it does not impact anybody in the county proper county proper but in the city 10 or more outside in a but in the city 10 or more outside in a public setting unless you have you know public setting unless you have you know like I said a restaurant like I said a restaurant a bar church or an exclusion so a bar church or an exclusion so of course as we get closer to the of course as we get closer to the election which election which lord knows what's going to happen there lord knows what's going to happen there uh we uh we have seen some ramifications in some have seen some ramifications in some other parts of the country other parts of the country not so much here but if we have a not so much here but if we have a continuing continuing racial divide or any number of other racial divide or any number of other situations in the midst of a pandemic I situations in the midst of a pandemic I mean this mean this cascade of confluences that we're cascade of confluences that we're dealing with here dealing with here and then governor desantis proposing the and then governor desantis proposing the legislature take up perhaps as early as legislature take up perhaps as early as a November a November special session if that happens uh a special session if that happens uh a kind of kind of crackdown on um out of control crackdown on um out of control gatherings gatherings and demonstrations and protests and all and demonstrations and protests and all that that does that all play into again a does that all play into again a potentially ever escalating situation potentially ever escalating situation when it comes to what goes on on when it comes to what goes on on on our streets do you see that going on our streets do you see that going first uh Mr.

Desloge first uh Mr.

Desloge your thoughts sure yeah absolutely i your thoughts sure yeah absolutely i mean I read the governor's comments and mean I read the governor's comments and obviously he's obviously he's throwing an idea out that's going to throwing an idea out that's going to have to go in front of the legislature have to go in front of the legislature and then it's going to have to pass so and then it's going to have to pass so it's not anything that's going to happen it's not anything that's going to happen in the next couple of months in the next couple of months you mentioned earlier though we you mentioned earlier though we certainly have the opportunity or the certainly have the opportunity or the potential potential for real problems around the election for real problems around the election regardless of where it finishes regardless of where it finishes but there's some states out there that but there's some states out there that have got issues about whether when have got issues about whether when they're going to be able to they're going to be able to actually qualify their election and if actually qualify their election and if there are a lot of mail-in ballots that there are a lot of mail-in ballots that haven't gone back that have a postmark haven't gone back that have a postmark and and you've seen all the news on that that you've seen all the news on that that will probably throw a lot of questions will probably throw a lot of questions that will then that will then escalate this a little bit um I think escalate this a little bit um I think the governor's right I think we live in the governor's right I think we live in a law and order society to a degree a law and order society to a degree and I think the rules are if you play by and I think the rules are if you play by the rules you're fine and if you step the rules you're fine and if you step outside outside then you know it doesn't mean somebody then you know it doesn't mean somebody should get hurt but you know should get hurt but you know we can't have businesses being damaged we can't have businesses being damaged we can't have people being shot at you we can't have people being shot at you know I think most of us live in a know I think most of us live in a community where we want to feel safe community where we want to feel safe when we go out at night when we go out at night and I i don't know what it will look and I i don't know what it will look like when the legislature finishes with like when the legislature finishes with it so it's a little early to speculate it so it's a little early to speculate on on how that will impact us locally but i how that will impact us locally but i think in theory and in concept what the think in theory and in concept what the governor's proposing is not a bad idea governor's proposing is not a bad idea Mr.

Welch you have any fear of a Mr.

Welch you have any fear of a perfect storm perfect storm along these lines or what do you think along these lines or what do you think yeah I mean it's a concerning I think yeah I mean it's a concerning I think we've all seen that our political we've all seen that our political rhetoric from from the national level rhetoric from from the national level especially has gotten particularly toxic especially has gotten particularly toxic uh I despise that level of discourse i uh I despise that level of discourse i i don't like the name calling and the i don't like the name calling and the belittling and all that stuff and this belittling and all that stuff and this the the hyper partisan nature of the the hyper partisan nature of politics now politics now and then certainly in this environment and then certainly in this environment where we have you know where we have you know um controversial issues going on with um controversial issues going on with black black lives matter and and police brutality lives matter and and police brutality and shootings and things like that and shootings and things like that um you know I have been endorsed by the um you know I have been endorsed by the big bend pba big bend pba proudly I support our police officers um proudly I support our police officers um I agree that they have a tough job to do I agree that they have a tough job to do I think we need to support them in doing I think we need to support them in doing that job we need to help our police that job we need to help our police officers get better officers get better I think if you want to protest you I think if you want to protest you absolutely have a right to do that and absolutely have a right to do that and our police officers need to help you do our police officers need to help you do that we need to protect your right to that we need to protect your right to protest protest but at the end of the day we have to but at the end of the day we have to come together as a community and come together as a community and recognize that the incendiary nature recognize that the incendiary nature of the rhetoric coming from the highest of the rhetoric coming from the highest levels of government and politics levels of government and politics is not going to benefit anyone it's not is not going to benefit anyone it's not going to solve problems going to solve problems rioting and and confrontations and rioting and and confrontations and violence are not going to solve the violence are not going to solve the problems it's going to take problems it's going to take acknowledging that we have problems and acknowledging that we have problems and then sitting then sitting down and trying to uh trying to figure down and trying to uh trying to figure out solutions we have to be solution out solutions we have to be solution oriented oriented and unfortunately we just live in a time and unfortunately we just live in a time where everybody exists in a where everybody exists in a in an echo chamber of their own in an echo chamber of their own political partisanship political partisanship and their social media uh sort of and their social media uh sort of reflects reflects that and so it's just an unfortunate that and so it's just an unfortunate sign of our times I think we have to get sign of our times I think we have to get back to pragmatic back to pragmatic reasonable uh leaders I think it's reasonable uh leaders I think it's important to important to to say that when somebody says something to say that when somebody says something that's insulting or demeaning or that's insulting or demeaning or or sort of belittle or demeans that or or sort of belittle or demeans that or reduces the political discourse reduces the political discourse that we have to do a better job of that we have to do a better job of saying that's not right we're not going saying that's not right we're not going to do that we're going to be to do that we're going to be respectful and we're going to demand respectful and we're going to demand better from our leadership and we're better from our leadership and we're going to demand better from going to demand better from each other and I think that that's each other and I think that that's easier said than done easier said than done obviously but uh we again we have to obviously but uh we again we have to find balance we have to support the find balance we have to support the police department to help them be as police department to help them be as good as good as they can be and we have to support they can be and we have to support people's right to protest and just kind people's right to protest and just kind of encourage everybody to be respectful of encourage everybody to be respectful Bryan Welch you uh get to November 3rd Bryan Welch you uh get to November 3rd and and you wake up the next morning I'm not you wake up the next morning I'm not sure how long it's going to take we we sure how long it's going to take we we knew what was going on by nine o'clock knew what was going on by nine o'clock during the primary during the primary uh mark early did such a great job but uh mark early did such a great job but anyway anyway as the evening comes on suddenly you go as the evening comes on suddenly you go oh my god I won oh my god I won you get on the fifth floor of the you get on the fifth floor of the courthouse you get into that uh courthouse you get into that uh that office and what's the first thing that office and what's the first thing you do well uh Tom you know the first thing I'm well uh Tom you know the first thing I'm gonna do is I'm going to go around and gonna do is I'm going to go around and I'm going to visit with every department I'm going to visit with every department within the county government I'm going within the county government I'm going to meet with every department head to meet with every department head within the county government I'm going within the county government I'm going to meet with all the rank and file to meet with all the rank and file employees within county government employees within county government and I'm going to learn absolutely as and I'm going to learn absolutely as much as I can about the processes much as I can about the processes about the people uh how we can be better about the people uh how we can be better uh so essentially I'm going to be uh so essentially I'm going to be learning I'm going to spend a lot of learning I'm going to spend a lot of time time learning I'm going to explore as much as learning I'm going to explore as much as i can about the system i can about the system uh about the uh how we can make it uh about the uh how we can make it better better and then I'm going to try and build and then I'm going to try and build relationships with my colleagues relationships with my colleagues because as I've mentioned I have uh i because as I've mentioned I have uh i have goals and I have have goals and I have uh I have things I want to get done uh I have things I want to get done particularly the northeast park which we particularly the northeast park which we we did talk about earlier which is i we did talk about earlier which is i think it's an 18 million dollar think it's an 18 million dollar blueprint project scheduled to be done blueprint project scheduled to be done in 2035. in 2035. i would certainly like to accelerate i would certainly like to accelerate that uh now that uh now that may be incorrect but last time i that may be incorrect but last time i was told that's what it was and I spoke was told that's what it was and I spoke to somebody who I think would know so to somebody who I think would know so you know I have an agenda I want to you know I have an agenda I want to serve the people of northeast serve the people of northeast Tallahassee I want to be as good at that Tallahassee I want to be as good at that as I possibly can so I'm going to invest as I possibly can so I'm going to invest a lot of time a lot of time in learning the ropes and trying to in learning the ropes and trying to figure out how I can do that because at figure out how I can do that because at the end of the day the end of the day i just want to give the people in my i just want to give the people in my community um the best representation community um the best representation they can get they can get and that's going to involve me being as and that's going to involve me being as invested invested engaged and accountable to them as engaged and accountable to them as possible possible conversely we hit the November 3rd conversely we hit the November 3rd wormhole we come out the other side and wormhole we come out the other side and Bryan deloach has another term so what Bryan deloach has another term so what would would be your priorities amongst all the be your priorities amongst all the things that things that you have already mentioned today ron you have already mentioned today ron what what would you give what what would you give the a number one uh listing to as you the a number one uh listing to as you returned to that office so you modulated a little bit but i so you modulated a little bit but i think the question is what's my number think the question is what's my number one goal or what do I hope to accomplish one goal or what do I hope to accomplish when I come back in when I come back in you know we had last year we had a you know we had last year we had a billion dollars in economic impact billion dollars in economic impact relative to the tourism industry in relative to the tourism industry in Tallahassee in Leon County which is Tallahassee in Leon County which is astounding considering we're not exactly astounding considering we're not exactly las vegas or miami but I see Leon County las vegas or miami but I see Leon County as a real as a real place for people to come and work and to place for people to come and work and to visit visit which benefits everybody so we've got which benefits everybody so we've got 700 miles of trails in our community 700 miles of trails in our community most people don't know where they are most people don't know where they are most people don't know how to get to most people don't know how to get to them them we need to do a better job of making we need to do a better job of making sure they're connected we need to make sure they're connected we need to make sure the neighborhoods are all connected sure the neighborhoods are all connected so I've been working with the planning so I've been working with the planning staff for the last five or six years staff for the last five or six years trying to figure out trying to figure out where are the gaps what are we missing where are the gaps what are we missing for instance we talked about in our for instance we talked about in our crtpa meeting which is the crtpa meeting which is the transportation authority the other day transportation authority the other day trails that will run trails that will run down highway 90 all the way to down highway 90 all the way to monticello we're making uh monticello we're making uh uh arrangements to maybe have trails uh arrangements to maybe have trails that will go as far as havana that will go as far as havana and you want to be able people move to a and you want to be able people move to a community like Tallahassee because it's community like Tallahassee because it's the kind of lifestyle that they like the kind of lifestyle that they like and with what's going on for the last and with what's going on for the last nine months nine months you find people are leaving the big you find people are leaving the big urban areas and Tallahassee has become a urban areas and Tallahassee has become a real destination and we find real destination and we find as a drive market not only for vacations as a drive market not only for vacations but for relocations I talked to a real but for relocations I talked to a real estate agent earlier today estate agent earlier today steve blostowski and he said the real steve blostowski and he said the real estate market for residential real estate market for residential real estate is on fire estate is on fire and it's people want to move here we are and it's people want to move here we are in an environment that's in an environment that's you know safe that's got some culture you know safe that's got some culture it's got some good it's got some good uh uh features to it and it's a low tax uh uh features to it and it's a low tax state we're a little state we're a little and a great health care system and we're and a great health care system and we're in a good place so I want to in a good place so I want to continue to bolster the community from a continue to bolster the community from a standpoint of standpoint of the outdoors and specifically the trail the outdoors and specifically the trail system because it's really system because it's really where my heart is all right folks we where my heart is all right folks we only have a few minutes only have a few minutes left so why don't I give each of you left so why don't I give each of you like two minutes to kind of make the like two minutes to kind of make the elevator pitch it's a slow elevator pitch it's a slow elevator from the plaza of the elevator from the plaza of the courthouse courthouse to the fifth floor so starting with you to the fifth floor so starting with you Brian Welch two minutes here sir make Brian Welch two minutes here sir make your best case why uh your best case why uh Mr.

delos should go into retirement after Mr.

delos should go into retirement after November third November third well Tom first of all again let me say well Tom first of all again let me say thank you for having me I really thank you for having me I really appreciated the opportunity to be on appreciated the opportunity to be on your show your show um I would ask the voters of um I would ask the voters of northeastland county you know northeastland county you know again uh Mr.

Desloge is uh I don't think again uh Mr.

Desloge is uh I don't think Mr.

Desloge is a bad man Mr.

Desloge is a bad man uh I think he's committed his heart to uh I think he's committed his heart to the community for a long time and I'd the community for a long time and I'd like to send him off into retirement like to send him off into retirement I'd like to give him an opportunity to I'd like to give him an opportunity to ride his bicycle on all those trails he ride his bicycle on all those trails he wants to save built wants to save built and I you know I think it's an and I you know I think it's an opportunity for a a opportunity for a a a fresh start for northeast Tallahassee a fresh start for northeast Tallahassee somebody who's somebody who's got a little bit more uh my children are got a little bit more uh my children are in the schools and in the schools and and I live in the community I work in and I live in the community I work in the community I teach the community I teach i teach in the community so um you know i teach in the community so um you know i want to bring an advocate to our i want to bring an advocate to our neighborhoods I want to make our neighborhoods I want to make our neighborhoods the priority I want to neighborhoods the priority I want to help balance the growth that we're going help balance the growth that we're going to experience over the next to experience over the next 15 to 20 years um I don't anticipate 15 to 20 years um I don't anticipate being a county commissioner if I'm being a county commissioner if I'm elected for 14 years no offense elected for 14 years no offense commissioner delos commissioner delos so I think that it's natural to have so I think that it's natural to have some cyclical a cyclical nature in the some cyclical a cyclical nature in the terms of terms of public service it's really not about public service it's really not about ourselves it's about serving the larger ourselves it's about serving the larger community community um and so I think it's a commitment and um and so I think it's a commitment and it's a commitment of the heart it's a commitment of the heart and I think it's just time to turn the and I think it's just time to turn the page and move into the next page and move into the next stage uh if I were to win I'd love to stage uh if I were to win I'd love to have Mr.

delos's help have Mr.

delos's help with um moving things forward and kind with um moving things forward and kind of give him a break of give him a break uh you know I think the folks north of uh you know I think the folks north of Tallahassee really want some change i Tallahassee really want some change i think it's fair to ask for change think it's fair to ask for change I think it's fair to have a referendum I think it's fair to have a referendum on your leadership on your leadership and I think it's time that uh that and I think it's time that uh that we had somebody who's gonna really we had somebody who's gonna really really fight for our community really fight for our community uh fight for our neighborhoods give uh fight for our neighborhoods give everybody a chance to to be everybody a chance to to be heard and to sit at the table and listen heard and to sit at the table and listen when we say we want to we want to when we say we want to we want to control out of control control out of control development we want to we want to meter development we want to we want to meter out of control development out of control development that doesn't mean we don't want that doesn't mean we don't want development we want to have a balance development we want to have a balance that helps everybody that helps everybody if we help developers be better then it if we help developers be better then it creates less problems for them with creates less problems for them with neighborhoods neighborhoods and so it's the balance it's about and so it's the balance it's about change it's about a renewal change it's about a renewal and I certainly would appreciate and I certainly would appreciate everybody everybody's support you know everybody everybody's support you know I'm obviously an I'm obviously an underdog uh and so uh first time canada underdog uh and so uh first time canada this is not my this is not my my normal thing I just consider myself a my normal thing I just consider myself a regular person and I throw my hat in the regular person and I throw my hat in the ring and I've had a little bit of ring and I've had a little bit of success success and I certainly like to uh to encourage and I certainly like to uh to encourage everybody to support me on November 3rd everybody to support me on November 3rd and uh and we can help move our and uh and we can help move our community forward together thank you sir community forward together thank you sir and Bryan Desloge two minutes uh why you and Bryan Desloge two minutes uh why you have not yet have not yet approached the finish line of that trail approached the finish line of that trail yet thanks yet thanks um you know I I'm doing this out of love um you know I I'm doing this out of love for the community and I will tell you for the community and I will tell you um you have been born here haven't been um you have been born here haven't been raised here all my children have come raised here all my children have come through here through here this is my way to give back and i this is my way to give back and i applaud Bryan for running for office we applaud Bryan for running for office we need more people need more people like him willing to step up and throw like him willing to step up and throw their name in the hat their name in the hat frankly you know it's a there are not frankly you know it's a there are not enough people that are willing to run enough people that are willing to run for public office for public office i will tell you however though in light i will tell you however though in light of where we are right now I think we're of where we are right now I think we're in in awfully trying times and I think what's awfully trying times and I think what's going to happen for the foreseeable going to happen for the foreseeable future is future is somebody that's got the experience well somebody that's got the experience well from a business standpoint from a business standpoint from a government standpoint from a from a government standpoint from a relationship standpoint will stand heads relationship standpoint will stand heads and shoulders above and shoulders above anybody who has to learn when they first anybody who has to learn when they first get here so you know get here so you know part of what I'd like to do is take part of what I'd like to do is take bring us out of this chaos and get us bring us out of this chaos and get us back on a positive track and it's going back on a positive track and it's going to take a lot of finesse to take a lot of finesse and a lot of talent I will tell you that and a lot of talent I will tell you that we have one of the best we have one of the best county administrations in the country county administrations in the country and I say that with all sincerity and I say that with all sincerity having been to just about ever have been having been to just about ever have been to every state in the country and I've to every state in the country and I've been to most of the counties in florida been to most of the counties in florida we've got top-notch people and I will we've got top-notch people and I will tell you we get calls from all over the tell you we get calls from all over the country how did you do this how did you country how did you do this how did you do this do this you know we've got 51 million dollars of you know we've got 51 million dollars of care money we're trying to work through care money we're trying to work through to help the citizens of Leon County and to help the citizens of Leon County and we are looked at as the model for many we are looked at as the model for many of the counties around the country of the counties around the country as to how we're doing this so I i am as to how we're doing this so I i am fully engaged and I love this community fully engaged and I love this community and frankly for me it is a labor of love and frankly for me it is a labor of love this was never a career path for me this was never a career path for me um I'm a business guy who kind of got um I'm a business guy who kind of got lost along the way and I I'm lost along the way and I I'm frankly uh this is what I do because i frankly uh this is what I do because i love it and I love the work and I'd love love it and I love the work and I'd love to continue so I'd love your support on to continue so I'd love your support on November 3rd and that's it thanks so November 3rd and that's it thanks so much much the incumbent Bryan Desloge the the incumbent Bryan Desloge the challenger Bryan Welch gentlemen good challenger Bryan Welch gentlemen good luck to you both thank you for being on luck to you both thank you for being on this edition of political Perspectives this edition of political Perspectives thank you Tom thanks Tom Perspectives thank you Tom thanks Tom Perspectives produced by WFSU Public Media in produced by WFSU Public Media in Tallahassee thanks to Taylor Cox, Paul Tallahassee thanks to Taylor Cox, Paul Dam Dam Amy Diaz de Villegas, Trisha Moynihan Amy Diaz de Villegas, Trisha Moynihan and Lydell Rawls our director of content and Lydell Rawls our director of content Kim Kelling Kim Kelling our Zoom facilitator and executive our Zoom facilitator and executive producer producer and I'm Tom Flanigan our next political and I'm Tom Flanigan our next political Perspectives on Thursday October 1st Perspectives on Thursday October 1st will feature the two candidates for will feature the two candidates for Tallahassee city commission Tallahassee city commission Seat 2 the incumbent Curtis Richardson the Seat 2 the incumbent Curtis Richardson the challenger Bill Schack challenger Bill Schack and we invite you to join us then for and we invite you to join us then for another political Perspectives another political Perspectives from WFSU Public Media take care