For the past 12 years, ‘Real Florida Magazine’ has offered the opportunity to political candidates to appear on the TV show and discuss their candidacy and qualifications for the office for which they are running.
Appearances have included Florida Governor Rick Scott, Florida Senators George Gainer and Don Gaetz, State Representatives Jimmy Patronis, Marti Coley and Jamey Westbrook, U.S. Representatives Steve Southerland, Neal Dunn and Matt Gaetz, Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam and many other state figures, as well as many City and County political candidates from Bay, Washington, Holmes, Jackson and Walton County, Florida.
Local candidates have included Superintendents of Schools, School Board members, County Commissioners, Tax Collectors, Supervisors of Election, and Sheriffs, and the show has always been informative, enlightening and a tool for voters to make a conscious decision when they go to the ballot box.
Recently Washington County Commissioner Todd Abbott made an appearance on the program to discuss his candidacy for a third term of office, and took the opportunity to discuss the progress the sitting Board of Commissioners in Washington County has made over the past several years.
All candidates in state, county and local races are invited to take advantage of this platform from which to espouse their beliefs and plans for their respective terms of office.
All too often these races become popularity contests, with non-qualified persons running for a position, and it’s important that the voters have the opportunity to meet these candidates prior to visiting the ballot box.
Locally, the Chipley Kiwanis Club has held a series of debates prior to the Primary Election and then another round prior to the General Election, again giving candidates an opportunity to answer the tough questions, and this open exchange of information allows the public to hear from the candidate, becoming educated, informed voters.
Dates for these proposed political forums will soon be published, and the Kiwanis Club hopes that all candidates will participate, as they have in the past.