Gainesville Pre-Election Special Candidate Debate

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – UF College Democrats hosted the debate tonight in which candidates set out their visions for the future of Gainesville.

Matt Howland, Cynthia Chestnut, and Scherwin Henry examined how they would handle local affairs if they were elected to the seat of the city commission.

Chestnut said with many students lagging behind in school due to the pandemic, she wants to implement more resources to get them back on track.

“A few years ago we had a homework hotline with the library, which I would like to continue and expand,” says Chestnut.

Some students voiced their safety concerns to candidates after being killed in traffic accidents near campus for a year.

“If we can slow down traffic, if we can get more people on their feet, more people on their bikes, in and around this corridor from Gale Lemerand to Waldo Road on University Avenue, we can also have this secondary effect, increasing economic Development, ”Howland said.

The candidates also discussed gentrification and how to preserve the communities affected.

“I think there needs to be a conversation between the university and the city to discuss the impact of their strategic plan on the neighborhoods we’re talking about,” said Henry.

The special election in Gainesville will take place on November 16.

The polling stations are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Click here to view a sample ballot, learn more about early voting, and view the polling stations.

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The post Gainesville Pre-Election Special Candidate Debate first appeared on Daily Florida Press.

from Daily Florida Press https://dailyfloridapress.com/gainesville-pre-election-special-candidate-debate/