Episode 252: Charles Smith

Evelyn Almodóvar is Executive Director of UNIDOS Now, a local nonprofit whose mission is to improve the quality of life for the growing Hispanic/Latinx community through education, integration, and civic engagement. She joins TBT's Mitch Maley to discuss the challenges and fears facing our immigrant community caused by fear-mongering, ever-changing immigration statuses, ICE and DHS abuses, and political paralysis.

Lisa Gonzalez Moore represents Ward 4 on the Bradenton City Council and is seeking a second term in November. She joins Mitch and Dawn to discuss her first term accomplishments and a broad array of issues facing, including infrastructure needs and improvements, the relocation of City Hall, the prospect of enticing a Pittsburgh-based arts school to downtown Bradenton and more.

G.G. Miraglia is a former Verizon employee who volunteered to do critical work at the World Trade Center immediately following the 9/11 attacks. As we mark the 25th anniversary of those tragic events, G.G. joins Mitch Maley to discuss his experience, which inspired him to write My Days at Ground Zero, a book that highlights the wide array of volunteers who sacrificed their health to offer their skills in the immediate recovery.

Kelly Kirschner is the former Mayor of Sarasota and the Democratic candidate for the District 16 Congressional seat being vacated by Vern Buchanan. He faces Republican Sydney Gruters in November. Kelly joins Mitch and Dawn to discuss healthcare, immigration, affordability, AI data centers, and other issues central to the race.

Coming off her historic upset in the Democratic primary, Florida Rep. and U.S. Senate candidate Angie Nixon sits down with TBT Editor Mitch Maley to discuss her campaign and how she plans to defeat Ashley Moody in November.

Charles Smith is the Democratic candidate for the Manatee County Commission District 2 seat currently held by Amanda Ballard. Smith, who held the seat from 2014-18, sits down with Mitch and Dawn to discuss why he believes he will be victorious, despite the district being redrawn in 2020 to favor Republicans.

Mark Davis is an NPA candidate for the Congressional District 16 seat being vacated by Republican Vern Buchanan. He joins Mitch and Dawn to discuss his campaign and why he thinks Floridians are ready to vote for a candidate outside of the two-party system. You can learn more about his campaign at markdavisforcongress.com

This week, Mitch and Dawn review Tuesday's primary election results and their implications for November.

In the final episode before Tuesday's election, Mitch and Dawn discuss the upcoming primary, local attack ads, and why understanding the recent history of Manatee County government and its players matters.

Ed Pope is seeking the Republican nomination for Congressional District 16. He joins Mitch and Dawn to discuss his campaign and why he believes his common-sense approach to the issues is what voters are hungry for.