Hi, everyone. I'm Greg Box with West two news in west dot com And this is another one of our series of debates across Central Florida leading up to the August 18th primary election. And right now we're joined by the Democrats and House District 48. That's an Orange County. And, uh, it's gonna burn oddly shaped district that stretches all the way down from Azalea Park on the north, down to the Hunter's Creek, Meta woods and South Chase subdivisions. And we're joined by most of the contenders in this race. Ah, the candidates are Daisy Morales. Nelson Pina, Julio Roca. Uh, Tony, Tony Sonus. I'm gonna get that right. I promise. Tony and Samuel Vilchez Santiago Miss Morales could not join us for this session today. Thank you, gentlemen, for being here with us. And I'm gonna give each of you about a minute and 1/2 to explain your position a little bit about your personal and professional background. We'll get more into your positions as we go through a lot of the questions, Uh, and why you're in this race and why you think voters should vote for you and we'll begin with Mr Pain Yah. Well, thank you again for inviting us. And, uh, yeah, thank you for allowing us to be here again. My name's no subpoena, and I am very happily married with three awesome kids. Um, I am a highly qualified individual who has a master's degree in business administration. Um, I also manage my own personal real estate business. Um, I am a commissioner for the Planning and Zoning Commission board of Orange County. I was also involved, and I was the president off our community h away. Um, and I love to be here to let you know that based on my experience, my background on my education, I am ready and willing to take the responsibilities to represent a District 48. Thank you. All right, Mr Rocca. Thank you, Greg. My name is Julio Roach, and I'm running for the House District 48. The reason why I'm running because I believe our district needs change in three main things. The economy, education and affordable housing. Why am I the right candidate for the job? I have 20 years of experience is a business owner as a job creator. I have jump in this race. I have a new idea that I believe we can bring new industries that pay higher wages to the district I lived in in Central Florida since 1995. I came from Ecuador, but I was born and raised in New York City. Yeah, I went to U C F. I got a bachelors degree in behavioral science. Then I got an M B A from Rollins College. In 2008 I moved into the district. I have kids that go to public schools in the district, and I have a business which I drive across the district every single day. I'm familiar with the district. I know the needs of the district, and I think I can create change. That's why I'm the right candidate for a position. All right. Thank you, Mr Sonus. The whole thing's Gragg. It's going to be here legally, a little bit about myself first. I'm a lifelong resident of Central Florida, have lived here since 1980 of a father of 21 of my Children goes to Orange County public schools, and my wife and I were both furloughed from our jobs dirt due to the krona virus pandemic, most of volunteer coaching youth sports of Orange County parks and rec as long as the Y, M, C. A and I have extensive experience in leadership in our state's largest industry. Travel and tourism, where I've developed over $40 million budgets have supported the travel industry across North America or District, it needs help. It really needs a portable housing, a revamped unemployment system and expanded Medicaid and in Tallahassee, all flight for those things. And I'll ensure that businesses pay their fair share of taxes as well. Also protect our environment and be a strong leader on improving education across the state. I hope you'll join our fight and visit toning sonus dot com where we'll put workers first. All right, Mr Vilks. Santiago, Thank you so much. Brag. My name is Samir Vultures Santiago. My family and I escaped political prosecution when I was a kid when I got here, they don't know any English yet, with the help of the community was actually able to graduated valedictorian from Colombo High School. Attend Princeton University since have been working to empower the most older one in our community, currently serving as they floated campaign manager for overruling its local nonprofit that focuses on voting rights expansion and as a member of urine on each other review commission. In that journey, I had the owner of earning President Obama's Volunteer service award for over 4000 hours of community service in the community. And that's exactly why I know that our community has been ignored for, too for too long. In this time of crisis. We are community, the search bold action because the same old one work 12 action and re bars to fixing our unemployment system and better wages for every worker, bold action and the Barstow affordable housing, old action and robots for educational, justice and racial justice. And I'm ready to take the bold action. That's exactly why I was in North by The Orlando Sentinel, and I hope to endure on our honor before August 18. Just said Samuel Villages sending for Florida that come for more information, Gentlemen, a good chunk of the district includes the international drive and tourism area, the Convention center, a lot of convention business that's been lost in the wake of the pandemic, several of you and your opening statements of mentioned affordable housing, which is really key for some of those low wage workers that work in the tourism corridor. What is your plan for helping that rebound and recover from that gut punch of the Corona virus? Especially in this district on for those workers that are struggling not only to pay bills but wondering if they're gonna have a roof over their heads? And we're gonna begin with Mr Sonus Scrag. I think this is a really important question. It's one of the three key pillars of my campaign. The first is we have to protect our state housing trust funds, the Sadowski Fund, from any future raids to siphon off dollars back into the general fund. The second is we have got to stop preempting home role both here locally, as well as across the state that prevents counties municipalities from requiring developers. Teoh include informal units in those new apartment complexes that we see popping up everywhere. Those are two key ways that in the short term we could really address affordable housing and ensure there's there's more available affordable housing units across the district. Mr. Built a Santiago. How do you help that? Especially tourism and hospitality industry that's been decimated by the Corona virus. Our community has been hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic, both in terms of health care and also economics and in regards so affordable housing. We're truly going through the middle of a crisis here in Florida. I definitely agree that we need to not only protect this Sadowski fun but also ensure that that fund is actually being utilized for affordable housing. We also needed to think about increasing wage because the reality is we have our housing costs of Ghana ball wages have remained stagnant, so increasing the minimum wage to leave $15 an hour and also increasing supply. So working together industry leaders to ensure that we increase applies, I believe, based on different research, that Florida needs about 600,000 new units, toe actually need the supply needs. So we need to do that. And finally, we need to support innovative ideas at the local level, such as the creation of timing homes, Asare, local communities, fight against homelessness and fight against the housing crisis. Mr. Paying you, what is your plan? Well, as also uh, Orange County approved 18 year budget plan to address that issue with a $160 million. I think that was a good start for them, too. Obviously, address the problem off affordable housing in our district. However, we need to do more than that. And as a state representative, we need to ensure that the budget should be increased so that our community in our our county can increase that budget. $160 million in 10 years is not enough to address the shortness. Now we're being confronted. So by increasing the funding and also making sure that we create a practical and a clear legislature to ensure that our partners in our private industries will make enough affordable housing units so that they could also at their part to this particular issue. So by doing both, we will be able to address that problem. Thank you. All right. All right. And, Mr Rocha, your plan. Thank you. Uh, Sadowski Fun. Obviously, I'm gone. I'm gonna sit with my counterparts and right will come to an understanding that we need to fund affordable housing because that's what the fun is designed for. In addition to that, we need to work on promoting our region as you understand the TV T tax had dropped 97% of the month of June, so he has extremely decreased in the money coming in on the other one. It's the one idea that I propose we need to create jobs in other industries so individuals can move from the hospitality industry going to other industries where they can get higher wages. I actually just started the conversation with a UCF for with a couple of individual in UCF that are already offering online courses that individuals can take and bring up their economic value, if you will. In addition to that, I started conversations with the National Simulation Center. See, how can we get individuals involved and integrated into the industry that have higher wages in the hospitality industry? That was actually you must be clairvoyant, Mr Rocha, because I was gonna talk more about diversity in the economy. So I'm going to give you another 45 seconds. Teoh expound on that thought, and I want to hear with the others. Have to say about that. So talk to me more about diversity. We talk about this all the time. Let's diversify our economy. Let's get away from tourism. I want to know more more details about how you go about doing that on the state legislative level. I think. Thank you for the question, Greg. So I couldn't really see it as the national chairman. Off a an organization quote. Go span, Icka. Allow me, though I I starter as you already noticed. So from time to time I'm going to get stuck in a word here and there. It's not that I don't know that I'm getting nervous is that I just started. So for everybody watching, please know that I understood preceding. I am the national chairman of an organization called the Hispanic of formerly known as the National Society of Hispanic MBA Organization focuses on providing jobs and career opportunities across the nation. I have been involved with this organization for 12 years. I strongly believe that the relationships that organization and the leadership, including me, have developed will be definitely interested in coming and talking to our district and the opportunities that we have to not just educate to switch people into other industry but also provide those jobs. Mind you. The National Conference of that organization was here last year, and I drive and we brought companies at a high level who offered jobs and took individuals to other areas. People should have the opportunity not just to make more money here, but also has the ability to move elsewhere, making more money. And that's the experience on the knowledge I'll bring to the job when I get elected. All right, Mr Pain. A diversifying the economy. What's your plan? Maybe a bill you would file and what would it dio can go? What I would love to do is, uh, encourage and bring the education system into offering more technical level training toe A lot of people we just don't provide, uh, job offerings to people that are not qualified. So I think that we also need the relationship in the educational industry with our technical schools and even with our universities so that they can open and create technical programs that could be practical. And I could be implemented within six months so that people can be trained and they can be taught how to really perform different types of jobs so that that should be the number one thing that we should do. You know, we need we need to have a skilled, uh, workforce that will provide the services that we all need. And by having that relationship, we should be able to start and actually motivate many of the people that want to do different type of jobs. Right? All right. Mr Bill. Chest Santiago, what is your plan to diversify our economy? Do you? Definitely. You're definitely correct. Would you mentioned the problems that the hospitality industry and we're seeing here right now in the middle of this pandemic? Primarily when it comes to our workers being out of work because tourism is down. So in regards to opportunities, I think the state of Florida has three key opportunities in three industries to be able to diversify the economy, one of them being technology. The 2nd 1 being film on that there weren't being renewable energy and the new environmental economy from ideas proposed like the New Deal and infrastructure changes, I think we need to provide incentives. And when I talk about incentives, I'm not talking about Mrs Sterling tax cuts. I'm talking about education in regards to education, particular things, one of them licenses for people who are here from other countries on our professionals. From those countries like people who are coming from Lyon American, ensuring that they can actually apply their knowledge for a new economy. For instance, my dad on engineer computer science. But when he got here, he was driving cars of the airport because of the license and pro problem. So making it easier for people to have access those licenses. Seconds second thing. Funding apprenticeship programs and ensuring that the labor unions, after those fundings, to ensure that people are being trained for early on, um, endorsed by the firefighters and part of the conversation. Waas, Did you know that you could firefighter from early on when you're in high school? Many high schoolers don't know that. And then the other thing is finding funding for start ups and small businesses. All right, Very good. Mr Sonus, your plan for diversifying our economy. Well, thanks, Greg. Nobody knows the challenges in the hospital hospitality industry. Like Ideo I was furloughed and then laid off from my career with Hilton, so I know these problems very acutely. I would start with increasing incentives for industries that will bring much higher, higher paying jobs to our state. Um, like Sam, I agree that we can develop new educational programs along the lines of stem eso, science, technology, engineering and mathematics that will better equip our students for those high paying jobs, particularly in industries like off the advanced energy sector. There's exciting stuff going on in the advance of energy sector already in our state, when we're expanding or exploring expanding infrastructure for electric vehicles, we need to do much more. We need to continue to grow the solar industry in our state and other green energy industries as well in our state as well. But we also have Teoh promote a strong business climate in our state. One of the challenges I think we run into as Democrats is we retreat into our own corners and we we kind of ignore sometimes some of the things that come out of the Chamber of Commerce in our state because we just aligned them with the other side of the aisle. I will work across the aisle to ensure that our business climate is fair and it is attractive to these advanced energy economy industries so that Florida is the most welcoming state in the country for new industry that's going toe lift up our people. And then finally, we have a great opportunity. Due to our proximity to Latin America. We have an opportunity to expand our logistics industry and invest in our ports so that we capitalize on this unique proximity to a really growing part of the world. All right, I want to switch gears here. Medicaid enrollment in Florida is up each month since the Corona virus pandemics set in. With 4.1 million low income residents receiving benefits, that could be a $1,000,000,000 set back in the budget this year. What your plan to deal with the need for care and how to pay for it. And we'll begin with Mr Rocha it for terrible. Obviously I heads. It's not a good thing, I can tell you that. I was looking at the budget it, but it is actually down right now. So what? What we will need to do is sit down and have an open conversation, Right, Um, with our counterparts to be ableto to provide the service, the health care, we do need to find the funds and and we need to fund it. That simple is that I believe that everybody should get the medical care that they need A I I saw insurance. So I can tell you I know what people lack and when they can qualify for the minimum benefit. So I will definitely I'm open to the conversation. I I actually want to drive the conversation and together we can find again. It's about irritation and coming to an agreement that we need to provide the service to the citizens of the state of Florida. All right, Mr Sonus, on Medicaid. Thank you. So our state is one of the most uninsured states in the country believe we're actually the fourth most uninsured state in the country when we also have one of the highest rates of diabetes in the country, a manageable condition for many people. But that requires regular doctor visits and medication conditions like this. Obesity, which is also rapidly increasing in our state, are really leading Teoh a number of poor health outcomes, and we have to expand Medicaid so that we can ensure more Floridians and help them live longer lives. If Ruby Red states like Oklahoma can expand Medicaid under the affordable Care Act, then we certainly can as well. And then finally I think there's a pragmatic way that we can approach this issue with our colleagues on the other side of the aisle and that is rural hospitals. Rural hospitals across the nation are going out of business at a very fast clip, and they've had the revenue significantly damaged by the Corona virus. Opening up more people who are uninsured under Medicaid would mean new revenue streams to rural hospitals, which would benefit a number of red or GOP held districts in our state. Aziz well as people across the state who would benefit from Medicaid expansion. Vilchez Santiago How do you deal with the increasing Medicaid and then also dealing with the fact that our economy has really taken a hit? So the coronavirus with endemic has demonstrated a big inequality and health coverage gap in our district. Remember nobly in the Citadel holds and communities in 3 to 82 3 to 84. Would you return the most impacted so in Syria in this city in central Florida? In regards to that, I definitely agree that we need to expand coverage for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, going utilize at funding at the federal level two here in the state of Florida. The second thing that we definitely need to do Florida ranks 50. When it comes with mental health care, we need to increase mental health care. And then the most important thing that if we wanna be able to rebuild our economy, we need to take care of our priorities. And our priority right now should be stopping the coronavirus pandemic. So we need to invest in testing and tracing, because if we don't, we're ever gonna be able to get through this Mr Pain. Yeah. How do we deal with both the need for Medicaid? Ah, and also for ah ah is to be able to deal with the budget. That's ah, looking at a tremendous deficit going into next year. Definitely. I mean, let's look at one tell. Has he has done the current budget that was approved? They approved $300 million in reserved just to address the covering 19 issue moving forward. They put that in reserved to, um uh to correct some of the problems or to look forward if they need to use that money. However they also on it. Uh, 200. I'm 41 million to help people with disabilities. So when you look at those two numbers that, uh, the body was just approved, it's not even a dirt off what we need a c estate. So we need to look into the real numbers to make sure that our constituents are covered properly. And I think we could do it two ways. One we need to look at adding a special tax so that it will be for, ah, health care just the same way we do it for affordable housing and the way we do it for schools. So two pennies added toe every single tax that we collect, and it will only be used specifically towards coverage for expanding Medicaid for all different Ian's as well as also getting involved the hospitals and the administration's that are in charge of all the, uh, the private sector's. So we need to do both. It's not just one. So by doing those two and again expanding and adding the tax specifically towards being applied towards future health care benefits, I think we will be in good in good hands and moving forward. What is the very first bill that you would file if you're sent to Tallahassee and Mr Sonus expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. We have too many people that are uninsured across our state, and we have to close that gap, you know, especially during the time of pandemics such as this. And I know this just as much as many others. Dio I lost my father to the Corona virus. Now, thankfully, he had health insurance. So it's not the financial disaster that it could be for many others. But we have to ensure all the people of our state. Uh, let's see, we're going to go to Mr Rocha first Bill. You would file small businesses stimulus for small basis under 20 employees or less, I can tell you that in the in the summer and corridor from the air particular, you have 455 businesses who have been really hurt, who have on their 10 employees off some on their 20 employees. Those individuals have had to let employees go. They currently sit at home, probably not collecting any type of unemployment. I believe that the when the Coronas virus hit the government said that there was going to be $50,000 available for small business owners. I can tell you, I applied for in $17,535 loan I posted on Facebook. I didn't even get a reply. Denied or I received your application. That will not happen to small business owners. We have to help him get back on their feet so they can employ the staff, get them off of the unemployment line on the economy to start moving forward. Thank you, Greg. All right, Mr Pain. Yet? First Bill, you would file. Yeah. It has to do with the economy and helping our people in back to work. It's ah, it's a very important factor. I mean, if people cannot work, then they cannot sustain the families. They cannot pay the bills and the responsibility. So the economy is the number one, uh, priority that I will definitely apply, and I will incorporate the Corona virus. Ah ah, budget that they actually again when they improved 300 million. We definitely need to expand that. And we need to help our constituents and our people to get back to work. Thank you. And the first bill you would file Mr Villages Santiago, the reality is that it's the scent before that our economy is not gonna We're not gonna be able to rebuild our economy. We don't focus on the coronavirus, been them again with going on in our local communities. And the reality is, our workers right now need real relief because everything is looking at their reports that actually it's gonna take five years for the hospitality industry to get back to its feed. So in that regard, I first they will be to fix the broken unemployment system that Onley holding this administration accountable for the failures, but also lower in the burden of proof for people who are unemployed, expanding that only the number, the benefits and reports the number of weeks and also the amount of money that they receive because $275 is not enough for any family a week and then the third thing, including gig workers, to ensure that they can apply for unemployment benefits. Our people need real relief right now coming to the end of our time because I want to give each of you a minute to close. Mr Rocha, your closing statement. Thank you, Greg. My name is Julio Rocha. Thank you for this opportunity. I hope I was able to share with the viewers that again, as everybody agreed here, the first thing that we need to do is change the economy in the district. I have 20 years of experience as a business owner as a job creator. And I'm asking each and every one of you in district 48 to give me your vote because I will go to Tallahassee, injecting a similar to our small business owners. Get the economy running again, change affordable housing on provides safety and security at the schools for our Children. Thank you very much for the opportunity. Great. All right. It looks like we've got ah, Samuel Bill, Chest Santiago back. So I'm gonna give you a chance. A minute to closer. Thank you so much, Greg Assay said in my statement. Our community, the service, bold action and we're ready for change. Now. I am not running just simply in some idea of change. I am running of getting in and in record of getting changed, enacted in our community. In fact, it's a member of the Orange County Charter Review Commission, which is the second most important body here in this county. I actually had to sit for hours and listen to constituents concerned for 345 hours and what I heard allowing Toe actually make decisions that affected 1.4 million residents of Orange County and every citizen in District 48. And in every single decision, I stood at the side of the people. I took the side of the future. And the reality is we won't be able to solve the problems of today, and the problems off tomorrow would get yes, of yesterday. I am running on a platform of change on I ask for your vote on or before August 18th. Look me up, Samir for Florida back home and Mr Sonus, your closing statement. Thanks, Greg. Thanks for having all of us here tonight. Experience is so critical in Tallahassee, but it's the experience that you get from dealing with diverse stakeholders. It's experience you get from having an interest in our state's largest industries, such as I have. It's experiences comes from a lifetime spent in Orange County from being a parent with kids in our schools and from being directly impacted by the event that disappointed to find our times the Corona virus because they said I lost my own father to the disease and I lost my job as well. But I think you know what's most important. This isn't about any of us. This is about people in District 48. I know that you are hurting, whether it's from your help from the growing virus or your finances. I know you need affordable housing. I know you need a revamped unemployment system with higher wages and more weeks of benefits. And I know that we have to expand Medicaid so that we can provide health care to all of our state's citizens. I hope you'll join our fight and visit Tony service dot com. Join. Our fight will transform Florida. It will put workers first and Mr Pain you your closing statement, please. Well, I am a motivational leader with an extensive business background, highly educated and motivated and ready to fight and defend all the issues that affect our constituents. I'm willing to take each of them and bring them to Tallahassee and confront them head on. I am one of those that will really fight and defend properly. Those issues. Affordable housing, unemployment, the economy, small business. I mean, these are or riel issues that affect each and every one of us. My family is also being affected. So I know how they are. And I can tell you when I promise that I would take each one and I would fight. And I will do everything in my power to make sure that every bill that we will look at it's for the benefit of the constituents and not for a small group. Um, I am ready, and I am very motivated. Thank you. And I really appreciate right. Thank you all, gentlemen. Yes, Frank. If I may, I really want to bring something off. Mr. Santiago has mentioned that he sat on the C r. C. But in the Searcy, he actually voted 5 to 0 against unethical mission against having an ethics commission overseeing lobbyist on boards. So I must mention that because the public most know on the record shows it No, in fact, in fact, Greg, and thank you for bringing this off. If you actually go and look at the meetings, I feel it's actually the person who proposed creating an independent ethics port for the count. I tell you where I boarded longboats in Fort it. Mr. Rocio will get back to you. Please make your point, Mr Vilchez Santiago, go ahead to ensure that we van lobbyists from serving in local boards. It was a 4 to 1 vote and I voted for that. When it came back to the full Searcy I took a stand and they said I'm against with being proposed and I stood against it. You can look at that. You can look, you can look at my record and you can look at the fact that I was going to propose Independent Commission on Ethics. E thank you both. I think I thank you for bringing that up, Mr Rocha Ideo and we could go back and forth in this all day. But as Mr Village says, Santiago suggests, we'll take a look at the record and we certainly will. For now, though, this is the conclusion of our debate. Once again, a note that ah, Daisy Morales could not join us. These are most of the candidates in the House district. Ah, 48 Democratic primary in Orange County and the winner goes up against Republican Jesus Martinez in November. This is a West two news debate. I'm Greg Fox, right,