Great Rising, and welcome to The Good News Report with Pamela. Today, we're continuing our conversations with the people asking for the privilege and responsibility of serving our community. Our guest today is Casey Willits, Gainesville City Commissioner for District 3 and the city's current Mayor Pro Tem. Casey was elected to the Gainesville City Commission in 2022 and began serving District 3 in January 2023. Before becoming an elected official, he spent years working in civil rights advocacy, political organizing, and community engagement. He has also worked at the University of Florida and is a member of the United Campus Workers union. During his first term, Casey has focused particularly on affordable housing, transportation, environmental issues, and parks. He is now asking District 3 voters for the opportunity to serve a second term. But today, we're going beyond campaign promises. 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5986593686421504

Welcome to The Good News Report W/Pamela Today, we're continuing our conversations with the candidates seeking to serve the children, families, teachers, and communities of Alachua County. Our guest today is Janine Plavac, candidate for Alachua County School Board District 1. Janine currently serves on the School Board, representing District 5. She was appointed to that seat in April 2025 and is now seeking election to represent District 1. Janine has lived in Gainesville since 1992, and during her time in our community she has watched Alachua County Public Schools evolve through many changes and challenges. She says her approach to school board service is rooted in listening to students, parents, teachers, administrators, staff, and the community and making thoughtful, informed decisions. This election comes at an important time for Alachua County Public Schools. The district is navigating changes in school attendance boundaries, a major redistricting effort, the search for a new superintendent, questions about school facilities, and the ongoing responsibility of educating our children while being good stewards of taxpayer dollars. So today, we're going beyond the campaign signs. We want to understand Janine's experience on the School Board, what she has learned during her time in office, what she believes needs to change, and what she hopes to accomplish if District 1 voters give her the opportunity to serve. 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5986593686421504

Today we're continuing our conversations with the candidates who are asking Gainesville voters for the opportunity to serve their community. Our guest today is Wyatt Clark Zintiz, candidate for **Gainesville City Commission District 2**. Wyatt is a Gainesville native who has dedicated much of his life to public service. At 17, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving as an infantry rifleman and later a rifle team leader, including two combat deployments during Operation Iraqi Freedom. After his military service, Wyatt continued serving his hometown. He worked with the City of Gainesville's Public Works Department and is now a small-business owner. He is also a husband and father of two young children. Wyatt says he is running because he believes Gainesville needs a different approach to local government—one focused on fiscal responsibility, reducing government waste, controlling taxes and fees, and concentrating on the essential services residents depend upon. His platform also addresses issues including GRU, homelessness, public safety, and what he describes as excessive government surveillance. But today, we're going beyond the campaign platform. We want to know the man behind the candidate. We want to hear about his experience, his vision, his priorities, and what he believes Gainesville can become. Wyatt Zintiz, welcome to *The Good News Report with Pamela. Thank you for being here. 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5986593686421504

Great Rising, and welcome to The Good News Report with Pamela. Today, we're continuing our conversations with the candidates who are asking for the opportunity to serve the people of Alachua County. Our guest today is Nelida Jean-Baptiste Pellot, candidate for Gainesville City Commission District 2. **Great Rising, and welcome to *The Good News Report with Pamela*.** Today, we're continuing our conversations with the candidates seeking to serve the people of Gainesville. Our guest today is **Nelida Jean-Baptiste Pellot**, candidate for **Gainesville City Commission District 2**. Nelida brings a unique combination of professional experience, community advocacy, and lived experience to this race. She currently works as a housing inspector with the Gainesville Housing Authority, serves as a director with the Pride Community Center of North Central Florida, and has been involved in community organizing and housing advocacy. Her own journey has shaped the way she looks at housing and community. After a life-changing tragedy in which her home burned, Nelida came to Gainesville and experienced housing insecurity herself, including a period when she lived in her car. Today, she works directly with people navigating housing systems and says that experience strengthened her commitment to making sure others have access to safe and stable housing. Nelida says she wants to help build a Gainesville where everyone has an opportunity to thrive. Her priorities include affordable housing, transparency and clarity in local government, stronger neighborhood infrastructure, meaningful community participation, and preparing Gainesville for climate challenges. District 2 is an open seat this year, with Commissioner Ed Book not seeking reelection. Gainesville voters will choose among three candidates for the seat on August 18. So today, we're going beyond the campaign signs and getting to know the person behind the campaign—her story, her experiences, and her vision for Gainesville. 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5986593686421504

Great Rising, and welcome to The Good News Report W/Pamela. Today, we're continuing our conversations with the people who are stepping forward to serve our community. Our guest today is Nathan Crabbe, candidate for Gainesville City Commission District 2. Nathan has spent much of his career listening to the people of Gainesville and asking important questions about our community. He worked for more than 17 years at *The Gainesville Sun*, including nearly a decade as an opinion writer and editor, where he focused on the issues shaping our city and held government accountable. His work has also included environmental advocacy as editor of "The Invading Sea", and he helped launch Gainesville for All, an organization focused on addressing racial and economic disparities in our community. Now, Nathan is taking a different seat at the table. He's running for City Commission because he says Gainesville needs to become more affordable while protecting its environment, culture, quality of life, and strengthening its infrastructure. District 2 is an open seat this year, with Commissioner Ed Book not seeking reelection, so voters have an opportunity to choose a new voice on the Gainesville City Commission. 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5986593686421504

The Good News Report W/Pamela Hello everyone, and welcome to The Good News Report with Pamela, where we believe that informed communities build stronger communities. For years, many of us in journalism were taught, "If it bleeds, it leads." Here on The Good News Report, we believe there's another story worth telling—the story of people, ideas, and public servants who are working every day to strengthen our communities. As voters prepare for this year's election, our goal is simple: to provide a nonpartisan platform where candidates can introduce themselves, share their qualifications, and help voters make informed decisions. Today we're joined by Donna Bradbrook, candidate for Alachua County Candidate District 2.. Bring your questions and comments and Please Like and Share. 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5986593686421504

Great Rising, and welcome to The Good News Report with Pamela. Today, we're continuing our conversations with the candidates who are asking for the opportunity to serve the people of Alachua County. Our guest today is Byran Williams, candidate for Alachua County Commission District 2. This is an open seat, with current Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler not seeking another term. Four Democratic candidates are competing in the August 18th Universal Primary, meaning voters across the district will have an important decision to make. Byran Williams has entered this race with a vision for the future of Alachua County that includes economic opportunity, responsible growth, effective government, and making sure that the decisions made today serve the people of our county for generations to come. With Alachua County experiencing continued growth, residents are asking important questions about housing, infrastructure, transportation, the environment, economic development, public safety, and how we preserve the qualities that make this community home. So today, we're going to move beyond the campaign signs and slogans. We want to get to know the person behind the campaign, understand why Byran Williams believes he is the right person to represent District 2, and hear his vision for where Alachua County goes from here. 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5986593686421504

The Good News Report with Pamela. Today, we're continuing our conversations with the people who are stepping forward to serve our community. Our guest today is Nathan Crabbe, candidate for Gainesville City Commission District 2. Nathan has spent much of his career listening to the people of Gainesville and asking important questions about our community. He worked for more than 17 years at The Gainesville Sun, including nearly a decade as an opinion writer and editor, where he focused on the issues shaping our city and held government accountable. His work has also included environmental advocacy as editor of The Invading Sea, and he helped launch Gainesville for All, an organization focused on addressing racial and economic disparities in our community. Now, Nathan is taking a different seat at the table. He's running for City Commission because he says Gainesville needs to become more affordable while protecting its environment, culture, quality of life, and strengthening its infrastructure. District 2 is an open seat this year, with Commissioner Ed Book not seeking reelection, so voters have an opportunity to choose a new voice on the Gainesville City Commission. Nathan, welcome to The Good News Report with Pamela. We're glad you're here, and we're looking forward to hearing your vision for Gainesville and, especially, for the people of District 2. 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5986593686421504

Great Rising, and welcome to The Good News Report W/Pamela and Donna Bradbrook Today, we are continuing our conversations with candidates who are asking for the opportunity to serve the people of Alachua County. Our guest today is Donna Bradbrook, candidate for Alachua County Commission District 2. Donna brings decades of public-service experience to this race. She has worked with and for elected officials throughout a career spanning approximately 35 years, including significant experience right here in Alachua County. She has served in county leadership roles involving strategic planning, performance management, transparency, and citizen engagement. Donna holds an MBA from Florida Atlantic University and has managed major countywide initiatives, including work connected to strategic planning, audits, the Wild Spaces Public Places program, and the Alachua County Citizens Academy. She says she is running because she believes residents deserve a meaningful voice in the decisions that affect their communities, and her campaign has emphasized smart growth, environmental protection, public safety, roads, affordability, economic development, and accountable and transparent county government. So today, we're going to get to know the woman behind the campaign, hear her vision for Alachua County, and talk about what she believes District 2—and our entire county—needs for the future.