QNA: Questions Need Answers

Food, farms, firearms and fraud. What do all four have to do with Florida's Commissioner of Agriculture?On this episode of QNA: Questions Need Answers, Munch sits down with Joey Atkins, Democratic candidate for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, for a conversation about one of Florida's most influential but often misunderstood statewide offices.Atkins explains the department through what he calls the “four Fs”: food, farms, firearms and fraud.The conversation begins with Atkins's background in South Florida, college athletics, law and sustainable economic development. He explains how his policy work shaped his belief that effective development requires including the residents, workers, small businesses and other stakeholders directly affected by government decisions.That principle carries through the rest of the conversation.Atkins discusses Florida agriculture, the challenges facing small and family-owned farms and his concern about the influence large corporations have within the food system.The conversation then turns to food access. Atkins describes ways the Department of Agriculture could help connect local farmers and ranchers with communities that have limited access to fresh food, including state-supported farmers markets and stronger connections between producers and consumers.Munch and Atkins also explore the department's consumer-protection responsibilities, including gas-pump inspections, weights and measures, nonprofit regulation, fraud complaints and scams targeting seniors.Atkins argues that complaint and compliance systems should be easier to understand and navigate, with enough staff available to help residents and businesses before problems become punitive.The episode also covers firearms licensing, protections for student-athletes navigating NIL agreements, emergency preparedness and the Agriculture Commissioner's role as a member of Florida's elected Cabinet.Throughout the conversation, Atkins returns to a larger theme: government works better when the people affected by policy have meaningful access to the decision-making process.Topics include: Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, food access, family farms, agriculture, food prices, consumer protection, fraud, firearms licensing, NIL, small business, economic development, nonprofit regulation, emergency preparedness and Florida's Cabinet.QNA: Questions Need Answers features honest conversations about community, culture and politics designed to encourage informed community dialogue.

Can an elected official put community interests ahead of political party?On this episode of QNA: Questions Need Answers, Munch sits down with Wancito Francius, Republican candidate for Florida House District 108, for a candid conversation about political identity, community representation and the policies he says he would pursue in Tallahassee.Francius shares his journey from immigrating to South Florida from Haiti and working as a dishwasher to attending Miami Dade College and Florida International University, becoming a business owner and getting involved in local civic issues.A major portion of the conversation focuses on his political evolution.Francius previously ran for office as a Democrat but now identifies as a conservative Republican. He explains why he changed parties, describes himself as a “common-sense Republican” and discusses several areas where he says his personal positions differ from parts of the Republican platform.Munch presses him on what that political identity means in practice.The conversation explores Francius's proposals involving second chances for formerly incarcerated residents, employment and entrepreneurship, property-tax relief for seniors, assistance for families raising children with autism and affordable housing.They also debate development and displacement in communities like Liberty City, the relationship between Tallahassee and local governments, property taxes, homestead exemptions and the cost of homeowners insurance.The discussion becomes especially candid when Munch challenges Francius on whether reducing property taxes could weaken the local services residents depend on. Rather than avoiding the disagreement, both continue the conversation and explain their different perspectives.The episode ultimately raises a larger question about political polarization: can people with different party affiliations work together around issues that directly affect their communities?Topics include: Florida House District 108, party politics, Republican and Democratic politics, political identity, returning citizens, criminal-record reform, entrepreneurship, property taxes, affordable housing, development, displacement, homeowners insurance, autism services, local government and community representation.QNA: Questions Need Answers features honest conversations about community, culture and politics designed to encourage informed community dialogue.

How do you make local government feel connected to every neighborhood it represents?On this episode of QNA: Questions Need Answers, Munch sits down with Linda Joseph, candidate for North Miami Beach City Commission Group 4, for a conversation about local government, community representation and the future of North Miami Beach.Linda discusses her upbringing in Miami as the daughter of Haitian immigrants, her experiences attending Florida Memorial University and Barry University, political organizing, entrepreneurship and her longtime involvement in organized labor.She explains why she chose to pursue local office after spending years working around state and national politics.For Linda, one of the central ideas is proximity: local government affects many of the things residents encounter every day, and she believes residents should have easier access to the people making those decisions.The conversation explores representation within North Miami Beach, including Linda's support for district-based representation and her concern that citywide representation can make it harder for officials to understand the specific needs of every neighborhood.She also discusses youth civic engagement, affordable housing, opportunities for young adults, senior services, economic development, neighborhood infrastructure and the future of Washington Park.Linda proposes bringing young people into City Hall to learn how local government works and creating more direct opportunities for residents to communicate with city leadership.The conversation also looks at the role labor unions have played in her life and her broader belief that organized communities can influence policy.Topics include: North Miami Beach, local government, affordable housing, labor unions, youth engagement, senior services, economic development, neighborhood representation, Washington Park, infrastructure, civic participation and community accessibility.QNA: Questions Need Answers features honest conversations about community, culture and politics designed to encourage informed community dialogue.

Does Tallahassee understand the communities affected by the decisions it makes?On this episode of QNA: Questions Need Answers, Munch sits down with Florida State Representative Kevin Chambliss of House District 117 for a wide-ranging conversation about South Dade, public policy, community advocacy and the realities of serving in the Florida Legislature.Chambliss shares his journey from growing up in Mississippi in a family with a history of civic and economic involvement to political organizing, congressional staff work and eventually representing South Dade in Tallahassee.He explains one of the first lessons he learned as a legislator: policymakers in Tallahassee do not automatically understand every community they represent through statewide legislation. Chambliss discusses how South Dade's combination of agricultural, suburban and urban communities shapes his approach to policy.The conversation explores agriculture and development, including efforts to protect Miami-Dade's Urban Development Boundary while addressing the region's need for housing.Chambliss also discusses property taxes and his concerns about state preemption of local governments, as well as Florida's property insurance challenges and consumer protections.The conversation then turns to public safety and criminal justice. Chambliss describes work involving Crime Stoppers, witness confidentiality, resources for local police departments and legislation designed to help formerly incarcerated people receive credit for skills and training they obtained while in prison.He also discusses efforts involving students with developmental disabilities, including protections for nonverbal students who may not be able to communicate when something has happened to them.Throughout the conversation, Chambliss returns to the importance of relationships—including working across party lines—while maintaining that his responsibility begins with the community that sent him to Tallahassee.Topics include: South Dade, Florida Legislature, agriculture, Urban Development Boundary, affordable housing, property taxes, property insurance, local government, state preemption, criminal justice, reentry, public safety, disability protections, bipartisanship and community advocacy.QNA: Questions Need Answers features honest conversations about community, culture and politics designed to encourage informed community dialogue.

What standard should our community expect from its public schools?On this episode of QNA: Questions Need Answers, Munch sits down with former Miami Gardens Councilwoman, longtime educator and Miami-Dade County Public Schools District 1 candidate Katrina Wilson.Wilson discusses her experience in education and public service, her decision to run for School Board and what she believes students and families throughout District 1 should expect from their schools.Throughout the conversation, Wilson emphasizes expectations and accountability. She argues that District 1 schools should have access to strong educational resources and programming across academics, athletics, music, science, writing and other areas.She also discusses the role of teachers, school administrators, parents and School Board leadership in student success.Wilson says students should leave school prepared for a range of post-secondary possibilities, including college, technical education, military service and other career pathways.The conversation also explores her belief that the quality of education available to students should not be determined by the neighborhood they come from.This episode is part of QNA's effort to give residents an opportunity to hear directly from candidates about their backgrounds, priorities and approaches to the issues affecting their communities.Topics include: Miami-Dade County Public Schools, School Board District 1, teacher accountability, school leadership, academic achievement, educational equity, parent involvement, student opportunities, career and technical education and public service.QNA: Questions Need Answers features honest conversations about community, culture and politics designed to encourage informed community dialogue.