The Candidates Face the People
Flagler’s young Democratic organizers held a series of roundtable Q&As with local candidates this fall, featuring six candidates from various races. The first event featured Sims Jones and Larry Jones, the following had Cornelia Downing Manfre & Corinne Hermle, and the third event brought Heather Hunter and Clint Curtis.
Each event featured several young panelists from the community, including Black Lives Matter organizer Enosch Henry, AskFlagler’s own Chris Gollon, and several young organizers such as Laura Alvarez and Elisabeth Gustafson. Each event was hosted by Gary Perkins, chair of the Flagler Young Democrats.
The Q&As were broadcasted live from multiple outlets. In addition to Flagler Young Democrats’ stream, AskFlagler recorded and posted each session on social media. Palm Coast mayor Milissa Holland was invited to the third meeting, but ultimately did not appear.
A Push for Change
Flagler County is a historically red area, with 40.3k registered Republicans versus 28.2k Democrats. This year, Democratic organizers have held roadside sign-waving rallies and large gatherings around the county. Their hope is to organize and energize to score some upset victories this Tuesday on election day.
Thanks to Clint Curtis, Corinne Hermle, Heather Hunter, Larry Jones, Sims Jones, Cornelia Downing Manfre, Gary Perkins, and all youth panelists and organizers for allowing AskFlagler to cover and participate in Q&A proceedings.
Chris Gollon is a Flagler County resident since 2004, as well as a staple of the local independent music scene and avid observer of Central Florida politics, arts, and recreation.