City candidates spoke over the hiss of latte machines Tuesday as they discussed topics ranging from unemployment among young adults to political ethics.
The forum, held at Volta Coffee, Tea and Chocolate, was sponsored by the UF College Democrats, Santa Fe College Democrats and Alachua County Young Democrats.
District 2 candidates James Ingle and Lauren Poe attended, as did District 3 candidates Susan Bottcher and Ozzy Angulo. At-large candidate Thomas Hawkins, who was at the Duckpond Neighborhood Association forum, joined the candidates about 40 minutes into the forum at the coffee shop.
Candidates were asked how they would address the problem of unemployment for young people in Gainesville.
Ingle said that one solution is to use commission-funded projects to hire Gainesville citizens.
“We need to make sure the money we spend goes to local businesses,” he said.
Poe said that current programs like the Innovation Hub at UF will help the situation by capturing the ideas of Gainesville students and residents.
Candidates were also asked whether they thought people should be banned from citizen comment if they curse at city commission meetings. The question referred to an incident Thursday when activist Pat Fitzpatrick called Gainesville commissioners “fascist a**holes.”
Poe said he supports a temporary ban if a citizen’s behavior gets out of hand. Ingle, Angulo and Bottcher said they don’t support a ban, but that it would be appropriate to remove someone from a meeting if he or she curses.
“Unless they’re a clear threat to public safety, I don’t think anybody should be banned,” Bottcher said.
