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Meet the Candidate: Glenn Dorsey Discusses Pensacola Chamber Q&A · Palafox Media Network

• Greg: Welcome folks and to political matrix news. ⁓ we are once again here ⁓ Glenn Dorsey, run for county commissioner on the Glenn Dorsey show. ⁓ hey Glenn, how's it going today? It's a Glenn: Good day, but it is hot outside. Greg: It is hot. I mean I'm over here in Flagler County, ⁓ just like I guess the Sister County of Escambia. We got around ninety eight today over here in Escambia. Did it get that hot over there? Glenn: They say it's in the low nineties there, but I begged it when you go outside you'll you'll melt. Greg: Well, you know, melting is one good thing to to do whenever ⁓ whenever the summertime is here and and I think ⁓ part of the campaign here is to make sure your opponent melts away. And so ⁓ and so th th that's the main goal here. And so that being said, it looks like the Pensacola Chamber sent put out a questionnaire here that I guess you guys were answering here and ⁓ and preparing ⁓ to to talk about. And so it looks like they have some pretty interesting questions on their questionnaire. So we're gonna probably just gonna go through them here on this show here. They have a few different segments and so ⁓ Let me know when you're ready to go. Ready? Okay, we got some seat built on here. So I guess the first question they're asking about is a local option sales tax. For those people who do not know, we vote for that every ten years. And it's actually what pays for a lot of the parks and pays for a lot of amenities around the county and infrastructure and so on and so forth. And whenever you say you're lost is at work, you see those ⁓ penny signs, that's what that's all about. And so I guess with renewal of it coming up in this year. Glenn: Ready. Give it to Greg: ⁓ they're asking what specific alternative funding mechanisms would you support for the infrastructure needs if it did not pass? And so what's your response on that? Glenn: So I support the renewal of Lost, but only when it's responsibly used for its intended purpose. And we've seen that deviate a lot in the last 10 years. And it was originally intended for infrastructure improvement. Over the last 10 years, well, I guess maybe over the next 10 years, when this comes up on the November ballot here, I support using Lost for infrastructure related capital improvements, including the roads, drainage, parks, bridges, sidewalks, public safety infrastructure. in long term improvements that taxpayers can actually see and measure. I you know when they say they call it the penny for progress there, ⁓ but we've been paying that penny for quite some time and and I'm not seeing the progress that I I think all the taxpayers would enjoy to see. So it's been unfortunately, Greg, as as you may or may not know, you know, it was really sold to the taxpayer as a infrastructure improved plan. That's right. Get better roads, ⁓ parks. parks, ⁓ all of those things there. And we've seen that legislation amended so the commissioners could use it for other items. And we're seeing that where they're not funding the intended items through their general fund budget, but instead they're using all the ancillary tax services so they can re spend the money in the general fund on other we can call needs, but sometimes they're they're really just wants within the community. So as you know, you know, from our discussions in the past, I am really about getting back to the basics. Government should serve a limited role in our lives. ⁓ and it is certainly intended to make sure that we've got roads to drive on, parks that are safe and can be used by our residents, and and so on. But on November 3rd, every resident or every voter is gonna have the opportunity to decide do we wanna continue to pay that extra one cent tax? And I can probably tell you that ⁓ we are The the county is not positioned to lose that money. But they have relied upon it for, like I said, for what I would co consider operational expenses or general fund expenditures. And if we take that away, we're really gonna be in a in a bad spot. But I would like to see the transition over in the next year to two years of really getting back to the reason why that tax is in place, why the voters voted for it. And we need to expand it. Well then, you know, let's talk about that with the voters there. But I don't think it's fair to us taxpayers to sell me one item and then trade another down the line. Greg: Well, how much revenue does it generate a year right now, on average? Glenn: think it's generating a bit more than $70 million. You know, it's a it's a considerable and the advantage to that, Greg, rather than just raising it from our property taxes, is is that everybody pays it. If you're driving through Sambeg County and you stop and buy yourself a sandwich, ⁓ you're gonna contribute towards our infrastructure within the area. Now certainly that's what gas taxes are for. The general fund originally was intended to to repair our roads and to maintain them. Greg: Wow. Glenn: This was just to give us that little bit of added benefit to make sure that our infrastructure was always kept in the way that it should be. So what we've done, I think, over the last few years is we've allowed a lot of growth to happen, as everybody in the community knows, and they have not required those development entities to put in the necessary infrastructure. infrastructure and instead we're we're now getting behind where the infrastructure is beginning to cave in. We don't have any money we've misspent out of the lost funds. And I just want to return us back to some common sense and basics. Greg: Yeah, because you represent the west end of the ⁓ the county and so I think the infrastructure issues I think are from what I remember and from what I see every day, for what I hear every day online and from what I realize working on a lot of different work over there in the past, is that their needs are great for infrastructure. And if you're generating seventy million dollars of revenue, I did not see any portion of that. I mean if you just break that up by twenty percent, I did not see that value going into the infrastructure. Or and if it is, it need to do some you know, readjust their bidding process or readjust her spending process because no, I mean i i it is it's it's not it's not attainable to to to to where it's going. I mean it it's ridiculous and how it's foolishly it's being spent and how how little it's doing being used to help the community in that region. Glenn: That's right. You know, and again, it was really intended for the roads, drainage, parks, and that kind of stuff there. Well, we got too many potholes, Greg. ⁓ and even more than that, last year we spent an extra, I think, four and a half to five million dollars buying the sheriff new vehicles. Now, as you know, ⁓ the law enforcement budget in Escambia County is about a third of the total budget. Right. It's not that I don't want to ha have our deputies riding around in brand new cars. Greg: Yeah, a lot of bow holes over there. ⁓ Glenn: ⁓ but where they're going to need to tighten their belts as well and spend the money that they collect on the property tax bill rather than taking our road money and and using it for the purchase of cars. And again, I think it's just because I'm a strict conservative. If we're going to buy something in this county, we have to start considering the long term operational and maintenance expenses that come along with the decisions that we're making. Right. Greg: I mean ⁓ you know when you talk about buying new vehicles for law enforcement, which is a very good thing to do, but at the same time if you're buying new vehicles and are still driving on the same old roughed up roads that are potholes and pothole driven and and poorly ⁓ maintained, you still have as we all know, everybody who's driven a car knows that you're gonna have a lot more wear and tear on your vehicle and a lot more damage on your vehicle that by the way, the taxpayers are paying for all that. It's not being paid for by private dollars at all. So Never the wear and tear on the county vehicles, the wear and tear on the law enforcement vehicles, all that is being paid for by taxpayers. That's right. So I mean, basically it's almost like they're they're paying this to pay that and they're paying that to pay this. And ⁓ th there's no real ROI for the voters or for the citizens of Escambia County. Glenn: And it you know, in my opinion, it wasn't on the package label of what I was being sold. You know, when I was told that if I say a one percent additional sales tax, it would be going towards the capital improvements of the roads drainage there. I'm not against buying new vehicles in in any manner. I'm just against buying those vehicles from the local option sales tax that was intended for our roads. Greg: I mean there's a mechanism in place and that mechanism is not being used. Glenn: That that's right. That's right. And I think our tax our our our politicians, if they were required to consider the long term ramifications of every spend that they make, ⁓ we wouldn't be making some of the mistakes that we're making in the county. As much as I would love for somebody to give me a twenty million dollar home, the fact of the matter is is I can't pay the property taxes on it. So you're giving me a gift that I cannot maintain. Greg: We have a history here of the county ⁓ funding projects to nowhere. And so I mean b b basically i it's almost like they're just funding something to to fund it to help somebody out or to help a donor out or a nepotism driven individual out. And so I mean and that's not blanketly saying that. I'm not but there are a lot of anecdotal isolated incidences and way to me to to really avoid. And that that that's one thing that we do see a lot with the ⁓ not it's not just a scambia county, it's ⁓ county's all across the state of Florida and everything else. And that's actually one reason why the Doge thing came up with the ⁓ CFO. It's to look at all the wasteful spending and to look at where they can actually use figure out how to to cut to cut budgets. I I do think that as we come up on the next question here, the chamber was asking about the property tax reform that's gonna be on the ballot and whether or not it's gonna pass and if it does pass and ⁓ how are you gonna be able to handle the the funding make up and everything else. But whenever they they're realizing that, they're asking that question, basically trying to hurt people because they're not giving them an option of anything except for we're just gonna cut your fire, we're gonna cut your law enforcement, we're not gonna cut anything else. That's right. So what's your opinion on the property tax ballot issue coming up? Glenn: That's what we're seeing. It's the same thing if that lost budget is not voted back in by the voter. You what you're hearing all the politicians scream at the top of their lungs is that we're going to have to make cuts and big cuts there. Well listen, we don't need to wait till November to start making some cuts and talking about the things that need to be readdressed within our county. That is the role of the county commissioner. We're a policymaker. And that should require us to talk to our county administrator and say, look, We want every department to come back to us within the next 30 to 60 days on their own accord and suggest to us a five percent cut across their entire budget and how they can achieve that particular reduction. Listen, I've had to do the same thing in business. Last four years, ⁓ we watched our operating costs go up and up and up and up. Inflation was absolutely out of control. The cost of insurance had more than double doubled. We had conversations internally within my organization about. How can we trim some of the fat? Where is the fat and how can we trim it? And that's exactly what it is that we did. We're putting a lot of reliance upon the taxpayers to continue to raise the tax obligation upon themselves. And I think most likely the the citizens will agree to do that because they want better roads. But it doesn't take away from the fact that we need to properly spend that money, or even better not spend some of this money. To make sure that we're making the wise decisions. So I am opposed that if Lost fails, that we find some other way to tax our local residents. The time to start looking at our budget and trimming expenses is right now, not tomorrow, not the next budget cycle, not after we find out what happens in November. It's right now in order to find out where those savings are going to be. Which ties us back into your question about the property taxes. DeSantis has put forward a a ballot initiative on this November for every resident to consider whether we want to increase property tax exemptions. And when we do that, when we we allow for an additional exemption, what we're going to do then is often overburden those that do pay that bill. Or we're going to have to make cuts. So you know if there's four of us that are going to go to lunch and we, you know, have a forty dollar lunch bill and we divide up four ways, it's ten bucks a piece. But when suddenly Glenn doesn't have to pay, that forty dollar lunch just gets divided three ways and we have to pay more. Greg: Yeah, and so ⁓ so basically I mean what we're seeing here as far as ballot initiative is we have a double whammy coming out first game big kinda and ⁓ we have basically are you going to ⁓ cut your penny and then are you gonna go ahead and vote to cut property tax ⁓ property taxes basically or the exemption or vote for the exemption which will cut property tax funding. And so and and that being said, it's very interesting that we're asking voters to hey, we wanna save money or do we not want to save money? I and I mean Logically you you're you would assume that they're all gonna say yes on both of those. And if that were to be the case, if they do both pass, I mean and and to A to stop the local option sales tax and then put the money back in your pocket, and B to go ahead and vote for the exemption and and return that property tax back to the homeowner if they vote for both of those issues. I mean, how is that gonna what kind of dire shapes would that leave the county in? It could. Glenn: And that's the tactic I think that's being used in order to kind of push for the yes vote on both of those initiatives there. But I I don't want to scare the taxpayer. Listen, last four years, the Escambia County budget has increased by thirty two point six percent. Have that been grant money? Yes, it has. But make no mistake. Greg: But how? Glenn: Thirty-two point six per And the governor's position was is can we just roll back one year worth of that increase? Can we roll back maybe two years of that increase? And I think that answer is yes. We simply go back to our budget of two years ago, we look at what our staffing and our expenses were two years ago, and we start making some smart decisions based on facts and figures. Greg: Exactly. I mean so a thirty two percent thirty two point six percent increase, and that's just over the last one year or the last four years? Four years. And so whenever that kind of I mean, nobody's salary increases that much, but obviously their spending does. And I guess you said that your opponent has said that, you know, basically his defense was we have a raise of millage rate. But I guess he's ⁓ claiming ignorance to the people here about how really the taxes really work. Glenn: It's funny. We were at a candidate for you know, unfortunately, we were at a candidate forum there and ⁓ Mike pulled out the facts and figures and said, you know, in two thousand and six the millage rate was eight percent, but in the last four years we've kept the millage rate the same, or actually actually reduced it by a thousandth there, so you know, I have not supported for the increase in your taxes. ⁓ what it's important for the taxpayer to understand that thoroughly. What we do in Escambia County to to meet our budgeted obligations is the county commission says we'd like to spend this amount of money. Then at that point there's a tax rate and which is based off your property value. Well, property values have gone up significantly in the last four years. You've not had to change the tax rate because the cost or the the value of the Real estate itself has provided that 32.6 increase. My position is that we shouldn't have gone to that 32.6% increase. We should have rolled back the tax rate based on those increased appraisals. And again, I'm a fiscal conservative. I think it's wonderful that you know the county has a a couple few social media folks and and people in their press department. But listen, I can grab my phone and take a selfie of myself. And probably save the taxpayer about $75,000 a year between all the employee benefits that that come along with it. We're gonna have to s get smart about our government. This is the people's money. They're working hard for it. The people in the district, they're working class folks. I'm a working class guy. I stepped into this race because the spending is out of control and the decision making is not to my liking within this county. Now I can complain about it just like everybody else. Or I can do something about it. And I'm fortunate to be in a position where I'm able to take time out of my business and give back to this community that's blessed me for the last thirty years in business. I've been here for thirty five years in total and return some of the the gratuitousness that's that's been provided to me through this county. Right. Greg: Now the next question that I guess the chamber had was they're talking about the rising costs of food and gas and other costs of living and necessities throughout the community. And we see that through the inflationary fact that we're all living. And so I mean, basically, what, you know, position would you have as a county commissioner to address that and and how would you address the affordability issue here within the district? Glenn: So I had to smile when they sent me that question and I had the opportunity to respond back to it. There is nothing that I can do as a county commissioner to reduce the price of food, gas at the gas pump, the the the the cost of a a coffee cup at Starbucks or anything of that nature. Well, I wish I I wish that I could. The controls that I have are over policy, and that policy starts with making housing much more affordable. Greg: Why not? Glenn: Than what it is. All too often. And we're seeing a lot of that right now with the OLF 8 project over by Navy Federal, all that land that the county has owned and then has recently sold, and they're having to rezone there. But we've got a lot of areas within District 2 that ⁓ need to be revitalized or they're currently vacant. They're open for development. And what would happen is that we would rely upon a private real estate developer to go and acquire that land or put a contract on it and then go before the planning and zoning board over several months in order to get that property rezoned. So maybe we could put a quadruple on it, or maybe we decide on a 10 acre parcel we're going to allow for a new apartment community to be built. My position is that the the county ought to be proactive in that. And that way the politicians stay out of it. ⁓ you got a lot of folks that get paid a lot of money to get you through the rezoning process. And if we can identify those areas in District Two and rezone them for what we would like to see as a county in terms of good use in doing the infill where the roads, the utilities already exist and we're not going to overburden Our neighbors with making bad decisions that will help us with our ability to create housing supply. Because if you buy this piece of land now, it's zoned and ready for you to build upon because we've got the infrastructure in place. Or we can clearly articulate to the development entities we're going to require you to put in sidewalks or a left deceleration lane here. And here's the anticipated cost of that. But we have to be proactive as commissioners in setting policy. And I think all too often we just try to get our name into the Pensacola News Journal and say, Well, you know, I'm for, you know, renaming somebody's road, ⁓ you know, Glenn Dorsey Way or or or whatever the case may be. ⁓ and we're just trying to grab the headlines. I'm not a guy that's looking for headlines. I'm looking for a to make a change within this community, make it better, and then I'm gonna step away from politics, retire, finish out my career in my business and and live life happily ever after. In this town. Right. Greg: That sounds like a good idea. Now I have a question though. On the gasoline tax, is there any way that as a county commissioner you would look at possibly adjusting the gasoline tax that affects people on a local level? Because I know but a lot of people think that the tax is all just the federal government, but they don't realize they got federal, state, county, municipality if there is a if it's inside the municipality, there's all kinds of extra fees that are on top of the ⁓ the gasoline price. And people just keep on thinking it's the oil companies who are gouging ⁓ and it's really nice. A lot of the different government agencies who are adding their own fees and their own rates and everything on top of that that's that could be adjusted. ⁓ do you think there's any room have you after looking at the budget, is there any room to adjust that to help relieve some pressure on people locally? Glenn: Looked at the budget and it needs a lot of looking after, Greg. We're talking nearly 900 million dollars annually that's being spent with the budget. It's yeah, a real small budget there. I am for spending the next year and a half to two years just tearing that apart. And listen, that's not going to make everyone happy. I just want to be clear about that. Glenn can stand up for what is right. You're going to have people that are going to outcry because they like. the gifts that they're getting in terms of neighborhood grants or whatever the case may be for their individual pet project. My focus is in our infrastructure. I've got a lot of folks that are just simply trying to go to work or trying to go to the hospital or trying to go to the grocery store. And next thing you know, they hit a big pothole and now they got a $400 car expense. Or they're driving on their way back to their community and there is couches dumped on the side of the road and mattresses and and Household garbage being left out there. It is time for us to start cleaning up our community. So I'm not the right decision for somebody that wants to grow government in terms of the giveaways and the handouts. I'm the right decision for trying to be smart about returning our government back to its basics, taking care of our roads, parks, drainage, and the things that affect every single one of us as residents and as taxpayers. The more money that I have in my pocket, the more things that I can do in terms of taking care of my own property, because I don't want to rely on government to do it. Greg: I guess ⁓ next question they asked was about health, which I think is ironic or unique because you're the county for goodness sakes. But it says health outcome health outcomes vary significantly across different neighborhoods and demographic groups in your community. What role do you believe local government should play in addressing these health disparities? And what specific actions would you support? Now, if that is not a loaded question, how would you answer that loaded question? Well Glenn: I suggest that they were probably asking what type of of grant or neighborhood incenter programs or or taxpayer giveaways would I be willing to support? I think I I've answered that question and that Glenn wants to better your health by giving you a nice, comfortable road to drive on that is safe, making sure that your stoplights are properly timed so nobody's being left out in an intersection or getting creamed. Greg: Fine, right. Glenn: For a failure to stop by somebody, controlling some of the speeding that happens within the communities. Getting sidewalks so folks aren't walking in the middle of the road or too close to the the the edge of the road. So ⁓ I health Greg: You you're mentioning before they have sidewalks to nowhere. They have sidewalks that are being prob you know, developed and everything else and they're gonna be tearing them apart in three or four years to put a road there. Glenn: Just you you gotta love the wisdom of our county government there. We we lose a little bit of priority or we can't get something done. So in order to satisfy the the the taxpayer, well, let's just put in a new three million dollars worth of sidewalks that we'll have to tear up if we ever decide to widen this road instead of just saving that money or even better, putting it into the other areas of the county that need that money put into it. I'm all for sidewalks. I I I would have no problem in our larger communities to make sure that we've got good walkable communities. And I'm all for revitalization in our areas of Warrington to make sure that we've got sidewalks for the folks and especially when you get around the public transportation stops there. It is important to have a sidewalk rather than just dropping off these ⁓ folks. at some street corner with you know no bench and no sidewalk and and putting ⁓ in the middle of the road there. We've got a lot of folks within our community that rely upon the public transportation system. Greg: Exactly. Now I think that question is also probably geared toward the like the the county clinic and the and the health clinic and everything else. So do you think that I mean I have no idea what their part in the budget is right now that I looked that that deep in the budget on the medical side. I mean, is it extra extraordinarily high? Is it a big percentage of the budget budget or is it does it need to be increased with more oversight? And not increase with less oversight? Glenn: It it's less than one percent of the budgets the amount of money that's being gifted for the health services there. I understand that every organization feels like they can do more if they only had more money. ⁓ until we get through doging the Escambia County budget and making sure that we are optimized in all of our individual departments, I'm not ready to provide any increases to any of the departments. And the with the exception of that being to the road department. And to the the code enforcement department, but not to be a hammer, more or less to identify the areas that need attention. And listen, I'll be the best ⁓ inspection agent that there is, because I drive this county on a daily basis, and I have I constantly write down in my notebook exactly where the concerns and issues are. And I think that's what you should expect out of a commissioner. You don't have to wait for the public outcry in order to get something done. We should be proactive. But more than that, we have to start communicating in these public meetings. And this communication is simply not occurring. ⁓ I have yet to go to a county commissioner's meeting where it said in the next month we intend to repave this road or that road or to fix the potholes over on this area or to ⁓ redo a park. ⁓ in fact, just today I was sent by ⁓ you know, one of my residents out in the Perdito Quay area. They just tore down the last bath and shower stall on Perdito Key. So now Perdito Key is loaded only with Portolettes there. You want to go and develop tourism, ⁓ you're gonna have to take a couple bottles of water with you and rinse yourself off and step into the the Portalette because there are no more public bathrooms out on the quay. Greg: That leaves you almost speechless, really. It it it does. Wow. Okay, then it Glenn: If we're gonna make this community better, it starts with giving our residents a place to go. We should have some nice parks. I told you I I raised two kids here. I want them to play ball at a nice park. ⁓ I want when we go to the beach a place to be able to take a shower and use the restroom instead of having to step into a portalet there. And if you look at the amount of money that's being generated out on that key through the TDT revenue, through the rental of of condos. Greg: Exactly. Anybody. Yeah, but th there's no money out there, you know, because there there's cuts and everything and there's all these budget cuts and there's no money. There's no no tourism. Yes. It just talks about yeah, whatever. Okay, so next question here is yeah, about the Pensacola Bay Center or old elephant ⁓ civic center downtown. Yes, that's a wonderful, wonderful place down there. And so they're asking the Pensacola Bay Center and the surrounding downtown area should be evaluated With one basic question in mind, what is the highest and best use of this property for the taxpayers of Oscambia County? If I haven't heard that question so many times over the last thirty years of my involvement in news and politics in this local area, it's probably happened thirty years before that. So what's the best use for that land? Glenn: I don't know about the best use because I've looked at the budget itself here. I'm gonna share with you my concerns. And listen, you you're gonna be able to criticize Glenn by the time I give you my answer. But one thing you can always count on as a resident in this area is that I'm gonna just tell you the truth of what I feel. My ears and my eyes are open. I I I'm willing to change my mind. Do so based on facts. So here's the facts. The base center loses a little bit more than two million dollars a year. Greg: Go ahead. Glenn: It is mostly occupied as an ice rink. We've spent several millions of dollars improving that bass center so we can continue to host those ice skating and hockey games and and other events that are down there. So they're talking about well, should we scrap that out, update that, put in new sound systems and all of that? Well the first question I ask is is if we're you know Because the the given is is that is going to be a fixed expense. Now we have to live on hope and and representations. Well, if we build it, they will come. Glenn wants a little bit of proof in the if we build it, they will come. I have to also consider the fact that we've got a Wahoo stadium that is probably within a mile as the crow flies, a nice new amphitheater behind the Wahoos Stadium in large park area where lots of parking occurs. And if we're going to expand this base center, the question that every resident is probably going to ask is what are you going to do with all the cars in the traffic that intend to go to an event being held there? So as I look at that, then I consider, well, what about University of West Florida out on nine mile? Lots of land, probably lots of use because the school itself would have a utilization for it. We can put an ice rink out there, which certainly attracts more students out to the University of West Florida. How much sense does it make to continue to pour money into that base center and expand it based on its location, condition, and future use? So I need a lot of convincing before I would be willing to support borrowing money or spending millions of dollars. And I think the estimate that I saw last time I've seen conservative estimates of around eighty million dollars, upwards of a hundred and fifty million dollars in order to redevelop that particular piece of land with whatever features, whether it be conference rooms or or whatever the case may be. I do not deny that Mobile is getting a lot of the conference business because we do not have those type of facilities. But can those facilities be built on a private side rather than on a publicly subsidized side? So again, before I spend the the the money or you know, we just stick it on an agenda and I'm forced to vote, you know, thirty-five minutes from now, I need more information and I will oppose a vote until I have that information and we get the necessary public input. Because Gidon can give you his opinion, but my residents have an opinion on there as well. Is it a good use of their money? This isn't my money. It's not the county's money, it's the residents' money. Greg: Exactly. I mean, that whole question about whether we should have a convention center or a conference center has been in the area for a long time. We had a campaign back I think in two thousand two about the trillion property, which is down there where where the Wahoo Stadium is now. And they s they wanna put a and was actually involved in that campaign on the anti side. And so ⁓ and so basically because they they wanted to spend all this funding here just for a convention center alone. And then at the time it was gonna be competing against a base center and there was not really any outlook for revenue outside of just certain events. And then it turned into the the Wahoo Stadium where I actually I at the time it was the Pentacola Pelicans at the time. And so and and basically people don't realize the Civic Center or the Pensacola Base Center, I guess as they call it now, was started. I mean, w the biggest thing was the Pentacola Tornadoes. It was a basketball team. And so it was a big basketball arena. And it the acoustics there were horrible. I mean, we've had Janet Jackson come down there complaining about the acoustics and There I mean, I'm a performer. I performed at least a half a dozen times in that stadium and the echo is horrible in that place. And so and so fixing that and so bringing concerts and bringing big venues has always been a challenge because nobody ever took the investment to fix it. But they've been kicking that can down the road now almost forty years. If not I mean, that's just as far as I know about it. And so probably probably, you know, I'm I'm a young guy, although I look a little old, but I I'm not. So but ⁓ I mean it th it's been a a very big topic and I heard the the numbers are eighty million and ninety million to redevelop it and and I I I know they're trying to bring revenue to the downtown area, and that's what they're basically the question is asking. Is it the best use of it? I mean, I there's this supposed to be a tech park. I don't think it's ever happened yet. Next to the next to the Pentacola Bay Center. Glenn: He makes a great parking spot on event day too. Greg: Yeah. I mean but I mean exactly it's a good it's a good parking lot. And so I mean, you know, we keep on talking about these projects, but the county commissioners have never done anything to really fully do it. And so I mean, what say you on I mean, the the reality here of anything being done there? I I think the nine mile road idea is a great idea. We've talked about that idea for years. In fact, OL OLF eight would have been a great idea 'cause it's right off the interstate. That's actually one thing that my team and I had proposed. ten years ago and people are just you know, like, no, we want we want housing. Like there's housing everywhere. Glenn: ⁓ well town center and you know like this I think would do very well up there. I think we have to hear from the taxpayer on it there. I know a lot of politicians, you know, it's a matter of their legacy. Glenn, you know, brought in a new base center kind thing. I don't have a big enough ego for that, Greg. I really just want what's in the best interest of each taxpayer in this town here. Greg: It would be. Glenn: And listen, if that thing could ever make us a little bit of money or at least show that it has the possibility of breaking even, you know, I might be a little bit more inclined to support something like that. But to throw even fifty million dollars at that project already losing money, I just don't think is in the best interest of our county. Now it's located, as you know, in the city limits, which is a yeah, county certainly, but I'd have to question who would get the most benefit out of a base center r renovation. You know, maybe it might be in the best interest for the county to sell that or come up with some type of term agreement for the city to take that over and reduce the obligation upon the the the county taxation a as a part of it. Greg: Yeah. How much of the budget is that? How much of of the what percentage of the budget? Glenn: I think it runs about revenue of about $12 million and or pardon me, expenses of $12 million and revenue of about $10 million with a net loss of a little bit more than $2 million. I think it does about $130, $135 events annually with about $350,000, 370,000 folks in attendance. So if you just do the math, I and you know, I'm okay at math, they lose about six bucks. ⁓ for every person that attended in this last year. Greg: I mean, it should be, you know, and I'm not a sadium expert or anything, but you'd think it'd be busy at least half the year. In theory, I mean a hundred and thirty is not half of a three sixty five I mean com yeah. Glenn: And you I I'm a I'm a I'm a giant music lover. I I should have summers ⁓ over at the wharf. And ⁓ you want to lose weight, you go during July and and August and and maybe September down there. There's no rain and it's it it's hot as blazes down there. And I've always enjoyed those concerts over at the wharf. And I'd love to see that here at Pensacola. And I I'd like to think that we have a venue for that that can be easily developed or modified at a far less cost. Greg: I mean too. Glenn: Next to the Wahoo Stadium, where we've got ample parking. We've got a one shoreline ⁓ for them to to look at ⁓ and doesn't have nearly the parking issues that exist over at the base center. I love the base center. I've been there ⁓ to a bunch of concerts there and you know I've been to the hockey games there. I I think they're wonderful. But again, when I say wonderful, I also have to recognize that we're spending taxpayer dollars and if we're not going to break even or turn a profit. on those type of investments, we're gonna have to have a lot of community support in order to get my support. Greg: I mean the reality here is that should county government be in the business of entertainment? Right. ⁓ Glenn: Even better real estate development. Greg: Or both. ⁓ both. Exactly. Well, it looks like the last question they have for you here is a really weird, unique, loaded question again. So pretty bizarre. The o okay, so it says here, ⁓ the only issue my oppon okay, they're asking your opponent is telling the people that you do not live in the district. No, sorry. So where do you live? Glenn: That's what I heard at the at the last candidate forum. Greg: Why would that even be in a question? Glenn: Well, my opponent ⁓ i is really concerned about where I live. So I want to make it clear to everybody here that I am a homeowner in District 2. I live off West Fairfield Drive. I do have a ⁓ it it wasn't my farm, it was my my wife's family's farm up in Baronel Park. I visit there regularly. And as of January 1, I did live in Santa Rosa County at 1630 Valley High. I had an offer on a lot I was going to build in downtown Pensacola. That lot sale did not close. It blew apart my plans. And my wife and I have decided, since we were already in the process of getting ready to move, that we would just buy a condo in District Two, and then we have more time to build our home. I work in District Two every single day. So it just seemed that that the only thing that my opponent could come up with is that. You know, he's been in and out of here on different tours and, you know, d wanted to suggest that, you know, I somehow I don't have deep connections to Pensacola. I've been here for thirty five years. I've been in business in this town for thirty years. I used to live in Emerald Shores. My office used to be at four twenty nine South Navy Boulevard. I've got more time in District Two than he probably has in living in Pensacola over his in his entire lifetime there. It isn't a matter of where we sleep. I hope we can change the conversation to policies and positions and ideas to make Pensacola better and get away from where do I I put my head on the pillow at night. Blue Angel Weekend, just in case he wants to know, I'm gonna be out at the beach, so I'll be sleeping at the beach. I'm not a beach resident. It is Escambia County nonetheless. Yeah, I know. And I'm not running for District Four, so it it's just Greg: Exactly. I mean I mean i it's just interesting. I mean, you know, this is probably, you know, a weird question for the podcast here, but I mean ⁓ we're not gonna bring it up anyway. I mean, d what did the Chaber ask him questions about his behavior at all? I mean, you know, about and and we it's been peppered all about his different behavior authorite, your Facebook page and and the news you're all and channel three and everything, and ⁓ all his different choices and his ⁓ actions and everything over the last several months. I mean, I am just Curious on if they asked him anything about that. Yeah. Glenn: I don't know. You know, and I I hate to bring it up. If if I mention it on Facebook, it gets why is Glenn trying to smear the other kid? This isn't about smearing anyone, Greg. This is the record. So I've got a private record as a businessman within this town. He's got a record in in serving our nation as a military officer and his last four years in serving our county. I have not been happy with how he has served our county. Greg: Exactly. ⁓ my gosh. Glenn: So instead of talking about what he has accomplished, we're talking about where it is that I I sleep. We have a big difference here because at the end of the day, you've got people doing jobs. Again, I'm a business guy. I I can I don't hire necessarily for expertise. I hire for the right people working within my business. Because without character values and and honesty and transparency, ⁓ it doesn't matter how well they do their job. They're just not the right person to work within the organization. So I have been critical of Mike. And it's not to embarrass him in any way, but listen, we rely upon the relationships that we have with our state representatives in order to bring more opportunity to District 2, to Escambia County, ⁓ to District 1 and to District 2. And when you're having Facebook fights with them, and you know, there there are complaints filed against you with the state and the ethics department and and Your brag point is that you had fifteen of them recently dismissed. I I would suggest to you I I would be mortified if I had fifteen ethics complaints filed against me. I've been in business thirty years. I've had one complaint levied against me. I was least of of any type of of claim there. I was embarrassed to death there to have somebody file a complaint against my license. So ⁓ with fifteen of them, it it's just insane. And then, you know Listen, I get it. It's campaign season. You want to try to make the news and get the free advertising. I haven't asked for any free advertising. I really I I appreciate the news journal's coverage of things there, but I don't need to be a headline in the Pensacola News Journal as it relates to, you know, I don't want a a data center in my backyard, but then you actually find out from my emails for last two and a half months. I've been courting data centers for our county. You know, I I don't think it's ever good. And one of the things, you know, again, we're going back to character values, integrity, and transparency. I am not going to appoint an active real estate development company owner to the planning and zoning board. We will decide who who is going to get acceptance for a rezoning application and then have me vote on it. Now I get it. Real estate developers are pretty savvy and they can distinguish whether that may or may not be good for the county. But that's the reason we've got county employees employed to give recommendations to us as commissioners is is this good for our community or not? And that should not be based on ⁓ somebody's relationship with a real estate development company. Same thing needs to happen with the SRI, you as as a commission. I get to point a representative to the Santa Rosa Island Authority, which governs Pensacola Beach there. I think a beach resident ⁓ would certainly best serve the interests of of the beach. So, you know, I I would certainly pledge I want the most qualified person, a level-headed person, a person of of good reputation, ⁓ because you're, you know, you're you were appointed by Glenn Dorsey. My name means something to me. Greg: Exactly. And and that that that's very well said. I mean, the whole point here is that we have a ⁓ you know, a race here where you see you're running against somebody who is lacking in a lot of those areas. And so that's, you know, that's something that, you know, people need to start looking at whenever they start ⁓ looking at who to vote for. Glenn: It's unfortunate. It's an embarrassment. But, you know, again, I'm I my only interest in that I'll and I'll withhold my commentary really is is that, you know, you're going to have a choice on August the eighteenth between two candidates. And I do think character values matter. Right. Greg: It's just like your sign behind you says, stop wasteful spending. It's about time it's about time they start doing that. But Glenn, I th I think we're gonna go ahead and wrap up this show here today and ⁓ I think we got a lot of good information out there to the voters. And so ⁓ just go ahead and go to his website here at Glen Dorsey dot com and how can they get a yard sign or or donate to the campaign. Sure. Glenn: You can always call me 850-30404. You can text me or you can call me. And then you can send me an email, Glenn, G-L-E-N-N at GlenDorsey.com. And then you can go to the website, which is glendorsey.com. Be happy to drop you off a couple of yard signs. And it's important to note, Greg, if you look at my campaign finance reports, you're going to see that I am a ninety self-funded person. You're not going to see me with big billboards. You're not going to see me on the television there. I'm running a very small campaign. Mike has already ⁓ raised more money from real estate interest in one night than than I have collected over, you know, the last six, well, seven months now in total there. And I think that's important because I do not want to be beholden to anybody during this upcoming four years except the public. the voters and the residents of this community. So I'm I'm trying to make it very clear. I'm gonna spend my own money. So if I lose, I I lose. But I do have a lot of confidence within the the citizens of of District Two that they want some change. They really want some conservative values in place to get something done. And I'll make the meetings, you know, unfortunately there were some missed meetings recently and it's pushed back that Sorrento project considerably And I really intend to work hard to get that back up on the priority list to where it needs to be. Greg: What you're seeing in district in Scambia County that does not really tie their ⁓ rope to encumbrance, it will be district two. District two has a history of the district being very impatient with the behavioral issues of the county commissioners of the past. And ⁓ going back, you know, thirty some odd years, I mean, it is not a district where a county commissioner usually sticks around for more than two terms. And usually a lot of times only one term. And so ⁓ that being said, I mean it's a very impatient district. ⁓ people who want To see things happen and I think there's a lot of frustration and that's what you're hearing out there, but things just are not happening at the speed where it's happening everywhere else in the county. Glenn: That that's right. We're seeing a lot of the big projects and the money spent from our county coffers spent everywhere but District Two. Greg: being drained out of it. That's right. That's right. So that being said, guys, ⁓ click like and share this podcast here. ⁓ it's gonna be on ⁓ Facebook, it'll be on YouTube. It'll be on quite a few actually it'll be on twelve different platforms here. So we'll go ahead and put all those links here in the description and thanks a lot, Glenn. It's been a great show. Glenn: Take care.