Tempers Flare at Newberry Town Hall with Florida Senator and Rep
Editor’s Notes: State officials jumped around different topics throughout the town hall, and the information in this article is not presented chronologically. Click here to watch the full town hall.
Tensions were high at a Newberry Town Hall meeting Saturday morning, with a man yelling in the direction of Florida House Representative Chad Johnson (R-Chiefland) and State Senator Stan McClain (R-Ocala).
United States House Representative Kat Cammack was advertised as attending the town hall but ended up being replaced by her chief of staff, Jessica Norfleet, due to the recent birth of her child.
Norfleet acknowledged that Cammack’s constituents sometimes don’t receive responses to their emails and said people contacting her office have to indicate they want a response, or the message gets logged as an opinion.
Shortly before the town hall began, University of Florida (UF) Senior Biologist Dr. James Peterson handed out copies of a speech and questions he would’ve attempted to read to Cammack if she were present.
The town hall was structured with a Q&A by host and Newberry Mayor Tim Marden, followed by questions from members of the public.
Marden took question cards written by attendees but made it clear he wouldn’t pass anyone the mic, saying it “tends to be a grandstand opportunity for some people.” "It just belabors the meeting, and we don’t get to as many questions," he said.
During the discussion on education, Peterson disrupted the meeting and voiced his dissent for the structure of the town hall, with a few others joining in. Marden warned him he would need to leave if he continued. After a few moments, Peterson yelled his disapproval, and Marden told him to leave. They went back and forth for about 40 seconds until Peterson sat back down, and Marden didn’t force him to exit. After a few more moments, Peterson disrupted a third time, prompting a woman to yell back at him.
Peterson disrupts the town hall meeting (GnvInfo)
Peterson disrupts the town hall meeting again (GnvInfo)
Peterson disrupts the town hall meeting a third time (GnvInfo)
As the town hall continued, Peterson disrupted a few more times, but he was more restrained until leaving in the last few minutes of the meeting.
Peterson exits the town hall (GnvInfo)
The town hall was less formal than a standard commission or school board meeting, and there wasn’t any presiding police officer in the room.
During the Q&A session, Marden was accused of misrepresenting a woman’s question. Reading from the comment card, Marden said, “Our daughter has to uphold the constitution for U.S. citizens. Why shouldn’t it protect folks who are here illegally? I guess that's kind of the gist of the question.”
A woman shouted out, “Please read my whole card.”
Marden said, “How do you feel about the argument about the constitution protecting illegal immigrants versus citizens?”
The woman said out loud, “I did not say illegal.”
“The more you interrupt, the less questions we get to,” Marden said. Attendees began disparaging his response, and Norfleet told the woman to provide her name and phone number before Marden moved on to the next question.
A woman requests Marden clarify her question (GnvInfo)
The officials discussed their opinions on several topics.
Education:
Johnson said he is a staunch supporter of school choice and that he approves of corporal punishment in schools.
Speaking on school choice, Johnson said, “If a school is not meeting the needs of your students and your child, then I absolutely believe it's in your full right to find the best opportunity for your child. If our schools are missing the stakeholders, which are the students, not the teacher union, not the administration, but the students, then that's a reflection on us as a school board, as administrators, as educators.”
Johnson acknowledged the Newberry Charter School Initiative, saying some parents felt like they didn’t have a school system in Alachua County that addresses their children’s needs.
McClain concurred with Johnson’s opinion on school choice, saying it's a “parent’s rights” issue.
Speaking on corporal punishment, Johnson said, “When you have discipline, you have control… My father was a strong disciplinary. My father used to tell us as kids… ‘You could be the dumbest child in the classroom, but you’re going to sit there, and you’re going to behave so that the other kids there who are wanting to learn can get an education.’ I can tell you, when I was in school, if I got in trouble, my plea was not ‘Don’t discipline me.’ My plea was, ‘Whatever you’re gonna do to me, we’re doing it here. Do not call home.’”
A new Florida law allowing corporal punishment in schools requires parental consent. The law goes into effect this school year.
Norfleet addressed proposals on the federal level to eliminate the Department of Education, saying, “Quite simply, the votes just aren’t there” in Congress.
Healthcare:
A member of the public wrote a question asking what Cammack will do to replace the Affordable Care Act and why the U.S. is the only developed country without a Universal Healthcare System.
Norfleet said, “I believe everyone does have access to healthcare when Kat sits on the health [subcommittee],” prompting attendees of the meeting to disparage her statement. Norfleet said, “There’s no one who’s not able to get access,” and “If you want a better answer, give me your name and phone number, and I will call back with a better answer, or better yet, I’ll have Rep. Cammack call you back.”
Reading a question card directed towards Cammack, Marden said, “Why do you support police that would force women to carry pregnancies caused by rape even if it puts their lives at risk?”
Norfleet said that Cammack supports abortion if the pregnancy is a result of rape or causes medical problems.
A member of the public shouted out that Norfleet gave a non-answer because women have the right to choose if they want to be pregnant.
Science:
Reading a question card, Marden said, “Why are Republicans so determined to defund science, and what is Rep. Cammack doing to defend science?”
Norfleet responded that Cammack has directed research grants towards UF and that she’s coordinating with National Institute of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya to have him visit the university this fall to discuss establishing a better relationship in terms of federal funding.
Gaza:
Reading a question card, Marden said, “As a Jew and supporter of Israel, I am very concerned about the starvation and genocide in Gaza. What will you do to stop this atrocity?”
After a few seconds of silence, Marden said, “I’m not sure any of you have the capacity to do that,” and asked if they could speak to conversations on the state or federal level.
Norfleet answered, “One thing I can say is that the Israeli Consulate invited me to be on a conference call, I believe last week, and talked about their aid distribution [and] the challenges they were dealing with, trying to get food aid to Gaza. There is a real push to provide updates—real updates, ways that members and the federal government can help. But the Israeli Consulate will probably be doing another update call here shortly—probably next week, I anticipate. They’ve been in good communication with what they’re doing to make sure food aid is getting to the right places in Gaza and talking about the challenges they are having."
The famine in Gaza was legally declared a famine last week by the United Nations following a report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification.
According to a United Nations report, in just two days, July 30 and July 31, over 100 Palestinians were killed and hundreds more injured by Israeli forces while seeking food aid from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The number of Palestinians killed while seeking aid has since grown too well over 1,000.
UN News
Transgender Rights:
Reading a question card, Marden said, “We’re parents of a child who has struggled. Our child is now 29 [and] has found peace, happiness and the ability to hold a job… as a transgender individual. Please stop attacking transgender people. What will you do to protect our children?”
McClain responded, “An adult can do whatever you want to do. I have no problem with that… I think the issue is—just like you don't want me preaching my values to your children or vice versa… We have freedom as adults to do those things, and so I would defend someone's right—I guess—to do that—not that I would agree with you.”
Jeffrey Epstein List:
Reading a question card, Marden said, “Are the considerations of pedophiles more important than the considerations of the children they molested?”
The question led an audience member to shout out, “Epstein files,” leading Norfleet to say that Cammack supports the release of the files which allegedly implicate high-profile government officials in crimes against children.
Members of the public disparaged her response, one saying Cammack “supports Donald Trump;" therefore, she "supports a pedophile," likely in reference to the long list of sexual misconduct allegations against the president, some of which involve minors. Trump hasn't been convicted of any crimes against children, however, in May 2023, a civil-court jury found him liable for sexually abusing an adult woman.
Voting:
A member of the public asked Johnson about his position on mail-in ballots, and he said, “As it stands, that’s the law, and I don’t have a problem with them. The unfortunate thing is no matter what you do when creating laws, you’re gonna have people that, if they desire to cheat, they’re going to cheat.”
Johnson called himself a "traditionalist" and said he personally prefers physically showing up to the polls in person.
Gun Violence and Law Enforcement Activity:
Reading two questions from members of the public at once, Marden asked how gun violence can be reduced in local communities and if McClain supports law enforcement officers wearing masks when they conduct operations.
McClain responded, “I’m not sure how many law enforcement officers are wearing masks,” prompting members of the audience to reference how U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers often wear masks when making arrests.
McClain went on to say the most important thing to do regarding gun violence is to educate children on the dangerousness of firearms. McClain said, “I had kids. I had a rule in my house—because I have guns in my house… I said ‘You cannot even look at it unless you’re with me or unless I am the one who is helping you understand what this can do in the hands of the wrong people. What it can do for someone who doesn’t understand what can happen when you have it.’ Those are the things that we need to be doing.”
Cammack was asked what she thinks about background checks on all gun sales and/or secure storage requirements.
Norfleet said, “No universal background checks. Yes, [have] common sense to lock up your own guns.”
Johnson was asked if he supports the deployment of the National Guard in U.S. cities, even when not requested from the local community.
Johnson answered, "Absolutely… If you go back to 2020 and the riots that were taking place. How can you sit idly and say that it is okay to protest and destroy private property?”
Everglades Immigrant Detention Center:
A member of the public asked how the state budget has been impacted by the “Everglades Internment Camp,” commonly referred to as Alligator Alcatraz.
"It has had no impact on the state budget; it was dollars we had already allocated," said McClain.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on Instagram last month that funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) “will be” “largely” used to fund the Everglades detention facility.
Noem said the funds were initially used to house “illegal aliens,” which FEMA denies.
According to a WPTV News report, Florida signed over $250 million in contracts on Alligator Alcatraz.
Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU):
A member of the public asked if Florida officials would revisit the GRU governance bill next session. Johnson said officials “brought it up for discussion but the timing was wrong.”
Johnson called GRU “Aesop's Fable, the Golden Goose,” saying, “We literally run a utility into the dirt to the standpoint that it is 20% valued. They own less than 20% of their assets; the rest of it is leveraged. Anyone who understands money realizes you cannot do a lot of things with leverage.”
Johnson went on to say, “They are still sending some money,” referring to the general funds transfer from GRU to the City of Gainesville. Johnson said, “Are they sending it to the City of Gainesville at the volume that they were? Absolutely not. Does that get frustrating for the City of Gainesville? I’m sure it does. But we were literally fixing to run a utility into the ground.”
Agriculture:
A member of the public wrote that a farm in her area shut down following the passing of the Big Beautiful Bill because they supplied produce to schools for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, asking state officials how they would support agriculture when the environment in Florida seems to be anti-agriculture.
Johnson answered, "I'm going to advocate for agriculture every day. This nation is great from the standpoint that we've never had to spend more than 12% of our disposable income on feeding our families. That, compared to other countries, has allowed us to invest in other technologies that allowed us to put a man on the moon. It allows us to defend ourselves, and I firmly advocate that a wholesome, self-produced food source here in the United States protects us from our foreign enemies. Now, does agriculture change every day? Absolutely. Are we challenged every day to do more with less? Absolutely. Are there programs that disappear that some people like from a federal standpoint? I'm sure they do. But day in and day out, most American farmers are working every day. They're not engaged in politics because they're focused on feeding the world and taking care of their families, and they often get used as political pawns based on one program or the other. I think for the most part that I absolutely believe that our commissioner of agriculture here in the State of Florida works tirelessly to promote quality food—fresh from Florida—and that we're constantly doing the best that we can to utilize the resources that we have here in the state to feed not only the State of Florida, the United States, but the rest of the world.”
Property Taxes:
Asked about if he supports the elimination of property taxes, Johnson said he doesn’t think the answer is “quick and easy.”
Johnson said he doesn’t believe property taxes can be eliminated overnight but emphasized he supports the argument they can be eliminated and said he’s happy the state is reviewing it. He added that he believes a challenge of home ownership is the escalation of property taxes.
Ron DeSantis' Fraud Accusations:
A member of the public asked state officials if they believe Ron DeSantis should be held accountable for accusations he misused taxpayer money to campaign against abortion and cannabis legalization.
Ben Adlin
McClain responded, “If that’s where this leads to, then—you know—I think there will be decisions that we have to make as it relates to that.”
