The People's Voice
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The People’s Voice shines a spotlight on the individuals shaping Coastal Alabama, Northwest Florida, and communities across the Southeast. Each episode features candid conversations with local leaders, public officials, business owners, candidate for office, advocates, and everyday citizens who are working to create meaningful change.
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The People's Voice
Mathious Robinson Makes His Case for Escambia County District 2
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Tonight on The People’s Voice, we sit down with Mathious Robinson, candidate for Escambia County Commissioner, District 2.
Robinson joins Blair Castro and Thomas Jenkins to discuss his campaign, the concerns he’s hearing from residents across the district, and the issues he believes matter most to local families and neighborhoods.
We’ll also talk about Robinson’s personal journey, overcoming adversity, and how those experiences have shaped his approach to public service and community leadership.
Watch Now!
Good evening. Welcome to WFUZ TV, the People's Voice Podcast. I'm Blair Castro here with Thomas Jenkins, and we have Mr. Matthias Robinson in the studio with us today. He's running for Scambi County Commissioner, District 2. Mr. Robinson, thank you for coming in.
SPEAKER_00Thank you for having me.
SPEAKER_03So how long have you been in Pensacola and what motivated you to run for county commissioner?
SPEAKER_00I've been in Pensacola my whole life. What motivated me was a lot of things, actually. Basically just seeing um how the community is. And that's kind of like put me in the the center of a lot of things because I've always been behind the scene. I never was a front front forward person, but you know, facing the the challenges that most of working families face and um me being face incarcerations and stuff that helped me understand people, you know, because when you in that that particular situation, you uh how do I say it, you meet all types of personalities. And when you're in front of these personalities, you gotta understand how to uh, you know, be able to identify and know how to talk to these people without offending, or because you know it's just like I said, so many different personalities in there. Um so it that that helped me, you know, learn how to help people. Um, and I'm also uh a photographer, videographer. I run visual thought production. So basically, uh me working with people, me uh giving out resources to the people, um, me being a community advocate, me working with the youth, it that all plays a part of why I'm here now. Um I want the youth to have opportunities that I didn't have growing up. Um and you know, being behind the camera, you know, you can you get a different perspective of life, you know. Um so I spent a lot of time with people and just learning people, building that relationship. Um and it just got me to wanting to run now because everybody's kind of kind of feeling the pressure right now of what's going on in America. And I'm just stepping up because it's it's time for fresh energy. It's time for a different perspective. It's you know, it's it's it's time to move money hungry people out the way, you know. So that was kind of got me to running, you know. I've been doing um community advocacy uh community work for a long time. And, you know, feeding the homeless for like 14 years, off record, because I never film the stuff I do, you know. Um Yeah, that gets old watching people do that for the cloud. Yeah, I don't, I don't, you know, so I've been doing 14 years. Um just doing a lot of things behind the scenes, making things move, making helping, basically putting them pieces in that our community is missing. Sitting back, just okay, how can I help my community more? How can I be that person, you know, to help shape things.
SPEAKER_03And so one of the things you mentioned, you said facing incarcerations. Can you talk a little bit about that experience and how that kind of shapes where you're at now?
SPEAKER_00Well, uh, you know, being incarcerated, uh it's either gonna make you or break you. It ain't no in-between. Um and when you're in there, you have plenty of time to reflect on, you know, what you did, what you could have did better. Um you gotta look that man in the mirror. Cause it ain't no running from it. Um and you know, being around all these different types of people, you have to be able to know how to talk and how to communicate. Yeah, you get you learn respect real fast. You gotta learn, you have to learn it real fast in there. So um that's a tool that I gained and I use out here because I can sit and talk to a person maybe five, ten seconds and kind of somewhat know what I'm I'm dealing with until I start talking more with them. But that's a that's a a skill that you learn in there because you have to understand who you're dealing with, who you're talking to. Um and even like I said, even in there, I was helping, you know. I was helping people on their cases. I was, you know, I was just I was doing a lot of things. Uh I was doing a lot of reading. Um it just shaped me to who I needed to be, you know. Uh and and I I I embrace it. You know, I I truly embrace it because like I said, if I if I went didn't go through that situation, I you wouldn't be talking to me right now.
SPEAKER_03So can I ask if you don't have to answer if you're not comfortable, how long you were and were you in Escambia County or some other place?
SPEAKER_00Uh it happened in Escambia County. Um so it was I did uh three years. Wow. But I've been I've been out getting ready to go on six years. So in that period of time, I don't I don't help so many people get research resources. I don't help several businesses, I don't help several organizations, even individuals either grow their business, grow their organizations, or just creating a milestone in their life. Um and like I said, I'm I'm that person that's trying to put in these missing pieces to make a community whole.
SPEAKER_03Um, I went to jail for four days, and it was the new jail in its campaign, and the things I saw in four days was very eye-opening for me because I had never been in trouble before, and I actually worked for the sheriff, and I was somebody, you know, my background is in law and I was never on that side of the law, and then I was, and it was a much needed experience, I think, because it kind of shocked the reality of what happened. Yeah, because you might think one thing, I was a very, you know, back the blue, I love the police type person, and then I was unjustly arrested and ended up having everything, I wasn't even arraigned, like they I got like an apology and everything. Um, and that happened. That's a very fortunate, that's my privilege going there to have that happen to me because I know other people, and I saw it myself that have way more struggles and are never gonna get the same treatment, you know, that I got, and even my treatment wasn't that great. So it's kind of an experience that I think I needed to help me grow as a person. So I can imagine the length of time and everything you had to go through in three years.
SPEAKER_00That's uh it was it was stressful. Um But it definitely brings accountability, it's strengthen your mind if you if you use the time wisely and not just be in there just willy-nillying. Yeah. Uh you gotta make the time worth it. You have to you have to be in there educating yourself. You have to be in there gaining discipline, you discipline yourself, learning. You know, it's you you you in there, you have, you know, you don't have that much, you limit to what you can learn. But it's enough to uh, like you said, shock your reality and make you wanna you know.
SPEAKER_01I was on the inverse of that. I worked in corrections in my early 20s and and also did patrol uh even as uh soon as a couple years ago. But uh corrections, it's it's no joke. Like you said, it can make a break you for sure.
SPEAKER_00And I look at even the the the guards, because they do in time with you. You might as well sleep because you you what 12 hours? Mm-hmm. 12 hours a day. Like you even eating from the same kitchen, you know. So you you is and you know, after a while, some of the guards they end up getting uh what's the word? Like getting sucked in corrupt.
SPEAKER_01Like they get you know what I'm saying. Yeah, we have one named Spark It because they like to use the taser a little bit too much.
SPEAKER_00You know, they get sucked in and it's just yeah. But it definitely uh I'm glad it happened, honestly. Uh you might not you don't hear a lot of people say that, but I embrace it. Uh it definitely made me who I needed to be.
SPEAKER_03So for a county commissioner, they right now, I'm not mistaken, fund the jail. Do you believe that the county should keep funding the jail? Do you think it should be under the sheriff's department or like running, you know? I know they're gonna fund it either way, but like should the county really have control of the commission or should that be under the sheriff in your mind?
SPEAKER_00Uh I look at everything as a um two things can be right at one time. Um honestly, I because I know I I I you have some corrupt officers which you know is corrupt kind of much everywhere.
SPEAKER_03Um you can be undecided too.
SPEAKER_00It's okay. Honestly, like I said, I'm I'm going, I'm pushing for equality. I I I won't I wanna be able to fund what I need to fund, either whether the jail or whether it's uh the sheriff's department, whatever case may be. I'm I'm willing to fund it as long as everything's going by the book. You know, as long as it's, you know, they they I mean I can't tell the sheriff how to run their job, but I don't think it's too much of the funding part that I'm worried about. I just I just want the the community and the law enforcement to, you know, because it's a it's a it's a big gap between the community and law enforcement. Yeah because of certain reasons, like you just said, um, falsely accused or just, you know, um it could be funded, it can it can be either or. I don't think it really gonna make a difference. Whether you funding the jail or if the sheriff funding the the jail, um I don't know.
SPEAKER_03I don't think it's you know, I don't really think it's a big I feel like the sheriff's office, um, they used to have like control of the jail, I guess, like years ago. And then it went to the county, which I thought was a little weird. Um, I just feel like law enforcement probably could do a better job running it than the county because I feel like the county doesn't have this is my opinion. I don't know. Um of course people could offer opinions and research, but when they built the new jail too, there was people in the public saying, um, man, why do we waste money on this nice jail? Why are we giving the inmates a luxury hotel and stuff like that? I was like, that's crazy. You don't even know that thing exploded. People died. Like it was terrible before. It was a much needed thing for just basic quality of life for people. And just because someone's in jail doesn't mean that they are necessarily a criminal. That's a holding place until you have a tribe. A lot of times people can't bond out. So you can't assume everybody in there is some terrible criminal. And it's just insane to me to treat people like they don't deserve basic amenities while incarcerated. And it's not a luxury hotel at all, but it is an upgrade from what was before, which was absolute garbage.
SPEAKER_00They are making it very more comfortable for them. And that can that can invite more people back in, you know. Yeah. Um rent's high out there. You know, um they got tablets, they they got all big screen TV there where it's um it it's it's a long way from what I seen, you know.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it used to be a tiny cable television and you'd have fights over the roof.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so it was, you know, that kind of situation, that how it was back then made you not wanna, yeah, I don't want to go back in here. Yeah, there is a fine line between making it more inviting and but now it's like it's it's it's very inviting to people now, you know. Um and I like I say, uh, yeah, they're gonna be comfortable while they're incarcerated, but incarcerated in general is just isn't a good, it's not a fun thing. But yeah. Um but yeah, I I I fucking agree with that. If this could the sheriff, my understanding, the sheriff, the law enforcement have uh funds put to the side, you know, from like drug busts and stuff like that. And um I think they pretty much do whatever they want to, as long as they give like 25% to the back to the community.
SPEAKER_03Um but something you mentioned, you said you've been feeding the homeless for 14 years. Do you do that through like an organization? Do you have like a group that you volunteer with, or is that something you just kind of do on your own?
SPEAKER_00I do it on my own. I just get me and my friends. It ain't there's no organization. Yeah. It's just something I do out of kind of my heart. It ain't, you know, it ain't really I don't really have a motive behind it. It's kind of like something I've been doing and then it just, you know, it gets stuck to you. Just kind of called to do it.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it's kind of like you know and sometimes it's better to do it without a group, to be honest.
SPEAKER_01Um Yeah, we saw that headline not too long ago. Well, was that during Christmas time that they arrested somebody feeding the homeless in Pensacola?
SPEAKER_03Oh, that was Mike.
SPEAKER_01That was Mike Kimbrell. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03But that um that was totally uncalled for. I think they gotta throw Mike right here all the way if he's another one. But um so yeah, working in nonprofit space. I was actually when the a couple of years back when there was like the encampment under the I-10 bridge, I got hired to help with the Northwest Florida Homelessness Reduction Task Force and work through the city of Pensacola to like help with that problem. And you know, there's opinions on if that really helped or not. But I saw through that time and different groups, I won't name them, but like there are groups out there that get taxpayer money to feed the homeless. But I feel like, you know, are they really what are they really doing? And why is it certain groups get the money and certain groups don't get the money? It feels a little sketchy to me, some of that. But they're not gonna like me saying that, but it is what it is. I I think that people should just do it out of the kindness of their heart more and sort of, you know, you don't really need a tax write-off to go do the right thing a lot of the time.
SPEAKER_00One thing that's big on me is honesty and transparency. Um that means a lot to me. Uh and we in right now we're in a uh a system where people doing things and like you said, they got a nonprofit and they go write it off and all of that, but was it really at the kind of your heart? Or was it really, you know, something you really wanted to do, or was it a a money grab, or was, you know, um I'm I'm big on honesty and transparency. I I feel that everybody should know where their money's going. Sure.
SPEAKER_01Um so when you're out about in the community, what do people talk to you about? Uh what would they like to see change? What what would you like to do for this constituency?
SPEAKER_00So when I'm in the community, most of everybody speaks about is infrastructure and roads.
SPEAKER_02Housing.
SPEAKER_00Um got your your business owners that speak about, you know, um the floodings that goes on around in their area. Um and like honesty, like transparent people want to like like for instance, I went yesterday and I was over there off in Navy Boulevard. Um, it's a street callton. A-L-T-O-N robe. And I I I talked to everybody on that street, and they was like, well, we just got a new road last year. But they was like, well, everybody just got a letter and they're finna come tear the road up and tie it in to a drainage system, and they want the residents to pay for it. Yeah. Wow. And I was like, and everybody on that street is like, they kind of up in the roar about that. Understandable. And it's understandable, you know, because why you ain't do it the first time?
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Why you ain't tired do all this and tie it in the first time instead of going back and spending more money to fix a two-mile road because it's like a big circle or whatever.
SPEAKER_03So your district is the west side of Pensacola.
SPEAKER_00Um Southwest.
SPEAKER_03Yes. That's uh I grew up in that area too. I went to like Sherwood Elementary and grew up on that side, like the mobile highway side.
SPEAKER_00That's like Motor Grove area.
SPEAKER_03What part are you from?
SPEAKER_00Oh, well, so I'm from the I'm from the other side of Pensacola, but I stayed in District 2.
SPEAKER_03Okay.
SPEAKER_00Like 25 years. So I stayed in the Mayfair area like 25 years.
SPEAKER_03Then you would have gone to Sherwood Elementary had you lived there back in the day at the same time I did. That was uh Well, no, because they had uh they had Oakris. Okay. Yeah, my cousin lived in Mayfair and he he went to Sherwood too.
SPEAKER_00Well you can go to either one, yeah, because it's Mayfair's kind of like in the middle of Ochrist and Sherwood.
SPEAKER_03So that uh the education of that side of town has always been an issue because it's not offered the same opportunities as the rest of the county in a lot of ways.
SPEAKER_00And that's where it goes back to what I was saying, things are being prioritized. You know, you have certain areas of district too that looks fantastic. But then that's basically kind of towards the water. But then when you kind of start coming back towards the Mayfair, the Mortar Grove area, and it's like there's a lot of poverty. Like, oh you got homeless running around crazy. It's like it's like this area, the the law enforcement, they not they kind of avoid the area. It's kind of like they're avoiding it, like and I heard some uh someone that told me they were saying that it keeps the people that doing crime and stuff, it keeps them in one area so they know where they at. And I don't know how true that is.
SPEAKER_01It could, you know, I guess that's one way to look at it, but it's a weird approach.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it's a it's a scratch. Um, but that's what somebody told me. You know, I just kind of throw it in the back of my mind just in case something else maybe cool and late, confirm it, maybe, I don't know. But um, but yeah, they for my own eyes, they avoid these areas, you know, and it's like what we doing here? You know, this still this is this is true we're talking about, right?
SPEAKER_01Right. So what are some of what is your biggest goal that you hope to achieve if you get elected?
SPEAKER_00My biggest goal is to I want the community to thrive within itself. Um thrive within itself and then start pulling outside revenue. So now you're thriving within and without. You know, probably having like something for tourists to come and in district to bring you know, it's I want it to be I want everybody to be comfortable. Um That's that's foreign uh you know, in our area we have two or three gas stations on one corner. Uh every other block is a car wash, you know. That's consuming money from, you know, it's consuming money. It's not really making the community thrive. So one thing I wanted, I will, I would do, I ain't gonna get my the whole plan out, but one thing would be a community space center, you know, community centers, you know, because it's multiple things you can use that for. You can use it for a job training hub, you can use it as a uh gathering, um, you can use that as uh after school programs, you know, um small businesses. Getting a little script, like not a not not a big script mall, but uh they own a little script where small businesses. You know, I believe a dollar should circulate at least five times before it leaves the community. You know, so I would like to make it to where our youth is not feeling like they gotta leave to go somewhere else to thrive. Yeah. They can be right here thriving.
SPEAKER_03It's also um very common for younger people like age 40 and under to try to get involved in the community and get dissuade from doing that. When I lived there, I was involved as I could be, and I kept being told, like, wait your turn for this, wait your turn for this, like, you know, these other people is their time. What, you know, that was frustrating for me. So, what makes you feel like this is your time? What do you say to those people who say you're still kind of young and you should just weigh in a little bit?
SPEAKER_00Um, what I learned uh age is a number. It's about the thought process, it's about the mentality. How mature a person is. Because you got a lot of 50, 60 year olds that's not mature. Yeah. I've taken them to jail. You know? So um the age, the age is not the problem. I look at it like what have a candidate been through? What have a candidate seen at his time? Like I said, I come, I come from struggle. I come from that life. So I understand and I connect. A lot of these candidates that we have and didn't have, they they are so they so disconnected to the community. And they probably only understand one part of the community, and that might just be them, just for example, the military. That might be the only people they are able to understand. But it's district two is bigger than just the military.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00You you are you gotta understand that when a person is elected, the community, you work for the community. The community is the boss. And the people that's that being in the office, they don't look at it as that way. They feel like they the boss. No, the people is the boss. They tell you what they want and dislike, whether I like it or not, this is what they want. I work for them. Not the system.
SPEAKER_03Do you feel like the current commission has not listened as well as they could have?
SPEAKER_00No, they ain't listening.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_00No. No, they have not been listening. Because if they have been listening, I probably wouldn't be running. Right. I'm pretty sure I probably wouldn't be running.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Like I'm I'm 100% sure I would not have been running if things have been going how it's supposed to go. And everybody is being prioritized and not just certain individuals.
SPEAKER_03Talking about the infrastructure and the growth, too, is always a hot issue. It's a hot issue here too in our county. But when I lived there, I lived off uh the last place I lived was off 98, kind of near like the Blue Angel area, which I think is technically district one because like right at the corner it splits. Yeah. Because they just like redistricted a couple years ago.
SPEAKER_00It's their district, it's this district two.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_00But yeah, it's right there.
SPEAKER_03It's like it's totally changed from one year of me being there. Like now there's a Whataburger and the Publix, and they got like, like you said, a car wash on every corner. There's a car wash there, there's a Wawa there. Like it is totally, and you keep seeing signs go up that say, you know, we're about to build a subdivision, we're about to build a subdivision, and it seems like they are not leaving a single tree alive, that they're cutting down everything they can to build these DR Horton houses or whatever else. So um, you know, when does it stop? As a commissioner, what would you do to kind of curtail all of that growth and to make it, you know, more manageable for people? Because it, you know, you gotta have growth. It's great, but you gotta control it a little bit. So, what are some things you would do to kind of address that?
SPEAKER_00Um well, you know, everything comes with balance. Um we gotta have balance. I don't want to, I don't so for instance, you know, like developers and stuff coming down, um, and they putting a strain on uh drainage systems and school and settled, et cetera. You know, um it I feel like they coming down to do all this, they have to contribute to this the solution. And without slowing the process down a development, creating a balance. Um I think we should just build off our resources that we already have. Um and because you have, like I said, you have these developers coming down and you keep building all these big chain businesses, and after a while, you don't have no real land. You're just gonna have all these uh big old uh uh big money time business that's an establishment that's here. Like I said, I'm focusing on more of what we have now and building off that and bringing making our small businesses go up more. Yeah. Because that's gonna make the money circulate within the community. Right. You know, instead of having all these, like I said, these these uh big old franchises and stuff here.
SPEAKER_01What is it like trying to start a small business in Pensacola? It's it's really difficult here.
SPEAKER_00It's difficult there too, because a lot of people a lot of people don't have access to, you know, grants and funding and stuff like that. And I want to put a team together to help small businesses get these fundings, you know, get marketing and this and that and third to help their business grow, startup um plans and stuff. Um we already know the small businesses are are the backbone of the community. So why are we not supporting them? Because if you know, if you see small businesses thriving somewhere, that community must be on the on the on you know on the way up.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. If it ain't already there. Right, because I I started a business trying to roast coffee and before I even turned to any profit. I was already getting delinquent tax notices from the city and the county here.
SPEAKER_00I I think it just keeps it's it's it make they make it hard so the these franchises can be able to come and do what they want. The tracks, yeah.
SPEAKER_03So example of that, there's a abandoned checkers on Navy Boulevard right there on the corner. And today it was in the news that it was like, hey, uh, they want to demolish it. And then that's the guess the property owner was like, wait, there's somebody who wants to buy it and make it a coffee shop, which I think is a good idea if it's a local coffee shop. People in the comments were like, we need a Starbucks, a seven brew. I'm like, no, we don't. We don't need another Starbucks or Seven Brew. Like somebody there wants that to make it their own thing, and we need to be supporting those people instead of the chains, like you talked about, I think.
SPEAKER_00I'm saying it's gonna bring more money in in the community and it's gonna help the community thrive instead of putting these franchises here and it's gonna just be sucking up everybody's money.
SPEAKER_01I think that's another problem, too. You said it right there when people started naming off all the name brand coffee chains instead of supporting local. I think it's the mentality of the people, too.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Yeah, that's definitely I go I I go with that. Uh I talked to a person, I was like, oh, we're getting a raisin cane.
SPEAKER_01I haven't seen one local chicken place in a long time, now that I think about it.
SPEAKER_03Well, Penskola has a couple of good ones like dwarf chicken and like some other ones that are more like hidden, but that's frustrating when people want raising cane, but it's like there's so many good places here locally that make that.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and it's and they not, you know, they not put on the front for when we all the backbone. So we we need to be pouring into our local businesses. We need to be helping them thrive because for alone go be getting built up so much to uh people gonna be getting pushed back towards Catalan way or something. Because as you putting these establishments up and these infrastructures and these new improvements in these neighborhoods, that's making people uh, you know, taxes go up. And that's another issue, you know. Yeah. That's just another issue that you know what I say, I I support smart economic development and strong accountability.
SPEAKER_03So you are running as a Democrat, if I'm not mistaken. Do you have a primary, or are you the only one in that primary? I'm the only one. So you're gonna go to the general, which is in November, I believe. Yes, okay. What would you tell a Republican who maybe doesn't like their Republican choice for commissioner of why they should vote for you, a Democrat, over whoever the Republican is in the general, or an undecided and independent person?
SPEAKER_00Well, if I answer that, uh I'm gonna give you a little story. Um so when I I I can use every day, and I I I do my petitions and stuff, and a lot of my petitions come from Republicans. And when I talk to them, they they understand that they're not talking to just a uh a Democrat. They understand that they're talking to a person that understands their situation. They're talking to a person that they're on the other side of things. So I know exactly what's going on in my community. I'm not hiding behind uh signs and posters. I'm out here every day knocking on doors and spending 10 to 15 minutes talking. Um so when it comes to Republicans, I think they're gonna love me. To be honest with you. I think they're gonna love me because I'm actually for the people. I don't I don't see, I really don't see the the the Democrat, the NPA, the Republican. I don't see all that all that's division. When I talk to Republicans and Democrats and everybody, MPAs, we all cry and complain about the same situations. It may be about 90% of that we all complain about, and it's probably about 10% of that makes us different.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, when you were talking about earlier about the just the general political atmosphere of the country, I don't think that there's been a better time in the last at least 20 years to for people to be able to reach across the aisle and appeal human to human instead of seeing party to party.
SPEAKER_00And that's that's what I'm that's I'm showing my campaign, my as far as my campaign, I'm showing everybody this is grass weed over here. So my donation, my money, it's coming from the people. I don't got no big weeks behind me. I don't want the big weeds behind me. Because I know if I take their money, they're gonna try to twist my own some kind of way. And I ain't going for it.
SPEAKER_03If you look at the fundraisers that are going to be most of these fundraisers, almost all developers, real estate people, and then you know, downtown really wealthy business owners. And the question is, are you gonna fall for the media or the sign, the amount of signs or the amount of money pushing a person who's backed by very wealthy people that own a lot of real estate? Or are you gonna, you know, vote for somebody else? So that's up to people to decide. And I think you have a task in front of you trying to inform people of that sometimes. But you know, always people might want to look into following the money.
SPEAKER_00Yes. Um, yeah, being, you know, people being bagged by the big wigs. It you gotta understand that these people are not giving you money just because they like you. Gotta understand that. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03They want something.
SPEAKER_00It's something they want. Everybody has something they want out of this. Especially when it comes to giving out money. For sure. It's not a it's not rocket science. Pretty much common sense. Now, you yeah, you may have people that want to see you win. But in this political game, uh I I I highly doubt that oh, they just wanted to see you win. Nah. It's a catch-22 with it. And like I said, what you see is what you're getting right now. And it's gonna get bigger, it's gonna grow, and after May, you're gonna see, you're gonna see, you're gonna see me. You're gonna see me. I'm gonna turn up and I'm and I'm gonna be in everybody's face. And I want you to know who I am as a person, not because I'm a Democrat, not or or whatever. I want you to know I'm for the people. At the end of the day, and all the funny business going on, one of my things is trying, I'm big on transparent and honesty. So you're gonna know where your tax dollars, you know your money's going. I'm talking about every cent. And if you're gonna, for instance, redo a street and tear the street up and tie it into a drain, at least tell these people why you're doing it. Don't just send them a letter and be like, yeah, we're gonna you're gonna pay for this, then a third, because we're gonna go do this and then I've never even heard of such a thing. I never heard of, but I heard it yesterday. That's that's wild. Like, literally, like, I can and I I I love that neighborhood over there because they they they won't change. Everybody wants change. Everybody's tired of this mess that's going on. People filling their pockets up and leaving everybody outside the dry. You when you the commissioner, you're supposed to take care of everybody. You supposed to make sure everybody okay. At least.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, and especially in district two, which I think is probably the most diverse one of the most diverse in terms of economics and uh even the environment, too. The different bodies of water, like it really encompasses so much. So, you know, I hope people think do you want somebody who represents the interest of every little neighborhood in this district and can, you know, talk to every single kind of person? Or do you want somebody that might be just for more downtown or more, you know, well-to-do areas? So it's something to keep in mind for the voter.
SPEAKER_00I'm in every every part of district too, from the underserved areas to the good areas. I'm there. Like I am there. How you doing? Um, is there anything that's concerning you about your neighborhood? Blah blah blah, blah, blah. And just give them a list, you know. And I talk to them. I just want to see what their concerns is. And everybody has the same concerns: infrastructure, housing, small business, and honesty. And they kids, the youth. Yeah. That's you know, but I put the youth within the infrastructure. But everybody wants to sing. That's just, and those those two things is basically uh overall life cycle. If we can attack these these things right here, you'll see a way better quality of life for everybody. You will see a district that actually thrives. And not uh things start getting fixed on around election time.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. That's that's you you work every day. But them four years of your term, you work every day. You go a hundred percent every day. Don't go 25. You suppose go every day, 100% for the people. Absolutely. And we haven't seen that in a long time. If we if we ever have.
SPEAKER_03So, where can people find more about you online? How can they contribute? How can they learn more about everything that you stand for?
SPEAKER_00So you can go on social media, Facebook, um, Matthias Robinson, that's on all platforms. Um, you can go to my website, uh, voteforerson.com. Um you have, you know, the links to send donations, uh selling shirts, uh, giving you a brief bio who I am. You know, you can you can reach out to me. I believe my number is on there as well. You can give me a call. I I take calls all throughout the night. I don't sleep when it comes to this stuff. Like literally, I don't sleep. I'm up all night figuring out what I can fit these missing poses and pieces in to make my community better. Because I'm tired of seeing my neighbors crying and complaining. I'm tired of complaining. So this is where we at with it now. You know, I'm young, it's fresh energy, and I know my community. But in the back of my hand. So, and it's not hard for me to connect with people. It's not like that's my least words. I go to any neighborhood. And I'm gonna talk. And I'm gonna show these I'm I'm I'm earning my votes. Not paying for my votes, I'm earning my votes. That's where we at.
SPEAKER_03Well, thank you for stepping up and doing this. I hope more people aren't afraid to jump into things like this and uh just take a risk.
SPEAKER_00I feel like they're not, I feel like I'm I'm I'm putting the foot the the footsteps in the sand for everybody to come, the the young to come behind and be more involved. Um, this year, I know this is uh this is a very, very different year because you have a lot of candidates that's young running right now. Like a lot of candidates young. They stepping up because and they from all different walks of life. We all stepping up because we believe in Penskola. We got a lot of potential, we got a lot of talent, and we not use none of it. We covering it up with dirt and letting people come over come in and do what they feel. That's not right.
SPEAKER_03Well, thank you for joining us, and everybody, it's Matthias Robinson. You can vote for him in November for your Scambia County general election or a county commissioner. Thank you for coming.
SPEAKER_02Thanks so much for fighting.