Several local political candidates faced a mid-day grilling from the Big Bend Mental Health Coalition Monday (8/8).
On hand for the forum, County Judge Challenger Monique Richardson, incumbent Tallahassee City Commissioners Scott Maddox and Curtis Richardson, and the two Democrats running for state attorney, Jack Campbell and Sean Desmond. In the audience, many mental health advocates and professionals like Drake Gunning with Florida Therapy Services.
“It gives the public a chance to ask those running for these positions what their thoughts are and for them to give honest answers right then and there,” Gunning said after the event.
Karen Woodall with the Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy saw the forum as an interactive opportunity. “It’s a two-way street and it’s very helpful…very helpful,” Woodall, a long-time human services advocate remarked.
And County Judge Candidate Monique Richardson hoped the issues will reach an even larger audience.
“Everyone needs to be aware so that we can all come together and solve these problems,” she said.
The Coalition says those problems include too many mentally ill people in the criminal justice system and too few community resources to properly treat the mentally ill.
