This week, Voices United welcomes one of Florida’s most recognizable law enforcement leaders — Sheriff Grady Judd of Polk County.
With 53 years in uniform, Sheriff Judd shares what it means to still see himself as a street cop first and why “stepping up” when opportunity knocks has been his lifelong philosophy. He opens up about his faith, his marriage of 53 years, and even offers heartfelt advice for George’s daughter and her fiancé as they prepare to tie the knot.
The Sheriff also gives listeners an inside look at his press conference style, what he thinks about “drip”, and what it truly means to wear the badge with purpose. Plus, he highlights the incredible community impact of Polk Sheriff’s Charities and reflects on how he hopes to be remembered “when he drops.”
This episode blends wisdom, humor, and humility — a must-watch for anyone who believes in service, faith, and doing the right thing even when no one’s watching.
Rebecca Bays, Chair of the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners, joins us for this week's broadcast. Chair Bays discusses the budget, the board's legislative priorities, and a powerful moment where she discusses the life events that molded her into a strong woman that can handle a chain saw.
Dr. Scott Hebert, Citrus County Superintendent of Schools, joins the podcast. We discuss his first year as superintendent, graduation rates, funding, the "Purple Heart School" distinction, and what it means to "be the bean."
DJ Trae is the guest. You may know him as the DJ that provides the entertainment for events in our community, but do you really know him? Do you know his first name? Our team loves DJ Trae and the heart he has for our community. Listen, like, and share.
David Vincent has been the Sheriff of Citrus County for more than six motnhs and the community stands behinds it's decision to vote Dave in by giving him a 92% approval rating. Sheriff Vincent discusses a variety of topics like traffic enforcement, body cameras, and the new court decision on open carry of firearms.
Chief Meteorologist Denis Phillips of ABC Action News is the guest. Denis has been covering the weather in the Tampa Bay area for more than 30 years. The discussion is a good balance of talking weather and getting to know Denis as a husband, father, and community member that goes out of his way to help others.
Keith Taylor of Keith Taylor Law Group, joins the broadcast to discuss his book, Beyond Goodbye: Navigating the Emotional, Practical, and Legal Aspects of Losing a Loved One. With 32 years of legal practice, Keith's offers a practical step-by-step approach to dealing with the loss of a loved one. This is an important discussion because, nearly everyone deals with this critical issue at some point in life.
Jessica Hirsch shared the story of her ALICE journey at the Striving and Surviving townhall recently hosted by our United Way and the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce. For so many attendees, Jessica was the highlight of the event and we are happy to have her live on our broadcast.
Citrus County's newest commissioner shares the funny election night story about her husband who assumed she lost. We also get a little history on Mrs. Barek and her priorities.
We continue our commissioner interviews with District 2 Commissioner Diana Finegan. Among other topics, we discuss the sepitic to sewer project in Cambridge Greens and lessons learned from her childhood in Floral City. As longtime friends, George and Diana talk about the importance of honest dialogue and being able to disagree with someone and still work together.
Citrus County Commissioner Jeff Kinnard joins us to discuss a wide range of topics. He shares his thoughts about the current board and county staff. He also talks about the process of preparing for county commission meetings and other boards that he sits on. To top it all off, we learn about him being the chair of the cheerleading squad and why he is excited for the future in Citrus County.
Citrus County Commissioner Holly Davis is the guest. She shares her insights on being a commissioner in commission chambers and outside of chambers. She also discusses important issues like growth management.
Dr. Vernon Lawter is Vice-President of Regional Campuses at the College of Central Florida. Dr. Lawter shares his educational and vocational background that led him the become a member of the President's Staff at CF. We also discuss some of the more notable programs at CF that offer opportunities for students to pursue great careers without a huge pricetag.
Crystal River City Manager Audra Curts is the guest. Get to know her as she talks about her journey from Cleveland to Crystal River and her leadership philosophy.
Inverness City Manager, Eric Williams, joins the broadcast to discuss the structure of city government, his role within that structure, and what he is excited about when he looks to the future.
Retired Citrus County Judge Trish Thomas is the guest. Judge Thomas talks about her road to becoming a judge, the case involving Ted Williams' head, and other reflections from her time on the bench.
Debbie Selsavage joins us to discuss her experience caring for and losing her husband Albert to dementia. Debbie's experience led her to launch Coping With Dementia LLC.
County Administrator Steve Howard join us! Mr. Howard shares his priorities, innovative initiatives, and why he loves our community. He even drops his version of the f-bomb! Don't miss it!
Gerry Mulligan is an author, community advocate, and Publisher Emeritus at The Citrus County Chronicle. In this episode, Gerry shares a few stories from his 43 years on the beat in Citrus County.
Citrus County Supervisor of Elections Maureen "Mo" Baird is the guest. She gives a rundown on the information voters need to know as we approach the primary election and move toward the general. She talks about what it takes to run an election from beginning to tabulation and auditing.