{"id":428853,"date":"2026-10-15T20:54:07","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T20:54:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/428853\/"},"modified":"2026-10-15T20:54:07","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T20:54:07","slug":"local-groups-to-host-candidate-forum-focused-on-environment-wgcu-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/428853\/","title":{"rendered":"Local groups to host candidate forum focused on environment | WGCU News"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Cape Coral Wildlife Trust<\/a> (CCWT) and the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife<\/a> (CCFW) are hosting a candidate forum centered around the environment.<\/p>\n

Carl Veaux, an 88-year-old who has lived in the Cape since 1980, is a past president of the CCFW. He said since he\u2019s lived here, he can\u2019t help but notice the exponential increase in development to where he doesn\u2019t recognize the city anymore.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, and you know, to see the traffic double and triple more now, that\u2019s the biggest change,\u201d Veaux said.<\/p>\n

Veaux said that with more people moving to Cape Coral and with the upcoming election, it\u2019s important to have an environment-centered political forum to see how candidates would factor the environment into their policy making.<\/p>\n

\u201cFind out what the candidates are, with their environmental stance from what they\u2019re going to do for us if they\u2019re elected to office,\u201d Veaux said.<\/p>\n

Veaux said this type of event is also important because Cape Coral is home to a wide variety of animal and plant life.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a dream,\u201d Veaux said. \u201cWe all have dreams. But my dream is to change Cape Coral into environmental town. You know, we have the biggest population of burrowing owls in the world<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a member of the community for over 40 years, Veaux said he feels a responsibility to step up and protect the biological diversity of Cape Coral.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to discuss Redfish Point, which is a big contention in Cape Coral,\u201d Veaux said. \u201cWe are going to discuss how we protect our burrowing owls and our gopher torties and the rest of the animals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other topics up for discussion include the Utility Expansion Projects (UEP\u2019s) and what would be next for the former Cape Coral Country Club.<\/p>\n

Veaux said he has hope that Cape Coral can once again return to a more ecological and green-space oriented city that it was when he moved there and encourages those who are interested in attending to spread the word.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s Oct. 20 at Rotary Park. Attendees can meet the candidates at 6:30 p.m. before the event starts at 7 p.m..<\/p>\n

Veaux said all eight candidates are planning to attend.<\/p>\n

More information can be found on the CCFW Facebook page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

WGCU is your trusted source for news and information in Southwest Florida. We are a nonprofit public service, and your support is more critical than ever. Keep public media strong and\u00a0donate\u00a0<\/a>now. Thank you.<\/p>\n

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