Congressional candidates focus on economy, energy

You decide 2026. Eight candidates are vying for the district seven congressional seat. Congressman Cory Mills is campaigning to keep his seat, but several opponents are looking to oust the Republican. Last night, the GOP candidates met for a debate that got a bit heated at times. But today, both parties gathered for a forum with the Seminole County Chamber of Commerce, and as Fox 35's Marie Edinger reports, this morning's event was much more tame. Because this was hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, the questions tended to focus mostly around business and the economy. Candidates had one minute each to answer questions. Some told me that can be tough when the questions concern such important topics. These are big questions that folks are struggling with, right? You know, how are our families going to continue to make ends meet? And there was quite a bit of discussion over interaction with D.C., what each candidate would bring to the federal government and what they'd bring back. And this district is giving up billions of dollars a year to Washington, D.C. We send out way more than we ever get back. If we can let people keep their tax dollars and spend in their own community based off of what they have earned, we will be much better off. One question concerned nuclear energy, an exciting topic for Maria Elena Kittner, who served as a nuclear machinist in the U.S. Navy. One of the best paths to get money into people's pockets is by having renewable energy and energy independence so we aren't reliant on overseas price hikes and overseas foreign policy. And of course, what is a business forum without? The A.I. race is our equivalent to the space race. The candidates all expressed concern over A.I. in some form or fashion, many bringing up the need for protections against Chinese intervention. That's a broad discussion. Some topics stayed more local. We're growing and that's great. It helps a lot in the economy, but we've got to grow the infrastructure. What I'm about is lifting all boats, making sure that it's a decent job, that everybody has self-respect, that everybody can support themselves. Election day is less than two weeks away. It's the Tuesday after next. In Lake Mary, Marie Edinger, Fox 35 News.