By Gavin Johnson, WCJB TV-20 News

Elections were just a few weeks ago and already some politicans are stirring up some controversy with their new ideas. Last week County Commissioner Paula Delaney made headlines, bringing a hot-topic national issue to the local front.

Today we spoke with two who unsurprisingly have two different points of view.

Joseph Antonelli is a gay man who lives in Alachua County, he believes that if the county decides to give benefits to same sex couples it could help others in the state. Joseph Antonelli says, "We already maintain a high level of integrity on the state level. there are people who respect the county. this could be another step showing that the county is moving in the right direction." Antonelli says people jump the gun when gay marriage or civil unions are mentioned, totally ignoring what's important to others in the gay community. Antonelli, "The same privileges that all the workers in the county or workers in general have. it should be inclusive to all workers."

But not everyone agrees. Kevin Thorpe is the pastor at Faith Church in Gainesville. He says he has moral and religious issues with same sex benefits. However, his main issue is the way Paula Delaney went about raising the awareness for same sex benefits. Pastor Kevin Thorpe, "If this was such a passionate issue. if it would have been part of her platform."

Thorpe says if delaney had campaigned with same sex benefits in her platform or if a group lobbied the commission for change he would feel differently.

No matter how the issue came about, Antonelli says it's time. Same sex benefits will soon be on Alachua County's discussion table. Antonelli is hoping with some education and communication everyone can agree on something.