Megan and Nathan take StoryCorps’ One Small Step

Megan and Nathan take StoryCorps’ One Small Step

... and talk about estrangement, politics

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Megan Sladek

Bio: Oviedo Mayor Megan Sladek’s political views don’t fit neatly into a box.

She said some view her as very conservative, while others see her as very liberal.

“I guess I would be a literal constitutionalist, with an overlay of bible stuff going on,” Sladek said. “And kinda Libertarian leaning. … On the Libertarian side, ugh, how does that meld with the biblical stuff on some of these issues? It doesn’t, really. So I’m a conflicted person, politically.”

Sladek was "born and bred" in Oviedo, Florida, and currently lives about a mile and a half from the home where she grew up.

Sladek left Oviedo for college and law school, and didn’t originally plan to return. She said after spending time in Indiana, she realized she hated the snow.

“I had never seen snow before, and instantly realized this was very cold, and I could not handle any place that snowed,” Sladek said. “I told my husband I will be living in Florida. We’re engaged and all, if you’d like to join me there, you’re welcome to.”

Nathan Sanford

Bio: Nathan Sanford is originally from Seattle, but lived in Chicago for most of his 20s.

He moved to Florida with his wife from Chicago, after visiting during COVID-19 and realizing they couldn’t handle another pandemic winter cooped up indoors.

Sanford came from a politically active family, and originally majored in political science, intending to become a lawyer and get involved in politics. But after he did an internship cold knocking on doors for a union, he realized he hated it.

So he decided to pursue a degree in mathematics instead.

“I really missed having the clarity of there being a right answer in math versus, like, the subjectivity of trying to convince people of things (in politics),” Sanford said, explaining why he switched degrees. “I have a Ph.D. in applied math and work as a data scientist, so I’m pretty introverted.”