A political committee that is supporting Tallahassee Commission Candidate Dot Inman-Johnson has received $95,000 from out-of-state green energy groups ahead of November’s general election.
The Green Advocacy Project and the Climate Cabinet Action Fund are from California, while the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Action Fund is from Tennessee. All three groups support local and state-level candidates across the country who are committed to transitioning to renewable energy.
The groups gave the money to One Tallahassee, a political committee run by Tallahassee Commissioner Jeremy Matlow, who is supporting Inman-Johnson’s bid to unseat incumbent Commissioner Curtis Richardson.
Leon County and state GOP party chair Evan Power is critical of Matlow’s PC receiving the money.
“Jeremy Matlow and his progressive friends don't actually care about what is best for Tallahassee. They want to bring radical progressive ideas here that aren't what a majority of Tallahassee residents want, and so they have to rely on out-of-state funding to do it from these radical groups,” he said.
In a statement to WFSU, Matlow said he has welcomed support from Democrat-aligned groups since the beginning of his political career. The Green Advocacy Project had previously backed him and his allies in previous elections. Matlow said he believes that backlash from Republicans and other local figures is due to fears control of city hall may soon change.
“I think what we're seeing here is really kind of a freak out session from the Republican wing of local government, and, I mean, what we've been able to do with One Tallahassee is really level the playing field. So, they're really upset that not only can they not buy seats, we're going to be competitive, and we're going to make sure the messages that people like Dot Inman-Johnson have get out widely,” he said.
Even though both candidates are Democrats, partisan funding has dominated the race. Groups supporting Richardson received $75,000 from local Republicans. If Inman-Johnson wins, it would flip the current 3-2 split and would likely lead to leadership changes in city staff.
