Were comments made at the Aug. 13-15 Annual Tallahassee Chamber Conference a raw attack on City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow, or mostly a misunderstanding? The matter is still ruffling feathers in the Capital City.
To some at the Amelia Island gathering, it seemed local State Attorney Jack Campbell implied Matlow was "evil." County Commissioner Bill Proctor, a Matlow supporter, offered to set up a peace parley during a news conference at the Leon County Courthouse Thursday, Aug. 19.
"I'm asking by way of letter, State Attorney Campbell to consider me orchestrating, facilitating and mediating a meeting between him and Commissioner Matlow."
Campbell was quick to respond.
"Since I've got a county commissioner and city commissioner, let's all sit down in a big room and talk about how we can get our hands around these big issues and work together."
Campbell also insisted the "evil" comment he made during his conference speech referred - not to Matlow - but to others in the community who don't get involved in local government. Still, he acknowledged he and the commissioner didn't see eye-to-eye on everything.
"I am critical of Commissioner Matlow because, one, he didn't show up for the work we were doing at the Chamber. And, two, not only did he not show up to work, throughout his tenure, he hasn't come up with meaningful reforms on trying to help problems. He seems to always say 'No' to those people who are actually working on it."
