We are about a year away from primary elections, and Tallahassee races are already being launched. We delve into City Hall politics on this week's Speaking Of.
Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey has said he will not seek reelection, which prompted City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow to announce his own run for mayor. Dailey and Matlow have been on opposing sides of a 3 -2 split on the commission.
"People feel like local government, particularly in the city, has been kind of stagnant," Matlow says. "We really need to push forward and ask for better for our city. I think I'm uniquely qualified to bring us all together."
So far, his only competition is Camron Cooper, known on social media as Camron Justice. In a recent social media reel, he addressed the divide on the city commission.
"They do political fighting, won't even shake each other's hands," Justice says. "But they will run again for office and tell us that 'we're going to unite Tallahassee' when you can't even unite your own city commission."
Other prospective mayoral candidates being floated are Leon County Commissioner Christian Caban, former Tallahassee state legislator Loranne Ausley, and former Democratic members of Congress Gwen Graham and Al Lawson.
With Matlow running for mayor, that frees up his very popular commission seat. Four candidates have filed:
- Talethia Edwards, a community advocate: "How do we attract big companies to this community so that we retain our talent? I believe in housing affordability. How do we utilize city funding...to be creative to bring about housing affordability?"
- PJ Perez, a high school teacher: "I think there's momentum for reform in local government, and there's a commonly held desire to stop this costly sprawl that's making congestion worse."
- Norm Roche, a Costco employee and former Pinellas County commissioner: "We can grow while protecting our environment, the red hills and our canopies, and do it properly and intelligently. I think it's something we have to do."
- Max Herrle, a political consultant, filed to run after we recorded this podcast.
The commission seat held by Dianne Williams-Cox will also be on the ballot next year, and she is so far unopposed.
What stands to change at City Hall with these elections? The split at City Hall could see a shift in power. City managerial staff could change. Decision-making may be very different at the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency.
Hear more about those possibilities, as well as a controversial incident at the Tallahassee Chamber conference related to Matlow's candidacy, and much more by clicking LISTEN above.
