Attorney Daryl Parks is one of four candidates running for mayor of Tallahassee.
Parks was interviewed on WFSU’s Candidate Convos, a digital series featuring one-on-one interviews with local candidates ahead of the Aug. 18th primary election.
You can watch the full interview here:
During the conversation, Parks discussed divisions at City Hall and said he does not place blame on any individual or group for the ongoing disagreements among local officials.
“I don't blame anyone for it. I think that things that happen, happen because of people in time, the people who are there and the time that they're in and whatever they're confronting," he said. "The good part about this election is this city gets a chance to put a new situation in place with some capable people who can respond to the new challenges."
Parks also discussed Florida State University’s acquisition of Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare, saying he views the move as an opportunity to increase investment in healthcare and improve outcomes for residents.
“I think it represents a unique opportunity for us to try to have a different type of investment in health care in this community and improve the outcomes of our citizens who have to be hospitalized there. So, I see it as a win," he said.
Parks said the next mayor should focus on balancing neighborhood protections with economic development and job creation. He said his approach would include supporting local businesses while also attracting new industries to Tallahassee.
“I think the next person who's our mayor has to be willing to find a way to do several things:
One, protect the integrity of our neighborhoods who want to be protected.
Two, help the small businesses here who want to grow and do better, and maybe pay our people a little bit more that live and work here,
but three, what makes me different, right? I think I'll be the one that'll be a little bit more aggressive and trying to be a little bit more business friendly, so that we can attract some light manufacturing, some logistics, some did some distribution, and maybe some media manufacturing," he said.
Parks is facing off against Tallahassee City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow, former State Senator Loranne Ausley, and Michael Foust in the mayoral race.
