Candidates running for City and County Commission are campaigning to turn the tables of Tallahassee’s tight economy. In this second piece to a two-part article on local elections (the first half can be found at fsunews.com), issues of economic prosperity and fiscal responsibility stand out as ways in which campaigners are looking to win the vote.
Bob Rackleff, county commissioner district 5 and treasurer of the Innovation Park board, is running for his fourth term against Vice President of Mad Dog Construction and founding President of Sustainable Tallahassee Kristin Dozier, and David Ward, project manager for Allen’s Excavation.
According to the Tallahassee Democrat, Rackleff’s focus is on “economic development and quality-of-life issues.” Both he and Dozier want to help local business grow, but Dozier’s approach is more specific.
If elected, Dozier would build a “‘sustainable community’ through a balanced approach that fosters economic development and environmental protection.”
Ward wants to eliminate wasteful spending by having certain departments justify budget requests, and wants to end county contributions to not-for-profit organizations.
Bill Proctor and John “Corri” Byrne are facing off for County Commission District 1.
Proctor was first appointed to Commission in 1996. In the Democrat, he is quoted as saying that his district, the south side of Tallahassee, is often the victim of “economic exploitation,” and he wants to create a council to address this.
Byrne helped develop the All Saints neighborhood, and is a local business owner.
The County Commission candidates are current County Commissioner Cliff Thaell, former FSU football player and vice president of development for the Bowden Foundation Nick Maddox, owner of C.J. Malphurs Septic Service Rick Malphurs and DEC engineer Scott Matteo.
While on the commission, Thaell has seen the Leon County budget reduced by $1 million a month.
“That’s a demonstration I think that we’re not looking to the next election; we’re looking to doing the right thing, given the challenges and the adversity we face,” Thaell said in an endorsement interview at the Democrat on June 23.
Maddox’s top priority is job creation.
“In order to realize jobs and create jobs we first have to become a more business-friendly environment,” he said in the interview. “We need to work on our infrastructure, big-time. We need to give our small businesses some incentives to bring on some employees.”
Malphurs, the “regular guy,” wants to create a citizen’s utility board and hold regular town-hall meetings so residents can have a voice.
“People are going through economic times I don’t believe that the political spectrum at the city and the county understand,” Malphurs said in the interview. “I don’t think that they’re on the same playing field and the same level as regular people.”
Matteo would focus on all-around fiscal responsibility, from limiting his campaign contributions from the $500 limit to $200, to cutting unnecessary programs if he were to be elected.
“New leadership is needed to focus on improving existing services and providing them at a lower cost, rather than raising taxes,” Matteo said in the interview.
The primary election is Aug. 24 and the general election is Nov. 2. The deadline to register to vote is July 26 for the primary election and Oct. 4 for the general election. Those interested can register by going to the Supervisor of Elections Office, visiting www.LeonVotes.org to download a form or going to a public library or participating bank, DMV, school or university. Precinct assignments also can be found at www.LeonVotes.org.