First and foremost we would like to thank all the City Commission Candidates that responded and participated. While 850CapitalTea does hold our own bias we feel it would be a disservice to our audience to not allow all candidates an opportunity to answer the same questions and have the attention of our viewers. It takes courage to run in an election and it takes greater courage to answer tough questions posed by the community.
Our Procedure
We surveyed our audience regarding what they wanted to know about our local candidates. After going through all the questions we complied the ones that were most frequently asked by our audience. First, we sent an initial email to all the candidates asking them if they would like to participate in the Community Questions.
Once they confirmed that they would like to participate, we responded with ten questions curated for the seat they are running for.
Due to one candidate’s response going to our “junk” folder we extended the deadline for all candidates to participate to ensure they all had a fair opportunity to answer with a reasonable amount of time. The order in which they appear in each section was decided by when the questions were returned to us.
Questions For Our City Commissioner Candidates
The City Commission has the most candidates running for it. The Candidates are split between City Commission Seat 1 and City Commission Seat 2. Currently all voters in the city limits can vote on all the seats on the City Commission. If you recall this was a subject that was presented to the Charter Review Committee. The questions for each candidate are the same regardless of the seat they are running for.
The candidates currently listed for City Commission Seat 1 are: Anthony DeMarco, Louis Dilbert, Rudolph “Randy” Ferguson Sr, Jacqueline “Jack” Porter, and David Wamsley (note that David Wamsley applied to run for city commission seat after all answers had been received and we were in our final publishing stages).
The Candidates currently listed for City Commission Seat 2 are: Dorothy “Dot” Inman-Johnson, Curtis Richardson, and Bernard Stevens Jr.
Question One: What is a topic or issue that you feel the community should know more about?
Dorothy “Dot” Inman-Johnson (city commission seat 2):
The high poverty rate (about 20%) in Tallahassee should be at the top of the list since it directly impacts the quality of life for one out of every five residents with crime, housing affordability, jobs, as well as the livability factor for our “All-America” City. Tallahassee must focus more attention on its deficits while also celebrating its successes.
Jacqueline “Jack” Porter (city commission seat 1):
Land use/zoning issues are the crux of what local government is and in many ways defines the very shape and social context in Tallahassee.
But the issue that needs to be more well-understood today is the City’s politically-motivated campaign of torture against the Tallahassee Professional Firefighters. That battle contains the fundamentals of everything wrong with the abusive City Hall status quo which has become so far removed from the needs of the voters and taxpayers.
Question Two: What does a “unified Tallahassee” mean to you?
Dot Inman-Johnson:
All stakeholders working together to achieve a common vision that addresses community needs in all zip codes, focusing first on areas of greatest need.
Jacqueline “Jack” Porter:
A unified Tallahassee looks like a local government that reflects the values of the community, which forges a cooperative spirit that allows us to negotiate our differences civilly. A City where the public interest — not special interests and developer-powered PACs — drive the decision making at City Hall and throughout the community in terms of how we distribute our public attention and resources
Question Three: The city commission regularly has agenda items involving Funding and Grants. Projects have been approved that the community is disgruntled with. What does financial stewardship mean to you and what will you do to help achieve good financial stewardship?
Dot Inman-Johnson:
The 8.5% hike in property taxes, $20 million borrowed by Blueprint and an additional $7 million in debt service for FSU’s stadium, and a $1.8 million CRA grant to SOMO developer while the homeless problem explodes and CAJM’s calls for dedicated funds for affordable rental housing for low-income residents are ignored are among the financial decisions that caused many to be disgruntled. Financial stewardship means spending within budgeted income and focusing on areas within government’s responsibilities and greatest need. If elected, I would utilize the expertise of all of the City’s appointed officials who answer directly to the City Commission (City Treasurer, City Attorney, City Auditor/ Inspector General) and not just the City Manager. Then I would do my own fact checking to make sure I am being presented with all the pros and cons before making a decision. And I would listen to concerns raised by the public.
Jacqueline “Jack” Porter:
I can understand very well the dissatisfaction many across the community disagree with — because I stood with them and opposed it at the City Commission and Blueprint on their behalf. I’m proud of our record in Seat 1 representing the voices of Tallahassee’s great neighborhoods and everyday working people on issue after issue from taxes to economic development deals, and that’s whose interests I’m always centering in making financial decisions as an elected policymaker: the public interest.
I joined Commissioner Jeremy Matlow in voting No to raising our local property taxes in 2023 because I didn’t believe the City’s budget reflected the values of the electorate, and that I just couldn’t justify raising the cost of living without a clear plan to spend that revenue as effectively as possible.
Question Four: Many community members have expressed distrust in our local police department. How do you believe the commission could help restore the public’s trust in our police department?
Dot Inman-Johnson:
Trust can be restored through greater transparency on police-involved incidents by providing a citizen review process with the ability to review cases and make recommendations. The Legislature has made this more difficult in this year’s session with laws that would eliminate Citizen Police Review Boards. Also, real community policing as developed under the Obama administration in which the police worked in partnership with neighborhoods with a positive presence in ensuring safe communities.
Jacqueline “Jack” Porter:
No question much work needs to be done in this regard, and I think it starts with just an open honest conversation about what our goals are, and how we can best work together.
Question Five: 850CapitalTea receives many comments and messages from members of the community stating that they feel unheard as well as dismissed by the city commission. What does active listening mean to you and how will you show us that our voices matter to you?
Dot Inman-Johnson:
Active listening means being open to hearing input from others. And in this case, giving real respect and value to public input on issues facing our city. I have been in City Commission meetings recently when the Mayor directed police officers to enforce his order to silence a speaker within his 3 minutes allotted; and when he gaveled a recess during a speaker’s time, rather than listening to his comments. That kind of behavior by public officials is embarrassing and unacceptable.
Jacqueline “Jack” Porter:
Active listening means truly comparing alternatives when offered, and being open to compromise in light of new information. There has been a lack of this on the local elected bodies at time including City Hall to be sure, but I will always continue to try to meet everyone halfway and due my part to create a conducive, collegial atmosphere where the people, ratepayers and citizens of Tallahassee matter more than petty insider infighting.
Question Six: 850CapitalTea believes we are better together; how do you plan to move forward in collaborating with the different unions under the City Commission?
Dot Inman-Johnson:
I plan to collaborate with unions, as with all City employees, by first recognizing their important role in service to the public; and facts and fairness in resolving union and employment issues instead of politics and bullying. For more context, I was on the Leon Classroom Teachers Association first collective bargaining team and the UFF grievance rep for FSU/ DRS teachers until I retired in 1998 to become Executive Director of Capital Area Community Action Agency. And in my past service as City Commissioner and Mayor, City employees including union employees will remember me as fair and respectful of employees’ needs.
Jacqueline “Jack” Porter:
From the days of my first endorsement from the Central Labor Council which I proudly shared and worked hard for, to my own participation in a labor union at Florida State University as a grad student organizer, labor and Tallahassee’s unions in particular have always been a vital key priority for me.
I believe further progress for current and future bargaining units is not only possible, but necessary as we try our best as policymakers to try to foster a labor market that works for working families.
Question Seven: 850CapitalTea believes that all our voices matter, are important, and deserve a platform. However, members of our LGBTQ+ are feeling vulnerable. What will you do to protect them and ensure their safety?
Dot Inman-Johnson:
Discrimination is a violation of the law. And as a racial minority who grew up in Birmingham during Jim Crow and segregation of the 1950s and 60s demanding our rights, I have never stood silently by while the rights of others have been violated, regardless of race, gender identity, age, or income level. I support the LGBTQ+ community and demonstrated it before choosing to run for office; and will continue once elected.
Jacqueline “Jack” Porter:
Laws and local ordinances that recognize the basic humanity of LGBTQ+ people and equality of same-sex marriages are a minimum. I’ve been proud to support a resolution affirming the right to privacy and the right to choose, opposed conversion therapy at the municipal land use level as part of the Commission on the Status of Women & Girls, and much more to try to live out those values in office every day.
Question Eight: At the city retreat it was stated that we have seen an increase specifically in domestic violent crimes, what do you believe is the reason for this and what will you do to help solve this problem?
Dot Inman-Johnson:
Poverty and financial stress, jealousy, alcohol and substance abuse, mental illness, and inability to manage anger are major causes of domestic violence. It is prevalent across all income levels, but most often low-income households do not have the means to address it. Shame often prevents victims from seeking help, as well. The City can and should provide funding for community-based intervention to address some of the root causes and ensure that TPD take seriously calls reporting threats of domestic violence, and are trained on resources and organizations in the community able to house and protect victims, and make referrals for interventions with abusers. An intervention team consisting of law enforcement, social workers, psychologists, and substance abuse counselors should be created to advise on such matters.
Jacqueline “Jack” Porter:
Social inequality is at the core of all the social and economic problems we’re experiencing that contribute to crime and violence. Solving that and getting people into more prosperous economic arrangements is always going to be the best way to reduce crime and violence, and I’ll continue to be a leader at the Commission and at Blueprint on aggressive, creative ways to try and ameliorate our divisions.
Question Nine: There have been concerns and frustrations regarding ethics in the City Commission and City leadership. What does ethical leadership look like to you and how will you help promote Ethics to our city government and leadership?
Dot Inman-Johnson: Ethical leadership is operating within standards of conduct set by governance within the Sunshine Law, readily following the Conflict-of-Interest Law, transparency in decision making, and following moral laws of fairness and decency. [redacted] The Commission does not allow the Ethics Commission to investigate even Whistleblower complaints against Commissioners. This year’s Legislature did leave in place the law guiding Whistleblower complaints.
Jacqueline “Jack” Porter:
Ethical leadership is simple: keeping your promises and placing the public trust above any other consideration.
Question Ten: Is there any information about yourself that you would like the community to know that they may not be able to find online?
Dot Inman-Johnson:
Though this information may be available online, here is a little information about me. I was a teacher for 28 years, the first Black woman elected to the Tallahassee City Commission and served 2 terms as Tallahassee’s first Black woman Mayor, former Executive Director of an 8-county non-profit advocating for/ serving low-income residents, co-founder of Loved by Jesus Family Church with my husband Rev. Lee Johnson, and created the Safe Spaces for Kids Program at the Orange Avenue Housing Development_ before it was demolished_ to provide After-School enrichment/ tutoring and Summer Camp for children in that development. I am also an author and artist. I have published 4 books. The most recent, TALLAHASSEE’S BLACK HISTORY FIRSTS, has been purchased for all school libraries in the Leon County School District. A park, Dorothy Inman-Johnson Park on the Plaza, in the KLEMAN PLAZA was named in my honor for my long record of service to Tallahassee. More info is available on my candidate website www.dotfortallahassee.com under the RECORD link.
Jacqueline “Jack” Porter:
Yes, our campaign and office websites!
