You can visit David O’Keefe’s website HERE. On his website you will find “about” him, a “break down” tab where he will email you his take on local government agendas, and he also has a tab for ways for you to “get involved.” We encourage all our neighbors to view his website to learn more about him.
Where are you from and how do you think that impacts or influences your
decision to run?
I grew up in Jacksonville, FL before moving to Tallahassee for college in 2003. My decision to run for office is certainly influenced by my childhood in Jacksonville. Because I saw major sprawl and clearcutting in Jacksonville, I am driven to protect the unique character of Leon County that drew me to stay here after college. That drives my commitment to planning and growth that protects the environment, focuses on infill development, and ensures well-managed growth.
I also grew up in more diverse communities and schools in Jacksonville than in Tallahassee. While I lived in the suburban eastside of Jacksonville, I went to schools in downtown and the westside of Jacksonville. I got to grow up with friends from all types of neighborhoods and backgrounds. It instilled in me the strength that comes from being part of a diverse community.
What do you believe you have brought or will bring to the commission that
is unique to you?
I bring a unique sense of urgency, openness to new ideas, commitment to restoring trust in local government, and professional experience as a Certified Public Accountant.
I know what it feels like to grow up in a family struggling financially, and its impact on not only that family – but on the whole community. For our neighbors struggling to get by, coming up with policy to change the conditions is an urgent crisis. I govern with that sense of urgency, and with a willingness to try any new solution no matter how big or small.
Citizens are losing faith in the social contract with their government. I want to restore that trust here by providing civic education through email and social media to help Leon County voters learn how their government is working for them and how they can participate in their local democracy.
I am the only current Commissioner with a background in auditing and running accounting offices for both local governments and non-profits. I use that knowledge to bring new transparency and accountability – particularly at Blueprint, where I published project budgets independently when management stopped disclosing them.
Affordable housing is a growing problem especially in Leon County. Many
neighbors now face high rent costs or mortgage costs, do you have any
new or fresh ideas?
Addressing our affordable housing is my primary mission as County Commissioner. Throughout my first term I have brought and supported new ideas from our community at Blueprint, and at the County Commission. We need to expand our investments in our existing affordable housing programs, including our recently created programs for very-low and extremely low-income families needing affordable rental housing.
I would also like us to consider:
- Partnering with private developers to build affordable rental units, where the County retains ownership in the affordable units, and the developer owns the market rate units. This would expand the assets held in our name – increasing future revenue and borrowing capacity for more affordable housing investments.
- Development incentives for redeveloping vacant commercial and retail properties within Capital Circle for affordable rental housing.
- Supporting grants and no interest or low interest loans for homeowners to build accessory dwelling units for rentals – expanding units available in already developed areas.
- Aggressively pursuing any and all innovative solutions implemented by other successful governments.
- Bringing the business community into the coalition to recognize that the affordable housing crisis is one of the biggest obstacles to building our workforce and economy.
Do you support a consolidated government with the city? Why or why
not?
I do not support consolidating County and City government at this time. Doing so at this time would not result in better services or costs for our citizens.
However, if the voters support this, I will follow their lead. But I want voters to know the 2026 vote on this is non-binding – basically an opinion poll to let us know where the voters stand.
Government consolidations have been well studied and attempted many times in Florida. None have successfully consolidated in Florida since the 1960s. In fact, four times Leon County voters have rejected consolidation.
I understand at first consolidation can appear to offer efficiencies and cost savings, and that may be true if one were creating a new government from the ground up. But when we try to consolidate two governments with 200 years of history and operational systems, we don’t get those efficiencies.
Consolidation would not be as simple as the County takes over the City, or the City takes over the County. We would need to merge all departments and functions, which would best be done when everyone is already getting along. To try to merge all functions of two governments at a time when basic agreements are falling apart, would not result in an effective transition.
We already combine many services that make sense to share such as: Fire Department, Development and planning, emergency dispatch, animal service center, and more. I want us to focus on reconciling to keep those working for our citizens.
Do you support an interlocal agreement with the city (specifically fire/ems
services but could apply to other services)? If so, what do you plan to do
to mend the relationship with the city? If you do not, what do you plan to
suggest to offset our neighbor’s tax cost for a new county fire
department?
YES. I support extending the interlocal agreement between the City and the County for fire services.
I believe most of my County colleagues agree that we need the City back at the table to compromise on a long-term agreement that works for everyone. This arrangement has been successful for decades and is the most cost-effective option for all citizens.
There is a lot to this disagreement, but I will be concise. I did not expect the City Commission to abruptly decide not to extend an agreement that doesn’t even end until 2028. I want to negotiate with the City for whatever increase is needed to keep these shared services alive for the future.
The reality is that starting a separate County Fire Department would be so expensive for our residents that it would completely dwarf the fee increase requested by the City of Tallahassee.
In principle, we should expect our partners to honor our agreements. I want to review the ledgers to ensure all parties are funding what they agreed to, allowing us to align our funding to the agreed amounts.
However, if the only way to get an agreement with the City is to forgo that review and agree to their fee increase, then we must do it. The practical outcome of separating our fire services is simply too damaging to our citizens. In fact, I would support accepting the initial City increase request as presented, with no changes, to protect our neighbors.
When it comes to Blueprint, if there was one project you could remove,
what would it be? Assuming that blueprint has sufficient funding to
replace the project you removed, what project/idea would you replace it
with?
I would remove Northeast Gateway: Welaunee Boulevard, with a 2025 cost estimate of $120 million compared to the initial estimate of $78 million. I believe the cost of the road should have been covered by the developer who is developing the Welaunee property, not the government.I would replace it with an affordable rental housing development project.
Many of our neighbors locally and in Wakulla are feeling and seeing the
effects of bad environmental practices on our waterways. Our county and
city play a role in this destruction, is this an issue that concerns you, if so,
what will you propose in order to correct our negative impact on our
environment?
Yes, this is an issue that concerns me. That is why I work to ensure developers comply with existing regulations, such as when I recently blocked a major expansion of the Urban Services Area on Old St Augustine Rd outside of Capital Circle.
I support more stringent environmental requirements for development. In Leon County, our environmental regulation ordinances supersede any City ordinances, and therefore Leon County is the best body to effect stronger protections for our environment and waterways.
We have seen our public assets being sold by the city at an expedited
pace. If the county proposes selling county assets, what is your position
on selling public assets and what does your ideal process for selling
public assets look like?
I believe we should only be selling public County assets if we have exhausted all possible benefits for the public. If we could still use these assets to support our community in any way, it should be used for that purpose.
If there is no public use left for the public asset, then we should have a public and impartial bidding process for the best price for the County.
Neighbors living in the city pay county taxes. How do you plan to
represent their voices when they feel unheard by the city elected
officials?
I serve my constituents within City limits the same way I serve those in unincorporated Leon County. I am proud to say Leon County has been much more responsive to citizens’ issues, so I can often resolve issues for those residents quickly within the County government.
When an issue is under the jurisdiction of the City I try to direct the person to the best person at the City to help them. I repeatedly hear that they do not feel heard by the City government.
I first make sure to listen to them so they are heard by me. Then I look for any option to fix the issue at the County. But if that fails, I often help them strategize the next steps to get responsive action from their City government.
I always remember that City residents are also taxpayers. That is why I fought to include City residents in the $1 million TEAM grants in response to the 2024 Tornadoes.
What is one thing your neighbors can’t find through a Google search but
that you would like your neighbors to know about you?
I take this job seriously. I am the commissioner who reads the details, because that is where we find real ways to improve. I feel a great responsibility for the wellbeing of all my neighbors, and I commit to putting the best interests of the people before personal benefit, ego, or special interests.
I work hard to protect Leon County because our environment and community are so valuable. If I often focus on where we need to improve, it is only because I know how special Leon County is—and how much better we can be.
Website:
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https://www.linkedin.com/in/commishokeefe
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