You can visit Norm Roche’s campaign website HERE. You will find an “about” page, a “focus” page which explains his objectives, a “media” page which links various articles about his candidacy for city commission, and a “hot takes” page where he will share his thoughts on various issues in city government.
Where are you from and how do you feel that impacts or influences your decision to run?
I was originally born in New Jersey, but my family moved to Florida (Tampa Bay Area)
when I was just a young child. I can comfortably say that I was raised in Florida.
Nothing specific to where I grew up influences my desire to serve on our City
Commission. However, not wanting to see Tallahassee makes the mistakes made in
my hometown/county repeatedly, has impacted my decision to run, particularly in the
areas of intelligent growth.
Will you raise property taxes? Should an issue arise where an increase in property taxes is suggested by staff, how would you insulate the taxpaying neighbors from excessive tax burden as a result? What measures would you take to independently understand the proposition, versus policy alternatives?
I don’t believe that citizens are as upset with the necessity of having to pay taxes as
they are with what our elected officials do with our tax dollars. Second only to Public
Safety, as an elected official our primary duty is the legal, ethical, and responsible
stewardship of our tax dollars such that it brings about a benefit to our community.
Staff may make the recommendation to raise taxes for a given reason or purpose, but
it is the Mayor and Commissions responsibility to assure that any increase is
absolutely necessary and that all other options have been discusses and considered
in earnest.
There has been much public question about the city’s response to the county wanting to see the fire fund spending. How transparent do you feel that should be and given the questions remaining about whether station 17 has already been funded in previous years or why the city said the fund is short, would you call for an independent audit of the department and the fire fee funds?
This is an issue that is of particular interest to me. I wrote and sent an Op-Ed to
Tallahassee’s paper-of-record, and I have sent personal emails to each City and
County Commissioner as well as the City Manager and County Administrator,
expressing my thoughts and ideas. I’m not sure I have the space to fully detail my
thoughts on this here, so I’ll try to be as concise as possible. The City of Tallahassee
and Leon County are inextricably connected on many fronts, not the least of which is
the current issue regarding the expansion of Fire Services. As the City grows so shall
the County. And I believe it is imperative that the two governing bodies work together on matters of mutual interest such as intelligent growth, the Comprehensive Plan, the Intergovernmental Agency known as Blueprint, Infrastructure, Resource Management, and Homelessness to name just a few. Going separate ways on these issues will only result in confusion and more costly services for all. I believe it is time for the County to have a seat at the table on this issue in particular. I would prefer a consolidated approach. Perhaps renaming the department as the UCFD (Unified Capital Fire Department). Growing together will be far more beneficial, efficient, and productive than growing apart.
What is something your opponent(s) have suggested that you don’t agree with but if you were elected into office you would be willing to make a good faith effort to explore feasibility and possible outcomes?
As candidates, we haven’t yet had the opportunity to gather together in a town hall or
forum setting to share specifics on our positions. So, I can’t speak about any specific
issue that I might agree or disagree with. This may likely change as we move forward
with the campaign(s).
Will you do a public audit of all tax dollars? If not, why? If so, will you open the books for public oversight?
Audits of departments, programs, of funding measures should always be audited at
some level and at some point, before a decision to allocate taxpayer funds is made.
And without question, those audits should be made public. These are not “the City’s”
dollars, they are “our” tax dollars. Full transparency is absolute.
Is part of your spending strategy to sell more city property and assets? Or do you plan to make our city assets profitable for the taxpayers rather than individual pockets?
I cannot state that I have a “spending strategy” per ‘say, other than a firm and
unquestionable commitment to assure that any taxpayer funded allocations are
legal, ethical, and embrace the responsible stewardship of our tax dollars to assure
that those expenditures bring about a benefit to our community.
Do you feel the FSU purchase of TMH has been a transparent process? If not, how would you remedy that moving forward?
The rollout of the FSU/TMH endeavor has left a lot to be desired. From an outside
position, it is unclear to me whether there were/are legal requirements or confidential
matters that led to what I would characterize as a less than transparent move. If
honored to serve as our next City Commissioner in Seat 3, I will most certainly get to
the bottom of why the process fell short of full transparency. If there is no reasonable
explanation as to why this process fell short, I have no doubt that with a new Mayor
and City Commissioner (perhaps two) that the “process” can and will be revised going
forward.
Where do you think the weak part in communication with other commissioners is when discussing public business in the sunshine? What do you suggest to fix it?
I believe that the communication challenge that seems to be hampering our city
commission rests in a growing political culture of an “us versus them” mentality. Our
current political landscape (nationwide) is infected with this. When elected to take a
seat at the City Hall Dais, there should only be one focus: The City of Tallahassee.
There’s nothing at all wrong with having a firm position of state or national issues.
However, our Mayoral and City Commission seats are “Non-Partisan”. Allowing
politically partizan and/or cultural ideological matters – which are not in our purview
nor within our control – to filter into our city business does not serve our mission or
duties. City of Tallahassee taxpayer time, money, and resources spent on these
national issues – again, which are not in our purview nor within our control – is
Tallahassee taxpayer time, money, and resources not spent on City matters. Our City
Commission is bound to the Government in the Sunshine Law, full stop. If there is a
roadblock or communication issue that compromises that mandate, then as I noted
before, a new Mayor and City Commissioner (perhaps two) will have the responsibility
and duty to correct that moving forward. And I offer my sincere commitment to
keeping a focus on our city and the challenges that impact our citizens.
What is your vision for Tallahassee and the future of it?
In a word: Prosperity. Over the past many years, I’ve had the opportunity to not only
speak with current young residents but also college students. I ask them “where are
you in your life or what studies are you taking in college – and most importantly –
where are you going with that knowledge?” What I hear most is, “I’m going to move to
xyz and build my career/life”. This tells me not what they see here in Tallahassee as
much as it tells me what they don’t see here in Tallahassee: A future.
Some may feel that growing our city while preserving its character is not possible. I do
not believe this. We should seek to grow as a city – both commercial and residential
– such that our current residents and the best and brightest coming out of our
universities and college (FSU, FAMU, and TSC) can settle here and grow in their
careers and life as citizens of our city. Tallahassee is the Capital City of the State of
Florida, and it’s time for us to embrace this honor with a focus on intelligent growth,
planning, and zoning. We can grow with a guiding principle of doing so while
protecting and preserving Tallahassee’s unique ambiance, character, and
environment. It can be done. It’s time; Our Time
Should a vacancy occur in the post of city manager, would you prioritize hiring someone who has experience and insight from within Tallahassee’s government, or do a more prolonged recruitment process to bring in someone who might offer a clean slate?
Should a vacancy occur in the post of City Manager, my focus with respect to
candidates to fill the position would be on candidates’ knowledge, experience, and
record of success in a similar position. Put simply, the role of the City Manager is as
the chief administrator of the city’s business and operations as guided and
established by the Mayor and City Commission, with input from our citizens. It is
neither a political role nor an ideological role. I believe that the length of time
someone has lived in a certain place neither specifically qualifies nor specifically
disqualifies them from seeking to serve the community they call home. I would
support an “open to all who are qualified” approach to filling the vacancy.
What will your mandate be if voters choose you? What do you want voters to see accomplished before the 2028 elections?
I’m not clear on what the 2028 election has to do with this year’s election. However,
if I am honored by the majority of our voters to serve as the next City Commissioner
in Seat 3, I will not take that as a “mandate” to do anything but join as a member of a
collegial body tasked with the duty of assuring full transparency, sound fiscal policy,
improved citizen inclusion, an elevate our quality of life here in Tallahassee. I will
serve our community with an open mind and steadfast commitment to success for
our city and our community.
Do you plan to expand constituents’ ability to provide feedback to city projects and services? How will you collect this data and what will you use it for?
I am open to any and all ideas designed to improve our citizens’ opportunities to
engage their representatives on the issues that impact our lives here in Tallahassee.
One idea I have for achieving this is what I refer to as “taking the show on the road”.
Whether monthly or bi-monthly, I would like to see our Commission meeting held out
in the community. Holding our meeting in various locations throughout our
community such as school auditoriums, community centers, etc. This would allow
for citizens throughout our community an improved opportunity to attend meetings
and share their input and thoughts on given issues.
Say one good thing about your opponents.
I do not view those in this race with me as “opponents”. I do not view my fellow
candidates as folks running against each other. I view us as candidates running “for”
the seat. Our political discourse in this country has become so vitriolic and divisive
that some candidates spend their time trying to convince voters that their
opponent(s) suck rather than trying to convince voters that they don’t. I will not
engage in mudslinging and flame throwing. I have only respect for those of us in this
race and anyone who feels led to serve and seeks to endeavor this path.
What is something that your neighbors can’t find about you through a simple Google search but that you would like them to know about you?
Simply put, the truth. I do not make decisions, base my opinions, or choose my
actions on what is presented on the internet, by the media, or posted on social media
platforms. I choose to do my own research and speak directly to an individual or
individuals if I want a true representation of the facts and understanding of their
character. That said, I do love swimming, snorkeling, diving, boating, flying, camping,
cooking, being a husband and a father, and sports – specifically FSU, FAMU, and
Tampa Bay Buccaneers football.
