Tallahassee City Commission, Seat 1: Voters' guide to the 2024 primary election
Tallahassee City Commission, Seat 1
Non-partisan: Incumbent Jack Porter faces challengers Louis Dilbert and Rudy Ferguson
Who can vote: All registered city of Tallahassee voters.
What’s next: One of the candidates must win more than half the vote to clinch the primary outright and avoid a runoff. If no one gets more than 50%, the top two vote-getters will proceed to the Nov. 5 general election.
How much does this position pay: $45,288
CANDIDATES
Louis Dilbert
Age: 44
Profession: Director of Military and Veteran Affairs and the TRIO Educational Opportunity Center at Florida A&M University; adjunct instructor at Tallahassee State College.
Qualifications: 25 years of impactful servant leadership in diverse areas of the Tallahassee community including education, career development, veteran services and support for individuals with disabilities
Website: louisdilbert.com
Q: What is the pivotal issue in this election?
A: There is a lack of civility among current commissioners. A strong 3/2 divide exists that is rarely deviated from and there is an antagonistic demeanor amongst the sitting commissioners lending to partisan versus independent thinking when decision-making. We must tackle issues regarding affordable housing, keeping in mind that “affordable” is based on income. There needs to be sufficient and accessible jobs that pay a living wage where someone can sustain a rent or mortgage payment in addition to other common life expenses. The number of unhoused residents is growing and we already have limited capacity with one shelter in place for the general population.
Q: If you can accomplish just one thing in office what would it be?
A: I would like to see another multipurpose center for individuals experiencing homelessness that extends beyond food and shelter to offer life skills training, career services and mental health resources. It could also be designated for special populations such as veterans, individuals with disabilities, seniors and women with small children. Ideally, it would be public/private partnership that would also allow nonprofits to use to provide services. There would also be funding for a maintenance plan so that the facility's condition doesn’t noticeably depreciate after 2-3 years of operation.
Rudy Ferguson
Age: 52
Profession: Executive director, The Frontline Project, Inc.; senior pastor, New Birth Tabernacle of Praise.
Qualifications: Community advocate for 30 years by way of the Tallahassee Urban League, the Florida Commission on Human Relations and the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
Website: Rudyferguson.com.
Q: What is the pivotal issue in this election?
A: Public Safety. In the last couple of years, Tallahassee has unfortunately witnessed a concerning uptick in violent crime. Ensuring the safety and security of families must be a priority and action must be taken to address the issue head-on. My extensive experience working alongside law enforcement over the years has provided valuable insights into today's challenges in the fight against increasing violent crime in the community. I will continue to work with first responders, invest in youth outreach, support community-oriented policing strategies, build trust, and prioritize transparency and accountability.
Q: If you can accomplish just one thing in office what would it be (be specific)?
A: Over the last four years, our city government has faced significant challenges. However, we failed to work together. We may not agree on everything, but we must work together. I believe, by embracing civility, respect and collaboration, we can better represent the interests and values of the people. Once elected I will prioritize effective leadership, civility and collaboration to address community needs and build a brighter future for our children. To that end, I believe we can work on practical ordinances to help the business community, robust public investments in neighborhoods and effective crime prevention policies to quickly make a significant impact together.
Jacqueline "Jack" Porter
Age: 31
Profession: City commissioner
Qualifications: Four years of compassionate, responsive leadership and more individual contributions than any other candidate. Masters in public administration and policy and in urban and regional planning.
Website: Jackfortallahassee.com.
Q: What is the pivotal issue in this election?
A: Tallahassee has a choice. Are we going to be a city that's led by the public interest or a few special interest groups in town that have run this city for far too long? Our city simply isn’t working for everyday people. It’s not working for our neighborhoods that feel we don’t have a say in how our city grows, it’s not working for residents sick of wasteful spending, and it’s not working for our most vulnerable neighbors who continue to see taxpayer resources squandered, with false promises that help is on the way.
Q: If you can accomplish just one thing in office what would it be?
A: If I could accomplish one thing in office, it would be that every person in Tallahassee has a place they call home where they can afford to live and live with dignity — with access to food, healthcare, community resources, recreation and arts and meaningful high-paying job opportunities.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Election 2024 voters' guide: Tallahassee City Commission, Seat 1
