City Commission Candidate Profile: Curtis Richardson

City Commission Candidate Profile: Curtis Richardson

In October 2019, City Commissioner Curtis Richardson filed to run for reelection for City Commission Seat 2. Bill Schack, Trish Brown, Lynette Halter, and Geraldine Seay are also running for the position.

Richardson was elected to the City Commission in 2014. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology and master’s degree in School Psychology from Florida State University. He went on to work as a school psychologist in the Gadsden County School System and, later in his career, served as the Director of School Improvement. He also worked in several positions within the Florida Department of Education, and he has been a member of many civic organizations in Tallahassee. Main features of Richardson’s campaign are sustainable growth, affordable housing, and preserving neighborhoods.

Questions

What motivated you to run for local office?

“I have been a resident of Tallahassee for 45 years, having moved here to attend FSU. After graduating with a degree in School Psychology, I began my professional career in a local school district and decided to make Tallahassee my home. I would eventually meet my wife here, and we built our home on the Southside of Tallahassee, where we raised our two daughters. I have devoted myself to serving this community in a number of different capacities in an effort to make it a better place for our residents, their families, and guests to the city. After serving terms on the Leon County School Board and Florida House of Representatives, I was elected to the City Commission in 2014 and re-elected in 2016. I am running for re-election to continue to provide the kind of leadership needed to move our city forward and address the challenges facing us as a community. As the ‘Dean’ of the Commission, I have worked with my newly elected colleagues and provided the institutional knowledge needed as we confronted the issues important to our residents. I am also running for re-election to ensure the successful launch and implementation of our Blueprint 2020 projects. As a member of the original Blueprint Committee and the subsequent Sales Tax Committee, I plan to continue to work toward the successful implementation of future infrastructure projects and economic development initiatives.”

What unique perspective would you bring to the position?

“I consider it an honor to serve ALL of the residents of the city of Tallahassee, but I have a unique perspective in that I live on the Southside of town. As a resident of the Southside, I have a vantage point that allows me to see the additional resources needed in this part of our city and other long neglected areas that need tremendous attention and improvement so the quality of life of those residents is enhanced. I also have the unique perspective of having been involved for many years in working with the City and CRA resulting in millions of dollars being committed towards the revitalization and re-development of these areas. In addition, I bring a long history of experience, knowledge and public service to the Commission as its longest serving member. In light of the recent health and economic challenges brought about by the coronavirus (COVID-19), my knowledge and experience will be valuable as we navigate through these unchartered, troubled waters and keep our ‘All America’ City moving forward and on the road to recovery.”

What do you see as the biggest challenges facing Tallahassee?

“First, there is no doubt that the challenges arising out of the coronavirus will be the biggest facing our community. We must ensure that we are all working together to address the tremendous health and economic issues brought about by this pandemic. For instance, ensuring that the healthcare industry and other frontline essential employees have the resources they need must be a priority, as well as the health and safety of all Tallahasseeans. Second, we will also be faced with the challenge of jump starting our economy, particularly local small businesses and industry and getting our citizens back to work. Third, the City will face challenges as it tries to provide the same level of quality services our residents have come to expect, but with a vastly reduced budget. Finally, keeping our neighborhoods safe will continue to be among my top priorities.”

What is your plan to address these challenges?

“The City and County Commissioners have worked jointly and individually to address these issues. We have assisted our local small businesses and nonprofits with cash infusions as well as offering utility rebates to all of our customers. We have ensured no utility disconnects and allowed payment deferrals. We have encouraged local residents to continue to support our local businesses. The City has worked with the healthcare industry with such matters as donating a COVID-19 testing site and contracting with a local vendor to produce masks that can be given to the public at no cost. The Commission and City Manager have committed to make every effort to maintain the current city work force. We will also continue to try to create new jobs for residents through business recruitment and growing our local businesses. We will also look for ways to reduce the financial burden on local residents if/where we can so they have money to invest in the local economy.”

Responsibilities of the City Commissioner position include setting City policies and setting tax rates. It has a four-year term length and annual salary of $39,588.00. The primary election date is August 18 and the general election date is November 3.

Website: https://curtisforcitycommission.com/
Campaign contribution and expenditure information is available here.

Ahead of the 2020 local election season, Tallahassee Reports has asked all local candidates to answer basic questions about their candidacy. The answers to the questions are in the candidates own words.The goal is to get as much information out to voters as possible. More focused questions will be addressed as the election draws nearer.

15 Responses to "City Commission Candidate Profile: Curtis Richardson"

  1. I hesitated about selecting Curtis Richardson because he so largely just rested on the city’s accomplishments and promised more of the same, whereas I think the way the big developers continue to have sway in this town is appalling. And he is too quiet when the shabby areas are not given attention despite all these fine Blueprints, etc. Not to mention that many years down the road we are told we had our chance to speak out when these schemes were presented, but not necessarily presented down to the detail, which is sometimes where the disasters take place. Despite the strange accusation that he is a “liberal”, I think he is a moderate with too much conservative leaning supporting business and not respecting that some people find happiness in a less showy style of life, such as the informal park on the southside where neighbors used to meet under the trees. However, the kinds of comments against him make me want to ally against those commenters! You have to be ignorant to go along with the state’s definition that an increase in property taxes when there has been an increase in your property’s value is a “tax increase” in the effective sense when the rate stays the same. How else to keep pace with inflation? Ignorance and greed go hand in hand. Thank you for helping me decide to vote for him.

  2. DC mayor SUED over BLM mural
    https://www.newsweek.com/group-sues-dc-mayor-over-street-mural-says-it-violates-freedom-religion-clause-behalf-1510617
    “Defendant Bowser’s paramount objective was to convey to the Plaintiffs and all other taxpayers the Black Lives Matter cult, which is a denominational sect of the religion of Secular Humanism, is the favored religion of the city and the Nation and that another who disagrees with their gospel narrative is a second class citizen,” it alleges.
    It claims that it violates the establishment clause, which forbids the government from establishing an official religion, or from passing laws that favor one religion over another.

  3. You want to continue to provide the kind of leadership needed to move our city forward and address the challenges facing us as a community? When did you start

  4. How many times can Curtis send funds for Blueprint infrastructure to projects and programs (OEV) that were never represented as such during the penny sales tax extension vote?

  5. This gentleman, and others currently occupying a seat on the Commission (to include the Mayor) lost my consideration once they took a knee to, fully supported, and allowed state-sponsored taxpayer-funded Marxists graffiti to deface our public land. It shows a dangerous inability for rational thought. And exposes a lack of commitment to research and understand the decision one makes BEFORE making it. Political expediency is not a wise governing model.

    End of story

    1. Hope: You forgot to list the “misunderstanding” incident he had in Sept. 1996 in Frenchtown with a known prostitute while running for County Kommissar.

      The Maven hasn’t forgotten.

      1. Voters missed their opportunities to vote out corruption with Maddox and Gillum. Hopefully, they will vote smarter in this election cycle and edit out the years of corruption and start a new beginning by voting for Bill Schack City commission 2020!

  6. Curtis has done nothing to curtail the crime rate he said nothing when Scott Maddox was extorting money from citizens and berating African-American citizens for exposing his corruption Curtis sat there and said nothing and came to no one’s defense.

    In fact Curtiss defended Scott Maddox!

    Curtis divides and fails to bring people together in unity because of his liberal politics that only hold the minorities back and creates further problems.

    Curtis did nothing and said nothing when former mayor Gillum was abusing and misusing his office and even supported and promoted Gillum. Gillum recently was found inebriated on the floor in a drug orgy with a male escort.

    Curtis has not taken a stand on fellow commissioner Diane Williams Cox disrespectful Facebook post calling the president of the United States the virus.

    Curtis looks the other way when facing inhumanities. Curtis fails to lead. Curtis promotes liberal agendas instead of focusing on the task at hand of representing an entire community.

    Bill Schack for County Commission 2020!

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