City Commission Candidate Profile: Lynette Halter

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

Halter received her bachelor’s degree in political science from Texas Tech University with advanced studies in city planning. She has worked in a variety of positions including serving with the Navy Reserves for 27 years, working as an Ikebana Sensei in Japan, working as a substitute teacher for seven years, starting a computer repair business, and renovating houses. She has also volunteered with various political campaigns. After retirement, she joined the Experimental Aircraft Association to pursue becoming a pilot, started a flying club, and began rebuilding an airplane. A main feature of Halter’s campaign is promoting honesty in local government.

Questions

What motivated you to run for local office?

“For some time, I’ve been concerned that the FBI has investigations of corruption in Tallahassee, but it is the crime rate that got me to run for City Commissioner Seat 2. While I was considering running by petition, I wanted to find out where the worst crimes had been committed to avoid that area. It used to be available online. Not being able to find where violent crimes had been committed fired me up to run for City Commissioner.”

What unique perspective would you bring to the position?

“My perspective is unique because I was taught from childhood in Texas to protect and defend. I am a veteran and was retired. I’d rather stay retired and certainly don’t want a career in politics. A retired commissioner told me I don’t have a ghost of a chance. I am walking neighborhoods because I’ve never run for office before. I’ve talked to a lot of people to try to get 1601 petitions signed. Most households have two or three dogs. People are afraid, and they are mad.”

What do you see as the biggest challenges facing Tallahassee?

“I would have said the biggest challenge is honesty. I’ve had people tell me Tallahassee has always been corrupt. I think that is an excuse to do nothing.  I do not know anything bad about any of the candidates or those in office. The biggest problem in Tallahassee is violent crime. I have had elected officials tell me the crime rate is not as bad as reported in the newspaper. Criminals who would hurt others whether it is with knives, cars, or guns need to behind bars away from law-abiding people. We deserve better.”

What is your plan to address these challenges?

“How would I address the challenges? It would be by being honest. I would tell press or radio or television or anyone I could contact the problems. I would welcome whistleblowers and investigate to make sure the complaint was real. The present policy in the County and the City is to persecute anyone who tells. Is this lack of honesty interfering with our police doing their job? I don’t know. From what I’ve deduced, the Police Department is yanked around especially by the budget. I would ask the police to come up with plans. I would ask them to work with other law agencies where ever they could get experts or help both locally and nationally. I would give them what they need, give it to them, then get out of way.”

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.

Campaign contribution and expenditure information is available here.