The Tallahassee-based company announced its “KLS Gives Back” initiative to assist a homeowner facing financial hardship and the expense of replacing an HVAC system.

“Replacing an air conditioning and heating system can be a difficult expense for a family already trying to make ends meet,” said Keith Lawson II of Keith Lawson Services. “We work in our neighbors’ homes every day, and we want to help take that worry off one family’s shoulders.”

Eligible homeowners must reside in Leon, Gadsden, Jefferson or Wakulla counties in Florida, or Thomas, Grady or Decatur counties in Georgia.

Residents, churches, neighborhood associations and community organizations can submit nominations explaining why a homeowner needs assistance.

Company representatives will review the submissions and select three finalists for home visits. The recipient will be chosen based on the merits of the nomination and whether the home can accommodate the available equipment.

The giveaway includes a new HVAC unit ranging from 1.5 to 5 tons, along with the company’s standard installation warranty.

The recipient is expected to be announced during Thanksgiving week, with installation scheduled afterward.

Nominees must own their homes, authorize installation and agree to an inspection. The selected homeowner must also consent to photographs and videos of the installation for promotional purposes.

Founded in 1980, Keith Lawson Services is a family-owned business providing heating, cooling and plumbing services throughout North Florida and South Georgia.

There is no purchase necessary to participate.

Nominations can be submitted through November 9 at www.keithlawson.com/giveaway, where complete eligibility requirements are available.

The new charitable initiative will focus on assisting women and children across North Florida.The Ghazvini family, which has been involved in the Tallahassee community for more than four decades, has announced the creation of a charitable foundation backed by an initial $500,000 commitment to support women and children affected by violence, abuse, and trauma.

“The Ghazvini Family Foundation reflects our family’s belief that every person deserves to feel safe, supported, and empowered to build a better future,” said Mina Ghazvini, the 90-year-old matriarch of the Ghazvini family.

“We believe we have a responsibility to stand alongside those who need support, invest in organizations doing this important work, and help create pathways toward healing, stability, and hope.”

A major focus of the initiative will be addressing domestic violence, which often leaves victims facing difficult financial and personal circumstances.

According to statistics cited in the announcement from the National Domestic Violence Hotline, nearly five people die from domestic violence each day in the United States, most of them women.

The organization also reports that approximately 1.2 million people contact its hotline annually seeking assistance. An estimated 25% of women and 17% of men experience some form of domestic violence during their lifetimes.

Elizabeth Ellis, board chair of Tallahassee-based Refuge House, emphasized that victims frequently face obstacles beyond the immediate threat of violence.

“Domestic violence is not simply a private issue. It is a community issue that requires all of us to be part of the solution,” Ellis said.

“Too often, survivors face difficult choices between their personal safety and their financial security, housing, or family stability.”

Ellis said the initiative aims to help remove those barriers and provide opportunities for victims to move forward.

The announcement did not identify specific grant recipients, funding allocations, or a timetable for distributing the initial $500,000 commitment.

Additional information about the foundation’s leadership, philanthropic priorities, community partnerships, and future initiatives is expected in the coming months.

There were 159,419 Leon County residents working in September compared to March’s revised employment number of 155,763. The size of the workforce in September was 166,865 up from the 163,885 reported in August.

Year Over Year Comparisons

The Leon County Jobs Report, provided below, shows the number of Leon County residents working in September 2026 was 662 less than in September 2025. The September labor force – those looking for jobs – came in at 166,865 which was 187 less than reported one year ago.

The September unemployment rate of 4.5% is up from the 4.2% reported one year ago. At the state level, the September unemployment rate of 4.2% (not seasonally adjusted) was the same as reported one year ago.

The chart below shows the monthly level of jobs in Leon County over the last 37 months with a 12-month average trend line. The highlighted numbers relate to employment levels for the month of September back to 2023.

Heading into the third full week of October as Tallahassee’s newly hired city manager, Karen Jumonville says she is approaching the new position with a listening ear. 

Entering the national search process as the sole internal candidate and with the endorsement of her predecessor, Reese Goad, Jumonville was hired with a 3-2 city commission vote on Sept. 2, 2026. 

Spending over 27 years with the city of Tallahassee, Jumonville worked her way through several positions in growth management, land development and permitting. Her most recent post was deputy city manager.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science, a master’s degree in urban and regional planning and a doctorate in public administration from Florida State University. Additionally, she holds certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners.

“It’s an honor and a privilege, and I look forward to working with the new commission to achieve great things,” Jumonville told Capital Outlook during an interview on Oct. 16.

Jumonville, 54, has spent her first days on the job meeting one-on-one with the city commissioners establishing rapport and priorities under her new leadership. She has also been meeting with department heads and frontline staff, evaluating the current state of the city’s resources. 

“It’s really been meeting with people, a listening tour, meeting with some of our key external stakeholders, and then really looking to make sure that we’re on track with achieving the goals that are outlined in our city strategic plan,” Jumonville said. 

Jumonville encourages Tallahassee residents to stay updated with city commission agendas and meetings to stay involved with opportunities for participation.

Here are her responses during a question-and-answer interview with Capital Outlook:

Q: As you begin your first 100 days as city manager, what are the top priorities you want to address, and what would success look like by the end of that period? 

A: “The first 100-day period starts with listening and learning for me. Establishing a high level of trust with the commission, I want them to feel heard and to understand that operationally we are top notch. Meeting with my department heads so that they understand my expectations for them and my style. And then continuing to deliver the best-in-class service. Our mission is to be the national leader in the delivery of public service. We’re continuing that every day. “

Q: You have spent more than 27 years working within Tallahassee city government. What have you learned during that time that will shape how you lead the city differently as manager?

A: “The most important thing is being able to balance the long-term vision of where we want to go as a community with the daily realities of running a 4,000-person organization. We own and operate our own utilities, water, sewer, stormwater, electric, airport; there are a lot of things day-to-day that come up so it’s easy to be consumed with the day-to-day issues. You really have to be able to focus on the long-term goals and doing the things that we need to do to make sure that we’re successful in achieving the city commission’s vision for our community. 

Adaptability is critical. The ability to be able to pivot. 

The storm that we had last week, Hurricane Isaias, when that moved through our area, we had 37,000 outages and that’s more than we experienced with Hurricane Debbie in 2024. Our crews were able to restore 98% of the grid within 15 hours of the impact to our area. 

What you have planned on the calendar for a day, very rarely is what happens, but you have to be able to pivot when things like that happen to be successful.”

Q: How will you make sure Southside residents have a meaningful role in determining how their neighborhoods develop? And what do you see as a priority to tackle in the Frenchtown/Southside communities?

A: “The city has made meaningful efforts to make sure that our Southside residents are directly involved in shaping their community’s future through collaboration and a real community driven approach. You may have heard of the city’s Neighborhood First plans, and we have a Southside Action Plan and those focus on direct input from residents and helping them to establish and implement efforts to drive beautification in their neighborhoods, investment, and to truly be engaged in what’s going on in their neighborhoods. 

Another component of that is that we focus on connecting the residents and the businesses in the neighborhoods with the resources that they need and we support some of their community-led projects and really focus on active participation from the residents in the neighborhood in defining what improvements they’d like to see and what investments they’d like to see and what investments they’d like to make in their communities.”

Q: How do you plan to build public trust and make residents feel more connected to City Hall?

A: “It’s about transparency, accessibility, and being available to residents. Doing what we say we will do, being honest, communicating early; you know, that’s what I’ll do.

Being responsive to the community’s needs. 

Focusing on training our staff to treat every interaction that they have with citizens as an opportunity for them to demonstrate their competence and their service to the community. We want to be the national leaders in the delivery of public service so every time, every day that our crews are out in the community, it’s an opportunity for them to shine and demonstrate that they’re the best.”

Q: With the November election bringing changes to the city commission, how do you plan to maintain continuity and work effectively with whatever new commission takes office?

A: “I see myself as a bridge between the established operational, the history and the new commission’s vision, so my institutional knowledge provides stability in operations and that was seen with the storm that we had. I’m really a bridge between the operations and the commission’s vision. I’ve been here over 27 years, I’m a professional city manager and it’s my job to really be agile and know how to pivot to match the priorities of the new commission. 

They set policy and long-term vision and goals; we’re here to deliver.” 

Janelle Sears is a senior journalism student at Florida A&M University working as a freelance reporter for The Capital Outlook. This article is supported by Press Forward North Florida, an initiative of the Community Foundation of North Florida. To learn more and to support local journalism like this, visitcfnf.org/press-forward (https://www.cfnf.org/press-forward/). 

Pastor R.B. Holmes Jr., longtime pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, announced his endorsement of Ausley Monday, citing her experience, temperament and ability to work across political and community divisions.

The endorsement follows support from former U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, a longtime Tallahassee political figure who represented North Florida in Congress and previously served more than two decades in the Florida Legislature.

Holmes, whose church is one of Tallahassee’s most prominent historically Black congregations, said his support for Ausley is based in part on a relationship spanning four decades.

“Loranne Ausley possesses the precise temperament, seasoned leadership, and true humility required to heal and unite our city,” Holmes said in a campaign press release. “Our community is eager for a leader who genuinely listens and bridges divides.”

Holmes added that he believes Ausley “will be a mayor for all Tallahasseeans.”

Holmes has been involved in Tallahassee civic affairs for decades, including issues involving education, economic development and predominantly Black neighborhoods. He also served on the Florida A&M University Board of Trustees from 2001 to 2005.

Lawson’s support provides Ausley with another endorsement from a prominent Black political leader with longstanding connections to the city and region.

Lawson served in the Florida House and Senate before being elected to Congress in 2016. His relationship with Ausley also predates the current mayoral campaign. Lawson was among the prominent elected officials supporting Ausley’s 2020 campaign for the Florida Senate, when he was serving in Congress.

The endorsements come as Ausley and City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow compete in the November mayoral election. Ausley has been accumulating support from several political and community figures since the August primary. Former mayoral candidate Daryl Parks endorsed Ausley after finishing third in the primary, and former City Commission candidate Talethia Edwards subsequently announced her support for Ausley.

The support from Holmes and Lawson could be particularly noteworthy as both candidates seek support among Black voters, who represent an important part of Tallahassee’s electorate.

Ausley said Holmes’ endorsement reflected their years of working on community issues.

“I am deeply honored to have the support of Pastor Holmes, a giant of faith and civic progress who has spent 40 years uplifting this community,” Ausley said.

Holmes framed the election around leadership style and the ability to build coalitions.

“We need a proven leader who brings people together to get results,” Holmes said.

Ausley previously served in both the Florida House and Florida Senate and has emphasized experience, collaboration and what her campaign describes as “progress without division” in her bid for mayor.

 Higher mortgage rates weighed on the housing market during the third quarter of 2026, according to the latest data released Friday.

The Q3 report by Florida Realtors showed sales for existing single-family homes inching up 0.2% and condo-townhouse sales rising 3.1% year-over-year. It also painted a picture of tighter housing inventory compared to a year ago.

“The fluctuation in rates over the last two years has not been significant by historical standards but given that the home sales growth we experienced over the past 12 to 14 months was rather modest, the rise in interest rates that’s occurred so far this year has been enough to put a halt to this growth,” said Florida Realtors chief economist Brad O’Connor. “So, we now find ourselves with a second straight month of declining year-over-year sales. It’s not a major shift in the sales trend by any stretch, but whenever you go from positive to negative growth, there is a potential psychological impact.”

The median price in Florida for a single-family existing home during the month of September was $415,000 – a 1.2% increase from a year ago. The median price for condo-townhouse units was $293,500, down 1.8%.

While high mortgage rates dampened sales specifically in the single-family market, O’Connor said inventory and prices remain “relatively stable” and that the higher end of the market continues to perform “quite well.”

“It’s important to consider that the overall trend for home sales is not overwhelmingly different from what it was earlier this year. Still, the gap between where mortgage rates are right now and where they were a year ago is not doing the housing market any favors,” O’Connor said.

Closed sales of existing single-family homes were down by 3.5% last month and condo-townhouse sales were down 0.1%. September saw a total of 20,537 closed sales of existing single-family homes and 7,179 closed sales of condo-townhouses.

“Florida’s housing market continues to move at a more measured pace, with encouraging signs of stability heading into the final months of the year,” said Florida Realtors President Chuck Bonfiglio.

Throughout the third quarter of the year, Florida saw 65,904 single-family home sales, up by 0.2% and 22,664 condo-townhouse sales, up by 3.1% year-over-year, the report found.

A positive note for sellers is homes moved through the market faster in Q3 than they did a year ago.

“As we head into the final quarter of 2026, the story remains one of a housing market that has lost some momentum, but certainly hasn’t fallen apart,” O’Connor said.

Undecided Black voters, David Jolly says, may decide who becomes Florida’s next governor. 

Appearing in Tallahassee Monday, Jolly and running mate Gwen Graham were flanked by U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat, and former Democratic U.S. Rep. Al Lawson of Tallahassee, both prominent Black political figures. 

About 10% of Black voters are undecided, Jolly said, with about 80% of siding with him. An NBC 6 poll shows Jolly with 76% of Black voters’ support and U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, a Black Republican, with 10%.

“I think there are two final fronts in this race,” Jolly said, one being “the disaffected Republican.” 

Donalds is “trying to scare a lot of Republicans to come back home,” Jolly continued. 

“But I would say the most important front that this entire race could come down to is the 10% of undecided Black voters in Florida right now. We are around just north of 80 [percent], which historically three weeks out is about where we should be as a Democrat. Byron’s at about 9 or 10 [percent]. And the final front and the voters that might decide this race are the currently undecided Black voters in the state of Florida.”

If elected governor, Donalds would be the first Black governor in Florida’s history. Yet, per polls, Black voters seem to be siding with the Democratic candidate, who is white. 

“Someone said to me, ‘Are you concerned, Jolly as a Democrat, you’re only getting about 80-81% of the Black voters,’ and I said, ‘Not as concerned as Byron should be that he’s only getting 9% of his own community. But that last 10% is where I think this race could get decided,” Jolly said. 

Jolly on Monday met with the Florida State University Black Student Union and Divine Nine sorority and fraternity chapter leaders at FSU and Florida A&M University.

Angie Nixon, a Black Florida House member from Jacksonville, as the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate “helps a lot,” Jolly said.

Monday evening, Jolly will appear at FAMU for a town hall. Donalds participated in a town hall on FAMU’s campus last month.

“One of the comments I have made and I’ve continued to make, look, there will be voters who decide to reach for history in this race. Some will reach for history because they want to elect the first Black governor. I don’t argue with that; if that is what is informing a voter, it’s not my place to argue with them,” Jolly said.

“I don’t squabble with the reach for history. That’s not my place to do. I do squabble with the agenda and the platform, and I think Byron has a hard time justifying his candidacy to a lot of communities, including the Black community.”

He pointed to those advising his campaign. Rev. Dr. R.B. Holmes, a Black minister in Tallahassee is chair of a coalition of pastors from historically Black congregations supporting Jolly, and various Black state legislators are part of his leadership team.

The former representative Lawson — who lost his seat when Florida’s Republican governor and Legislature dismantled his minority-opportunity district — insisted Jolly would make Florida history, too. 

“A vote for Jolly is a vote to change the course of Florida,” Lawson said.

The event, titled “Fighting Oligarchy: Where We Go From Here,” will take place at The Moon, located at 1105 East Lafayette Street. Doors will open at 6 p.m., with the speaking program scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.

The Tallahassee appearance is part of Sanders’ national tour focused on economic inequality, corporate influence in government and the concentration of wealth and political power.

According to Sanders’ official website, the tour is intended to generate discussions about challenging wealthy individuals and corporate interests that Sanders believes exercise excessive influence over American politics.

The Tallahassee event also comes at a significant time in local politics, with Nixon publicly supporting Matlow in his campaign against former state Senator Loranne Ausley for mayor.

Nixon, who represents a Jacksonville-area district in the Florida House, is the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate after defeating Alex Vindman in the August Democratic primary.

In September, Nixon appeared in a campaign advertisement supporting Matlow alongside Tallahassee City Commissioner Jack Porter and Leon County Commissioner Bill Proctor.

“From Washington, D.C., to Tallahassee City Hall, change can’t wait,” Nixon said in the advertisement.

Matlow announced Nixon’s endorsement as part of a group of endorsements from elected officials supporting his mayoral campaign.

Nixon’s participation in the Sanders event highlights the connections between Tallahassee’s local progressive political movement and national progressive leaders.

Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont who caucuses with Democrats, has been one of the nation’s most prominent advocates for democratic socialism, expanded government health care programs, higher taxes on wealthy Americans and increased regulation of large corporations.

Nixon has also been associated with the Democratic Socialists of America and has promoted policies emphasizing economic equality, expanded public services and greater government involvement in addressing affordability.

Sanders endorsed Nixon’s U.S. Senate campaign in August, praising her positions on health care, childcare and economic issues.

In accepting the endorsement, Nixon said government should serve working people rather than billionaires and corporations.

The Sanders-Nixon tour includes four Florida appearances over two days.

On Saturday, October 17, the two are scheduled to appear in Tampa and Melbourne. On Sunday, October 18, they will visit Gainesville before traveling to Tallahassee for the evening event.

The appearances come as Nixon campaigns for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Ashley Moody.

The timing of the Tallahassee rally is also noteworthy because early voting in Leon County begins October 19, the day after Sanders’ appearance.

The November 3 election includes the Tallahassee mayoral contest between Matlow and Ausley, along with two contested City Commission races.

Although Nixon has endorsed Matlow, the Sanders event is being promoted as part of his national political tour, not as an official Matlow campaign event. There has been no announcement that Matlow will participate in the speaking program or that Sanders has endorsed Matlow.

The event is open to the public, with attendees encouraged to RSVP through Sanders’ official website.

The 2026 count identified 557 people experiencing homelessness in Leon County, down from 654 in 2025, a decrease of 97 people, or 14.8%.

The decline follows an even larger reduction between 2024 and 2025. Leon County’s count reached 831 in 2024 before falling to 654 the following year. From the 2024 peak through 2026, the county’s homeless estimate has fallen by 274 people, or 33%.

The trend generally mirrors Florida’s statewide numbers. Florida’s count declined from 31,362 in 2024 to 28,498 in 2025 and 24,588 in 2026. That represents a 21.6% decrease over the two-year period.

Leon County’s five-year numbers were 596 in 2022, 732 in 2023, 831 in 2024, 654 in 2025 and 557 in 2026.

What is the PIT count?

The numbers come from the annual Point-in-Time, or PIT, count, a federally mandated effort designed to estimate the number of people experiencing homelessness on a particular night.

The Big Bend Continuum of Care describes the PIT count as a “one-night snapshot” of sheltered and unsheltered homelessness conducted in late January. The local organization says the results are used to identify trends, direct outreach resources, support grant applications and help policymakers determine the scale and characteristics of homelessness.

For 2026, the Big Bend region’s count night was January 26.

The count includes people staying in emergency shelters and transitional housing as well as people living in places not intended for habitation, including streets, encampments, vehicles and other outdoor locations.

The two groups are counted differently. Sheltered numbers rely heavily on records maintained through the Homeless Management Information System, or HMIS, supplemented when necessary by information from providers. For unsheltered homelessness, outreach workers and volunteers canvass locations where homeless people are known or believed to stay and conduct surveys or observations.

HUD allows communities to use approaches including a complete census, counts at known locations or statistically based sampling. Communities must also attempt to avoid counting the same person more than once and may use statistical adjustments when portions of an area cannot be fully canvassed.

That methodology also means the PIT number should not be interpreted as the total number of people who experience homelessness during an entire year. It is an estimate of the population on one particular night and can be affected by weather, shelter utilization, volunteer coverage, participation by service providers and data quality.

Still, the latest Leon County numbers indicate a significant change from the 2024 high. The 2026 estimate is 6.5% below the 596 people counted in 2022, despite the substantial increase recorded during 2023 and 2024.

The latest results therefore put Leon County’s PIT estimate not only well below its recent peak, but slightly below where it stood four years ago.

The Oct. 2 order follows months of complaints from nearby residents about runoff from the facility at 1948 Capps Highway in Monticello. DEP identified wastewater associated with Trulieve’s operations as including reverse-osmosis reject water and condensate from dehumidifiers and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment. The wastewater is routed to an irrigation sediment basin and sprayed on designated areas of the property.

DEP found that Trulieve “sprayed the Wastewater onto its outdoor lawn,” with some moving outside the facility perimeter without a DEP permit. The agency determined the activity violated state environmental statutes and regulations.

The finding was welcomed by residents who have pushed state regulators to investigate the facility.

“This is a huge victory for our community,” Cindy Pyburn of Concerned Residents of Jefferson County wrote in an Oct. 3 letter to residents.

“For months, residents were told that what we were seeing leave the Trulieve property was rainwater and that the runoff issues had been addressed,” Pyburn wrote. “Now, DEP’s consent order puts its findings and the steps Trulieve must take in writing.”

Under the order, Trulieve has 30 days to submit an interim irrigation plan designed to prevent wastewater from leaving the property and reaching neighboring properties. DEP says the plan could include reduced application rates, alternating application zones and reduced irrigation times.

Trulieve also must apply within 120 days for a wastewater permit covering the discharges identified by DEP. The company and agency expect the permitting process to reach a final decision within 12 months.

The order requires Trulieve to pay $80,000 within 90 days. However, the company can instead propose a DEP-approved environmental enhancement, restoration or facility-improvement project worth at least $120,000.

Trulieve told WCTV that it worked with DEP to reach an agreement allowing environmental site improvements in place of the payment and said it takes environmental compliance seriously. WCTV reported that the company plans to pursue the $120,000 improvement option.

The consent order does not find that Trulieve contaminated neighboring drinking water or waterways with unsafe levels of pollutants. That is separate from DEP’s finding that wastewater left the property without the required permit. Earlier testing also found no contamination linked to the facility, according to State Rep. Allison Tant. WTXL reported in July that months of water testing found no contamination associated with the Trulieve operation.

The order nevertheless establishes increased state oversight. Trulieve must allow authorized DEP representatives access to the facility and property at reasonable times to determine compliance. Violating the consent order could subject the company to civil penalties of up to $15,000 per day for each violation.

Trulieve neither admits nor agrees that DEP’s findings constitute violations of statutory or common law, but agreed to be bound by the consent order and its enforcement provisions.

Pyburn said residents view the order as progress rather than the end of the dispute.

“There is still work ahead to make sure the requirements are carried out, and the wastewater and runoff problems are corrected on the ground,” she wrote. “Concerned Residents of Jefferson County will be following these matters and keeping our neighbors informed.”

The forum was produced by the Capitol Region News Collaborative and the League of Women Voters of Tallahassee. Questioners included representatives from WTXL, the Tallahassee Democrat and the League of Women Voters.

Below is a condensed question-and-answer summary of the forum, with significant differences between the candidates highlighted.

How would your leadership differ from Commissioner Jeremy Matlow?

Tom Derzypolski: Said he would bring 25 years of executive and community leadership experience and emphasized his political independence. He said he is not aligned with other candidates and would work with whoever voters elect to move the city forward.

P.J. Perez: Emphasized his 16 years in public education and his family’s experience in both the public and private sectors. He said his priorities include neighborhoods, small businesses, environmental protection and opportunities for residents he believes have been overlooked.

Key Difference: Derzypolski framed the race around experience, independence and changing the governing culture at City Hall. Perez framed his candidacy around policy change and greater representation for neighborhoods and residents he believes have been underserved.

What is the main difference between you and your opponent?

Derzypolski: Experience. He pointed to 25 years of executive leadership, community relationships and experience addressing complex problems.

Perez: Perspective. He cited his career in education, his wife’s small business and his work with students and families.

Key Difference: Derzypolski argued that executive experience distinguishes him. Perez emphasized his public-education background and connection to working families.

Would you have supported the transfer of Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare to FSU?

Perez: No. He supported an affiliation with FSU but opposed transferring the asset. He criticized the process and said alternatives proposed by residents were not adequately explored.

Derzypolski: Yes, with reservations. He supported bringing an academic medical center to Tallahassee but strongly criticized the process as predetermined and insufficiently transparent. He favored stronger local governance and participation by FAMU and Tallahassee State College.

Key Difference: This was one of the forum’s clearest policy differences. Derzypolski supported the ultimate TMH-FSU transaction despite concerns about the process. Perez opposed transferring the asset and preferred an affiliation that retained city ownership.

Would you have supported selling the Capital City Country Club property?

Derzypolski: No. He criticized selling city assets and described the transaction as a “fire sale.”

Perez: No. He argued the city should have retained the 178-acre property and considered financing maintenance through bonds. He also cited the historical significance of graves of enslaved people on the property.

Did you support the process used to hire the new city manager and the supermajority termination provision?

Perez: No. He said the city charter contemplates the manager serving at the pleasure of the commission and criticized requiring a supermajority to remove the manager.

Derzypolski: Opposed the contract provision but said the city ultimately hired a highly qualified manager. He attributed the controversy partly to the commission’s “toxic culture,” arguing threats to fire the manager prompted other commissioners to seek additional protections.

Key Difference: Both opposed the contract provision, but Perez focused on the charter and the structural problem with the supermajority requirement. Derzypolski placed the controversy within the broader context of dysfunction and mistrust among commissioners.

Do you support hyperscale data centers in Tallahassee?

Derzypolski: No, under current circumstances. He said too many questions remain concerning environmental effects, economic benefits, jobs and salaries.

Perez: No. He supports a moratorium, citing environmental concerns, water use, tax incentives and skepticism about promised job creation.

What is causing local gun violence, and what would you do about it?

Perez: Said young people lack opportunities and a sense of purpose. He advocated after-school music and arts programs, vocational training, Head Start and early intervention.

Derzypolski: Cited gangs, broken homes, struggling neighborhoods and limited economic opportunity. He called for better coordination among law enforcement, nonprofits and community organizations, along with neighborhood revitalization and economic development.

Key Difference: Perez placed greater emphasis on youth programs and early intervention, while Derzypolski emphasized coordination, neighborhood revitalization and economic opportunity.

Do you support Flock cameras and license-plate surveillance technology?

Derzypolski: Expressed serious reservations. He said law enforcement should have effective technology but only with strict oversight and protections for civil liberties.

Perez: Criticized the city’s handling of automated license-plate readers and warned that surveillance technology can be misused. He emphasized balancing public safety against civil liberties.

Should the city and county operate separate fire departments?

Perez: No. He said city and county leaders should repair their relationship and restore cooperation, with firefighters involved in developing a solution.

Derzypolski: No. He called separate systems unaffordable and said he would immediately work toward mediation and restoration of a joint approach.

Do you support the 287(g) agreement with ICE?

Derzypolski: No. He said it creates anxiety and makes the community less safe.

Perez: No. He characterized the arrangement as federal overreach and said residents should not be treated as enemies.

Both said they would have voted to sever the agreement even if doing so exposed them to possible action by the governor.

What has been Tallahassee’s biggest economic-development success of the past four years?

Derzypolski: Said he could not identify one and characterized local economic development as “anemic.”

Perez: Also said substantial work remains. He called for greater support of small businesses and better commercialization of research and innovation from FSU, FAMU and TSC.

How do residents perceive Tallahassee’s economy?

Perez: Said voters he encounters are primarily concerned about affordability—rent, utilities and household expenses—not City Hall’s political divisions. He linked affordability to his opposition to urban sprawl.

Derzypolski: Said residents are experiencing genuine financial pressure and sometimes must choose among food, gasoline and prescriptions. He proposed reducing city-controlled utility rates and fees where possible.

Key Difference: Both described an affordability problem, but Perez connected it more directly to development patterns and urban sprawl, while Derzypolski emphasized reducing government-controlled household costs and growing the economy.

How would you create higher-income jobs?

Derzypolski: Would leverage FSU, FAMU, TSC, Lively, the academic medical center and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory to attract private investment. He said government needs to operate at the “speed of business.”

Perez: Would use university research and student talent to develop commercially useful solutions to community problems, including water-quality challenges.

Key Difference: Derzypolski emphasized business recruitment and connecting private industry with Tallahassee’s existing institutions. Perez emphasized commercializing locally generated research and innovation.

What is Tallahassee’s most important environmental issue?

Perez: Water quality. He connected threats to water resources with urban sprawl and inadequate infrastructure.

Derzypolski: Water quality. He warned about the influence of large national developers and advocated cooperation among environmental groups, neighborhoods and local builders.

Give examples of responsible and irresponsible growth.

Derzypolski: Pointed to urban infill and affordable housing in existing neighborhoods as responsible growth. He criticized development pushing farther away from the urban core because of infrastructure costs.

Perez: Cited the Tallahassee Lenders’ Consortium’s Community Land Trust as a positive model. He criticized the proposed Lake Jackson-area annexation and Welaunee-area expansion as examples of sprawl that shift infrastructure costs to taxpayers.

Key Difference: Both favor infill, but Perez was more explicit in opposing specific Northeast development and annexation projects. Derzypolski focused more broadly on the financial and infrastructure advantages of developing inside the existing urban area.

Who is responsible for the City Commission’s 3-2 divide and “toxic” culture?

Perez: Downplayed the significance of what he called “palace intrigue,” saying most residents are more concerned about affordability and responsive government. He said disagreement among commissioners can be part of a healthy governing body.

Derzypolski: Said dysfunction matters because it prevents progress on affordability, crime, environmental issues and growth. He said he would work to restore civility and collegiality.

Key Difference: This was a fundamental difference. Derzypolski views City Hall’s political dysfunction as a major problem requiring a change in leadership style. Perez argues the 3-2 narrative receives too much attention compared with residents’ economic and policy concerns.

Is Democratic Party involvement in the nonpartisan Seat 3 race appropriate?

The candidates were asked specifically about the Leon County Democratic Party, chaired by Ryan Ray, who also works as Commissioner Jeremy Matlow’s aide, supporting Perez.

Derzypolski: Said voters want to move beyond partisan labels. He declined to make the ethical determination concerning Ray and Matlow himself.

Perez: Said party affiliation inevitably provides information to voters even in nonpartisan elections. He highlighted Derzypolski’s roughly two decades as a registered Republican.

Key Difference: Perez considers partisan history relevant information in a nominally nonpartisan election. Derzypolski argues the contest should be judged primarily on candidates, leadership and independence rather than party affiliation.

Is Republican criticism tying Perez to out-of-town socialists fair?

Perez: No. He dismissed such attacks as political “boogeymen” and “McCarthyism.”

Derzypolski: No. He rejected the attacks, said they did not help his campaign and called on people to stop them.

What does Derzypolski say about his former Republican registration?

Derzypolski: Said his voting history demonstrates independence, pointing to support for Democrats including Bill Montford, Allison Tant and Loranne Ausley. He said becoming NPA better reflected his political outlook.

Perez: Said voters should consider Derzypolski’s approximately 20 years as a Republican, including during Donald Trump’s presidencies. Perez said he consistently voted Democratic despite previously registering NPA.

Key Difference: Derzypolski portrays his former Republican registration as less important than his history of crossing party lines. Perez portrays the duration of Derzypolski’s Republican affiliation as relevant information about his political background.

What progressive position does Derzypolski hold?

Derzypolski: Said access to health care should be a basic right and also identified environmental protection.

Would Perez create a new progressive 3-2 voting bloc?

Perez: Said voters should judge his published policies rather than political labels and vote based on whether those policies reflect their values.

Derzypolski: Said party-based concerns are overrated in a nonpartisan election and emphasized his independence.

Key Difference: Perez defended the policies associated with his candidacy without distancing himself from the progressive coalition supporting him. Derzypolski made independence from political groups and voting blocs a central argument for his candidacy.

Name an issue where Perez disagrees with Commissioner Jeremy Matlow.

Perez: Said he had not studied Matlow’s complete eight-year voting record closely enough to identify a specific vote. He suggested affordable housing could be an area of difference, citing his support for a Montgomery County-style approach.

Key Difference: The exchange underscored one of Derzypolski’s broader campaign arguments: Perez did not identify a specific Matlow vote he opposed, while Derzypolski repeatedly presented himself as independent of the existing City Commission factions.

What about Derzypolski’s support from developers, builders and Chamber interests?

Derzypolski: Said his donor support reflects relationships and trust developed through 25 years of community service. He also pointed to support from retirees, veterans, teachers and environmentalists.

Perez: Said criticism is warranted to the extent those interests have influenced decisions that frustrate voters. He contrasted his individual donor base with contributions associated with business and development interests.

Key Difference: Derzypolski portrays business and development support as evidence of broad community trust. Perez portrays support from those interests as potentially tying a candidate to the same forces he believes have shaped City Hall decisions.

Does Perez bear responsibility for the fake Facebook operation targeting Talethia Edwards?

Perez: Said consultant Kris Estanga acted independently. Perez said he would not have made that decision but believes people make mistakes and deserve second chances.

Derzypolski: Said the incident may be history in terms of the news cycle but remains relevant from a leadership perspective. He questioned how such activity could occur within a campaign’s orbit without the candidate knowing.

Key Difference: Perez treats the incident as the independent mistake of a consultant and largely a closed matter. Derzypolski treats it as an ongoing question about leadership, campaign culture and accountability.

How would you reduce utility costs?

Perez: Proposed removing the fire-services fee from utility bills and replacing it with an assessment-based approach. He also questioned other fees appearing on utility bills.

Derzypolski: Promised to lower utility bills during his first year and cited reconnection and after-hours charges as examples of fees that could be reconsidered.

Key Difference: Perez proposed changing how major city services are financed. Derzypolski focused more heavily on reducing fees and other city-controlled costs charged directly to utility customers.

If you could do one thing to make housing more affordable, what would it be?

Derzypolski: Prioritized expedited permitting for urban infill to increase affordable housing supply in existing neighborhoods.

Perez: Proposed eliminating parking minimums, streamlining permitting, expanding community land trusts, legalizing “missing middle” housing and encouraging smaller starter homes.

Key Difference: Both support infill and additional housing supply, but Perez proposed broader zoning and housing-policy changes, while Derzypolski emphasized permitting reform and private-sector construction within existing neighborhoods.

Does increasing housing supply reduce prices?

Perez: Generally yes, but said the type of housing matters. He argued that building additional luxury student apartments does not necessarily address affordability for working families.

Derzypolski: Agreed that housing type matters and again emphasized urban infill and neighborhood revitalization.

Do you support Amendment 3?

Derzypolski: No. He said it would shift power from local governments to the state and could create severe fiscal problems for cities and counties.

Perez: No. He likewise characterized it as an attack on home rule that could particularly hurt rural communities and reduce local government’s ability to provide services.

What would you do if Amendment 3 creates an $18 million annual city revenue loss?

Perez: Said he would target executive “bloat,” development subsidies, travel, licensing expenses and other spending while reviewing the budget line by line.

Derzypolski: Also advocated a line-by-line budget review. He argued that city revenues have expanded substantially and that government could return spending closer to previous levels while protecting public safety.

Key Difference: Perez identified particular programs and spending categories he would target, including development subsidies. Derzypolski made a broader fiscal argument that city government has expanded and should reduce overall spending toward earlier levels.

Do you support an across-the-board 4% employee raise?

Derzypolski: No. He prefers compensation based on employee performance.

Perez: Said across-the-board increases should incorporate merit-based standards.

Should the commission remove the 30-minute limit on off-agenda public comment?

Perez: Yes.

Derzypolski: Yes.

Who do you support for governor?

Both candidates said they planned to vote for David Jolly.

Who do you support for Tallahassee mayor?

Perez: Said he would vote for Commissioner Jeremy Matlow.

Derzypolski: Said he had not decided and would evaluate the candidates based on who could best serve Tallahassee. He said he was prepared to work with either candidate.

Key Difference: Perez explicitly backed Matlow, reinforcing his political alignment with the existing progressive coalition. Derzypolski declined to choose between the mayoral candidates and again emphasized his political independence.

Do you support city-county consolidation?

Derzypolski: No. He questioned whether consolidation produces sufficient savings to justify the disruption.

Perez: No. He similarly said the savings do not justify the complications involved.

Name a position held by your opponent that you respect.

Perez: Said he appreciates Derzypolski’s emphasis on concerns about urban sprawl.

Derzypolski: Said he agrees with Perez’s emphasis on urban infill and neighborhood revitalization.

What should outside PACs supporting your candidacy do?

Perez: Said supporters do not need to tear down opponents and emphasized that candidates will remain neighbors after the election.

Derzypolski: Said he would publicly stand alongside Perez to reject false attacks against him and said dark-money and outside-money attacks have no place in his leadership.

How would you improve Tallahassee International Airport?

Derzypolski: Focused on costs, particularly parking, arguing that high airport expenses encourage residents and businesses to drive to competing airports.

Perez: Favored attracting more budget airlines and studying successful airport strategies in similarly sized communities.

Key Difference: Derzypolski focused on reducing the cost of using the existing airport, while Perez emphasized increasing airline competition and flight options.

Should StarMetro services be cut during a revenue shortfall?

Perez: Indicated no, describing public transportation as a public good rather than a profit-making enterprise.

Derzypolski: Did not advocate service cuts. Instead, he proposed restoring commercial advertising on buses to generate additional revenue.

Key Difference: Perez emphasized preserving transit because of its role as a public service. Derzypolski emphasized finding new revenue to help sustain the service without relying entirely on city funding.

What was each candidate’s closing argument?

Derzypolski: Presented himself as the independent and experienced candidate. He emphasized 25 years of executive and community leadership, bridge-building and his willingness to work with all commissioners. He said Tallahassee voters are looking for “independent thought and leadership.”

Perez: Presented himself as the change candidate. He argued Tallahassee needs a “clean break with the status quo” and criticized the influence of “monied interests.” He emphasized his grassroots campaign, affordable housing and government responsiveness to neighborhoods.

Key Difference: The closing statements captured the central contrast of the forum: Derzypolski argued that Tallahassee needs independent, experienced leadership capable of repairing a divided City Hall. Perez argued that Tallahassee needs a policy and political break from the existing power structure and development interests.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier was in Sarasota Friday to announce his office has filed a lawsuit against a construction company and its executives for allegedly scamming at least 80 residents out of at least $1 million in insurance payments over four years.

Uthmeier filed the suit in the 20th Judicial Circuit in Lee County. Named defendants are Evolve Construction and Evolve Construction & Restoration Inc. — which operate as Evolve Enterprise — and six of its executive principals. 

The AG’s office alleges the defendants used predatory contracts that left residents without protection and operated without home solicitation permits, moves Uthmeier claims violate Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, which his office enforces.

“We’ve been able to identify over a million dollars at this point from 80 different complainants, and that number is only going to grow,” Uthmeier said during the press conference.

The Florida Phoenix called Evolve Construction at the Sherman Oaks, Calif., headquarters advertised on its website but no one answered. Phone calls to Evolve Construction & Restoration offices in  Naples, Sarasota, Orlando, and Port Charlotte offices advertised on the website also went unanswered.

Following Hurricanes Ian and Milton, Uthmeier said, individuals from the companies would go into storm-ravaged neighborhoods, knocking door to door, promising to repair roofs and search for mold.

“They stole millions of dollars of insurance money that these residents received that was supposed to go towards home repairs but, the kicker, they didn’t do the repairs. On many cases, they did not even begin the repairs. But in all of these cases, they certainly did not finish them, taking the money, running, leaving these poor residents, these victims, with damaged buildings and homes and, in many cases, liens on the property — that’s unacceptable,” Uthmeier said.

The AG said he hopes other people who have been scammed contact his office “so that we can beef up our suit even further. Take these guys to the cleaners, make sure that they are held fully accountable, and get your money back to you so that you can be made whole.”

Uthmeier was named Florida’s top law enforcement official by Gov. Ron DeSantis after he tapped former Attorney General Ashley Moody to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Marco Rubio when he became Secretary of State.

To keep the position, Uthmeier must be approved by Florida voters in November. He faces Democratic challenger José Javier Rodriguez.

He used the press conference as an opportunity to praise his former boss.

“I think Gov. DeSantis has has really written a master class for all leaders when it comes to how to handle thees these disasters [hurricanes], Uthmeier said.

He praised Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman and other law enforcement, noting, “They do Lord’s work.”