Text messages, combined with statements from Tallahassee City Manager Karen Jumonville, raise questions about whether members of the City Commission used a political consultant to coordinate efforts to remove the city’s top administrator outside the public view. Jumonville said her perception was Yordon was acting as “an intermediary for the three as part of a conspiracy.”

The messages, obtained by Tallahassee Reports, document communications between political consultant and city lobbyist Gary Yordon and Jumonville, including references to conversations with political figures and efforts to arrange a private meeting with the city manager.

According to Jumonville, that meeting included a warning that commissioners had already secured enough votes to terminate her employment and intended to act on Wednesday, November 18.

“He basically told me that they have the votes to fire me,” Jumonville said, “and that they plan to do it on Wednesday.”

Jumonville, who described herself as “heartbroken,” also said Yordon discussed an arrangement that would allow her to step down as city manager while receiving a one-year contract as a city consultant.

The account raises a fundamental question under Florida’s Sunshine Law: Were elected officials discussing and coordinating the removal of the city manager through a private intermediary rather than deliberating in a publicly noticed meeting?

The Text Messages

The text messages obtained by Tallahassee Reports provide a window into the chronology and communications preceding Yordon’s meeting with Jumonville.

In the first group of text messages, Yordon writes “I thought you were the perfect choice” and indicates he had talked to every candidate and those already in office and said he “shared my feelings about how special you are.”

Yordon then said “I now have the ear of the majority” and indicated he had talked to Matlow and had a meeting scheduled with Porter. He concluded, “I think things will work out.” He added, “I had a long talk with Jeremy after the show, and Jack wants to meet with me on Thursday.”

However, the tone of the messages changed when Yordon wrote, “I’ve had a chance to talk with everyone. Can we meet this afternoon?” Jumonville requested a phone call, but Yordon pushed for a meeting. “This should be in person. I think. There’s things that we need to talk thru.” he wrote.

Jumonville’s subsequent account of the meeting raises questions about whether Yordon was simply offering personal advice or conveying information obtained through discussions with commissioners.

Who Had the Votes?

Perhaps the most consequential statement attributed to Yordon is his assertion that commissioners already had sufficient votes to fire Jumonville.

Florida’s Sunshine Law generally prohibits two or more members of the same elected board from privately discussing matters on which foreseeable official action will be taken.

The prohibition also extends to efforts to circumvent public deliberations by using an intermediary to communicate positions between elected officials.

A Proposed Deal Raises Additional Questions

Jumonville’s description of the proposed one-year consulting contract introduces another issue.

According to her account, Yordon discussed an alternative under which she would voluntarily leave the city manager position but continue working for the city under a separate consulting arrangement saying “they” want to make easy for everyone.

Who developed that proposal?

Did any commissioner authorize Yordon to present it?

And had commissioners discussed or agreed upon the terms before the proposal was communicated to Jumonville?

Those questions are significant because the proposed arrangement would potentially involve the expenditure of public funds and a change in the city manager’s employment status.

A Florida Court Has Examined a Similar Case

A 2018 Florida appellate court decision involving the City of Port St. Lucie provides a notable comparison.

In Transparency for Florida, Inc. v. City of Port St. Lucie, 240 So. 3d 780, the Fourth District Court of Appeal examined allegations that a city attorney privately contacted individual council members concerning the city manager’s termination and a possible separation agreement.

The city attorney also approached the manager about leaving his position.

The appellate court reversed summary judgment in favor of the city, finding that disputed facts remained concerning whether the private communications violated the Sunshine Law and whether subsequent public proceedings cured any violation.

The ruling did not establish that a violation had occurred, but it underscored that public officials cannot necessarily avoid open-meeting requirements by communicating through another person.

However, while the proposal addresses several contentious issues, it does not quantify the financial impact of new provisions, including a proposed 42-hour firefighter workweek, or specify how those changes would affect fire assessment rates paid by city and county property owners.

The proposal, outlined in a joint letter and a 20-point Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) framework, would maintain the Tallahassee Fire Department as the provider of fire services throughout the city and unincorporated Leon County.

The agreement would also address fire assessment fees, financial oversight, firefighter working conditions, and the construction of a new fire station on Tallahassee’s Southside.

Caban and Matlow described the proposal as a “Generational Public Safety deal” intended to restore cooperation between the two governments and provide long-term stability.

The proposed agreement would require approval by both the Tallahassee City Commission and Leon County Board of County Commissioners following staff and legal review.

Financial Oversight and Fire Fees

Under the proposal, the city would provide the county with a detailed annual fire services budget covering operating and capital expenses.

A reserve fund equal to 20% to 30% of the annual fire budget would be maintained to address unexpected costs and revenue shortfalls. Use of the reserve would require approval from both the city manager and county administrator.

The agreement would also require annual independent audit attestations of the Fire Service Fund, with the county retaining the ability to request additional independent audits.

Fire assessment rate studies would be conducted every three years rather than every five years, with any resulting rate changes requiring approval from both governing bodies.

The proposal also calls for a revised fire assessment structure, preferably based on square footage, and a method for charging vacant land that currently receives fire protection without contributing to the Fire Services Fund.

Additionally, the city would seek to move collection of fire assessments from utility bills to property assessments or another uniform collection method.

Fire Stations and Employee Benefits

One significant provision calls for Leon County to purchase Fire Stations 10 through 15, located in unincorporated areas, from the city at prices established under the existing interlocal agreement.

The county would then lease those facilities back to the city for $1 annually.

The proposal also includes construction of Fire Station 17 on the Southside, with a target cost ceiling of $20 million. The joint letter identifies Lake Bradford Road as the proposed location.

Another provision addresses the city’s desire to move firefighters to a 42-hour workweek.

Under the framework, the county would agree to pay its share of associated costs, including a potential rate increase if financial information demonstrates the need. That would be the only county rate increase during the existing agreement term until completion of a mutually approved rate study.

However, the framework does not provide cost estimates for the proposed workweek change or identify the resulting assessment increases that could be required to fund the change.

Long-Term Stability

The proposed 20-year agreement would require at least three years’ notice before termination or nonrenewal. Without notice, the agreement would automatically renew for another 20 years.

Both governments would withdraw existing termination or expiration notices during negotiations, and the county would drop claims against the city arising from contracts predating the new agreement.

The framework also calls for agreed-upon performance standards covering response times, staffing, equipment and insurance ratings in unincorporated areas, with annual reporting to the county.

If the agreement ultimately ended, a previously negotiated automatic aid agreement would take effect to maintain emergency response coordination.

The agreement is not final. The financial commitments, assessment changes and other provisions remain subject to negotiations, legal review and votes by both governing bodies.

Photo credit: Tristan Wood, WFSU

Amendment 3, approved by Florida voters on November 3, increases homestead exemptions and reduces property tax revenue for local governments.

The City of Tallahassee faces an estimated $29 million revenue reduction over two years, including approximately $10 million in the first year.

However, Matlow told WFSU that the financial consequences are manageable.

“It’s not a doomsday scenario like some would predict,” Matlow said, noting that Tallahassee benefits from a substantial commercial property tax base and student housing.

His comments contrast with pre-election reports emphasizing potentially devastating reductions in local government services, including public safety, parks, transportation and other programs. Matlow believes spending reductions can be achieved without significantly affecting residents.

“I think we can make the necessary cuts and people in Tallahassee aren’t going to see a noticeable difference in the delivery of service,” he said.

Matlow plans to scrutinize administrative salaries, nonessential departments, travel expenses and food budgets.

Beginning in January, he intends to conduct departmental budget reviews, examining staffing levels and opportunities for reductions.

The coming budget process will test whether Matlow can deliver the spending reductions he anticipates while maintaining existing city services.

The report, prepared by the Tallahassee Police Department, covers enforcement activity from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.

During the reporting period, 48 speed cameras operated at 23 Leon County public schools within city limits.

Of the 46,764 notices issued, 30,116 were paid. Another 10,482 violations resulted in uniform traffic citations, while 1,191 were pending conversion to traffic citations.

The report indicates that 138 contested violations were upheld, two were dismissed, and 83 remained pending.

Revenue Distribution

The program generated $3,299,076.62 in total collections, including payments from notices of violation and uniform traffic citations.

Of that amount, the City retained approximately $1.41 million after payments to the camera vendor, RedSpeed FL, LLC. The vendor received approximately $730,321.

The City’s retained revenue supports its school crossing guard program and other public safety initiatives.

Other distributions included approximately $396,000 to Leon County Schools and payments to state government agencies.

Program Background

City commissioners approved the camera enforcement ordinance in May 2024, following a traffic study that identified significant speeding near local schools.

The study recorded more than 47,000 speeding violations in one day and identified 29 school locations where at least 100 vehicles exceeded posted speed limits by 10 mph or more.

The November 18 agenda item is informational, with city staff recommending that commissioners accept the annual report.

Matlow received 37,063 votes (50.9%) compared to Ausley’s 35,698 votes (49.1%), a margin of 1,365 votes.

The geographic breakdown reveals significant differences from the 2022 mayoral election, when incumbent John Dailey defeated progressive challenger Kristin Dozier by nearly 4,000 votes.

District 1 – Southside

Matlow captured 57.8% of the vote in District 1, which includes predominantly Black neighborhoods on Tallahassee’s Southside. His 8,250 votes exceeded Ausley’s 6,028 by 2,222 votes.

This represents a significant reversal from 2022, when Dailey defeated Dozier in the district by 735 votes.

The results indicate that Matlow’s campaign successfully attracted support in an area that previously favored the more moderate mayoral candidate.

District 2 – Student Areas

Matlow’s strongest percentage came in District 2, which includes Florida State University and surrounding student neighborhoods.

Matlow received 64.6% of the vote, defeating Ausley by 2,856 votes.

In 2022, Dozier carried the district by just 662 votes. Matlow’s substantially larger margin provided a critical advantage.

District 3 – Waverly, Betton Hills area

Ausley narrowly carried District 3, receiving 51.6% compared to Matlow’s 48.4%, a margin of 485 votes.

Dailey won the district by 654 votes in 2022, indicating continued support for more moderate candidates, although by a smaller margin.

District 4 – Northeast Tallahassee

Ausley’s strongest performance came in the more conservative Northeast neighborhoods, including Killearn and Summerbrooke.

Ausley received 62.5% of the vote, defeating Matlow by 3,598 votes.

In 2022, Dailey carried the district by 3,816 votes, demonstrating the Northeast’s continued importance as a stronghold for moderate candidates.

District 5 – Eastside

Matlow narrowly carried District 5, which includes neighborhoods east of downtown along the Mahan Drive and Apalachee Parkway corridors. Matlow received 51% of the vote, winning by 370 votes. Dozier carried the district by 553 votes in 2022.

The Bottom Line

The biggest difference between 2026 and the Dailey-Dozier race in 2022 was the Southside, where a 735-vote advantage for Dailey became a 2,222-vote advantage for Matlow — a net swing of 2,957 votes toward the progressive candidate. Combined with Matlow’s expanded advantage in District 2, that shift was sufficient to overcome Ausley’s substantial Northeast margin.

The results suggest that Tallahassee’s progressive coalition expanded beyond its traditional student and eastside base, fundamentally changing the electoral geography that delivered Dailey’s victory four years earlier.

Mayor Jeremy Matlow defeated former state Sen. Loranne Ausley in a close contest, receiving 37,063 votes (50.94%) to Ausley’s 35,698 votes (49.06%). Matlow’s margin of victory was 1,365 votes out of 72,761 cast.

In the City Commission Seat 3 race, progressive candidate P.J. Perez defeated Tom Derzypolski by a substantial margin, receiving 44,427 votes (64.21%) compared to Derzypolski’s 24,764 votes (35.79%).

However, progressive candidate Dot Inman-Johnson was unsuccessful in her attempt to unseat incumbent Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox in Seat 5. Williams-Cox received 35,638 votes (51.70%) compared to Inman-Johnson’s 33,292 votes (48.30%), a margin of 2,346 votes.

With all 80 precincts reporting, the results establish a progressive majority consisting of Matlow, Perez and Commissioner Jack Porter. Williams-Cox and Commissioner Curtis Richardson will represent the minority bloc.

The new alignment could have significant implications for city policies and spending priorities.

During the campaign, progressive candidates emphasized affordable housing, government accountability, environmental protection and changes to the city’s approach to growth and development.

With three votes, the progressive majority could advance policies that previously faced resistance, including additional development regulations, changes to utility policies and greater scrutiny of city spending and economic development incentives.

The majority could also influence appointments to city advisory boards and the selection of leadership positions, while potentially revisiting decisions made by previous commissions.

One area to watch will be the city’s relationship with developers. Matlow and Porter have frequently challenged development proposals and policies they contend favor developers over existing neighborhoods. Perez’s election provides another potential vote for that approach.

Utility rates and the city’s electric utility investments could also become contentious as commissioners consider future energy projects and their financial impact on customers.

However, campaign promises will now face the practical challenges of governing, including budget limitations, existing contractual obligations and competing demands for city services.

For Matlow, Porter and Perez, the challenge will be translating their campaign positions into governing decisions while demonstrating that their policies can deliver measurable results for city residents.

The complaint, filed by local businessman Dr. Erwin Jackson, requests an investigation into whether Ray improperly used his public position, compensated work time or city resources for political purposes. Jackson also provided information to the city’s Inspector General.

The complaint follows an investigation by Tallahassee Reports that identified Ray as the individual behind the anonymous username “NE Moderate,” which was used to post political commentary on the Tallahassee Reports website dating back to 2022.

According to the complaint, a comparison of timestamps from anonymous posts with city employee time records revealed numerous instances when political comments were published while Ray was clocked in and receiving taxpayer-funded compensation.

The allegations also encompass approximately 1,340 social media posts published on the Leon Democrats’ X account during 2025 and 2026. These more recent posts expand the period of political activity under scrutiny beyond the anonymous Tallahassee Reports comments.

The complaint raises questions about whether political activity associated with the Leon Democrats’ account occurred during Ray’s compensated city work hours.

The anonymous comments included criticism of elected officials, including City Commissioners Dianne Williams-Cox and Curtis Richardson, as well as commentary concerning political candidates, campaigns and city government policies.

Jackson’s complaint also identifies Matlow, City Commissioner Jack Porter, Max Herrle and former Matlow campaign manager Kris Estanga as individuals who were aware Ray posted under the anonymous identity.

“Based on several documents, emails, city employees, and city time records confirm that Jeremy Matlow and his aide, Ryan Ray, have conspired to illegally take city funds and use for political activities!” Jackson said in a statement announcing the complaint.

Jackson called for an investigation, recovery of improperly used taxpayer funds and action against those responsible.

The complaint requests an examination of whether Ray used city equipment, networks or other public resources for political activity and whether supervisors or city officials knew about or permitted the alleged conduct.

The allegations raise questions about the distinction between political speech conducted on an employee’s personal time and political activity conducted while receiving taxpayer compensation.

The filing represents allegations, not findings of wrongdoing. The complaint now places Ray’s political activities, including the more recent Leon Democrats’ social media posts, under scrutiny by the city’s ethics oversight process.

The latest U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey five-year estimate puts Tallahassee’s poverty rate at 23.6% for 2020-2024, reasonably close to the 25% figure cited by Inman-Johnson. But Tallahassee’s large college population complicates the number.

A City of Tallahassee housing analysis citing a special Census calculation reported that, using 2019-2023 data, Tallahassee’s conventional poverty rate was 23.2%. When off-campus college students were excluded, the rate dropped to 16.5%, a reduction of 6.7 percentage points.

Students represented approximately 20.7% of the population in the analysis.

The adjustment eliminates a significant portion of the apparent difference between Tallahassee and Florida, but not all of it. Tallahassee’s student-adjusted rate remained 4.2 percentage points above Florida’s, or about 34% higher.

Tallahassee’s overall poverty rate has been moving lower.

Earlier Census research put the city’s conventional poverty rate at approximately 32.4% in 2009-2011. It fell to 28.4% in 2012-2016 and stands at 23.6% in the latest 2020-2024 Census estimate.

Census research has consistently found a substantial student effect. The 2012-2016 rate fell from 28.4% to 18.3% after off-campus students were excluded. The more recent 2019-2023 analysis reduced the rate from 23.2% to 16.5%.

The data therefore add important context to Inman-Johnson’s roughly 25% claim.

Tallahassee police have arrested a 15-year-old suspect in connection with a Saturday night shooting near Florida A&M University that left 12 people injured during a weekend of celebrations in Tallahassee.

The Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) announced Monday that Anthony Rivers III was arrested Sunday, Oct. 25, following an investigation into the shooting near Perry and Manatee streets at approximately 8 p.m. Saturday.

Following consultation with State Attorney Jack Campbell, Rivers faces 11 counts of attempted second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a delinquent.

According to TPD, 11 people sustained gunshot wounds, while a 12th person suffered an ankle injury while fleeing the gunfire.

Investigators believe the shooting followed a physical altercation involving individuals who knew one another. Police said preliminary evidence indicates the incident stemmed from a personal dispute rather than a random confrontation.

However, investigators said none of the victims appear to have been the intended targets.

The shooting occurred near FAMU during a weekend that brought students, alumni and visitors to Tallahassee, raising concerns about public safety during large community gatherings.

“What should have been a weekend of celebration in our community instead became a night of fear and violence for the victims and their families,” Police Chief Lawrence Revell said.

Revell emphasized that the arrest does not conclude the investigation.

“While this arrest marks a significant step forward, our work is far from over,” Revell said.

Police reported that responding officers immediately began assisting injured victims, even before the scene was completely secured.

Since Saturday, detectives, crime analysts and other personnel have reviewed evidence and pursued leads. Investigators credited tips and digital evidence submitted by the public with helping identify the suspect.

TPD said additional arrests remain possible as detectives work to determine the complete circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Tallahassee City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow and his progressive allies are promoting a faster transition from natural gas to renewable energy, a policy supported by California-based political organizations endorsing their campaigns. However, the potential impact on electric rates has received considerably less attention.

The debate raises an important question for Tallahassee residents: Will an accelerated transition to renewable energy result in higher monthly electric bills?

Matlow, who is running for mayor, has argued that renewable energy can lower electricity costs. However, the experience of other utilities demonstrates that transitioning away from fossil fuels can involve significant capital investments, financing costs and long-term financial commitments.

(Editor’s note: Commissioner Matlow has publicly stated that city can transition to renewable energy and lower electric rates. We have asked for examples of other municipal utilities successfully implementing this transition and we have yet to receive a response.)

The issue is particularly important in Tallahassee, where natural gas is the primary fuel used to generate electricity.

California Groups Back Progressive Candidates

Lead Locally, a California-based organization supporting progressive candidates, has endorsed Matlow for mayor and Dot Inman-Johnson and P.J. Perez for City Commission.

The organization has called for Tallahassee to rapidly transition to clean energy.

Matlow has also received an endorsement from the Jane Fonda Climate PAC, an organization supporting candidates committed to reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

These endorsements highlight the importance of energy policy to the progressive movement seeking greater control of Tallahassee’s municipal government.

However, the central financial question remains largely unanswered: How much would an accelerated transition cost, and who would pay?

A 2024 Vote Reveals the Policy Divide

The disagreement over natural gas is not new.

At the February 7, 2024, City Commission meeting, Matlow and Commissioner Jack Porter voted against extending a natural gas pipeline capacity contract with Florida Gas Transmission Company.

The proposed extension involved approximately $4 million in budgeted utility operating expenditures and would secure pipeline capacity for another 10 years.

According to the city’s agenda materials, the contract represented approximately 26% of Tallahassee’s natural gas usage.

Utility officials warned that rejecting the extension would leave the city without sufficient natural gas capacity to meet existing electric and gas utility customer demands.

The agenda also stated that projected natural gas requirements demonstrated a clear need for the capacity through 2035.

Rather than approve the extension, Matlow proposed reviewing the city’s four energy contracts and examining alternatives to natural gas in connection with the city’s clean energy goals.

Porter supported the proposal.

The substitute motion failed 2-3, with Matlow and Porter voting in favor.

The original contract extension subsequently passed 3-2, with both commissioners opposed.

The vote provides a documented example of Matlow and Porter prioritizing a review of alternatives to natural gas despite utility staff’s stated concerns about maintaining adequate fuel supplies. During the discussion Matlow stated, “there are renewable energies we can import.”

Gainesville’s $2 Billion Warning

A Florida example illustrates the potential financial consequences of aggressive renewable energy policies.

Gainesville Regional Utilities pursued renewable electricity through a 102.5-megawatt biomass generating facility that began operating in 2013. The plant was designed to supply as much as 30% of the utility’s electricity.

The original 30-year power purchase agreement carried an estimated $2.4 billion financial obligation, according to a 2026 Gainesville presentation.

The agreement required substantial annual payments even when the facility was not generating electricity.

As natural gas prices declined, the biomass arrangement became increasingly expensive compared with conventional generation.

In 2017, Gainesville purchased the facility for approximately $750 million to escape the remaining contractual obligations, which would have totaled roughly $2 billion. The purchase was expected to reduce future costs compared with keeping the original agreement.

Gainesville’s experience demonstrates how long-term commitments made to accelerate renewable energy adoption can create enormous financial exposure for utility customers.

New England’s Natural Gas Lesson

Another warning comes from New England, where restrictions on natural gas pipeline expansion have contributed to higher electricity costs.

According to ISO New England’s market monitoring reports, limited pipeline capacity has increased natural gas prices during periods of high demand, contributing to higher wholesale electricity prices.

In 2025, New England’s wholesale electricity costs increased approximately 48%, reaching $15 billion. Higher natural gas prices were a major factor.

The region has also expanded renewable generation, but its experience demonstrates that reducing access to natural gas infrastructure before adequate alternatives are available can expose consumers to additional costs.

The Missing Cost Analysis

Renewable energy advocates correctly point out that solar generation has no fuel expense and can reduce exposure to volatile natural gas prices.

But solar facilities require upfront investment, and replacing dispatchable natural gas generation can require battery storage, transmission improvements and backup power supplies.

For Tallahassee, the critical issue is not whether renewable energy should play a greater role in electricity generation. The city has already invested in solar energy and established long-term clean energy goals.

The question is whether accelerating that transition would produce savings sufficient to offset the additional investments.

Before committing Tallahassee to a faster transition away from natural gas, residents should know the projected capital costs, financing requirements, reliability implications and anticipated effect on monthly electric bills.

For the California organizations endorsing Tallahassee’s progressive candidates, the priority is accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels. For Tallahassee ratepayers, the priority may be considerably simpler: keeping electricity affordable and reliable.

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/). 

Data compiled from a database of fatal shootings maintained by the Tallahassee Democrat shows the annualized number of shooting deaths falling to 15 as of September 2026, down from a recent high of 32 in the spring of 2024. The chart tracks the rolling annual number of shooting deaths in Leon County from March 2021 through September 2026.

The decline from 32 to 15 represents a reduction of approximately 53%.

The latest figure is also the lowest annual rate recorded since 2023 and represents a substantial reversal from the increase in shooting deaths that occurred between 2023 and 2024.

The data show Leon County’s shooting-death rate at approximately 26 in early 2021 before declining through much of 2021 and 2022. By the spring of 2023, the annual total had fallen to 11 deaths, the lowest point during the period examined.

That improvement proved temporary.

Beginning in mid-2023, shooting deaths increased rapidly. The annual total climbed above 20 by late summer and reached approximately 30 by early 2024. The rate subsequently peaked at 32 deaths in spring 2024.

After reaching that high, however, the trend generally reversed. The annual total dropped into the mid-20s during the second half of 2024. There was a brief increase to roughly 28 late that year before another decline brought the total to about 20 in early 2025.

Throughout most of 2025 and early 2026, the annual number fluctuated primarily between 17 and 23 deaths. More recently, the numbers have moved lower again. By September 2026, the annual rate stood at 15 shooting deaths—17 fewer than at the 2024 peak.

The latest number is also approaching the low levels recorded before the 2023-24 surge. The September 2026 annual rate of 15 is only four deaths above the five-year low of 11 recorded in 2023.