Leon County Commission, At Large, Group 2: A voter's guide to the 2022 primary election
Basic info
Type of race: Non-partisan
Who can vote: All registered voters throughout Leon County
What's next: Any candidate who wins 50% plus one of the vote will be elected. If no one tops 50%, the race will proceed to a runoff election in November.
How much does this position pay: $83,945
Campaign coverage
Candidates part ways with campaign consultant who posted 'offensive video' on Facebook
Candidates for County Commission At-Large Group 2 seat debate Blueprint, housing and smart growth
February fundraising: Maddox, Proctor, Bellamy get lift from developers, real estate firms
Godby government teacher files to run for Leon County Commission seat
County Commissioner Nick Maddox facing two newcomers in August primary
Rudolph “Rudy” Ferguson, Sr.
Age: 50
Profession: President/CEO, The Frontline Project, Inc.; Senior Pastor, New Birth Tabernacle of Praise
Qualifications: Chairman, Tallahassee Police Department Citizens Advisory Council, led the John G. Riley Park Redevelopment Initiative. Created The Griffin Heights GED program with TCC
Website: runwithrudy.com
'No activities for the youth': Emergency town hall looks at 'symptoms' of shootings in Tallahassee
Q: What makes me the ideal candidate to tackle the problems of the moment?:
A: For three decades, I have served our most vulnerable communities as it pertains to public safety, affordable housing, employment, education, and law enforcement to bridge the gap of social disparities. A great commissioner should be a servant leader. Serving the people is the principle that guides my campaign. The public trust in policymakers is broken, unlike some other candidate in my race, I will bring integrity, dignity, honesty, and transparency in all my actions. With my proven leadership and experience, we will create a safe, healthy, and vibrant Tallahassee-Leon County.
Q: What is the biggest issue facing Leon County and how, specifically, would I work to fix it?
A: Poverty is one of the corridors to crime. We must take a multi-sector approach that focuses on housing needs, employment, stabilization of the family, and providing for the general welfare of our citizens. Income and housing are the foundations from which we begin to support individuals as part of the community. People must be supported in their physical, mental, and social well-being to maintain stability and a decent quality of life. Increase income to a living wage and create truly affordable, quality housing whether through refurb/retrofit/maintenance, or new public housing buildings.
Josh Johnson
Age: 34
Profession: Teacher, small business owner
Qualifications: Teacher at Godby High School (Educator of the year), small business owner, President of one of Tallahassee’s most valued cultural institutions, the 621 Art Gallery.
Website: voteforjosh.org
More: Josh Johnson takes 'Art in the Margins' into the bigger world
Column from the candidate: Nick Maddox needs to be replaced on the Leon Commission. I’m the one to do it | Josh Johnson
Q: What makes me the ideal candidate to tackle the problems of the moment?:
A: As a teacher I’ve been trusted with guiding our future — as a County Commissioner I will keep that trust, and bring it to bear on behalf of the taxpayers and residents of Leon County. I teach economics and run a successful small business. Local government policymakers need to invest our money wisely and support a workforce that sustainably supports long-term growth. As a member of our community who does this every day, I’m well-prepared for the job and free of establishment pressure to conform to the floundering status quo.
Q: What is the biggest issue facing Leon County and how, specifically, would I work to fix it?
A: We can no longer afford massive taxpayer giveaways and insider decision-making that cuts the public out of the process they have a legal, constitutional right to meaningfully participate in. There are so many issues facing Leon County, but there’s one at the root of all of them. Whether it’s affordable housing, $27 million-dollar giveaways at Blueprint, violent crime, environmental concerns, small business strain, or workforce development the common solution is making public investments a more equitable endeavor. The way we use — or misuse — public resources in local government is the cornerstone of the solution, or the backbone of the problem.
Nick Maddox
Age: 41
Profession: Leon County Commissioner
Qualifications: Former FSU and NFL football player, foundation and non-profit executive, Leon County Commissioner for 12 years, elected to serve as President of Florida Association of Counties
Website: nickmaddox.com
Column from the candidate: Can we talk about race and elections? | Nick Maddox
Q: What makes you the ideal candidate to tackle the problems of the moment?
A: For me, the operative word is tackle. As a collegiate and professional football player I trained my whole life to (literally) run toward problems and to work as a team. The problems we face now more than ever require commissioners who have proven they can work with others. Without that, we will simply lose. As a commissioner, I have been in the trenches tackling problems and working effectively with fellow commissioners and our entire community. Now is not the time for us to lose momentum. If re-elected, I will never stop tackling problems and working together until we have won.
Q: What is the biggest issue facing Leon County and how, specifically, would you work to fix it?
A: We have many big issues facing Leon County, from homelessness and affordable housing to job creation and environmental stewardship. But one of our most urgent issues is keeping our community safe from violent crime. Yes, there are no easy fixes, just sustained, focused and collaborative effort. That’s why I have and will support our Sheriff’s “All-In” effort to implement the findings of the Anatomy of a Homicide Report. As such, I will continue to support early intervention (as half of all homicide offenders committed their first crimes before the age of 12) as well as rigorous enforcement of habitual offenders.
Dominique "Nikki" Zumbo
Age: 27
Profession: Candidate for Leon County Commission At Large Group 2
Qualifications: Experience working in government, legislature, lobbying, trade and housing.
Website: nikkizumbo.pixieset.com
Q: What makes you the ideal candidate to tackle the problems of the moment?
A: As someone who has been working in housing here since 2015, I've assessed many issues within Leon County by listening to resident concerns and being knowledgeable on all facets of how to solve these issues. Leon County needs a representative that has experience with addressing these concerns with realistic solutions. In conjunction with my Political Science degree from FSU, I am, and have always been a people person. I am committed to ensuring a better future for all Leon County residents.
Q: What is the biggest issue facing Leon County and how, specifically, would you work to fix it?
A: The biggest issue in Leon County is housing. We focus so much on growing our community without starting in the homes that facilitate our growth. Residents are not living a quality of life in Leon County that would be considered desirable due to landlord/tenant issues and increasing rental rates. There is a lost population of constituents that want to stay here and can't due to a lack of housing and livable wages. Essentially, Leon County is losing a part of its economy because there is a missing standard of living here. As Commissioner, I would champion local businesses to increase their wages for employees and provide affordable access to health care.
Contact Karl Etters at ketters@tallahassee.com or @KarlEtters on Twitter.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Election 2022: Leon County Commission, At Large Group 2: A voter guide
