The political titans vying for Tallahassee City Commission Seat 4 — incumbent Curtis Richardson and challenger Dot Inman-Johnson — squared off again to debate contentious matters in the state's capital.
The Oct. 16 forum was the second time in less than two weeks the opponents went head-to-head to discuss issues at the forefront of Tallahassee residents' minds as November's general election quickly approaches.
Once again, the two touted their political records and what they have done for the city during their respective tenures while jabbing at one another as the opportunity presented itself.
Both have individually served 10 years: Richardson has been on the commission since 2014; Inman-Johnson served 1984-94.
Here are a few highlights from the forum sponsored by the Tallahassee Democrat,WFSUand the League of Women Voters of Tallahassee. You can watch the replay on theTallahassee Democrat YouTube page or tallahassee.com.
Candidates discuss their financial backers' influence on their leadership
The race for Seat 4 has easily become the most expensive of the local contests in 2024 since the August primary.
More than $900,000 has been anted up for the two candidates from individuals and political committees, with Richardson drawing large sums of money from local developers and builders, while Inman-Johnson has drawn the support of out-of-state, dark money groups that champion "green" candidates.
When asked why they thought these groups were supporting them and if they wanted anything in return, both candidates shut down the notion that their leadership would be swayed by their financial backers.
"All that anybody expects from Curtis Richardson is good government," Richardson said.
He insisted that he would listen and make decisions that best represented the public's interest. His history in public office "speaks for itself," he said; it includes being in office for 24 of the last 34 years, including on the county's school board and two terms in the Florida House of Representatives.
Inman-Johnson explained that her out-of-state money is coming from Climate Cabinet, a California-based organization that supports candidates who promise action on climate change, and related groups that support those who push for environmentally sound policies.
"I don't know of anything I as a citizen could give them, except being a good environmental advocate for our community, protecting our natural resources and making sure we are doing things to ensure we have clean water (and) clean air," she said.
Control of City Hall at stake; candidates debate city manager
The fate of City Hall politics is dependent on November's general election. As it stands, the board is marked by a staunch 3-2 split that comes into play almost universally on hot-button issues. But beyond the rift on the dais, election results could affect the management of City Hall.
City Manager Reese Goad has had Richardson's unwavering support while Inman-Johnson has repeatedly criticized his "dismal" management record. A win for Inman-Johnson could be the deciding vote on Goad's tenure, and city government could be remade under his replacement.
Candidates were asked if they'd oust Goad if given the opportunity after the election. Richardson responded with a firm no while Inman-Johnson indicated she would consider it after "due process."
"I would not be able to act on the city manager before I had an opportunity to give him due process and evaluate him like the other city commissioners have had the opportunity to do," she said, while adding he has shown disdain for progressive commissioners.
2024 evaluation of city officials:Tallahassee City Manager Reese Goad again gets three glowing, two dismal reviews
Inman-Johnson said it would take three city commissioners to vote Goad out, but Richardson said there's no question what her vote would be, pointing to Inman-Johnson advertising herself as the third vote for the current minority voting bloc of Commissioners Jeremy Matlow and Jack Porter.
In an earlier question, both were asked what the city would look like under their opponent's leadership.
"It would look exactly like it does now, with the city manager running the government instead of the City Commission answering to the public," Inman-Johnson said.
"I think that we would be a community that is anti-business," Richardson countered.
Candidates on affordable housing solutions
With a sizeable portion of Tallahassee's residents living in poverty, affordable housing is a pressing issue for the candidates, especially as a new law that bans sleeping on public property went into effect the first of this month.
Inman-Johnson has long spoken out about the city's poverty rates and how they are a major problem facing the city. "We should be setting aside incentives to attract developers who are willing to work in that regard," she said.
Richardson pushed back saying that "the City of Tallahassee is not in the housing business."
Tallahassee has partners it works with to provide that housing, he said, and affordable housing is among the top priorities of the commission.
"We have got more housing, affordable housing, in the pipeline and completed today than we did the past 10 or 20 years combined," he said.
Candidates discuss commissioner salary increase
Upping city commissioners' pay has been a highly debated topic in and out of City Hall, and the two candidates stand on opposite sides. Richardson said he will be voting for the pay increase, City Charter Amendment 1, saying it's necessary in order to offer commissioners a livable wage for people who look to the position as their sole source of income.
"We are not giving ourselves a raise, and it's not for Curtis Richardson," he said. "I've done this for ten years at the salary that has been approved for this position. What I'm looking for is what comes in the future, young people who are not able because they are not retired."
Inman-Johnson criticized the proposed increase, saying "it's incredible" how a part-time salary is more than double what a beginning firefighter has been making.
The local firefighter labor union and city finalized contract negotiations Wednesday night after being stuck in contentious negotiations for more than a year and a half. Inman-Johnson has previously said in past forums that the commissioners should be more concerned with getting firefighters a salary they deserve rather than increasing their own.
"I will be voting no," she said of the proposed salary increase from $49,583.50 to $99,167.
Jabs also were thrown outside the debate room as Matlow and his city aide Ryan Ray, who also chairs the Leon County Democratic Party, streamed a live commentary of the debate on the local political party's X account.
"We have elected officials that don't have courage," Matlow said, adding "I know who I'm voting for."
Breaking & trending news reporterElena Barreracan be reached atebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X:@elenabarreraaa.
