TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – We’re just over a month away from the November general election and several big-ticket local races are on the ballot across Florida and Georgia.
In Tallahassee, two candidates are vying for Seat 3 on the City Commission after a close primary and run-off last month.
Both Tom Derzypolski and P.J Perez shared their plans for the city during a debate on Tuesday.
The debate lasted about an hour, but Derzypolski and Perez touched on several key issues that have drawn major concern over the past few months.
First on that list: affordable housing in the capital city, where more than 35% of households spend 30% or more of their income on housing.
If elected, Perez said one of his goals would be trimming local governments spending, specifically surplus property and executive salaries.
Perez said that money can be put into programs like the Tallahassee lenders consortium.
“We can provide homeownership to individuals who need it the most, provide stability for those people. Freedom, stability, the ability to make choices,” Perez said.
On the topic of homeownership, both candidates agreed that Amendment 3 would not be good for the community.
The constitutional amendment, if passed in November, would increase homestead tax exemption while also restricting how counties and municipalities spend property tax revenue.
“I think we need to retain control on a local level. This is a step too far,” Derzypolski said.
The two candidates both agreed on the need to invest into some of the city’s overlooked communities, particularly those on the south end.
Derzypolski said this should be more of a priority before the city moves forward with more urban development.
“You go to certain parts of town, and everything’s new. You go to other parts of town, and nothing has changed,” Derzypolski said.
One of the final topics was the controversy around the city’s hiring of Karen Jumonville as Tallahassee’s city manager, particularly the supermajority termination protection clause.
Both candidates said this wasn’t the right move for the city, but they had different views on addressing it the future.
“We’re a constitutional government, and we have rules. Those rules are in place,” Perez said.
“It’s is legally binding, but I would also seek counsel from staff to see if there’s room here,” Derzypolski said.
October 5 is the last day to register to vote in Florid and Georgia. The last day to register for mail-in voting is October 22.
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