Leon County Commissioner David O’Keefe, a progressive leaning CPA who formerly served as CFO of WFSU Public Media, filed for re-election on Thursday.
“I am proud of the hard fought progress we’ve made, and I am ready to continue pushing for a better future for everyone in our community.” said O’Keefe, who is currently in his first term on the Commission.
David Hawkins, an employee of the Florida Department of Revenue who in 2024 ran unsuccessfully against current County Commissioner Carolyn Cummings, is challenging O’Keefe for the County Commission seat. Hawkins also ran for Commission seats in 2016, 2020, and 2022.
O’Keefe highlighted the policies he’s pushed for the community since elected to the District 5 seat in 2022.
“When I asked the residents of District 5 to let me represent them on the County Commission I committed to transparency, accountability, new affordable rental housing, protecting our neighborhoods, and putting people first in every decision,” said O’Keefe.
O’Keefe has publicly and politically aligned himself with other rising stars of the local progressive wing of the Democratic Party, including Tallahassee City Commissioners Jack Porter and Jeremy Matlow.
O’Keefe is also a gun control advocate, and secured a majority vote to add the issue to the board’s slate of policy priorities in the upcoming 2026 Legislative Session. Gun control has weighed heavy across the nation, and particularly Tallahassee, where in April a gunman killed two people and injured several others in a mass shooting on FSU campus.
“I will continue to bring the needed urgency to the County Commission to deliver progress for all of Leon County,” O’Keefe said in a press release.
Election Day for the Leon County Commission District 5 seat is Nov. 3, 2026.