{"id":121036,"date":"2026-01-16T20:47:06","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T20:47:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/121036\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T20:47:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T20:47:06","slug":"tallahassee-city-commission-candidates-promise-a-cleaner-campaign-call-for-conversations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/121036\/","title":{"rendered":"Tallahassee city commission candidates promise a cleaner campaign, call for conversations"},"content":{"rendered":"

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Tallahassee city commission candidates running<\/a> for an open seat announced something of a civility pledge on Friday, hoping to spark change and heal division at city hall through traditional campaigning<\/a> in public.<\/p>\n

To do that, the candidates asked Tallahassee organizations to host events where they can present their ideas, instead of running negative-based campaigns.<\/p>\n

Candidates Norm Roche, Max Herrle, PJ Perez and Talethia Edwards are all vying for Tallahassee City Commission Seat 3<\/a>, which will be vacated by Commissioner Jeremy Matlow, who is instead running for mayor.<\/p>\n

They announced a \u201cCall for Conversations\u201d first on WCTV. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe, the undersigned, Candidates for Tallahassee City Commission, Seat 3, present a Call For Conversation to all local civic organizations, HOAs, PTAs, faith-based organizations, Chamber bodies, and business community organizations to communicate and organize amongst themselves to schedule as many Public Forums throughout our City as possible during this upcoming election cycle,\u201d the four candidates wrote in their release.<\/p>\n

In an interview on Friday, Roche said he wants to run a clean campaign, focused on local issues, instead of attack ads or negative mailers frequently seen in Florida races.<\/p>\n

Herrle said Tallahassee is based on \u201cmeeting in the middle,\u201d referring to the capital city\u2019s history as the geographic center, making the race the perfect time to focus on policy.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is our mutually agreed upon desire to have as many public forums and debates all around the City of Tallahassee as reasonably viable to offer the opportunity for as many citizens and voters to meet, hear from, and ask questions of the candidates for public office in order to help foster the most informed decision possible come this year\u2019s election,\u201d the four said in a press release.<\/p>\n

More Tallahassee news:<\/p>\n

This year will see many high-profile local races, including for mayor, city commission, county commission and more. In recent years, City Hall has maintained a well-publicized 3-2 split between a more moderate majority faction and a more progressive minority faction.<\/p>\n

In previewing this year\u2019s races, WCTV previously interviewed former elected officials who said voters have a responsibility to learn more about each candidate, though that task is made much more difficult during negative-based campaigns.<\/p>\n

Control of City Hall is up in the air in November, as current Mayor John Dailey is not seeking re-election. Incumbent Commissioner Diane Williams-Cox is seeking re-election, but faces several challengers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Relations between the city and county commission also remain strained, mainly over a fee to fund a countywide fire department. Several commissioners have wondered aloud if \u201cnew blood\u201d on the commissions may reinstate the previous agreement.<\/p>\n

People looking to contact any of the candidates can find their contact information here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Tune in to Eyewitness Newsat 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. for the full story. This article will also be updated this evening with all the details.<\/p>\n

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