TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Dozens of people gathered at the Leon County Commission meeting Tuesday in support of Commissioner Carolyn Cummings. <\/p>\n
Cummings recently called County Attorney Chasity O\u2019Steen\u2019s hiring practices. <\/p>\n
WCTV obtained dueling memos and letters between the two <\/a>in which O\u2019Steen said she cannot consider race or gender in hiring decisions and Cummings responded that O\u2019Steen just doesn\u2019t want to be questioned about hiring practices.<\/p>\n Cummings also said she felt a recent memo was directed squarely at her.<\/p>\n Previously, County Chairman Christian Caban praised both Cummings and O\u2019Steen. Caban said that Cummings is \u201cdearly loved by myself personally, and I think every single person up here on this board.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, I feel like I know the county attorney and I\u2019ve gotten to know her very well and I feel like based on conversations I\u2019ve had with her as well, that there was no ill will intended for you to feel disrespected,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n More Tallahassee news: <\/p>\n Tuesday, supporters for Cummings attended the meeting dressed in white, among them, Tallahassee City Commissioners Curtis Richardson and Diane Williams-Cox. <\/p>\n Williams-Cox called on the county commissioners to stand up for Cummings and voiced her support. <\/p>\n \u201cWe see you Commissioner Cummings,\u201d Williams-Cox said. \u201cThe other little girls want to be you.\u201d <\/p>\n Reverend RB Holmes took to the podium in support of Cummings and encouraging equality. <\/p>\n \u201cEquity and equality must remain our guiding principles, he said. \u201dThe Civil War was fought over the freedom for all Americans.” <\/p>\n Long time local government watcher Stanley Sims called the county attorney\u2019s hiring practices into question. <\/p>\n \u201cIn all the time you\u2019ve been here, you haven\u2019t found one qualified Black attorney?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n Cummings thanked everyone for the outpouring of support and said she\u2019ll always stand up for what\u2019s right. <\/p>\n Another factor of the enhanced scrutiny surrounding hiring practices is a looming lawsuit from an FSU law school graduate and Tallahassee lawyer. <\/p>\n Per an internal memo, Collins was not hired by the county attorney and plans to move forward with litigation.<\/p>\n To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, Nextdoor<\/a> <\/a>and X<\/a> (Twitter<\/a>).<\/p>\n Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here<\/a>. Please include the article\u2019s headline in your message.<\/p>\n Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here<\/a> to get started.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 WCTV. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n