Former NAACP President of Tallahassee Adner Marcelin registered to run against Tallahassee 5 District Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox in 2022.
Marcelin is the City Executive for Self-Help Credit Union, a new credit union that opened in Tallahassee in January. He is also an advisor to a Tallahassee-based attorney Ben Crump‘s law firm, where he previously served as the firm’s administrator for over ten years. Marcelin was previously a member of the city’s Citizens Police Review Committee but recently resigned because he was seeking public office.
He said he was running because he believes Tallahassee citizens are tired of seeing “business as usual” in town hall and are ready for change. He said his experience as a civil rights attorney could help bring about that change.
“The residents of our neighborhoods are fed up with being ignored while we have big, big special interests that continue to pull the strings of our local government,” said Marcelin.
He said one of the main catalysts for his candidacy was public comment during the Tallahassee NAACP’s Say No 2 Doak town hall on November 29th. City hall focused on the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency, Florida State University’s $ 20 million decision for Doak. to give repairs to Campbell Stadium. Williams-Cox was one of the commissioners who voted for funding.
Marcelin said he only saw four of the twelve city and county commissioners who voted on the decision in town hall. He said local residents were overwhelmingly critical of the agency’s decision to push funding.
“Instead of taking the opportunity and saying, ‘I may not agree with you, but I will show you the decency and respect to listen,’ or sit down and listen to everyone, they chose not to attend. You made excuses, ”he said. “Perhaps you will do what you think is best for the community. But is that really what the community wants? “
Marcelin said he wanted more blueprint money to be poured into infrastructure improvements in the south of the city to fuel development and business growth. He said such investments would not only improve people’s lives but also reduce crime in the city.
“I don’t think anyone in our church wakes up every day and says, ‘Hey, I want to go outside and commit a crime.” Marcelin said, adding that sometimes people just have to eat and have no other option to take care of themselves.
Marcelin has politically allied himself with some of the progressive members of the commission in past elections. He joined the commissioner Jeremy Matlow with approval by the Commissioner Jack Porter in 2020. Williams-Cox recommended Elaine Bryant, Porter’s opponent. Matlow also appointed Marcelin to serve on the Citizens Police Review Board.
Marcelin said he was not running to form an alliance with them.
“I am here to stand up for the people whose voices cannot be heard in the town hall. I am here to stand up for the mother and father who have to have two or three jobs that cannot be at town hall at three o’clock in the middle of a working day to make their problem heard, ”he said.
However, Marcelin said he believed bullying played a role in the way the current city commissioners deal with one another.
“It’s daunting. You are going to an issue that is going on in our community. And you will see three commissioners here and you will see two commissioners for another option, ”he said. “You all represent the city of Tallahassee, whether you like yourselves or not.”
If Marcelin is elected and Matlow re-elected in 2022, pressure could be put on to change the city’s appointed leadership. Matlow and Porter both gave Tallahassee City Managers Reese sting failed results in its 2021 performance evaluation, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. Mayor John Dailey and the other two commissioners, including Williams-Cox, gave Goad a perfect score. The city commission has the option of removing the city director with 3-2 votes.
Marcelin said he is not out to fire Goad but disagrees with how he and the city staff have handled some issues like blueprint and denial of permits for the City Walk Urban Mission.
“Nobody is perfect. There is nobody here who gets a five-point star,” he said.
If elected, he said he would have to thoroughly examine Goad’s plan and performance, and make difficult decisions if he found Goad was not up to snuff.
“As a leader, I’ve learned to make very difficult decisions, and when that includes letting someone go, I am able to make that decision,” said Marcelin.
In the past few years, Marcelin has given money to several Democratic state candidates, including $ 100 for Charlie Crist2022 gubernatorial campaign and $ 100 to Rep. Ramon Alexander in 2014 and 2015. He has also contributed to local candidates including $ 100 for the Leon District Commissioner Carolyn Cummings‘Campaign 2020.
Williams-Cox has a considerable head start on fundraising over Marcelin. She reported that it raised $ 32,535, including $ 19,825 in October alone.
Marcelin and Williams-Cox will face each other in the next general election on November 8, 2022.
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from Daily Florida Press https://dailyfloridapress.com/adner-marcelin-will-challenge-dianne-williams-cox-in-the-tallahassee-commission-race/
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