Tallahassee candidates slam $27M Doak funding

Kristin Dozier
Two candidates that opposed the FSU stadium funding are graduates of the university.

Candidates for Tallahassee offices took aim at the $27 million allocation to upgrade Florida State University’s Doak Campbell Stadium at the Democratic Club of North Florida’s “Flip Florida Blue” event over the weekend.

City Commission Seat 5 candidate Adner Marcelin criticized incumbent Dianne Williams-Cox’s absence at the event, saying she was avoiding talking about her support for the stadium funding and the $4,500 she received from current and past members of FSU leadership.

“They say because you oppose Doak that you did not support FSU,” Marcelin said. “Well to that I said, I am a graduate of FSU. I was a notable Nole in 2009. So they’ll appreciate you in 2009 and try to say that you don’t stand with the university because you disagree with fiscal irresponsibility.”

Seat 5 hopeful Shelby Green said the Capital City needs “true and genuine progress.”

“I am running to rebuild our local economy and to answer the countless ignored calls for help and service,” Green said. “The people need safety. The people need justice. The people need affordable housing and utilities. The people need reliable public transportation and services. The people need access to mobility and opportunity and I’m going to give the people that as our next City Commissioner.”

Leon County Commissioner Kristin Dozier, who is running against incumbent Mayor John Dailey, also spoke about her opposition to the FSU stadium funding, noting that she too is a “proud FSU grad.”

“There are so many things we should have done with that money,” Dozier said. “It cost us thousands of jobs. It harmed our chances to have good training programs and get people opportunities so they can pay their rent, they can provide for themselves, provide for their families and become good citizens of our community because it’s hard to really be engaged when you’re struggling to make ends meet.”

Dailey touted his leadership amid the pandemic and during a time where former city officials have been indicted for fraud and corruption.

“I’m going to continue to be the Mayor that brings this community together,” Dailey said. “I’m going to be the Mayor that’s going to work with each and every one of you to move our community forward.”

Staff Reports


6 comments

  • Claude Kirk the younger

    July 25, 2022 at 3:12 pm

    Let me get this straight.
    So you have a couple of universities in your town that bring in BILLIONS in revenue each year. And some politicians are opposed to showing the cities gratitude by throwing a couple of Million the universities way? Idiots.

    • just sayin

      July 26, 2022 at 8:08 am

      Investing in football stadiums is like investing in movie theaters.

    • Tired of the Nonsense

      July 26, 2022 at 9:57 am

      I think your numbers are a bit skewed. And, FSU is only ONE of the schools in town. I guess it’s ok to Omit FAMU, TCC, Lively, Keiser and Flagler – I’m sure they’d like to have a piece of that pie. I’d like to see the football players that get up and leave (NEVER Graduating) pay back the schools for their unfinished education. I mean they are STUDENT Athletes! The money should be going to Education FIRST!

  • Foghorn Leggleston

    July 26, 2022 at 10:54 pm

    Dailey “bringing us together” by ramming down policies opposed by at least 2/3 of the public. Ok Hizzoner.

  • Over it

    July 27, 2022 at 9:59 am

    You forgot to mention the FAMU already received millions for the same ADA and Life Safety Upgrades to their stadium – hypocrite much?

    • King Love

      July 27, 2022 at 1:38 pm

      You hit the nail on its political head there Over It.
      The virtue signalling complainers about the FSU 27M never ever mention the FAMU 14M in the same sentance, conversation, or as in this case the fake news article. A foolish and secretave attempt to get a liberal pile on by falsely implying race to their drummed up hate of the FSU 27M.
      Its political virtue signaling at its best. The casual reader will gloss over the smell of BS and pile on the virtue pile as intended by the huxters promoting this election related hoax.

Comments are closed.


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