Staff Reports
Leon County Commissioner Rick Minor says he’s hopeful he will win the Aug. 23 Primary Election for District 3 outright, touting his record and saying his opponents Joey Lamar and Damon Victor are “not ready for prime time.”
“One refused to meet with law enforcement when he was invited to talk with them about crime and other community issues,” Minor said. “The other one has never voted in Leon County aside from this current election, and he’s never attended a County Commission meeting.”
In his first term, Minor supported Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil’s crime prevention and reduction efforts.
“I approved the county’s funding of the Commission on the Status of Men and Boys, and, if re-elected, will be working with the Sheriff’s Office to ensure that we have significant, measurable results in diverting at-risk boys and young men from criminal behavior and toward promising futures,” Minor said, adding that jobs, homelessness and affordable housing are still issues he plans to address if re-elected.
Lamar, a call counselor for the Florida Abuse Hotline, also says crime and homelessness are two of the most important issues District 3 faces.
“Over the past four years, homelessness exploded in our district,” Lamar said. “We must provide housing. Then, we can offer services for substance abuse and mental health issues. The goal is to get people back on their feet and move from temporary to permanent housing.”
Lamar said he has been focused on knocking on doors rather than fundraising.
“Our campaign is surging because we have fresh ideas to solve the problems facing our community,” he said. “The people of District 3 are ready for a young, fresh, vibrant face and voice to lead the district.”
Victor, an orthotist and small business owner, says he’s “sick and tired of the residents of Leon County being misled” and that Minor has made decisions “which go against the people’s interest.”
“This isn’t just about replacing an out-of-touch and ineffective incumbent Commissioner, it’s about fixing the fundamental flaws in a broken system that has residents of District 3 suffering and neglected due to bad public policy,” Victor said.
Working toward improving Tharpe Street would be a priority for Victor, who said residents and business owners “have only heard empty promises from politicians over the years about the lack of sidewalks and need for infrastructure improvements.”
Endorsements have poured in for Minor, including the Tallahassee Professional Firefighters’ Union, Tallahassee Board of Realtors, former state Representative and Leon County Commissioner Marjorie Turnbull, and the Leon County Democratic Environmental Caucus among others.
Victor has the backing of former Leon County Commissioner Bob Rackleff and former Tallahassee Mayor Debbie Lightsey as well as the Frenchtown-Southside Political Action Coalition, and the Tallahassee Active Resistance Network.
If none of the candidates garner more than 50% of the vote on Aug. 23 there will be a runoff on Nov. 8.
