City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow files to run for Tallahassee mayor in 2026
"As a business owner, local trail hiker, husband, father and product of Southside Tallahassee, I am uniquely qualified to bring our community together under a common vision and to seek collaboration with all that are willing to make Tallahassee a better place," Matlow said in a prepared statement. "Today, Aug. 11, I humbly announce my candidacy for mayor of Tallahassee."
Matlow's candidacy sets up a likely political showdown with Mayor John Dailey, who has yet to file for re-election but has sent strong signals that he intends to seek a third term. Matlow, part of the progressive minority on the five-person City Commission, has long been at odds with Dailey, who serves with the establishment friendly majority.
"As your Mayor, I'll dedicate my time to improving the way of life and affordable living for all Tallahasseeans, create high paying jobs, build reasonably priced housing and protect our neighborhoods and environment," Matlow said. " We'll welcome collaboration with our city's top minds to jump start economic development, revive arts, culture, and live music and strategically invest in underserved areas to ensure our future prosperity is felt by everyone.
Matlow, a restaurant owner first elected to the City Commission in 2018, is in the middle of his second term as Seat 3 commissioner. His decision to run for mayor not only leaves that seat wide open in 2026 but also guarantees a change in membership on the City Commission for the first time in six years.
Besides Matlow, one other candidate, Camron Cooper, has filed to run for mayor. However, Cooper, a Tallahassee native who resided most of his life just outside city limits, may not be able to qualify under tighter eligibility requirements recently approved by the City Commission.
Meanwhile, the Seat 3 race has drawn only one candidate, Norm Roche, a former Pinellas County commissioner, who sought appointment to the commission in 2018 after City Commissioner Scott Maddox was suspended from office in the midst of an FBI public corruption probe.
Check back with Tallahassee.com for more on this breaking story.
Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or 850-599-2180.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Commissioner Jeremy Matlow files to run for Tallahassee mayor in 2026
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Fast Company
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