Candidate forum replay: Nick Maddox, Josh Johnson take swings in County Commission race

Nick Maddox and Josh Johnson, who are competing for an at-large Leon County Commission seat, sparred on issues from big development to community priorities while taking a few swings at each other during a Monday candidate forum.

County Commissioner Maddox, who’s seeking a fourth term, and Johnson, a Godby High School teacher, faced off in a livestreamed event hosted by the Tallahassee Democrat, League of Women Voters and WFSU.

Maddox emphasized his “past proven leadership,” pointing to work on the new Amazon fulfillment center and issues including public housing, economic development and crime. Johnson said “it’s time for new leadership” given ongoing problems from a lack of affordable housing to high crime rates.

Both candidates were given an opportunity to talk about their opponent’s shortcomings. Maddox accused Johnson of having viewpoints that can be “very polarizing.”

“I think my opponent’s biggest liability is his lack of experience as well as a misunderstanding of what it means to work together and collaboratively with all people in our community,” Maddox said. “What we need is a leader who’s going to work to bring us together and understanding of all sides and not one who’s going to work to pull us apart.”

Johnson alluded to a sexual harassment allegation against Maddox by a staff person at the Boys and Girls Club of the Big Bend around the time he abruptly left his job as executive director of the nonprofit. He also referred to a recent Maddox mailer touting an endorsement by Rep. Allison Tant, who complained she didn’t actually grant one.

“The elephant’s in the room, and I think the biggest liability is the erosion of public trust,” Johnson said. “I think that moving forward, Leon County needs a commissioner that not only they can trust, but that they can trust will do a good job. I think that I’ve been right on the issues and I do think I am right on the personal ethics as well.”

Focus on the race:

• 'Awkward': Rep. Allison Tant says she didn't sign off on Nick Maddox mailer, endorsement

• Nick Maddox, Josh Johnson head to runoff in Leon County Commission at-large race

• Nick Maddox picks up surprise endorsement of former opponent Rudy Ferguson Sr.

Maddox called the endorsement mailer a “miscommunication.” He has refused to discuss details of the sexual harassment allegation, labeling it a product of the campaign, though he said in the forum that Johnson's characterization of it was “misrepresented.”

"I left the Boys and Girls Club because I wanted to move on as a professional and focus on my campaign as well," Maddox said.

Last month, Rudy Ferguson Sr., who ran against Maddox and Johnson in the Aug. 23 primary and is a close family member of a woman who leveled accusations against the commissioner, gave a surprise endorsement of Maddox. Johnson said that endorsement "seems a bit odd" but acknowledged he "absolutely sought" the backing of Ferguson, a pastor and longtime advocate for Griffin Heights.

Johnson walked into the forum with endorsement news of his own. Just before the event, he held a news conference at the County Courthouse to announce the endorsements of about a dozen women, including City Commissioner Jack Porter, Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor Tabitha Frazier and former County Commission candidate Donna Cotterell.

Forum replays: With November election near, here's how to watch and send questions

In the forum, both candidates also were given the chance to ask a question of their opponent. Maddox asked what issue Johnson expects to “come back the most” over the next four years, prompting him to say affordable housing, crime, poverty and how local government resources are used.

Johnson asked a more pointed question of Maddox: “Why do you vote consistent one way, whether it’s Amazon, whether it’s Blueprint, why do you always seem to have the backs of developers?”

“I don’t believe that’s true,” Maddox replied. “What I do attempt to do, Josh, is I attempt to look at what’s going to be best for our community and how to move our community forward.”

There were more sparks when the candidates were asked to identify a development “that’s been doing it right” and one that’s more problematic.

Maddox touted redevelopment of the Orange Avenue Apartments, saying the mixed-use project will “change the trajectory of the community that it’s in.” He declined to mention a development that’s “not going well,” but said he wants to keep an eye on places where urban services have been extended to make sure they don’t “change who we are as a community.”

Johnson praised Blairstone Forest as a development that created a “very good and livable neighborhood.” He criticized Welaunee, which Maddox supported, saying it “jumped the line” and got millions in sewer and other infrastructure ahead of the south side.

“My opponent cannot think of any development that has been deleterious to the fabric of the city or county while being at the helm of leadership in this county,” Johnson said. “I think that that speaks louder than anything that I could say.”

Maddox got 43% and Johnson nearly 31% in the four-person Aug. 23 primary. The nonpartisan race will be decided in the Nov. 8 general election.

Subscriber exclusive: Tallahassee election takeaways: Missed targets, resurgent Republicans and tepid turnout

Watch the forums

Visit tallahassee.com, the Tallahassee Democrat YouTube page or our Facebook page to watch replays of the forums.

UPCOMING FORUMS

• State Representative, District 8: Curt Bender vs. Gallop Franklin —Tuesday, Oct. 18, 11 a.m. to noon 

• CANCELLED: State Senator, District 3: Loranne Ausley vs. Corey Simon* — Tuesday, Oct. 18, 1 to 1:30 p.m. 

• U.S. House, District 2: Neal Dunn* vs. Al Lawson — Tuesday, Oct. 18, 3 to 3:30 p.m. 

• Leon County School Board, District 4: Laurie Cox vs. Alex Stemle —Wednesday, Oct. 19, 11 a.m. to noon 

• Tallahassee City Commission, Seat 4/Mayor: John Dailey vs. Kristin Dozier —Wednesday, October 19, 1-2 p.m. 

*After confirming their attendance earlier, the Simon campaign said on Oct. 3 he would not be participating in this forum; the Ausley campaign withdrew on Oct. 12, saying they hope the Simon campaign reconsiders. As of Oct. 5, Dunn declined to attend the forum.

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or follow @JeffBurlew on Twitter.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Maddox, Johnson talk issues, take swings during County Commission forum