Godby government teacher files to run for Leon County Commission seat
Josh Johnson, who teaches government and economics at Godby High School, has filed to challenge Leon County Commissioner Nick Maddox.
Johnson, a Florida A&M University graduate, who filed Thursday for the at-large commission seat, said in a news release that he's running to "represent the interests of those whose voices have been left out of the local government process."
"Year after year, we see the same powerful interests get special treatment while the people organizations and neighborhoods that need help the most get left behind," he said.
Johnson, who ran for a Florida House seat in 2016 but lost in a three-person primary to now-state Sen. Loranne Ausley, D-Tallahassee, is among a growing list of candidates who are sharply critical of major Blueprint 2020 decisions over recent months and years.
"Whether it's $20-plus million in sales tax dollars diverted to a football stadium project instead of supporting small businesses, reckless taxpayer subsidies for Blueprint mega-projects that hinder smart growth and affordable housing, or a broken growth management process that benefits big landowners at the expense of our precious trees and neighborhoods — it's time for new leadership and new priorities," he said in the press release.
Johnson said his top priorities would be protecting the city's natural resources, restoring the public trust and developing the local workforce and small business growth. The Tallahassee native was named a Glenn-Howell educator of the year and serves as president of the 621 Gallery board.
"I'm rooted in my community," he said. "I'm ready to serve, and like so many folks across Leon County, I'm ready for a new day in our local government."
Maddox filed to run for re-election in October. Besides Johnson, three others have filed to challenge him: John Liam Coulter, Rudy Ferguson Sr. and Benjamin Horbowy.
Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or follow @JeffBurlew on Twitter.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Godby government teacher files to run for Leon County Commission seat
