Tallahassee City Commissioner Jack Porter announces 2024 re-election run

Saying she would provide “much needed oversight of city operations,” City Commissioner Jack Porter announced Monday that she’s running for a second term in 2024.

“I’m excited to keep up our momentum towards a stronger, safer City that works for the people who make Tallahassee a great place to live,” Porter said in a news release.

Porter, who unseated appointed City Commissioner Elaine Bryant in 2020, said she has since led “with a governing approach informed by her urban planning and public administration background and a diverse base of grassroots support.” Porter, 30, added that she was the youngest woman ever elected to local office.

“I was proud to join with my colleagues in voting for $17.1 million in City funding for housing and community development and other major public investments,” Porter said. “But clearly, it hasn’t been enough to move the needle in a way that all residents feel improves their prospects. We need to do more. There is a great deal of unfinished business I plan to attend to on the commission.”

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Porter said her office has canvassed door to door, helped hundreds of residents facing utility shut-offs and fought for protections for tenants facing eviction.

“Those efforts demonstrate my grassroots, from-the-bottom-up approach to governance, and I think most folks agree it adds a valuable perspective to the commission,” she said.

Porter, who filed campaign papers Feb. 24, is unopposed so far in the Seat 1 race. In her news release, she noted last year's Seat 3 race and the double-digit win by her close ally, City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow, against David Bellamy. She didn't mention Bellamy by name but called him “a well-funded Chamber-backed” candidate.

“We expect the status quo to field an establishment challenger,” Porter said. “I wouldn’t be doing my job well if they didn’t have that desire. No matter how much money floods into our community from certain powerful folks who want to move Tallahassee backwards, away from its full potential — the voice of the people cannot be defeated.”

Porter said she looks forward “to four more years” working on issues such as public safety, City Hall oversight and quality of life.

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

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee Commissioner Jack Porter announces 2024 re-election run