For Your Kids and Mine, Help Me Restore the Public Trust in Tallahassee

My name is Daniel Parker. I am a teacher, a writer, and degreed urban planner. I am currently in my 21st year of serving the public as my chosen occupation, this time working with young adults with experiences in our foster care system. I have a Masters in Urban Planning, seven published books, and a year overseas. I count myself fortunate to have friends from all walks of life.

My wife and I have resided in Tallahassee since 1992. We have three children here in the public school system. We are both public servants and come from a long line of those who serve others, such as soldiers, teachers, and ministers.

In 2004, I ran a grassroots campaign in a crowded field for the Leon County Commission. Though I failed to win that race, I did fairly well for an unknown and was noted in the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper as the one to keep an eye on. Though the winner of that race, Ed DePuy, was from the opposite party as me, we remained friends until his passing.

I was not planning on running again. Instead, I continued my public service in a variety of ways, including serving a six year stint as a Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Commissioner, volunteering as a Guardian Ad Litem, and being the President of one of the local Kiwanis clubs.

In 2012, I decided to run for an open city commission seat. Rumor had it that a veteran politician named Scott Maddox was going to run for a city commission seat after having suffered several statewide defeats and leading the Florida Democratic Party through a period of losses and financial setbacks. Mr. Maddox has a record that includes amassing considerable personal wealth while having served almost exclusively in public service positions.

As a proud public servant, treating the public trust as a personal windfall has never, nor will it ever, sit well with me.

During the 2012 race, I continually championed restoring the public trust and not returning to the days of old where public service is treated as a method to reward friends, punish enemies, and grow rich. 

Even though I had more individual contributors, received the endorsement of 3 well-respected former commissioners, and won 4 precincts, I again lost.

I turned to sustainable initiatives and to teaching, leading local citizens in efforts to address sustainable goals, and teaching in Adult & Community Education. For the 2016-17 year, my co-teacher and I graduated the most GED students in the school. 

Now, we are in the year 2017. Mr. Maddox has again found himself entangled in questionable decision making, and, this time, he may have been caught. The FBI is currently conducting an investigation involving a number of local elected officials and their close friends and associates on questionable public interest dealings. Maddox in the Middle of FBI Investigation.  Barn Burning Case Against Scott Maddox.

If Mr. Maddox steps down to face indictment, I will put my hat back in the ring. Mr. Maddox was my strongest Democratic opponent in my last race, and the one I warned voters to be the most wary of. To counter the damage done to the city's faith in its leadership, I will do what I am good at. As a commissioner, I will go to classrooms all over the city and talk about civics and public service. I will have an open door to our children at city hall. And as an elected official, I will focus on three things: 

Ethics (restoring honor to public service)

Education (a strong part of fighting crime) 

Economic Development (attracting more good paying jobs and addressing economic inequality)

I feel I owe that to the thousands of voters and supporters I had. I must start this now before entrenched special interests and political consultant groups work to fill the vacancy with another Maddox-type politician.

To be ready, I am starting this fund to accept pledges of support. 

In my 2012 race, I raised and spent $30,000 against Mr. Maddox’s over $100,000. Like many of you, I believe that money and politics don’t mix. I also realize I have no chance of succeeding without raising some funds in order to plan and act on a successful campaign.

This effort will only fund if we reach the goal of $35,000. I believe that is a reasonable amount to gauge the interest and support of the public and to win the city commission race.

If you would like to help me, here’s how you do it. My initial first step will be to try and raise $5,000 in pledges. 

For your kids and mine, thank you for your support.