Jeremy Matlow is not the fireman, he lit the match

Jared Willis
| It's your turn

In April 2019, business and community leaders from across the city traveled to Greenville, South Carolina. The goal? To gather information and bring back best practices from a city that shared many key similarities with Tallahassee, but also shared some goals for the capital city: a unique airport infrastructure, a strong manufacturing presence, and a thriving tourism sector.

Commissioner Jeremy Matlow, fresh from a contentious narrow election, skipped most of the discussions on these crucial issues and, frustrated by his lack of participation, responded by citing being out and about “talking to people” rather than “stuck inside all day”.

Matlow was elected in an ugly race that was decided because the city was currently in the shadow of an FBI corruption investigation – an investigation that ultimately led to Governor Rick Scott suspending Commissioner Scott Maddox a month after the election.

The newly appointed Tallahassee City Commission, complete with three new members (Mayor John Dailey, Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox and Commissioner Matlow), now faced the immediate task of selecting a commissioner to replace Maddox and the longer-term and more difficult task of restoring public trust and mending a deeply divided community.

That trip to Greenville was one of the first opportunities to take positive steps toward healing, show leadership, and set the tone for the new city commission. One of those things proved true for Matlow, as he set the tone for a term marked by bitter division and animosity.

Since then, Matlow has been outspoken against the city manager, hostile toward the city employees who report to him, critical of our police chief's religious activities, and reserved his harshest language for Tallahassee's business community and the colleagues on the City Commission with whom he works.

Now, in 2024, the most divisive politician writes about the need to “move beyond divisive political rhetoric.” He portrays himself as a hero who will rescue us from our division. One Tallahassee PC, a political funding mechanism he has long criticized but now inexplicably endorses, is his tool of choice. He promises to use it responsibly to “improve the future of our city.”

He must think we are fools for not realizing that the current conflict in Tallahassee began with a small match that was lit, stoked and fanned by none other than Matlow himself.

So now the arsonist with a new can of gasoline is telling us we can trust him to put out the fire. Years after Greenville, it's clear we can't.

Jared Willis has lived in Tallahassee since 1995. He is a former board member of Grow Tallahassee and a frequent speaker on local issues. He is an attorney who works as a government consultant at the state level, focusing primarily on the healthcare industry. He was appointed by Mayor John Dailey to the recently established Charter Review Committee.

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Jeremy Matlow is not the fireman, he lit the match

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