Government
Tallahassee, named Florida’s capital in 1824, midway between the then-largest cities in the state, St. Augustine and Pensacola. Florida’s Capitol comes alive each spring for the legislative session, where lawmakers and power brokers meet to determine the state’s business agenda and budget. Lawmakers may live here only ten weeks out of the year, but state workers and agency heads remain to carry out the state’s mission.
Leon County is governed by five district and two at-large commissioners who are elected to staggered terms of four years. The Chair of the County Commission rotates annually among commissioners. The Clerk of the Court, Sheriff, Tax Collector, Property Tax Appraiser, and Supervisor of Elections also are elected to terms of four years.
A City Commission comprised of a leadership mayor and four at-large commissioners, all elected to staggered four-year terms, govern the City of Tallahassee. The City owns the local electric utility, which contributes substantially to the city’s revenues.
