We call on Lorrane Ausley and Jeremy Matlow to publicly demand that the PACs stop distributing negative campaign ads in Tallahassee.

The recent primary election for Tallahassee mayor was flooded with negative flyers that landed in mailboxes again and again. Those ads were paid for by wealthy Political Action Committees, or PACs, that are technically not affiliated with any candidate, but they still shape the tone of the race and drag our community into a cycle of personal attacks. That kind of campaigning does not help voters make thoughtful choices. It only creates more frustration, more mistrust, and less respect for the people who live here.

The two mayoral candidates now left running for the election in November, Lorrane Ausley and Jeremy Matlow, have both pledged to make our city government more respectful and civil if elected. That is a good promise, and it should begin now. If they are serious about that pledge, they should speak up clearly and publicly against these negative PAC-funded ads and ask the PACs to stop.

Tallahassee deserves a campaign focused on ideas, honesty, and the future of our city, not on constant mailers that tear people down. We urge the candidates to lead by example and show that civility is more than a talking point. It should be a standard they defend before the election, not after it.