Five Tallahassee Officials Honored as Home Rule Heroes

Five Tallahassee Officials Honored as Home Rule Heroes

April 07, 2026

Mayor John E. Dailey, Mayor Pro Tem Curtis Richardson, City Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox, City Manager Reese Goad and Dr. Thomas Whitley, Director of Operations and Innovation for the City of Tallahassee, have each been recognized by the Florida League of Cities (FLC) with a 2026 Home Rule Hero Award. This honor recognizes their tireless efforts to protect the Home Rule powers of Florida's municipalities and advance FLC's legislative agenda during the 2026 legislative session. Awards will be presented at the City of Tallahassee Commission meeting on Wednesday, April 15.

"Local voices matter, and during the 2026 Legislative Session, these leaders made sure those voices were heard," FLC Chief of Legislative Affairs Casey Cook said. "By engaging early, often, and thoughtfully, they helped elevate the municipal perspective and reinforce the importance of local decision-making. We sincerely appreciate their dedication and are proud to recognize their advocacy on behalf of Florida's cities."

Home Rule is the ability for a city to address local problems with local solutions with minimal state interference. Home Rule Hero Award recipients are local government officials, both elected and nonelected, who consistently responded to the League's request to reach out to members of the Legislature and help give a local perspective on an issue.

Founded in 1922, the Florida League of Cities is the united voice for Florida's municipal governments. Its goals are to promote local self-government and serve the needs of Florida's cities. Florida's cities are formed by their citizens and governed by their citizens. The League is founded on the belief that local self-government is the keystone of American democracy. For more information, visit floridaleagueofcities.com or Talgov.com.