2003 Tallahassee mayoral special election

The 2003 Tallahassee mayoral special election was held February 4 and February 25, 2003 to elect the mayor of Tallahassee, Florida.

2003 Tallahassee mayoral special election

← 1997 February 4 and February 25, 2003[1] 2006 →
Turnout32.43% (first round)
33.93% (runoff)
 
Nominee John Marks John Paul Bailey Steve Meisburg
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
First-round vote 11,702 7,382 7,039
First-round percentage 43.10% 29.02% 25.93%
Second-round vote 19,119 9,374
Second-round percentage 67.10% 32.90%

Mayor before election

Scott Maddox
Democratic Party

Elected mayor

John Marks
Democratic Party

Since no candidate obtained a majority of the vote in the first-round, a runoff was held between the top-two finishers.

The election coincided with elections to City Commissioner Seats 1, 2, 3 and 5.[1]

Marks became the second popularly elected mayor of Tallahassee. Marks became Tallahassee's first elected African American mayor, and its fifth-overall African American mayor.[citation needed]

Background

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On January 4, 2003, Tallahassee Mayor Scott Maddox was elected Chairman of the Florida Democratic Party.[2] Maddox announced that he would remain Mayor of Tallahassee until late February 2003, when a special mayor election would be held to elect a successor.[2]

Election results

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First round

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First-round results[3][4]
Candidate Votes %
John Marks 11,702 43.10
John Paul Bailey 7,382 27.19
Steve Meisburg 7,039 25.93
Anthony "Tony" Davis 603 2.22
Richard Junnier 423 1.56
Total votes 27,149
Voter turnout 32.43%

Runoff

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Runoff results[5][6]
Candidate Votes %
John Marks 19,119 67.10
John Paul Bailey 9,374 32.90
Total votes 28,493
Voter turnout 33.93%

References

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  1. ^ a b "Summaries - January through April 2003" (PDF). Tallahassee Government. 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Caldwell, Alicia A. (January 6, 2003). "Tallahassee Mayor Leads Democrats". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  3. ^ "Election Summary Report 2003 City of Tallahassee Regular Municipal Election Summary For Jurisdiction Wide, All Counters, All Races OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). Leon Votes. February 26, 2003. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  4. ^ "Statement of Votes Cast 2003 City of Tallahassee Regular Municipal Election SOVC For Jurisdiction Wide, All Counters, All Races OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). Leon Votes. February 26, 2003. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  5. ^ "Election Summary Report 2003 City of Tallahassee Municipal Primary Election Summary For Jurisdiction Wide, All Counters, All Races OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). Leon Votes. February 5, 2003. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  6. ^ "Statement of Votes Cast 2003 City of Tallahassee Municipal Primary Election SOVC For Jurisdiction Wide, All Counters, All Races OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). Leon Votes. February 5, 2003. Retrieved November 14, 2019.