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J.J. Tate, Son Of Fired Clinton County Humane Society Director, To Run For City Council

Jimmy Emerson
/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/auvet/14984748055

The kerfuffle concerning the Clinton County Humane Society and its finances has led at least one additional person to run for office.

J.J. Tate, son of fired Humane Society Director Jim Tate, plans to seek an at-large city council seat in next year’s municipal elections.

The younger Tate, who’s 28 years old, says attending public meetings after his father was pink-slipped caused him to believe the city needs new blood in office.

“You know, there’s a lot of things that are going on in the city that I really feel people aren’t just clued into,” Tate says.

Tate says he agrees with Mayor Chris McBarnes that what McBarnes has repeatedly referred to as the “old boy network” of leadership and decision-making is causing the city to be too slow to adapt. But he says he doesn’t see himself as representing just younger Frankfort citizens.

“I don’t think that it’s gotta be an ‘us and them’ type of mentality," he says. "I think it should just be an ‘us’ as a community.”

McBarnes, who also sought elected office for the first time as a 20-something, will not be on next year’s ballot after declining to seek a third term.

Tate says he doesn’t see his candidacy as a 28- and 29-year old as a rebuke to older politicians, but adds he’s hopeful more young candidates will choose to run.

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