Unified Government Commissioner Tarence Maddox is seeking re-election to the 4th District position.
Commissioner Maddox, 32, is serving his first term as commissioner, and he is emphasizing his experience in office, saying that it would take the other candidates a long time to learn the ropes.
Commissioner Maddox is a graduate of Schlagle High School and has served as a youth mentor and coach in several programs.
He created and directed the Books not B.A.A.R.S. mentoring program, the Fellowship Across Cities, Towns and States program and the Excel LLC program..
He is a member of the African-American Black Caucus, the Progressive Federation of Women’s Democratic Club, Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, Friend of JFK, and was named First AME outstanding community member in 2011. He has also been a member of national groups of African-American local elected officials.
Commissioner Maddox said at a recent forum that his goals would be to continue to grow the tax base in the district and to decrease crime, to attract stores and restaurants.
His “Ban the Box” effort to get the UG to remove the box on applications that prevented ex-felons from getting job interviews was successful, and is a first step toward helping residents to get jobs. He said he brought this idea back from one of the conventions he attended.
Commissioner Maddox said that he was instrumental in getting the John F. Kennedy Recreation Center reopened after it had been closed for several years.
During his first term in office, he received a public censure from the UG’s legislative auditor in March 2014. Commissioner Maddox made a remark at a recent forum about people not being aware of all the positive things he did for the district. One of the allegations was that he had used his title while conducting personal business.
Commissioner Maddox said that the district could not afford another four years for a new 4th District commissioner to learn the ropes on the commission. He said he has learned how to set policy and how to get along with the other commissioners.