Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum has made it official: He will be running for governor in 2018, but his announcement is overshadowed by the fact that he could have broken state law in his announcement rollout.
"I come to you today with a humble heart and a whole lot of hope as we launch this campaign for Governor of Florida," Gillum wrote on Twitter Wednesday morning.
Gillum made the announcement via a video. The nearly six minute-long clip follows Gillum as he spends time with his family.
Gillum recalls what his own childhood was like and how it impacted his decision to run for governor. Soft music plays in the background as the 37 year-old mayor spends time with his family -- time that reminds him of his own childhood.
“I grew up in a house just like this,” Gillum says.
Gillum remembers his mother. He reflects on his siblings. Each one has had run-ins with the law, which made his childhood difficult and surged his drive to succeed and to do better.
“I remember very distinctly my mother closing the door and watching tears well up in her face,” Gillum says. “I remember making the promise to myself that I wasn’t going to make my mom cry like that. She was going to cry because she was happy.”
Gillum remembers promising to set an example for his siblings. He decided to go to college. He got a job.
Gillum says his siblings, however, had issues finding employment since they had criminal backgrounds.
It’s this first-hand experience, Gillum said, that has influenced his decision to move forward with a gubernatorial bid -- Gillum said he wants to provide the opportunity for a good job to everyone in the state, regardless of their past actions and current income level.
“I can’t wait to be able to move forward a vision in this state, that put people to work at every rung on the income level,” he says. “That’s what I want to do for the state of Florida.”
Gillum pushes for a solid public education system, a key feature to putting Floridians back in the workforce.
“I’m amazed at the opportunities that have been provided, but I also recognize were not for a good public education, caring and loving parents, a grandmother who prayed for me and quite frankly, people who believed in me enough to say that I could, I wouldn’t be the person I am today,” he recalls.
Gillum's campaign has already faced bumps in the road, since the video was professionally produced before he officially filed for governor Tuesday afternoon. Under Florida law, candidates cannot accept potential contributions until they've opened a campaign account, which has led Republicans to slam the mayor for "breaking the law."
“The law is pretty straightforward,” Evan Power, the chairman of the Leon County Republican Party, told Politico. “You have to first open a campaign account, then raise money and then expend funds. I have a problem with someone who’s expending campaign dollars before they have a campaign.”
Gillum issued an apology Wednesday.
"It is ultimately my responsibility that an official government email system in my office was used to send messages that were not related to government business," he said in a statement. "It was inadvertent, but that does not make it okay. I’m sorry, and I plan to reimburse the City of Tallahassee for all expenses related to the NGP email system.”
Gillum has a storied history in local politics. At 23, he became the youngest person to serve on the Tallahassee City Commission and worked in the community to build local youth restorative justice programs. He became mayor of the state’s capital city in 2014.
He faces a potentially crowded field of contenders for the job, including former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine, uber lawyer John Morgan, Tampa mayor Bob Buckhorn and conservationist and alligator wrestler Ron Bergeron.
If elected, Gillum would become one of the youngest governors in the state’s history.
At the end of the video, Gillum looks ahead at what he can do for the state and how he can help. He vows to work hard for the people and to provide opportunities for everyone.
“I plan to work as hard as I can, every day if given the opportunity to make sure every child has that same opportunity,” he said.
View the video below.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
