John E. Dailey

John Evans Dailey (born December 7, 1972) is an American politician serving as the 127th mayor of Tallahassee, Florida, since 2018. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served on the Leon County Commission from 2006 to 2018, representing District 3 and twice serving as its chair.

Born in Miami and raised in Tallahassee, Dailey earned a master’s degree in public administration and began his political career working in state and local government. He was elected mayor in 2018 to succeed Andrew Gillum and won re-election in 2022, defeating Leon County Commissioner Kristin Dozier.

During his tenure as mayor, Dailey has prioritized ethics reform, affordable housing, and public safety. He led the adoption of a sweeping ethics reform package early in his term and supported the expansion of housing initiatives including modular shelters and mixed-income developments. In response to the George Floyd protests, he oversaw the creation of a Citizens Police Review Board (CPRB) and a mental health mobile response unit. The CPRB was later disbanded in 2025 following state legislation restricting civilian oversight.

Dailey also directed Tallahassee's COVID-19 response, launching early remote work protocols, utility and small business relief programs, and local vaccination outreach. He backed major infrastructure improvements, including pedestrian safety and Tallahassee International Airport expansion.

Throughout his mayoralty, Dailey has faced friction with some city commissioners over ethics oversight, lobbying transparency, and budget priorities, with several votes on governance policy dividing the city commission.