Vision for City Government
“I just want to show up and do the job effectively.” [1]
Mike Foust, Tallahassee Democrat
“Tallahassee, you know, has a 3-2 argument; it’s because we have politics in the race. We all pretend, you know, it’s a secret that it’s not non-partisan, and I wanted to truly step apart and just focus on city issues and municipal problems.” [2]
Mike Foust, OpGov.News
“It’s fun to have an enemy, but to me it’s exhausting. And I just want to focus on the things that work.” [3]
Mike Foust, OpGov.News
The Catalyst for Running
“And when they cut the council meetings in half and doubled the salaries, that was when I really said, ‘OK, I’m gonna do this.'” [4]
Mike Foust, OpGov.News
On Tallahassee’s Unique Character
“I think it’s a wonderful city. I love the charm. I love the art. I like that it’s weird. I don’t want to see it turn into a South Florida, cookie-cutter, non-weird place.” [5]
Mike Foust, Tallahassee Democrat
On the Homelessness Crisis
“It’s not the people you see on the street that make up the homeless population. That’s about 5%. The other 95% are families, broken-up families, children floating on couches, people working two or three jobs who can’t afford a single unit.” [6]
Mike Foust, OpGov.News
On the Role of the Mayor
“The time zone change, I’m sick of that. I would get rid of that, and I know that’s not within the purview of the city of Tallahassee, but from the mayor’s office, you can advocate for these things, make noise, get in the press.” [7]
Mike Foust, OpGov.News
“I also think that the office of the mayor of Tallahassee is underutilized. You know, we’re the capital of Florida.” [8]
Mike Foust, OpGov.News
On Leadership Style & Crisis Intervention
“Cooler heads prevail.” [1]
Mike Foust, Tallahassee Democrat
“What could’ve been an intervention became something much worse. We have got to have something in that gap.” [9]
Mike Foust, OpGov.News
Pragmatism and Government Efficiency
“Politics should never come before people. I listen first, even when I disagree, and I focus on solutions rather than spectacle.”
Mike Foust, CapitalTEA
“My professional background is in service management and continual improvement frameworks. That approach allows feedback from every level and uses it to identify patterns, fix recurring problems, and improve response times.”
Mike Foust, CapitalTEA
Foust emphasizes efficiency in city services. Instead of relying on redundant city-run food programs, he suggests directing funds to established organizations like Second Harvest, which he believes can provide for needy residents much more efficiently.
Humility, Reliability, and Being an “Outsider”
“Service is not a slogan for me — it is a personal commitment… I believe leadership is less about recognition and more about reliability. If elected, residents can expect steadiness, responsiveness, and a genuine desire to see others succeed.”
Mike Foust, CapitalTEA
“I didn’t tell anyone, you know, people just found out from public record.”
Mike Foust, OpGov.News
A steady alternative: Foust aims to offer voters an independent candidate who is transparent, calm under pressure, and humble enough to admit when he’s wrong.
De-escalating Political Division
“Tensions often arise when discussions become framed through ideological lenses rather than practical outcomes. Tallahassee benefits when commissioners focus on shared objectives instead of political positioning.”
Mike Foust, CapitalTEA
“I would encourage clearer agenda setting, structured debate formats, and deliberate de-escalation when discussions become heated. Municipal governance works best when disagreement remains respectful and policy-focused.”
Mike Foust, CapitalTEA
Boosting Local Culture and Entertainment
“A city thrives when opportunity and creativity are distributed, not centralized.”
Mike Foust, CapitalTEA
Promoting Tallahassee’s vibrance: Foust wants to preserve the city’s unique character by supporting more comedy and music shows, and by better promoting the great things that already exist in town.
Law Enforcement and Community Relations
Building community trust: Foust wants to make strides in curbing domestic violence and improving relations between law enforcement and the community by hosting events where residents and officers can interact, noting simply: “It really works”.