OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Businessman TamBoura Jenkins will be running for the open Ocala City Council District no. 3 seat, as incumbent Jay Musleh, who has represented the district for the past 13 years, has decided not to seek another term. Jenkins will be opposed by Mark Clark, with the election being held later this summer.
Jenkins has a varied professional experience, one with an emphasis on service as he’s a nurse, has a theological background, having gone to seminary school and is now a real estate broker, understanding that his responsibility is to protect the public.
“You can’t change the world or change your community by standing on the sidelines,” said Jenkins. “It was something that I always wanted to do because I always want to help. So, the best thing for me to do is to run for office, and that’s the main reason that I’m running.”
It was another seat that Jenkins had initially considered, thinking that he would be best suited for the position of mayor, but after doing additional research, the city council district no. 3 seat seemed to be the best fit at this time.
There are a number of challenges facing citizens and finding job opportunities that pay a livable wage and food insecurity, are among the issues that residents have to contend with as they navigate life’s obstacles and economic pressures on a daily basis.
“The job market that we currently have, there are plenty of jobs in Ocala, but there aren’t enough for people below the age of 50 to live the American Dream, which is home ownership,” said Jenkins. “Many of us aspire to buy a home, but you can’t buy a home if you’re working at a fast-food place. You can barely pay rent, working at a fast-food place or in retail. Because of the low pay, you have to have two jobs. Even with the two jobs, you have to have a spouse or a roommate, that also potentially has to have two jobs. As a landlord, you have to make two to three times the rent.”
A change in the complexion of the building industry, where larger builders are far more prevalent, have hurt smaller builders, something that Jenkins understands all too well as a small business owner.
“I’m proposing that we make the larger developers, and the larger businesses reinvest back into the community,” said Jenkins.
Ocala’s exponential growth has also created a number of issues, in addition to the lack of well-paying jobs, food insecurity and challenges associated with being able to afford rent and making the ability to purchase a home difficult, a far greater problem persists, said Jenkins.
“Homelessness, as rent increases so does the homeless population,” said Jenkins. “There are a lot of charitable organizations that help the homeless, but the situation is going to get worse. I just want to get ahead of it now before it becomes a major problem.”
The next few years will present a series of challenges, according to Jenkins, with seniors being hit especially hard. He believes now is the time to be proactive to get ahead of some of the problems that will be facing the city in the near future.
“We’re going to have to require more from our citizens as well,” said Jenkins. “Remember that famous quote from John F. Kennedy, ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.’ You have to think like a chess player and think a series of moves ahead.”