Dominique Zumbo wants to make a difference in Tallahassee, her adopted hometown. She plans to challenge Nick Maddox for one of the at-large seats on the Leon County Commission with primaries scheduled for late August.
Zumbo is from Oviedo, but was raised in Orlando. Zumbo is the youngest of three and has faced a lifetime of hardships and struggles, but through it all she did not let her past dictate her future.
“Because of my background and how I grew up, I am very grateful and thankful for the sacrifices that people around me have made. I have always been passionate in everything I do, even if I fall down, I always make sure to get back up,” Zumbo said.
Zumbo was raised by her mother, who cleaned houses. After Zumbo’s father passed away when she was 9 years old, her mother took on the role as a single parent and went over and beyond to make sure her children were able to get the education they needed and deserved.
Zumbo moved to Tallahassee in 2015 after earning an associate’s degree at Florida Gulf Coast University with a major in political science. She made her way to the state capital because she knew it was the best place for an education in politics as well as environmental studies.
She then decided she wanted to take her education to the next level and was accepted into Florida State University’s College of Social Sciences.
Attending FSU opened her eyes more to the political world and made her take a leap of faith into the Leon County commission race and run for the District 2 seat.
The duties Zumbo aims to fulfill are to take care of people and provide a service in the place that everyone calls “home.” She wants to do so by improving budgets, accessing needs, taking resident requests and concerns as well as being a huge access to the community.
Zumbo is currently taking on the campaign as her full-time job. She believes by giving all of her attention to the campaign will give her a better chance at her dreams in pursuing public office.
Zumbo has a background in property management, government and politics. She is also a vocalist and a music producer.
Zumbo salts that being a woman running for office may give her an advantage.
Zumbo believes being a female is an asset as she pursues public office.
“I truly believe as a woman, especially with all things that we were told growing up about our limits and what we can or can’t do because we’re not men, is all about fear. Fear is just the lie that you are told to make you believe you are limited,” Zumbo said.
She wants to continue to seek office and help people. She wants to be here for her community and to continue to love her neighbors as they love her. “My calling has always been to represent my community,” Zumbo said.
Queshana Sealey had the opportunity to work with Zumbo, and thinks she would be a great fit as a commissioner for Leon County.
“Zumbo is a very organized person who loves her community, which are great qualities for someone in charge of county management. I believe she will always do what is best for the people to better our community,” Sealey said.
Zumbo has received a lot of support from her family and friends as she prepares for the primary election this August.
“I believe that Zumbo would make an exceptional representative because she has the drive and is willing to go above and beyond for the people that she cares about. She is very knowledgeable and persistent navigating her way to get projects and missions accomplished to benefit her community. I really do believe she will not rest until she knows everyone is taken care of,” Morelia Hernandez said.
Zumbo has done volunteer work as a field organizer for City Commissioner Jack Porter, getting a taste of local politics at the same time.