Meet Brooksville Councilman John McKethan

On June 14, John Walter McKethan II and five other candidates running for local elections were announced to be running unopposed. For the 28-year-old McKethan, this meant that he would be stepping into the Brooksville City Council Seat 2, which was occupied by Councilmember David Bailey.

Bailey was running to retain his seat but did not qualify as he did not submit the correct paperwork before the deadline. Though he was happy not to need to worry about the process of campaigning, McKethan did note a touch of disappointment in not being able to print any signage for his would-be race against Councilmember Bailey. Below are questions posed to McKethan by the Sun and his answers to them:

Was there something in your background that led you to want to run for office?

“I think there were a few factors that lead me to want to run for city council. The main reason is that I wanted to get involved and learn more about the operations of the city on a deeper level and thought to myself what would be a better way that to run for the council seat.”

What led you to run for this office in particular?

“As stated before, I wanted to run for a seat on the Brooksville City Council because I wanted to be involved in the community that I grew up in and have lived in. I feel like it is the perfect time since I don’t have the responsibilities of a wife or children right now, so it would allow me to focus more time into not only the decisions I would have to make but also the education I’d have to undertake to get a better understanding of how the city operates without distractions.”

Could you describe your platform? Are there any issues you are looking to address while in office?

“I think there are many issues that need to be addressed and are already being addressed by the current council in a very good way. I want to be part of that solution whether those are easy or hard decisions. I want to work well and continue to foster the open lines of communication with the different departments that make up the city staff.”

What was your reaction/when did you find out that you would be running unopposed?

“I found out I would be running unopposed on the final day of qualification. I’d say my reaction was mixed. On one hand, I was relieved that I didn’t have to go through the campaign process that in our current climate, can turn messy very quickly, but on the other hand, I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get to print a single shirt or yard sign.”

Is there anything else you would like people to know about yourself?

“I think the biggest thing that I want people to know about me is that I call Brooksville my home and I’m proud of that! I also think that communication and accountability are key in anything that we do. I have a goal and feel like it is my duty while in office to be prepared and educated on things that are brought before the council so that I can make decisions that will help Brooksville not only continue to function but also grow to become even greater than it already is!”

While attending Hernando High School, McKethan worked part-time at Nueway Distribution’s flea market and brick-and-mortar locations every weekend. He would toil from eight in the morning until eight at night before becoming the full-time assistant manager following graduation.

He quickly discovered that the college learning environment “wasn’t my type of learning,” so he dropped out of PHSC and continued to work as a full-time employee for Nueway until 2017. He then gained a position at InSync Healthcare Solutions, which later became owned by Qualifacts Systems LLC.

Following seven and a half years with Qualifacts, the new city council member is currently in a “transition period where I’m trying to figure out what steps I want to take in my career,” he stated. Fortunately, McKethan knows he has a passion for the local community and wants to be involved in its stewardship. The proud Brooksvillian is excited to get to work and help the city continue to be a place that locals are happy to call home.

On Dec. 9, 2024, McKethan was sworn into office with fellow new council members Betty Erhard and Louis Marc Hallal. Erhard returns to the city council after a hiatus and fills Casey Thieryung’s seat. Hallal fills Mayor Blake Bell’s seat, who decided not to seek re-election.