There is more to Gainesville politics than Student Government elections.
In anticipation of the March 16 city election, about eight people attended a Craig Lowe for Mayor student interest meeting at 8 p.m. Thursday.
Garrett Garner, Lowe’s campaign manager, began the meeting by emphasizing students’ ability to turn around an election.
Garner said in March 2009, about 3,000 people between the ages of 18 and 25 voted against Charter Amendment 1, which would have repealed Gainesville’s discrimination protection laws based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The amendment did not pass.
Garner said voting is not the only way students can contribute to Lowe’s campaign.
They can also volunteer to make phone calls, go door to door and table on campus.
“We need students because students can completely change the dynamic of this election,” Garner said.
It is important that students vote in local elections because they live in Gainesville for four years, and these elections affect what happens right here where they live, he said.
Erin Murphy, a UF environmental science sophomore, said she thinks it’s important for students to vote in local elections.
“I think a lot of students are apathetic about it, and they think it’s not relevant,” she said. “It’s a democracy. When you have the right to vote, you should always exercise it.”
Other candidates are also engaging Gainesville students.
Mayoral candidate Monica Leadon Cooper said she spoke about her campaign to a UF political science class, and students have called her on her cell phone to discuss election issues.
She also held a campaign fundraising concert Sunday at the Baird Center in downtown Gainesville, in which about 12 local musicians performed.
Candidate Ozzy Angulo received an endorsement from the UF CHISPAS, the Coalition of Hispanics Integrating Spanish Speakers through Advocacy and Service, on Feb. 18.
Angulo said he supports their efforts to gain the City Commission's endorsement of the DREAM Act.
Richard Selwach, who’s also running for mayor, said he welcomes help from students.
“If they want to get involved, they should stop by my shop,” said Selwach, who owns Best Jewelery and Loan on Northwest Third Avenue. “My door is always open. If you don’t vote, you get what you deserve.”
Candidate Don Marsh said the decisions voters make now will have an impact on the future of Gainesville.
“I understand the curse of youth is to think in terms of right now,” Marsh said. “The investments you make now will pay off 20, 30 years later down the line.”
Early voting for the mayoral election is March 8 through March 13 at the County Administration Building, located at 12 SE First St., and the actual election is March 16.
Staff writer C.J. Pruner contributed to this article.
