Blue and white with a hammer growing out of the ground. This is the logo that campaign interns temporarily-tattooed on their bodies in support of James Ingle during his 2022 campaign for Gainesville City Commission.
It was a show of support that newly elected commissioner James Ingle said he’ll never forget as he starts his term with the City of Gainesville.
“Mostly, what I want to do is just make this a better town,” he said.
Commissioner elect James Ingle won the 2024 race for Commissioner At-large, Seat A against Fareed Johnson. Ingle ran for City Commission District 2 in 2022, but lost to Ed Book by about 300 votes. Ingle will take current City Commissioner-At large, Reina Sacco’s seat.
Originally from Orange Park, Ingle visited Gainesville during the summer. He moved to Gainesville as a teenager and started his five-year electrical apprenticeship program through the local electrician union.
The program caused him to dive into the topic of labor rights, a driving force of his campaign.
The day Ingle graduated from his apprenticeship program, he hit the road. He traveled for years as an electrician through states like New York, Arkansas and Kentucky, where he said he experienced different cultures, politics and people.
Ingle said his experiences traveling across the United States are what inspired him to become involved in local politics.
Ingle has been the president of the North Central Florida, West Florida and South Georgia branch of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers for six years and has been a member of the organization for 27 years.
The IBEW, made of 500 members, allows electricians to connect with each other and collaborate in efforts to collectively bargain and to improve working conditions and wages.
As president, Ingle appoints a negotiation committee and bargains with contractors.
Ingle said his friends and fellow labor unionists pushed him to run because they believe that having people with experience in the working class in office is vital in solving business issues.
“The difference between having good allies you can talk to, or having somebody that is really familiar with urban class issues and how local ordinances and actions affect people, is a big difference,” Ingle said.
Ingle also said his experience working in groups during his apprenticeship and electrical work has prepared him to collaborate with others in the commission.
Nelson "Lanny" Mathis, Jr., business manager and former president of the North Central Florida, West Florida and South Georgia branch of the IBEW, has known Ingle for about 27 years. Mathis said he was impressed with Ingle during his time in the apprenticeship program.
Mathis said that while working with Ingle on job sites, Ingle was present every day and a good worker to be around. He also said Ingle was very conscientious when working with others.
As for Ingle’s future as commissioner, Mathis is confident in him.
“I think he’ll bring the same approach to whatever job he has, whether it be a city commissioner or electrician or organizer, I think he’s going to do his complete dedication to it and do the best job he knows how to do,” he said.
Shawn Graves, IBEW apprenticeship director, was Ingle’s teacher during Ingle’s last year of apprenticeship. Following in his footsteps, Ingle became a teacher after he graduated from his apprenticeship program.
Graves said Ingle came up with great ideas and was engaging when working with students.
“He really dedicates himself to succeeding,” Graves said. “Not necessarily succeeding for his own benefit, but succeeding for the benefit of those he is serving.”
Ingle said his goal as a commissioner is to make Gainesville better for its local residents. He wants to expand affordable housing and increase economic development.
“I think the biggest problem Gainesville has is the struggle people have to get by,” he said. "This is a great place to live, but it is a hard place to earn a living.”
Ingle said cost of living is the underlying cause of other struggles Gainesville faces, such as affordable housing and utilities.
The commissioner elect said he hopes to inspire other workers to involve themselves in local politics and is optimistic that people can make changes for working class individuals.
“The national stuff seems so big that it's hard to feel a personal impact,” Ingle said. “You can make a difference in state and local stuff.”
Ingle said he is interested in seeing the other side of local politics as a commissioner in his upcoming term, he said, because he has been on the working class side his entire life.
Mayor Harvey Ward said Ingle has been an involved voice in the community for years on county advisory boards and as a participant in city processes.
“I am certain that he will be able to hit the ground running as city commissioner,” Ward said. “He has got a bunch of time to get comfortable and familiar with our practices, and I’m sure he is going to be a great city commissioner.”
Aside from local politics, Ingle enjoys ultimate frisbee and rock climbing. He said whenever he travels, he tries to look for different cliffs and mountains that he can climb.
Ingle also enjoys training his puppy, Bailey, and teaching her different tricks in his free time.
“I’m really hoping that I can make a big enough impact and this could be replicated and we see other people, other trades people and working class folks do something, because I really think we can make a difference,” Ingle said.
Ingle will be sworn in as commissioner on Jan. 2, 2025.
Contact Sofia Meyers at smeyers@alligator.org. Follow her on X @SofiaMeyer84496
