The upcoming Newberry municipal election puts three open seats on the ballot.
Newberry residents will have the opportunity to vote on two city commission seats and the mayorship, all nonpartisan races elected at-large.
Election day voting will take place April 8 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Mayor
Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe’s decision to step down to become city manager left his seat open in the upcoming election. Two candidates have stepped forward to run in his place: former commissioner Joy Glanzer and current commissioner Tim Marden.
After being a resident of Newberry for 48 years, Glanzer said she decided to run for mayor because she felt it was her way to give back to the community that had given her so much. Newberry has a lot of heart, she said.
“I have a lot of ideas on ways we can perhaps improve our already wonderful, small town,” she said. “It’s time.”
Formerly serving as a city commissioner from 2017 to 2019 and having experience with her real estate company, Glanzer said she knows the intimate details of zoning and land ordinances.
While on the commission, she said her proudest achievements were budgeting for maternity leave for city employees and voting “yes” on automated metering infrastructure, which was aimed at lowering citizens’ utility bills.
If elected, Glanzer wants to prioritize updating pre-existing infrastructure, like roads, and maintain the city’s current development plan.
“Keep our zoning where it needs to be,” she said. “We don’t want sprawl, and the only way we can prevent sprawl is to have smart growth, smart planning.”
Marden, currently commissioner IV, chose not to seek reelection to run for mayor. It seemed like the most natural next step to serve his community, he said.
Marden has served as a commissioner in Newberry for the past 12 years. He also works with the John Birch Society, a conservative political advocacy group, and is the chairman of the Alachua County Republican Party.
“I want you to see my commitment, my conviction and my consistency,” he said. “I’ve got a 12-year record to back it up. A lot of what we’re seeing happening in Newberry is what happened under my… years as city commissioner.”
Marden dealt with the Newberry Elementary charter school conversion while on the commission, but he said he played purely a cheerleader role and wasn’t involved in the “nuts-and-bolts” of the operation.
If elected, Marden said he intends to focus on fiscal responsibility, keeping taxes low and providing the core services governments are meant to provide.
“We have sort of governed ourselves with the idea of providing Cadillac services on a Chevy budget,” he said.
Commissioner Group IV
With Marden choosing to run for mayor, the commission seat IV has been left open for a race between Steve Panaghi and Donald Long.
Originally from Long Island, New York, Panaghi first moved to Newberry in 2012 and said he didn’t pay much attention to local politics until the issue of the Newberry charter school.
Being prompted to action, Panaghi said running for the commission seat is his way of addressing the inequities he witnessed in his community from the charter conversion issue.
“I noticed certain things were being promised to developers and given to them very quickly,” he said. “Then, things were either not green-lit for the citizens or dragged out so long that the citizens finally gave up on it.”
If elected, Panaghi said he hopes to bridge the divide he currently feels in Newberry and bring the community back together. One of the first, no-cost actions he plans if given the seat is to open the city infrastructure for Wi-Fi at city buildings and parks to all citizens, he said.
A representative of Donald Long’s campaign didn’t respond in time for publication. According to his campaign website, he has a commitment to transparency, fairness and preserving the quality of life for Newberry residents.
Long has served as the co-chair on the planning and zoning committee since 2021. His goals include supporting local businesses, “strengthening education” and investing in public safety, according to his campaign statement.
Commissioner Group V
Incumbent Tony Mazon faces off against lifelong Newberry resident Rosa Marie Campbell.
Campbell’s compassion for the community runs deep, she said. She worked for the school board for 26 years and is currently a teacher at UF’s Early Childhood Collaboratory, Baby Gator.
“I just want to bring new insight, perspective to cultivate a good, small town vibe to restore our [community],” she said.
Campbell said she doesn’t agree with how the commission handled the issue of the charter conversion and wishes there had been more of a grassroots approach. The first thing she intends to do if elected is establish town hall meetings to invite citizens to come and speak on what issues are important to them.
Her favorite part of the campaign trail has been talking to diverse people with different perspectives, she said.
A representative of Tony Mazon’s campaign did not respond in time for publication. Mazon is running for his third consecutive term as commissioner.
“I believe in thoughtful growth, strong infrastructure, and supporting our local schools—all while preserving the small-town character that makes Newberry special,” Mazon wrote on his campaign website.
Contact Morgan Vanderlaan at mvanderlaan@alligator.org. Follow her on X @morgvande.
Morgan Vanderlaan is a second year political science major and a Spring 2025 metro general assignment reporter. She has previously worked on the enterprise desk as a political reporter and on the county and city commission beat. When she's not on the clock she can be found writing, reciting and watching theatre!
