Voting for the Newberry municipal election ended April 8, filling three open seats.
Newberry residents had the opportunity to vote on two city commission seats and the mayorship, all nonpartisan races elected at-large.
Mayor
Tim Marden won the mayoral race, defeating Joy Glanzer by a margin of 97 votes.
Marden said he’s very happy with the results.
“I think that our positive message shined through here in Newberry,” he said. “I'm happy for the city.”
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.
While on the commission, he dealt with the Newberry Elementary charter school conversion, but said he played a purely supportive role and was not involved in the mechanics of the operation.
With election season ending, Marden said he hopes to put this chapter in the rearview mirror and work on building a better Newberry.
With the election results, Glanzer said she intends to focus on getting back to her real estate business. She’s thankful for the citizens who voted for her, she said, and doesn’t intend to stop helping to improve the Newberry community.
“I'm not going to stop doing any of that just because of the results of the race,” she said. “We can do so much as a non-elected official.”
Commissioner Group IV
Donald Long won commissioner seat IV against Steve Panaghi, earning over 1,000 votes.
A representative of Donald Long’s campaign didn’t immediately respond for comment on election night. According to his campaign website, he said he’s committed 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.
Originally from Long Island, New York, Panaghi first moved to Newberry in 2012 and said debates over Newberry charter school are what immersed him in local politics.
Panaghi said running for the commission seat is his way of addressing the inequities he witnessed in his community from the charter conversion issue.
A representative of Panaghi’s campaign didn’t respond for comment on election night.
Commissioner Group V
Incumbent Tony Mazon retained commission seat V by a margin of 634 votes over lifelong Newberry resident Rosa Marie Campbell.
Mazon’s win marks his third consecutive term as commissioner. A representative of Tony Mazon’s campaign did not respond in time for publication.
“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.
Mazon declined an interview on election night.
Despite not winning her race, Campbell said she remains victorious because of the kindness, financial and spiritual support she received.
“I am going to rest and relax and continue to do what I do always…be involved in the community,” she said. “I have work to do.”
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!
