District 1
District 1 includes the southernmost portion of Alachua County, including Archer and Micanopy, as well as sections of Paynes Prairie. Most Gainesville areas west of the Archer Road and Southwest 23rd Terrace intersection are part of District 1.
Democratic candidate Mary Alford is the incumbent for this race. She was first elected to the Alachua County Commission in 2020, and she was then re-elected in 2022 after resigning from her position when a Gainesville Sun investigation found she did not live in her district. She said in 2022 that she had forgotten to file a homestead exemption while living with and caring for her mother in District 4, and she has since purchased a house in District 1. Alford graduated from UF with a master's degree in environmental engineering in 2001 and has 20 years of experience working for environmental sustainability through volunteering with state and local environmental groups.
Republican candidate Lizabeth Ann Doebler is a newcomer to Alachua County politics. She is a retired medical professional, according to her campaign website, and she’s lived in Micanopy since 2016. She has been a volunteer Republican poll watcher for seven years. Doebler’s site lists road safety, private property rights and protecting Alachua County’s water supply as her top priorities.
The Alligator sent a questionnaire to both candidates to allow them to speak about their policies in their own words. Neither responded.
District 3
District 3 stretches from southwestern Alachua County to UF campus, where it envelops a majority of the dorms. It splits Newberry with District 2.
Democratic candidate Anna Prizzia is the incumbent for this race. She was elected to the Alachua County Commission in 2020 for a four-year term. She also serves as director of UF’s Field and Fork program, an educational farm that contributes to food pantries, which she helped develop. She graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington with a bachelor’s degree in marine biology and then graduated from UF with a master’s in wildlife ecology. She also served as UF’s director of sustainability before becoming a county commissioner.
After living in Gainesville for over two decades, it is Republican candidate Jenn Garrett’s first time running for office. She is a UF graduate, according to her campaign website, and she previously worked as a Florida Department of Transportation architectural historian. She is an active member of the Junior League of Gainesville, an organization dedicated to advancing women’s leadership in Alachua County, serving as its vice president. She is a local artist with exhibitions throughout Florida, according to her campaign website.
The Alligator sent a questionnaire to both candidates with the following questions to allow them to speak about their policies in their own words.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
Anna Prizzia: “My top three priorities are protecting our natural resources and local farmland for water and food security, continuing to invest in infrastructure to improve our roads and public safety and ensuring smart development that preserves the character of Alachua County. These priorities reflect the balance between growth, sustainability and maintaining the community values we hold dear.”
Jenn Garrett: Garrett did not respond to The Alligator’s questionnaire. However, her campaign website lists her priorities as improving roads and transportation infrastructure, bringing jobs to the community and overall safety. “Having worked in transportation design, I understand the critical importance of well-maintained roads, bridges and sidewalks,” she writes. “I will advocate for smart investments in infrastructure that not only improves transportation efficiency but also enhances the overall quality of life for residents.”
Why are you running?
Anna Prizzia: “I’m running because I love my job as a commissioner, and I want to continue working for a bright future for Alachua County. I’m committed to protecting our environment, supporting local agriculture, expanding our local economy and investing in infrastructure that works for all of us. I’ve seen the positive impact we can make when we work together, and I want to continue fighting for policies that build a stronger, more sustainable community and finding common ground so our rural areas and urban areas can work together.”
Jenn Garrett: Garrett did not respond to The Alligator’s questionnaire. However, her campaign website says she wants to be more involved in her community. “The pandemic heightened my desire to ensure western Alachua County voices are represented at the county commission level,” she writes. “I have and will continue to be a part of strengthening our community and our future leaders. I am not a politician who is just playing a game. I love this community, and I am grateful for the opportunity to run for office. With the support of our community, I look forward to serving our community in a new way.”
Name one thing Alachua County is doing well and one thing it could improve upon.
Anna Prizzia: “Alachua County has done an excellent job prioritizing conservation and protecting our natural resources. Our efforts to develop a climate vulnerability analysis, preserve green spaces and promote sustainable practices are commendable. However, we can do better when it comes to affordable housing. We need to develop more options that meet the needs of young professionals, working families and unhoused people, while maintaining the unique character of our neighborhoods.”
Jenn Garrett: Garrett did not respond to The Alligator’s questionnaire.
How well do you think the county handles conservation and environment problems? If any, what changes would you make?
Anna Prizzia: “Overall, I think Alachua County has made great strides in conservation, especially in protecting our waterways and wildlands. A new agricultural easements program I introduced is also a model for sustainability for our farmland and protecting the environment. However, we need to be even more proactive in addressing climate change impacts by developing a climate action plan that focuses on how to deal with increased heat, storms and flooding. We need to reduce our carbon footprint through investments in green infrastructure and renewable energy initiatives, and we need to expand our economic development and partner with businesses focused on climate solutions.”
Jenn Garrett: Garrett did not respond to The Alligator’s questionnaire. Her campaign website mentions safeguarding Alachua County’s “distinctive identity and precious environmental resources” while designing developments that resonate with the county’s goals.
What is your vision for housing and residential areas in Alachua County?
Anna Prizzia: “My vision for housing in Alachua County is one where we can offer affordable, diverse housing options that meet the needs of all residents while protecting the character and environment of our communities. I want to see development that promotes walkable neighborhoods, access to public transit and green spaces, so that we’re building a county where people can live, work and thrive without sacrificing our rural and environmental values.”
Jenn Garrett: Garrett did not respond to The Alligator’s questionnaire. “We needn’t emulate the sprawling urban landscapes of South Florida, nor should we settle for cookie-cutter neighborhoods resembling those found elsewhere throughout the South East,” she writes on her campaign website. “I am passionate about collaborating with local developers and builders who call Alachua County home, ensuring that our developments reflect the best of our community’s vision.”
What, in your view, is the most critical issue Alachua County is currently facing?
Anna Prizzia: “The most critical issue we’re facing is balancing growth with sustainability. As our population increases and the threats from climate change grow, we need to ensure that development doesn’t come at the expense of our natural resources, community resilience or the character of our county. It’s about creating a future that works for everyone while protecting what makes Alachua County special — its people, its environment and its sense of community.”
Jenn Garrett: Garrett did not respond to The Alligator’s questionnaire.
The candidates' answers were compiled by the Alligator Editorial Board. You can reach them at editor@alligator.org.
