Election - The Independent Florida Alligator

A graphic depicting the nine candidates in the running for Gainesville mayor.

METRO | POLITICS

Meet the mayoral candidates for the Gainesville primary election

By Mickenzie Hannon | Aug. 17, 2022

Nine mayoral candidates — including David Arreola, Ed Bielarski, Ansaun Fisher, Gary Gordon, Adam Rosenthal, Donald Shepherd, July Thomas and Harvey Ward — are on the ballot in the upcoming primary election. On the campaign trail, they’ve focused on issues such as affordable housing, Gainesville Regional Utilities rates and climate change.

Gainesville's mayoral candidates speak to about 80 Oak Hammock residents Tuesday, July 12, 2022.

METRO | POLITICS

League of Women Voters hosts candidate forum at Oak Hammock

By Jackson Reyes | July 15, 2022

The League of Women Voters hosted the exclusive forum to allow about 80 retirement community residents to hear mayoral, city commission and school board candidates speak on topics from climate change to single-family zoning.

Raemi Eagle Glenn, a Gainesville attorney, waves a flag in support of President Trump Thursday. Glenn said she came to support Trump as a feminist and as a businesswoman.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

DeSantis appoints county Republican committeewoman to fill vacated county commission seat

By Mickenzie Hannon | June 13, 2022

Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Raemi Eagle-Glenn Thursday to fill the District 1 seat, which she lost by about 62% to former commissioner Mary Alford in 2020.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

UF Senate begins new legislative session, elects Senate leaders

By Maia Botek | Mar. 14, 2022

UF Senate swore in its batch of 50 newly elected senators and chose a new Senate president and president pro-tempore at the meeting. It was in the process of electing the members-at-large when the meeting was cut short, as the Reitz Union building closes at 11 p.m. The election results bring few changes to the chamber. Gator Party remained the supermajority while Change party remained the minority party. Gator Party’s candidates also won the election for Student Body president, vice president and treasurer, who will take office in April.

Members of Gator and Change Parties await Student Government election results on Wednesday, Feb. 23 at the Reitz Union.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Gator Party wins Executive Ticket, 44 Senate seats in Spring SG elections

By The Alligator Staff | Feb. 24, 2022

By 10 p.m., Gator Party seized the Executive Branch and grasped the majority of Senate seats for the third consecutive year. More than 9,000 students cast their ballots by Wednesday, a 37% increase from last Spring’s 6,650 total ballots.

City Commissioner-elect Cynthia Chestnut (center) stands with Gainesville NAACP President Evelyn Foxx (left) and School Board member Tina Certain (right) at her election watch party at Cypress and Grove Brewing Company on Tuesday, Jan. 25.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Cynthia Chestnut, Matt Howland continue their work in the electoral process

By Melanie Pena | Jan. 31, 2022

In the days following the election, commissioner-elect Cynthia Moore Chestnut prepared for her position as city commissioner at-large seat B. Opposing candidate Matt Howland will be returning to his studies, flying between Gainesville and his classes at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Judi Jackson, a 62-year-old election volunteer (left), sits outside Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office Jan. 22 with her fellow volunteer, checking early voting ballots. The special run-off election for City Commission At-large Seat B will be held Jan. 25.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Early voting for the Gainesville City Commission special run-off election ends

By Melanie Pena | Jan. 24, 2022

The Gainesville City Commission Special Election early voting began Friday and ended Sunday, with the official election date being Jan. 25. For voters casting their vote by mail past the early voting period, the mail-in drop box will be available Jan. 24 and Jan. 25 at the Alachua Supervisor of Elections Office at 515 N. Main St. Suite 100.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

UF Student Government prepares for the Spring semester

By Maia Botek | Jan. 10, 2022

After a Fall semester that saw graduate seat vacancies and an unusually low number of bills on the Senate floor, SG officers are preparing for the Spring semester.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville City Commissioner launches campaign for mayor

By Meghan McGlone | Dec. 3, 2021

Gainesville is holding its City Commission election for the mayor at-large seat and districts two, three and four on Aug. 23, 2022.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Who’s running for Gainesville’s open at-large seat?

By Meghan McGlone and Troy Myers | Nov. 8, 2021

Early voting for the special election begins Nov. 12 and ends Nov. 14, and registered Gainesville residents can vote at the Alachua Supervisor of Elections Office or the Millhopper Branch Library from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF students hold debate for at-large City Commission race

By Jiselle Lee | Nov. 3, 2021

The UF College Democrats and the Gator chapter of NAACP hosted an in-person 2021 special election debate Tuesday night, allowing students to ask the candidates questions about traffic safety, food accessibility, affordable housing and sustainable energy.

Gainesville Mayor Lauren Poe (left) and City Commissioner Adrian Hayes-Santos (right) listen to public comment at a City Commission meeting on Monday, Sept. 27, 2021.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

City may be fined for trying to require employee vaccines, interim city attorney appointed

By Meghan McGlone | Sep. 29, 2021

Nicolle Shalley, who held the position before Nee, resigned Sept. 8 and her last day will be Nov. 12, according to her letter of resignation. She will become Levy County’s attorney, she wrote. Shalley was the fourth city official to resign in the past four months.

Cynthia Chestnut (left) listens to former Commissioner Gail Johnson (right) announce her endorsement of Chestnut's campaign on the steps of Gainesville City Hall on Monday, Sept. 27, 2021.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Cynthia Chestnut launches Gainesville City Commission campaign, earns endorsement from former Commissioner Gail Johnson

By Alan Halaly | Sep. 29, 2021

Johnson publicly announced her endorsement of Chestnut, a 72-year-old longtime Gainesville politician, outside of a City Commission meeting Monday About 30 of Chestnut’s supporters gathered on the steps of Gainesville City Hall for the announcement.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Student Government Supreme Court rules to change future ballots, clarify the consequence of a non-vote

By Elena Barrera | Sep. 10, 2021

In a case brought to the Supreme Court Sept. 9, Communist Party president Alfredo Ortiz brought his concern to the judges that the current design of the ballot is misleading and should be altered.

METRO

City of Gainesville attorney and clerk resign

By Meghan McGlone | Sep. 9, 2021

City attorney Nicolle Shalley and city clerk Omichele Gainey submitted written letters of resignation Wednesday. Shalley’s last day will be Nov. 12, and Gainey’s will be Oct. 8. In an email to the City Commission, Shalley wrote she will become Levy County’s attorney, but Gainey did not explain why she was resigning.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville City Commission special election to be held on Nov. 16

By Meghan McGlone | Sep. 3, 2021

The election will take place Nov. 16. Early voting will be open from Nov. 12 to Nov. 14 at the Supervisor of Elections’ office and Millhopper Branch Library from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville residents react to City Commissioner Gail Johnson’s resignation

By Meghan McGlone | Aug. 30, 2021

Many East Gainesville residents relied on Johnson to advocate for positive change on the historically underserved east side of the city.

The Phillips Center for the Performing Arts had Election Day voting and drive-thru COVID testing on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 in Gainesville, Fla.

METRO | POLITICS

Alachua County voting demographics from the 2020 presidential election show increases in turnout

By Steven Walker | Nov. 30, 2020

Voting numbers increased in many demographics, and decreased in others

METRO | POLITICS

What having a president who stutters means to me

By Paloma Quadri | Nov. 18, 2020

I have had a stutter ever since I can remember. I carry it with me to every restaurant I order from, every job interview I have, every class I have to speak in front of and everywhere else.

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, in Wilmington, Del.

METRO | POLITICS

Former Vice President Joe Biden wins the 2020 presidential election, will serve as the 46th president of the U.S.

By Steven Walker | Nov. 7, 2020

Four days after Election Day, the results are known: Joe Biden is the president-elect.