As voters in Gainesville and Alachua County cast ballots on Aug. 18 in several key Primary Election Day races, Gainesville residents re-elected Mayor Harvey Ward and District 3 City Commissioner Casey Willits. The City Commission will also welcome a new voice to the dais with the election of District 2 Commissioner-elect Nathan Crabbe.
Mayor Harvey Ward wins re-election
Before Ward officially secured re-election as mayor of Gainesville, a commanding early lead prompted him to deliver a fiery and passionate five-minute speech to a packed room at Heartwood Soundstage.
With 17,299 ballots cast in the mayoral race, Ward defeated challenger Evan Moon by a margin of 13,772 votes to 3,527.
Reacting to the results, District 4 City Commissioner Bryan Eastman posted on social media that Ward’s 79% victory was the largest winning margin in a Gainesville mayoral election.
According to an Alachua County Supervisor of Elections results document Eastman sent to The Sun on Aug. 19, the March 26, 2007, election saw 7,377 voters cast ballots. In that race, Pegeen Hanrahan received 5,391 votes, or 73.08%, defeating Wesley Watson, who received 1,986 votes, or 26.92%.
The Sun also attempted to contact the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections to verify the claim but was unable to do so because the office’s voicemail box was full.
After the race was called, Ward told The Sun on Aug. 18 that he appreciates the community’s trust and confidence in him. Thanking his family and campaign team, Ward said he is ready to continue “going to work first thing in the morning.”
“I’m meeting with our staff, charter officers tomorrow (Aug. 19) and making sure we’re all on the same page for the next four years,” Ward said. “I just want to thank all the voters and Gainesville and Alachua County for trusting in me.”
During his acceptance speech, Ward criticized the state Legislature and said real change starts at the local level.
“We have real work to do and the folks outside of the city and Alachua County don’t believe we can do that work. … I’m pretty sure we can turn this state around and we can start at downtown Gainesville,” Ward said.
Nathan Crabbe elected to District 2 seat
Former Gainesville Sun reporter and opinion editor Nathan Crabbe will become Gainesville’s next District 2 commissioner, succeeding Commissioner Ed Book, who served one term on the dais.
With 7,593 ballots cast, unofficial results in the Gainesville City Commission District 2 race showed Crabbe receiving 4,714 votes, followed by Wyatt Zintiz with 1,596 and Nelida Jean-Baptiste Pellot with 1,283.
Crabbe said one of the biggest lessons he learned during the campaign was that residents need to be more engaged in local government. Emphasizing environmental protection and community outreach, he said he was initially “very skeptical” about making the transition from journalism to politics. He thanked voters for their support and said he is ready to get to work.
Crabbe told The Sun after his victory that he is grateful for the community’s trust in a first-time candidate for public office.
“I’ve been always an open book about myself and if anyone wants to contact me with any isses or concerns, do so,” Crabbe said.
Casey Willits retains District 3 seat
Incumbent Gainesville District 3 City Commissioner Casey Willits will retain his seat on the commission after receiving 976 votes. Unofficial results showed Willits defeating DeJeon Cain, who received 510 votes, and James Gardner, who received 309.
In his acceptance speech, Willits said his campaign focused on strengthening RTS, expanding affordable housing and making thoughtful decisions about how city funds are spent, including tree mitigation efforts. He said those priorities will remain central to his work during the coming term.
After learning he had won, Willits told The Sun on Aug. 18 that he plans to continue advancing the initiatives he highlighted during the campaign while also addressing near-term issues, including efforts to eliminate predatory towing.
“I’m excited and very proud southwest Gainesville has elected me for another term,” Willits said. “It’s time to continue the work we’ve done at the dais but do more.”
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Ward, Willits re-elected; Crabbe wins open Gainesville commission seat
Reporting by Elliot Tritto, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Elliot Tritto, Gainesville Sun | USA TODAY Network
