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Ocala Mayor To Return To Office

Billy Gilchrist holds up a campaign sign endorsing himself as the mayor of Ocala. Gilchrist lost to incumbent Kent Guinn in Tuesday’s election.
Billy Gilchrist holds up a campaign sign endorsing himself as the mayor of Ocala. Gilchrist lost to incumbent Kent Guinn in Tuesday’s election.

Kent Guinn will remain Ocala’s mayor following his decisive win over Billy Gilchrist in Tuesday’s city election.

Guinn unofficially received 2,337 (64.59 percent) of 3,618 votes cast.

Voters supporting Guinn liked what they saw in the incumbent’s previous two terms enough to elect him for a third.

“The mayor in Ocala is more of a figurehead than anything else,” said Harvey Taub, an Ocala physician who voted for Guinn. “I thought as a figurehead he had been doing OK.”

Taub’s ‘figurehead’ remarks can be attributed to the power an Ocala mayor possesses -- he or she does not have the power to vote on issues before the council, but can veto items.

Those who worked alongside Guinn also believe he is deserving of an additional two years.

“I don’t think it’s necessarily in need of any major changes at the top,” said Jay Musleh, Ocala Councilman. “I think we’re very stable right now.”

 

Gilchrist, 29, who's campaign focused on economic development and financial stability, had hoped bringing a younger, fresher mind into the mayoral position would be appealing to Ocalaians.

“I think anybody who’s been in office as long as (Kent) has doesn’t look at things the same way,” Gilchrist said. “To really have progressive change or proactive change (you need turnover).”

In Guinn’s upcoming term, he has a few main concerns.

“Some of the crime things (in Ocala),” Guinn said. “More economic development…you will see amazing job growth here in Ocala (and) Marion County that is on the books right now that just hasn’t come to fruition, that will though. So you’ll see a lot of economic development and growth.”

Connor is a reporter for WUFT News and can be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.