WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
Qualifying for Gainesville’s 2020 city elections closed at noon on Friday, and eight people qualified for the District 2, District 3 and At-Large 2 seats.
Incumbents Harvey Ward and David Arreola are each seeking their second term, while Helen Warren has reached her term limit, leaving the At-Large seat open for a newcomer.
The election is scheduled to take place with the presidential preference primary on March 17. Voters have until Feb. 18 to register.
The At-Large race, in which a candidate does not have to live within a particular district, has the most entrants: Scherwin Henry, Gabe Kaimowitz, Paul Rhodenizer and Reina Saco. Saco is currently leading fundraising efforts with $5,529.39 in monetary contributions.
David Walle is challenging Ward for District 2 and loaned himself $2,500 to start his campaign. Ward has raised $6,523.52. Walle, though, has been quick in setting up a website and hiring a campaign consultant, spending $2,800 compared to Ward’s $1,035.87 expenditure total.
In District 3, a familiar face and name in Jennifer Reid is seeking to unseat Arreola. She was one of three candidates who failed to defeat Mayor Lauren Poe earlier this year. Reid made a late entry just before Friday’s filing deadline and has not yet filed campaign finance reports. Arreola has raised $2,309.34 and spent $275.41.
A detailed map of Gainesville’s commissioner districts can be found here.
