Gigi Simmons Leads In Campaign Fundraising For Gainesville City Commission Race

The third round of campaign finance reports for the 2021 City of Gainesville Regular Election is out, revealing campaign contribution and expenditure data for both city commission races through Feb. 14. The data show incumbents in both races outraising their opponents. 

Gainesville voters will select two city commissioners in the March 16 election. An at-large seat and the District 1 seat are being contested. District 1 incumbent Gigi Simmons is currently leading with the highest total campaign contributions and expenditures.

In the race for the at-large seat, incumbent Gail Johnson has raised $1,405 and spent $347. Opponent Gabriel Hillel has not raised or spent any funds thus far and, in fact, declared to the Gainesville Sun that “I have no interest in anyone’s vote and I won’t spend a cent in this campaign.”

Johnson was elected commissioner at-large in 2018 and is running for a second term. 

Simmons leads with $7,722 in the District 1 race. Opponent Desmon Duncan-Walker raised $3,815 in monetary contributions and $177.33 of in-kind contributions. Simmons was also elected to her seat in 2018. 

Early voting will be open from March 5 to March 13, with polling locations open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. On election day, polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Election day voters are required to vote at their assigned polling places and provide picture and signature identification, according to the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections.