Political points: Tracking North Central Florida politics, campaigns, and governance

POLITICAL POINTS BLOG— WCJB TV20 provides regular updates on the latest news in politics, campaigns, and governance across North Central Florida.

Friday, Dec 5: Early Birds in Marion

OCALA – A couple of races for the Marion County Commission are already getting interesting. Longtime District 2 Commissioner Kathy Bryant has said she will not run for re-election and two candidates have already filed to run for the seat: County Commission Legislative Director Matthew Cretul and Belleview business owner Mike Crimi.

Incumbent District 4 Commissioner Carl Zalak has not yet filed to run for re-election but is widely believed to do so. That hasn’t stopped a bunch of other Republicans from filing so far: Randall Alvord, Jeff Bairstow, Clint Barkley, and Sherri Lynn Meadows. In case no Democrat runs, Anthony Barriner-Massa filed as a candidate with no political affiliation, which would effectively close the primary to GOP voters only.

Thursday, Dec 4: Show Me The Money

GAINESVILLE – City Commissioners today will receive the latest plan for a massive renovation project for the NE 8th Ave/Waldo Road corridor. City Staffers, following previous direction from Commissioners, scaled down the $84 million dollar proposal to $53 million. The biggest change is dropping plans to build a new MLK Center in favor of renovating the existing facility.

City staffers have been making some progress trying to sell Citizens Field to the School Board of Alachua County, but some hurdles remain.

Otherwise, staffers still have not identified where roughly half of the $54 million will come from. Some of it could come from the hoped-for $5.5 million pricetag for Citizens Field, but even that comes with strings attached; the City would remain on the hook for remediation, stormwater, stadium parking lot, and utility connection costs.

Wednesday, Dec 3: What’re You Talkin About, Williston?

WILLISTON – TV20’s Mistie Webb reports on the blowup during Tuesday night’s Williston City Council meeting. Tensions between Council members Debra Jones and Alexa Haniff-Riccio flared when Riccio felt her comments were being interrupted by Jones. “Do not interrupt me, nobody interrupts you when you flap your mouth with a bunch of crap so please do not interrupt me while I am talking,” Riccio declared just before Mayor Charles Goodman called for a recess. Just at that moment Police Chief Mike Rolls approached Riccio to escort her out of the room.

The discussion was over this weekend’s Light Up Williston public holiday event. It is scheduled to start at 6:30 Saturday at Heritage Park.

Tuesday, Dec 2: Chamberlin’s Bill Waits in the Wings

TALLAHASSEE – The package of property-tax relief bills advanced by the Florida House State Affairs Committee on Tuesday did not include the one proposal by a NCFL lawmaker.

HB 149, designed to start the tax cut process by rolling back property tax levies to the 2022-2023 levels, was filed by GOP Rep. Ryan Chamberlin of Belleview. It has not moved since it was assigned to the Select Committee on Property Taxes in late October.

The four Constitutional Amendments that moved on Tuesday have already passed out of that committee. They include proposals to eliminate all property taxes and remove them specifically for seniors. Since property taxes are a primary source of their funding, local government officials across the state continue to oppose the proposed changes.

Tuesday, Dec 2: One Vote Matters

TRENTON — Incumbent City Commissioner Russel Williams won re-election to the Group One Seat by easily outdistancing two challengers, but he avoided a runoff election later this month by one vote.

Williams earned 82 votes to Terry Livesay’s 41 and Nikki Deen’s 39, which pushed him over the threshold of 50% Plus One by that single ballot.

Despite a recent controversy over the City Commission slashing the Public Safety Department budget, the turnout was only 15%.

Monday, Dec. 1: Trenton Votes

TRENTON — The last two local elections of 2025 are all but wrapped up. In Trenton, emotions are running high after the City Council voted to essentially dissolve the Public Safety Department last month. But only one seat on the City Commission is actually contested on Tuesday, and that incumbent, Group One Commissioner Russel Williams, voted against the resolution. Nevertheless, he is being challenged by Nikki Deen, an administrator at Palms Medical Group, and retired businessman Terry Livesay.

Voters in Waldo face even less drama. Only one candidate filed for each of the three open seats. Incumbent Shannon Boal keeps his seat on the City Council; Carolyn Wade’s spot will now be filled by Wendy Vivas, and Jerome McIntyre takes over for Rick Pisano.

Friday, Nov. 28: Ocala Dark Horse

OCALA — If geography plays a role in your vote for Governor next year, Neil J. Gillespie may be your candidate. Gillespie, whose home address is listed as Ocala, is the only NCFL candidate among the 30 or so to have filed for next year’s gubernatorial election.

Gillespie has No Party Affiliation and previously ran for President. He runs what he calls The Justice Network blog and Facebook page, which features current event reports from across the country. His campaign finance reports show no activity this election cycle, but hey, it is early.

Thursday, Nov. 27: Alachua County Commission Candidates Lining Up

GAINESVILLE — Although it is early, the early field of candidates who have filed to run for the Alachua County Commission District 2 seat is an interesting one. Incumbent Democrat Marihelen Wheeler has indicated she may not run for re-election.

Former Alachua County Jail Director Robert Woody dropped out of the 2024 Republican Primary for State House District 22 with the expressed intent of running for the county position. He brings with him a campaign war chest of nearly $45,000.

So far, two Democrats have filed to run: Adam Joy, Founder of Deeper Purpose Community Church in High Springs, and former High Springs City Commissioner Byran Williams. Williams stepped down from that office in 2024 after serving 20 years. Neither has yet raised a significant amount of money. 4th Quarter 2025 fundraising figures are set to be reported after the start of the New Year.

Wednesday, Nov. 26: Keystone Swaps

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS — Vice Mayor “Speedy” Kussler has resigned, and his seat on the City Council already has been filled, according to the Bradford County Telegraph. A letter of resignation he wrote to state officials, dated Nov. 11, indicated Kussler has moved outside of City limits and is no longer qualified to serve.

Kussler joined the City Council in 2024. Brandon Ludwig was named to replace him and will be sworn in on Dec. 16.

Monday, Nov. 24: Concrete Plans

NEWBERRY — A proposal for a concrete batch plant has faced intense opposition from residents of Archer, but plans for a different concrete batch plant are getting a warmer welcome in Newberry.

Over the summer, Archer officials heard numerous complaints about the facility planned for the historic Maddox Foundry and Machine Shop in the southwest corner of town.

Tonight, commissioners in neighboring Newberry approved a Special Use Permit for a plant to be operated by Smyrna Ready Mix in an industrial area north of downtown.

The applicant said their total investment in this facility will be $14.5 million. They expect a little more than 25 daily truck trips back and forth to the site.

The Site and Development Plan still must be approved by Newberry’s Board of Adjustment.

Friday, Nov. 21: Mayor, GRU CEO fight over legal fees

GAINESVILLE — Early this month, the Florida First District Court of Appeals gave the GRU Authority Board 20 days to file an “Answer Brief” in the legal case, keeping the Board hanging on to control of the Utility despite the Election outcome. Twenty days would be Sunday — no word at the moment whether that deadline will be pushed back a day by the fact that it falls on a weekend.

Also, today, Mayor Harvey Ward sent a letter to the GRU Authority Board, requesting an itemized list of expenses deducted from the utility’s annual fund transfer to the City for legal expenses. GRU CEO Ed Bielarski responded that the City has “no right to ask for itemized legal bills in the midst of active litigation.”

LAWTEY — The City of Lawtey’s scheduled December 2nd Election will not need to go forward as planned. City Clerk Lisa Harley tells TV20 that all five current Commissioners were the only five to file to run in this year’s election. Therefore, Debra Jordan Norman, Virginia Warner, Joshua Bell, Amy Blom, and Jimmie Scott will all serve new four-year terms.

Thursday, Nov. 20: Florida CD# 6 heats up

MARION, PUTNAM — The crush of candidates running for Florida’s 6th Congressional District has reached a Baker’s Dozen. Military Veteran and community activist Rob Cooper of Ocala announced today he is running for the seat held by Rep Randy Fine.

The 6th District includes all of Putnam and the eastern half of Marion counties.

State records show that most of the candidates who have filed so far reside along the Atlantic Coast, but Libertarian Andrew Parrott and Republican Joshua Vazquez live in Ocala, and Write-In Candidate Alec Pavlik is from the Hawthorne area.

The other candidates are:

• Baker, Aaron  (REP)
• Bangdiwala, Purvi Dilip (NPA)
• Cleef, Alexandra Van (REP)
• Furry, Will  (REP)
• Gambaro, Charles  (REP)
• Metwally, Amr  (MGT)
• Murchinson-Rivera, Ronnie “Ron” (DEM)
• Velazquez Cruz, Jose Miguel (REP)
• Yonce, Eric  (DEM)

Incumbent Randy Fine won a Special Election on April 1 (after defeating Baker in the GOP Primary) to fill the seat vacated when Mike Waltz was name National Security Advisor.

Wednesday, Nov. 19: Trenton to meet on controversial budget issue

TRENTON — City Commissioners released a meeting Agenda for Monday, Nov 24 at 5:30 p.m. that appears to once again take up questions related to closing down the Trenton Department of Public Safety.

The Agenda identifies an unspecified Budget Amendment and a separate Discussion Item over the Job Description for Chief of Public Safety Matthew Rexroat. Commissioners voted Nov 10 to take steps to disband the City’s Public Safety Department but keep Rexroat. Some suggested it would take place immediately and then TV20 incorrectly attributed to it to City Manager Brittany Mills. No timeline was officially given.

The change was not discussed with the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office ahead of the vote, leading to further confusion among residents. Many of them are circulating a petition aimed at maintaining the Department as it is.

Tuesday, Nov. 18: NCFL reps vote on Epstein files

ALACHUA — TV20’s Mistie Webb reports from the City of Alachua Planning & Zoning Board tonight that Board Members are planning to postpone a hotly-contested decision over a proposed stormwater drain in Mill Creek Sink. Developers behind a series of developments with the prefix “Tara” requested the infrastructure ahead of construction. Numerous residents, environmentalists, and Alachua County Commissioner Ken Cornell oppose the permit. The P&Z Board kicked the can down the road to next year–Wednesday, January 14th.

WASHINGTON — US Reps from NCFL Kat Cammack (R) FL-3 and Randy Fine (R) FL-6 both voted in favor of the US House petition (H. R. 4405) to compel the Justice Department to release the remaining Jeffrey Epstein files. The bill passed 427-1. Rep. Clay Higgins R-LA voted No while five others did not vote. The US Senate then approved the bill, which now goes to the President.

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