Gainesville voters approve appointment rule for future vacancies

Gainesville voters approved a City Charter amendment on Nov. 3 that would change how future vacancies in the mayor’s office or a City Commission seat are filled. The Alachua County Supervisor of Elections’ election-night tally showed 20,862 yes votes (52.27%) and 19,051 no votes (47.73%) out of 39,913 votes, a margin of 1,811. The contest listed all 32 participating precincts as reporting, but the tally was unofficial.

The amendment concerns future vacancies; it does not change currently occupied seats. If adopted into effect, it replaces the prior vacancy rules with appointment by the remaining commissioners.

Appointment rules depend on timing i

Under the prior rule, the commission had to call a special election within 60 days when more than six months remained in a term and no general election was scheduled within six months. In other timing circumstances, a vacancy could be filled by appointment.

Under the amendment, the remaining commissioners appoint a replacement when the mayor’s or a commission seat becomes vacant. If the vacancy occurs by the cutoff six weeks before qualifying begins for the regular city election held midway through the term, the appointee serves until a successor is elected and qualified. A vacancy after that cutoff means the appointee serves the rest of the term.

In practical terms, a vacancy before the cutoff still allows voters to choose a successor at the applicable regular election. After the cutoff, the appointee serves the unexpired term. The amendment removes the special-election path for the circumstances covered by the previous rule.

Early voters were least supportive i

Yes votes led in each ballot category, though support was lower among early voters than among Election Day and vote-by-mail voters.

Commissioner Bryan Eastman, who proposed the amendment, supported it and said it could save taxpayers money while keeping appointments local. Gainesville resident Thomas Surdi opposed the change, arguing voters should make the choice and objecting to an appointee serving indefinitely. Under the amendment, however, an appointee’s term depends on the vacancy’s timing: some would serve only until a successor is elected, while others would serve the remainder of the term.

The Gainesville Journal reported on Nov. 4 that county canvassing-board certification was pending at that time.