Gainesville’s City Commissioners have recently voted on zoning laws, mask requirements and even a proposal on gender neutrality.
Students can help shape the outcomes of these decisions by voting on who will sit in the Gainesville City Commission.
Early voting for the Gainesville regular election opened last Friday and will continue until this Saturday, March 13.
The city commissioners running for reelection are Gail Johnson in the office of At Large B and Gigi Simmons in the office of District 1. Gabriel Hillel is running for At Large B, and Desmon Duncan-Walker is running for District 1.
Johnson, Hillel and Duncan-Walker did not return a request for comment.
District 1 Commissioner Simmons says she hopes to encourage students to play a role in their government by showing how it can impact their personal lives.
When she spoke to a group of third-graders, she illustrated how personally relevant politics can be.
“I asked the kids, ‘How many people go outside and get bit by mosquitos?’ And they’re like ‘Oh, Ms. Gigi, I get bit by mosquitos, they’re awful!’” Simmons recounted. “And my response is ‘Do you know that the city government has a department that can help you with that?’”
Student involvement has proven to be integral in politics. Nationally, voter turnout among 18- to 29-year-olds increased by 79% from 2014 to 2020 according to Census.gov.
Justin Brock is a 19-year-old history and journalism major in his first year at UF. The upcoming election will be his first time voting in a city election. He said he plans on voting for Johnson and Duncan-Walker.
“My mom is a teacher in the Alachua County school system, so education funding is important to me,” Brock wrote. “But I am particularly interested in seeing a reallocation of city funds towards education, housing, and infrastructure in East Gainesville.”
UF research assistant Joelle Dorsett, 22, said she considers food justice and COVID-19 relief to be important issues in this election.
“This isn’t my first time voting in the Gainesville regular election,” Dorsett wrote. “But I’m definitely more informed than I previously have been.”
Lynne Imamura, 22, is a fourth-year political science major at UF. She said gentrification and homelessness are her biggest local concerns, but she is still determining who will have her vote.
“I’m not informed at all,” Imamura wrote. “So I’m still doing my research and trying to learn who aligns with my values the most.”
Simmons said she doesn’t want people to feel like their voices aren’t being heard.
“I want to make it fun.” She said. “I want to make it where people can learn. I want it where people are engaged and making a difference in their government.”
Registered voters have until Saturday to submit their ballots for early voting. Election day is Tuesday, March 16, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voter registration status and polling locations can be found on VoteAlachua.com.