Grundy-Gomes: Don’t be fooled by deceptive campaigns on local referendums; I voted NO on both and so should you!

Letter to the editor

As Election Day approaches on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, we prepare to fulfill our civic duty by voting for the next President of the United States. Equally important, however, are two critical local referendums on our ballots that will shape the future governance and accountability of Alachua County and the City of Gainesville. These items are the Alachua County Charter Amendment on At-large Districts and the City of Gainesville Charter Amendment regarding our public utility, Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU).

The Alachua County Charter Amendment seeks to overturn the November 2022 election result, which changed the election of County Commissioners to single-member districts. Meanwhile, the City of Gainesville Charter Amendment proposes dismantling the newly created GRU Authority Board and restoring control of GRU to the City Manager, Cynthia Curry, and the Gainesville City Commission.

NAACP Alachua County Branch President Evelyn Foxx has been actively campaigning to convince Black voters to support these amendments, urging a “YES” vote to bring GRU back under City control and to eliminate single-member districts—despite the latter having received strong public support in 2022. Ironically, while claiming to support voter inclusivity, Foxx remained silent when several Black voters, including the Alachua County Black Caucus President, were denied the right to vote in elections held by the Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee (ACDEC) in Spring 2024, where she serves as Vice-Chair. This inconsistency raises serious questions about the sincerity and motives behind these campaigns.

As an informed Alachua County voter, a Democrat, and a Black American, I have cast my ballot. I voted “NO” on repealing single-member districts and “NO” on the GRU referendum. Here is why:

On the GRU Referendum: I cannot, in good conscience, support restoring control of GRU to the City of Gainesville or to Cynthia Curry, who has yet to demonstrate effective governance. The City of Gainesville’s history of financial mismanagement has placed residents in a structural budget deficit, with spending consistently exceeding revenues. For years, elected leaders and City officials, including the City Manager, ignored budgetary shortfalls, leading to financial instability, and, in some instances, members of the City Commission and the City Manager committing perjury during hearings in Tallahassee.

Since the most recent GRU Authority Board (GRUA) was sworn in in Spring 2024, GRU has enjoyed greater financial stability, transparency, and independence. This progress stands in sharp contrast to the City of Gainesville’s track record, making it ill-advised to return control to a body with a history of fiscal irresponsibility. Based on these facts, I strongly advocate for keeping GRU under its current governance structure (vote “NO”).

On At-large Districts: The question of single-member districts vs. at-large districts has been a long-standing issue in our county. Personally, I once opposed single-member districts. In 2009-2010, as a member of the Alachua County Charter Review Commission (2009-10), I cast the deciding vote to keep single-member districts off the ballot. However, over time, circumstances changed, prompting me to reevaluate my stance. The evidence shows that the former at-large governance model (the election this week will be the first single-member contest for County Commissioners) did little to improve the quality of life for Black residents or those living in poverty. Furthermore, single-member districts would foster more direct representation, as seen when Kevin Thorpe nearly defeated Ken Cornell in the 2014 Democratic primary (and would have defeated him if only votes from their district were counted)—a testament to the power of localized representation.

During the April 23, 2024 County Commission meeting (see video below), I stated, “I opposed single-member districts in 2009-10; however, things have changed… and what changed? The County Commission itself changed, falling into groupthink. For many Black Americans in this county, this is not effective governance.” This collective mindset has stifled true representation and progress, reaffirming my decision to vote “NO” on repealing single-member districts.

To my fellow voters: please do not be misled by misleading campaigns. These amendments will directly affect our local governance, financial accountability, and the representation we receive. I urge you to join me in voting “NO” on both the GRU Referendum and the referendum to repeal Single-Member Districts. Let’s ensure our votes uphold transparency, fiscal responsibility, and genuine representation in Alachua County.

Armando Grundy-Gomes, a resident of East Gainesville and Interim President of the Alachua County Democratic Black Caucus

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