Parsons: Alford’s previous dishonesty about her residence should be disqualifying

Letter to the editor

In the section on Local and State Offices of the Alachua Chronicle Voter Guide, the opinion was expressed that Mary Alford should be disqualified for having been previously dishonest about where she lived. I agree completely with that opinion.

For those who do not know, Commissioner Alford was elected in 2020 from District 1, but she did not live in that district. When it became known that she did not live in the district from which she was elected, she resigned rather than be removed from office by the Governor. Raemi Eagle-Glenn, a local attorney, was appointed in her place. Alford told the Sun that personal and family issues, as well as a housing shortage, kept her from going back to the district she intended to live in. Yeah, and my dog ate my homework.

Subsequently Alford changed residency to District 1 and was elected commissioner in 2022. As far as I know, she never returned the income that I believe was fraudulently paid to her during the time she was illegally occupying a commissioner seat.  

But she is not the only commissioner to play the residency game. Marihelen “Gran Marie” Wheeler has also been the subject of scrutiny over her residence. After three losing attempts at political office, she apparently noted that in 2018 District 2 provided an opportunity for success since there were only two politically inexperienced businessmen running and neither had the backing of the Democratic party. With open voting, it guaranteed her a victory. She won easily with over 60% of the vote. One problem: she actually lived in District 4 and had lived at that location with her husband for over 20 years.

Apparently realizing the residency conflict might be exposed, she changed her voter registration address about two weeks before the general election. That address just happened to be the same as the Santa Fe Canoe Outpost on the Santa Fe River in High Springs. It’s doubtful she ever lived there, even for a day, since it has neither heating nor air conditioning and was used for business. Further, election records indicate her 2018 ballot was mailed to the District 4 address and she voted from the District 4 address. Other than the voter registration, there was no other generally accepted proof of residency provided.

In 2020, she voted using the Canoe Outpost address. In 2020, she also changed her address to one in District 2 where she co-owns a home with her son. She claims that she lives there. Does anybody really believe that she traded a 3/2 1867 SF house on 1.78 acres for a 3/1 1308 SF house on slightly more than a quarter acre that she shares with her son and grandchild? I’m sure she made that sacrifice so the residents of District 2 could benefit from her presence as a commissioner. 

Wheeler has another connection to the Canoe Outpost. In an article in the Gainesville Sun, she bragged about helping to facilitate the sale of the Canoe Outpost to the City of High Springs. I have no doubt she did. A significant portion of the cost was covered by the Wild Spaces Public Places (WSPP) fund, that little sales-tax-funded slush fund for the commissioners’ pet projects like buying motels for homeless that sit empty years later and require security, no doubt paid for with our taxes. The fund also helps them with their many affordable housing projects and their goal of saving us from climate change by buying up as much county land as they can – property which is then removed from the tax rolls, increasing the need to raise taxes on real property owners. Currently the County owns about 23% of the land, but the goal is to own 50% of the land by 2050. Just think how that would affect our already ridiculously high property taxes. 

And finally, I should mention that besides having a hard time figuring out where they live, both Alford and Wheeler have had to pay a Homestead Penalty tax because they could not figure how to file for Homestead correctly. I have no idea about the details of what happened but I do know that on the Homestead Application Form it says:

”I authorize this agency to obtain information to determine my eligibility for the exemptions applied for. I qualify for these exemptions under Florida Statutes. I own the property above and it is my permanent residence or the permanent residence of my legal or natural dependent(s). (See s. 196.031, Florida Statutes.)

I understand that under section 196.131(2), F.S., any person who knowingly and willfully gives false information to claim homestead exemption is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable by imprisonment up to one year, a fine up to $5,000, or both.”

There is an election in progress, and Commissioner Alford is being challenged by Liz Doebler in District 1 and Commissioner Prizzia is being challenged by Jenn Garrett in District 3. Our great Sheriff Emery Gainey is running to remain Sheriff, and Judith Jensen is challenging the incumbent for Supervisor of Elections. I strongly recommend voting for these candidates.

Greg Parsons, Alachua

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