Republican withdraws from County Commission primary
BY JENNIFER CABRERA
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Republican Brandon Kutner has withdrawn from the District 3 Alachua County Commission primary, citing “a larger fight at stake.” Kutner and Jenn Garrett were slated to face each other in the August Republican primary; the winner would then face incumbent Democrat Anna Prizzia in the General Election. Garrett will now be unopposed as the Republican nominee for the seat unless another candidate files for the race before the June 14 deadline.
According to the most recent reports, Garrett has outraised Kutner, $47.9k to $16.2k.
Yesterday Kutner sent out the following email:
I’ve made the decision to step back from the race for Alachua County Commission because there’s a larger fight at stake: preserving the essence of representative government in our county.
Currently, there is a strong effort to replace single-member districts with an at-large voting model. It’s nothing more than a blatant power grab by some Democrats on the Commission who would benefit from a system that does not prioritize accountability.
If we’re going to stand up against this, Republicans need to stop the infighting.
I’m willing to lead by example and put the cause of protecting single-member districts ahead of my personal desire to serve on the County Commission. The stakes are high, but together, we can ensure that the voice of every citizen in Alachua County is heard and respected.
I’d like to thank my family, friends, volunteers, donors, and supporters for your constant encouragement throughout the campaign. As we move forward, I encourage all of you to continue the good work we’ve started together. Please remember to stay engaged and, most importantly, remember to vote!
Sincerely,
Brandon Kutner
Kutner declined to provide any additional comment to Alachua Chronicle, referring us to the email above and his campaign’s Facebook page.
Nice to see someone’s able to see the bigger picture for the good of the community.
For the readers here, and those who care – don’t let his sacrifice go to waste.
AC Republican Party take advantage of an individual willing to take a stand for the good of the people!
AC Republican Party needs to have Mr. Kutner on the side of the road, in the Mall, in any available public area, educating the public on Single Member District and what it means to them!
AC Republican Party: Get off your a$$ and go out and win the NPA population of AC!
They are either payed him to step aside or there is a huge favor he will receive in the future. His words are BS “ for the greater good of the people and stop infighting “ give me a break. This man would not just step aside because he cares so much. Follow the money now or in the future.
Possibly, or maybe he just noted that he was raising 1/3 the donations of his opponent, and saw the writing on the wall. Never assert evil intent when there’s a simpler answer.
Who is they? Brandon made this decision all on his own as far as I know. He never discussed with me. -Tim Marden Republican Party Chairman
Aww! It’s too bad you have provided nothing to back up this attempt to smear someone because of a personal decision!
Typical Democratic, actually Republican too, ploy to spread misinformation about someone because they are from the other side of the aisle!
Either provide substance or shut the hell up!
This is Tim Marden. I’m head of the Republican Party and I’d like to get your name and number so we can get you to stand a post.
This goes for anyone wanting to help.
chairman@alachuarepublicans.com
Anna Pizza is just another “think global, act local” stooge clone like what ruined Gainesville. Why have multiple at-large seats if they all think the same as in Portland or Oakland?
I am a conservative first, I am a much disappointed, registered Republican, I am totally against GLOBALISM AND ANYONE THAT BELIEVES IN IT. I am for the type of globalism that JESUS CHRIST advocates in his word, it is the only globalism that will actually work, AMEN.
Gene, being against globalism is like being against the future, because no matter your beliefs, the world through technology and population is a much smaller place, with actions half way around the world impacting us – and visa versa – every day and every hour. We have no choice but to deal with it intelligently and with self-interest, but it has to be dealt with. If you consider the fact that there has not been another world war since 1945 – and the horror those conflicts produced is almost unimaginable – then perhaps that interconnectivity should seen as good thing we can live – and we have no choice! Start there and let’s all try to make it a better world for those who come after us.
It may not be the best time for “Brandon” to run.
Regardless of whether you like him or not or even appreciate him for stepping aside for his stated reasons, He is one of the very few Republicans, like Jen, that have been willing to put themselves out there willing to take the arrows that will come from the left. I appreciate any Republican that has the backbone to not just get along to go along with the leftist control and destruction of our county. One thing you will never be able to claim is that Kutner or Garrett are just Keyboard warriors or armchair quarterbacks. They both get it and both got directly involved to make a difference.
Enormous forces depend on human misery and mayhem being a growth market here. Mostly subsidized by Demonic policies and programs 🤡👹👿💩👺D
Worth repeating from 2020: Some misleadingly claim that since “25%” of all amendment submissions to the 2020 Alachua County Charter Review Commission concern single member districts, this is PROOF of overwhelming public support for this issue. Nonsense. Of the first 58 submissions to the CRC, 11 relate to SMDs in some way = 19%. Of these 11, three were submitted by one person (a real Keyboard warrior and local hypocrite who hates Keyboard warriors).
Online amendment submissions to the CRC are anonymous and online. Anyone in the world with a computer can submit a proposal. A fifth grader in Tokyo can submit ten proposals to the CRC. This is NOT proof of overwhelming support by Alachua County citizens. People have developed a mentality where everything is equal to the number of Facebook likes someone receives. This is not reality.
The only overwhelming support for SMDs is from disgruntled Republican true believers who are so butthurt that liberal Gainesville Democrats will not vote for their horrible CONservative agenda. Boo Hoo, move to Springs County if you want to live in a CONservative utopia.
We would have Springs County if not for you Liberals…. You are so confused about everything, you cry about Conservatives wanting to “split the county in half” and then from the other side of your ass you tell us to “move to Springs County” Pick a damn position! We would gladly let you liberals keep and destroy Alachua County with your woke commissions, gang violence, high crime, high living expenses, homeless panhandlers and illegal immigrants. You can keep it all, just let us have Springs County
Over 50% of the submissions were SMD related but I don’t recall any claim that it demonstrated overwhelming support for them. I did recall it proving to be worth the discussion on the CRC which never happened. What WAS a claim was from the BoCC; that they could not put it on the ballot.
Oh how things have changed.
Thanks for the Springs County shoutout, keepin’ it alive.
Kutner is great guy and would have made an incredible commissioner. While sad to see him exit the race, we should thank him and any Republican willing to step forward and try and take on the Democrat overlords.
Admirable.
Reminder to local Republicans. So far Dem County Commissioner Chestnut has no opponent. If you allow him to get reelected unopposed you forfeit the whole “we gots to have single member districts” argument. You have single member districts this election. Pony up the filing fee to run someone against Chestnut or show your true nature.