Robert Woody withdraws from State House race, re-files for County Commission District 2 Seat in 2026
Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Robert Woody’s Campaign for the State House has released the following statement:
“First, I want to thank everyone who has supported this campaign for State Representative. However, after much prayer and deliberation with members across this community, I have decided that the best way to serve this community is to run in 2026 for Alachua County Commission in District 2.
“Throughout this campaign, my love for my state and my community has only grown, and I am looking forward to continuing my decades-long service to this community for years to come.
“I ask that those who have joined us on this campaign will also join my campaign for County Commission as we look to restore common-sense governance to the Alachua County Commission.”
Marihelen Wheeler is the incumbent in the County Commission seat. Woody was previously running for the House District 22 seat that is currently held by term-limited Chuck Clemons.
Everything Stafford Jones touches seems to turn into a cluster.
Good choice. Rock is better choice than Wheeler.
Does he live in the district, like Wheeler (supposedly)?
It makes very good sense to not have 2 good Republicans running against each other for that Florida House seat. That is how we ended up with Lauren Poe as our at-large commissioner in Gainesville in 2012, when we had 3 good common sense conservative candidates running against each other (non-partisan race, but likely voters know the party affiliations of the candidates in these races.) The combined votes for those 3 would have defeated the Leftist Poe easily if the 3Rs could have agreed to let the strongest candidate among them run, and the other 2 had thrown their support to that candidate. (Poe served a destructive terms as a city commissioner, and then went on to continue wrecking the City of Gainesville as a 2 term mayor…) Thank you Mr. Woody, and I imagine thanks are also due to the party leadership. I am hopeful that 2024 will be a good year for our community, with strong candidates on the right willing to run, and run smart for the offices that are on the ballots next year.
Poe had also been a one-term commissioner from 2008-2011, and lost his re-election bid to the much more conservative Todd Chase in a close election, decide by about 400 votes. Poe was undeterred, as “good” elite leftists play the long game, and he ran again in the next cycle in 2012, defeating conservatives Nathan Skop, and Darlene Pifalo and Donna Lutz, and derailing hopes for some conservative, common sense balance on the Gainesville City Commission.
Let’s see, worked in Tallahassee, was director of the jail, worked for GPD where he spent more time in Tallahassee taking care of college business than he did his job in Gainesville. He may have been receiving city wages while off in Leon County. And as his track record will show, he cut and resigned. Hopefully (HA) the voters will see that Woody is a recycled politician who gets absolutely nothing done.
Didn’t you read his statement? He is doing it for the love of his community and his state. Out of the goodness of his heart. Certainly not for himself. We are so lucky to have politicians in our life.
Woody wants another government paycheck. Period. Looking out for himself, not the voters. Is he by any chance related to Clovie?
If he wins maybe he can follow in the footsteps of the infamous Corrine Brown and get a bus station named after her for felonious thievery?
Nice guy…but a collosal idiot…not a true Republican.. Stafford Jones can also kma
He’d be way better than Marihelen Wheeler on the BOCC…