Three out of four City of Alachua candidates outline their visions at League of Women Voters forum

BY JOE HANCOCK

ALACHUA, Fla. – On a warm Sunday afternoon, March 23, 2025, approximately 50 community members gathered at the Hathcock Center in Alachua for a political candidate forum organized by the League of Women Voters of Alachua County.

With the City’s April 8 election rapidly approaching, residents listened attentively as candidates Walter Welch (Candidate Seat 1 – Mayor), Jacob Fletcher (Candidate Seat 2), and Edward Potts (Incumbent Seat 2) discussed pressing issues, outlined their visions, and made their case for election to two City Commission seats. Mayor Gib Coerper (Incumbent Seat 1) did not attend. Central themes emerged clearly during the forum: transparency, accountability, community engagement, responsible growth, infrastructure development, and voter participation.

Click here to watch the candidate forum.

The moderator from the League of Women Voters began by detailing the forum structure, emphasizing the importance of informed civic engagement. Candidates would present opening statements, respond to structured questions provided by the League, and deliver closing remarks. A timer ensured fairness by allotting equal response opportunities, and an informal meet-and-greet afterward encouraged further dialogue between candidates and attendees.

Opening statements

Walter Welch was first to present his opening remarks. He centered his statement on the themes of unity and mutual respect within the community. Welch articulated a vision wherein the strengths and qualities of each citizen would be actively recognized and leveraged, laying a foundation for positive and productive community interactions. He stressed the importance of maintaining a respectful civic dialogue, advocating that healthy interactions among City leadership and residents were key to Alachua’s continued prosperity.

Jacob Fletcher’s opening statement brought forward a different yet complementary perspective. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to engage directly with citizens while openly sharing his concern about low voter awareness and participation. Fletcher emphasized, “Many of our residents aren’t even aware there’s an election happening,” highlighting a troubling voter turnout rate of just 14.9% in previous City elections. His remarks emphasized the importance of increased voter education, awareness, and participation.

Edward Potts rounded out the opening statements by drawing upon his substantial personal history and commitment to Alachua. Potts, having previously served as president of the Alachua Lions Club and the Alachua Chamber of Commerce, emphasized economic development, strong educational support, and the improvement of local infrastructure as foundational elements necessary for Alachua’s sustained growth and quality of life.

Balancing development with preserving natural resources

Following opening statements, the forum transitioned into a structured question-and-answer session, providing candidates with opportunities to discuss detailed policy approaches to critical issues. The first major topic revolved around balancing community growth with the preservation of natural resources.

Welch emphasized the necessity of a cautious and considered approach to development, promoting what he termed “smart growth.” He stressed the importance of meticulously scrutinizing each development application to ensure compliance with community values, environmental standards, and sustainability objectives. Welch advocated for clearly defined guidelines that promote community and environmental well-being as integral parts of development planning.

Potts highlighted the necessity of comprehensive infrastructure planning and robust public engagement in development decisions. According to Potts, meaningful community involvement is critical to ensure that growth is not only economically beneficial but environmentally responsible and inclusive of public sentiment.

Fletcher focused specifically on the imperative of transparency and accountability within development processes. He argued that residents must fully understand how decisions impacting their environment and neighborhoods are made. Fletcher’s message consistently emphasized accountability as a mechanism to ensure developments align strictly with community priorities and preservation goals.

Traffic congestion

The forum then addressed the practical issue of traffic congestion, particularly on the heavily traveled U.S. Highway 441 corridor. Each candidate shared his approach to managing traffic and transportation-related challenges in Alachua.

Potts said comprehensive traffic studies are important and called for close collaboration with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). According to Potts, this collaborative and data-driven approach would yield practical, sustainable solutions for easing congestion and improving daily commutes for Alachua residents.

Welch similarly advocated a collaborative approach, stressing that robust coordination with FDOT is essential. He called for rigorous evaluation and scrutiny of existing traffic reports and new development proposals, believing this diligence would lead to effective strategies for reducing congestion.

Fletcher offered a unique angle by strongly advocating for enforcing land development impact fees. He insisted that developers should bear responsibility for mitigating the increased traffic their projects would inevitably generate. Fletcher maintained that enforcing these fees and thoroughly vetting new developments would proactively manage the city’s growth-related traffic impacts. He noted that many traffic studies for current developments were done during 2021 and 2022. “I don’t know if you’re familiar with the traffic during that time, but it was pretty much nonexistent because everyone was working at home during COVID; that is something a Commissioner should be scrutinizing and bringing up when these applications come through,” Fletcher said, highlighting his belief that these studies do not reflect current congestion. 

Resignation of City planners

Another pressing topic discussed during the forum was the recent resignation of City planners, prompting candidates to clarify the Commission’s role in addressing such administrative concerns.

Welch spoke about the necessity of proactive and transparent communication between City officials and residents. He urged officials to swiftly and effectively address concerns raised by City planners before they escalated into broader problems. Welch maintained that early, open dialogue is crucial for addressing internal City management issues constructively.

Fletcher called for rigorous transparency, strongly emphasizing that residents deserve clear explanations regarding staffing issues, including resignations. He emphasized the importance of rooting out any potential corruption or undue influence within City processes, proposing that accountability and transparency would reassure residents and foster a more trustworthy government.

Potts concurred with the sentiment that transparency is indispensable, advocating strongly for learning from the experiences of the former City planners. He argued for analyzing the factors behind such resignations carefully, ensuring that the City could improve its internal processes and retain qualified staff.

Advisory boards

Candidates further explored the vital roles of advisory boards in shaping City policies.

Fletcher reiterated his stance on the value of advisory boards as essential links between the Commission and residents. He emphasized these boards’ importance in reflecting community interests and ensuring transparency in policy formulation. Fletcher noted, “But there’s another advisory board that seems to not understand its purpose, and that is the Planning and Zoning Board.” Fletcher added, “This board is an advisory board which has the power to send stuff to the Commission regarding developments, and what I’ve seen with that, and based off of that board itself, is a belief that they have no power, that they do not shape the decisions of the City.” Fletcher said this needs to change.

Potts highlighted volunteerism’s crucial role, reinforcing the significance of advisory boards as robust representatives of community views. He said that greater participation by volunteers on these boards would enhance civic engagement, enrich policy development, and ensure broad community representation.

Welch spoke about his personal experience serving on advisory boards and emphasized the importance of mutual respect and collaborative interaction between advisory boards, residents, and City officials, presenting this collaboration as a cornerstone for effective and inclusive governance.

Transparency within City Hall

The candidates also addressed transparency in the relationships between the City Commission, the City Manager, and staff.

Potts advocated strongly for direct, open conversations between Commissioners and City management, maintaining that clear oversight and regular dialogue are essential for transparent governance.

Welch reiterated the centrality of unity and respectful communication in fostering transparency. He viewed trust-building interactions between Commissioners, City management, and staff as fundamental to creating an accountable and responsive City administration.

Fletcher urged a proactive approach, advocating for regular, meaningful engagement between City Commissioners and staff. He argued that transparency naturally results from ongoing dialogue and mutual trust.

Closing remarks

In their closing remarks, candidates reiterated their core themes and commitments. Welch restated his steadfast dedication to community service and meaningful civic engagement. Fletcher reaffirmed his strong focus on transparency, accountability, and ensuring citizens remain actively engaged in their City’s governance. Potts delivered heartfelt remarks about his enduring commitment to Alachua, emphasizing his continued civic engagement and charitable contributions.

The moderator concluded the event with gratitude to both candidates and attendees, passionately encouraging voter participation in the upcoming April 8 election. The forum concluded with a shared commitment to proactive community involvement, setting a hopeful tone for the forthcoming elections and Alachua’s future.