About Us

Events

Where We Stand

Voter Information

Project & Studies

For Members

Links

  

MARCH 24, 2009 CITY OF GAINESVILLE ELECTION INFORMATION


The March 24 City of Gainesville election will include two city commission seats and two proposed amendments to the city charter. You must be a city resident to vote in this election.

Races on March 24, 2009 Gainesville Ballot:

The March 24 ballot will include two seats on the Gainesville City Commission, District 1 and At-Large 1:

Gainesville City Commission District 1
You must live in District 1 to vote in this race. District 1 covers primarily the eastside of Gainesville.
District 1 Candidates:
Scherwin L. Henry
2336 NE 3rd Place
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 377-5235
scherwin@yahoo.com

Marcia Wimberly
603 NW 8th Street
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 377-3296

Gainesville City Commission At-Large 1
All voters residing within the city can vote in this race.

At-Large 1 Candidates:
Tom Cunilio
3953 NW 27th Lane
Gainesville, FL 32606
(386) 688-9792
www.votecunilio.com

Charter Amendments on Ballot

 Included on the March 24 ballot are two proposed amendments to the City Charter:

CHARTER AMENDMENT 1:
Changes to the City's Anti-Discrimination Laws
The League of Women Voters of Alachua County/ Gainesville recommend a "No" Vote on Charter Amendment 1
Click here to read our full position statement

Background Information
In January 2008, the Gainesville City Commission amended the City's anti-discrimination ordinance to include gender identity as a category of persons protected from discrimination. As a response to the ordinance, Citizens for Good Public Policy, a local political action group, drafted a proposed amendment to the City of Gainesville Charter with the intention of removing gender identity as a protected category.

What is Charter Amendment 1?
Charter Amendment 1 is a proposed amendment to Gainesville's Charter, requiring that civil rights categories specified in the City of Gainesville's code of ordinances match those of the State of Florida and not extend beyond those categories. The State recognizes these categories: race, color, creed, religion, gender, national origin, age, handicap, marital and familial status. The City of Gainesville currently includes additional categories: lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people. The city also protects employees in all categories that work in companies that have 5 or more employees. The state civil rights act only protects those in companies with 15 or more employees.

What Your Vote Will Mean on Charter Amendment 1:

  • A "No" Vote:  Opposing Charter Amendment 1 would leave Gainesville's current anti-discrimination laws in place, which recognize sexual orientation and gender identity as civil rights categories protected from discrimination, and include protection for employees of smaller companies.
  • A "Yes" Vote:  Passage of the Charter Amendment 1 would remove anti-discrimination protection in employment, housing, public accommodations, and credit extension practices for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people in Gainesville. Passage would also restrict the City of Gainesville from implementing any additional civil rights categories to Gainesville’s anti-discrimination laws. A yes vote would leave intact those civil rights protections specified under Florida state law.
Ballot Language:
amendment1

CHARTER AMENDMENT 2:
Registry of Protected Places
This amendment will create a Registry of Protected Places, which will include city-owned parks and conservation lands.  Once such public lands are on the Registry, they cannot be sold or converted to a different use, unless the City voters agree. Currently, a vote by simple majority of the City Commsision is all that is needed to sell or convert public lands to other uses. Alachua County voters passed a similar charter amendment in the November 4, 2008 election.

What Your Vote Means:
  • A "Yes" vote supports the creation of a registry of protected places, to further protect city-owned parks and conservation lands.
  • A "No" vote opposes the creation of a registry of protected places.
Ballot Language:
amendment1

For more information, contact Alachua Conservation Trust.

Sample Ballots
Sample ballots are available from the Supervisor of Elections Office at:
http://elections.alachua.fl.us/elections_and_records/sample_ballots.html
Early Voting

Early Voting for this election is available Monday, March 16, 2009 through Saturday, March 21, 2009.

Weekdays
Monday – Friday - 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
March 16, 2009 - March 20, 2009

Saturday, March 21 - 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
March 21, 2009 (early voting ends)

Early Voting Location:
Supervisor of Elections Office
County Administration Building
12 SE 1st Street, Gainesville
 
divider

Join Us | Contact Us | What's New | Other Leagues | Other Leagues