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ALACHUA COUNTY ‒ A manual recount of the Alachua County Growth Management Area Amendment was completed on Friday, Nov. 13, at the Supervisor of Elections Office in Gainesville. Although figures were slightly changed, the result remained the same. Out of 128,692 votes cast during the Nov. 3 election, a slight majority of voters approved the amendment.

Initially, 64,462, or 50.09 percent, voted “yes” during the regular election to 64,230, or 49.91 percent, who voted against approval of the amendment.

Following the manual recount, total votes counted were 128,873. Of those 64,569, or 50.10 percent, voted “yes” to 64,304 voters, or 49.90 percent, who voted against approval of the amendment.

Tropical Storm Eta temporarily delayed the beginning of the recount, which was previously scheduled to begin on Thursday, Nov. 12.

As a countermeasure to the amendment passing, the cities of Newberry and Archer each filed a complaint against the County and the Charter Review Board to rule the amendment as unlawful.

“I would like to thank the roughly 65,000 voters who stood with the municipalities and cast a vote in favor of allowing them to control their own futures,” said Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe following the recount.

“I hope that the [Board of County Commissioners] BOCC will reconsider all of their policies that are really just attempts to seize control and power away from its citizens and the cities that are trying to live peacefully within this county. I am hopeful that the courts will also stand with the municipalities and the principal of checks and balances between governments,” said Marlowe.

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Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

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