Pelham And Potts Face Off in Alachua April 12 Election

ALACHUA ‒ The City of Alachua will hold its 2022 municipal election on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, to fill Seat 2 on the City Commission. The seat was vacated by incumbent Robert Wilford who is not seeking reelection. Gregory E. Pelham, Sr. will face off against Edward Potts as they vie for a three-year term ending in April 2025.

Alachua Mayor Gib Coerper retains his Mayoral Seat as no one filed to run against him.

Gregory Pelham Sr. is not a newcomer to the election process as he has previously run for office in Alachua. He lost a runoff election bid for mayor in 2019 and lost again to incumbent City Commissioner Shirley Green Brown for Seat 4 in 2021. Pelham has lived in Alachua for 25 years. For the past 12 years, he has been employed at the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office in the juvenile bureau. He’s also a pastor who oversees 18 area churches.

Pelham says that opening lines of communication between the city and residents is most important issue to him. “I want to be that voice for our community,” he said. “It should be a commission where any citizen can come to if there’s a question or a concern.” Pelham is also chairman of the county’s juvenile justice council and has worked with local schools since 1998. “It’s important to hear what they have to say because they are our future,” Pelham said. “It we don’t ... It's going to be more difficult to make the changes in the future that we need to, to keep Alachua beautiful.”

Ed Potts is currently a member of the City of Alachua Planning & Zoning Board. He is a financial advisor for Edward Jones Investments. Potts is the past president of the Alachua Chamber of Commerce and continues to serve as a member of the board of directors. He is also a past president of the Alachua Lions Club and is a member of the Santa Fe Kiwanis Club, supporting community causes in Alachua and High Springs. Potts also serves on the board of directors of Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Central Florida, that serves families with children at UF Shands Children's Hospital. He also coaches youth sports in Alachua. In 2015, he was one of the 26 original signers of the Alachua County Education Compact, which transformed education for Alachua County students.

“My commitment to our community is illustrated by years of service. My wife Reagan and I love Alachua. We have a wonderful community that has promise to be even better. As city commissioner, I will be an independent voice to promote a strong quality of life, jobs for families and opportunities for all.”

Polls will be open on Tuesday, April 12, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Legacy Park Multipurpose Center , Cleather Hancock Community Center and the Clubhouse at Turkey Creek

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