Clovis Watson, Jr. (right) receives a congratulatory hug from a supporter Tuesday evening following results from the race for sheriff in which Watson handily won over incumbent Sheriff Sadie Darnell.

ALACHUA COUNTY ‒ Clovis Watson, Jr. handily defeated incumbent Sadie Darnell to be Alachua County’s top law enforcement official. After first being elected Nov. 14, 2006, the longstanding Sheriff Darnell will lose her seat in the coming months as Watson formally takes over the role of Alachua County Sheriff at the beginning of 2020.

Watson picked up 23,110 votes, or 59.3 percent compared to Darnell’s 15,851 votes, or 40.7 percent of the votes according to the unofficial tally by the Alachua County Supervisor of Election.

Watson and Darnell were in a closed primary race, meaning only Democrats could cast ballots because Rob Brinkman jumped in the race as a write-in general election candidate. That means Watson will face off against Brinkman as a write-in candidate in the general election, although Watson’s election is nearly a foregone conclusion since Brinkman is not campaigning.

While only registered Democrats could cast ballots in Tuesday’s primary, according to campaign finance reports, Watson garnered a wide cross-section of support.

Watson currently serves in the Florida House of Representatives in House District 20. For several years, he led his hometown, the City of Alachua, as its city manager, and has an extensive background in law enforcement, having served for many years as the Deputy Police Chief in the City of Alachua.

Darnell was not the only incumbent to lose in the Aug. 18 primary. Longtime Alachua County District 1 Commissioner Mike Byerly with 34.2 percent lost to fellow-Democrat Mary Alford who picked up 65.8 percent of the vote tally.

Alachua County Commissioner for District 3, Robert “Hutch” Hutchinson, who chose not to seek re-election, will be replaced by Anna Prizzia (49.1 percent), who beat Kevin Thorpe (36.9 percent) and Jason Stanford (14 percent).

Alachua County Commissioner for District 5, Charles “Chuck” Chestnut, IV, faced no challenger in the Aug. 18 election and will retain his seat. As a result of Tuesday’s election, and for the first time, women will make a majority of the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners.

In an historic shakeup on the Alachua County School Board, Diyonne L. McGraw (52.4 percent) won the District 2 seat over Khanh-Lien R. Banko (47.6 percent). McGraw replaces Eileen F. Roy on the school board. Meanwhile, Leanetta McNealy (61percent) will retain her District 4 school board seat after defeating Sande Calkins (39 percent). With McGraw, McNealy, and Tina Certain (District 1), the School Board of Alachua County will consist of three African-American women for the first time in school board history.

In Newberry, incumbent Commissioner Monty Farnsworth was re-elected with 55.3 percent as compared to challenger Walt Boyer’s 44.7 percent of the votes cast in Tuesday’s election. Newberry voters did adopt some revisions to the City’s charter, but declined to increase the terms of service from two years to three years for the mayor and commissioners.

Hawthorne voters elected Patricia Bouie (72.1 percent) to Seat 4 over Wallace F. Russell (27.9 percent). In Archer, voters elected Joan White (61.8 percent) to Seat 1 over Bill Lewandowski (38.1 percent) and Fletcher Hope (62.3 percent) to Seat 3 over Mary Bennett (37.7 percent).

With Alachua County Property Appraiser Ed Crapo declining to seek re-election, Ayesha Solomon (48.8 percent) will take on the role after facing off against Matt Geiger (27 percent), Wendy Sapp (13 percent), Susan M. McQuillan (6.2 percent) and Kelly F. Suggs (5 percent).

Replacing Clovis Watson, Jr. as the Florida House District 20 representative will be Yvonne Hayes Hinson. Hinson, with 61.8 percent of the votes beat out Rodney Long, who had 38.2 percent of the votes cast. Long had served as an Alachua County Commissioner for a number of years in the 2000s, and as a Gainesville city commissioner beginning in 1988, but has been out of elected public office for years since leaving the county commission.

In the hotly-contested U.S. House of Representatives District 3 Republican primary race, Kat Cammack won with 25.2 percent of the ballots cast over Judson Sapp (20 percent), Gavin Rollins (15.3 percent), James St. George (14.1 percent), Todd Chase (9.5 percent), and five other candidates garnering a combined 15.9 percent of the votes. Cammack will face off in the Nov. 3 general election against Adam Christensen who won 34.5 percent of the votes cast in the U.S. House of Representatives District 3 Democrat primary race. Christensen beat out Philip Dodds (32.3 percent) and Tom Wells (33.2 percent). Given the voter makeup of House District District 3, and the history of Republican victories over the district, it is likely that Cammack will prevail in the Nov. 3 general election.

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ALACHUA – The City of Alachua’s Youth Advisory Council was among five of the state’s youth councils to win the 2020 Florida League of Cities (FLC) Municipal Youth Council Community Service Contest.

The FLC annually hosts the Municipal Youth

Alachua Youth Advisory Council Receives Statewide Award

ALACHUA – The City of Alachua’s Youth Advisory Council was among five of the state’s youth councils to win the 2020 Florida League of Cities (FLC) Municipal Youth Council Community Service Contest.

The FLC annually hosts the Municipal Youth Council Community Service Contest, which showcases community service projects performed by municipal youth councils that successfully address specific needs in their local communities.

The City of Alachua Youth Advisory Council members include Santa Fe High School students Lacey Walls (Chair), Megan Walls (Vice Chair), Nathan Breman and Caleb Land, and Addison and Aiden Grosz of Eastside High School.

The students presented the “Election Education for Youth” project, concentrating on educating and empowering youth in the city, state and national election process.

The Council partnered with the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections to set up information booths at high schools, where they engaged with students directly about voter registration and the election process. The goal of the project was to help young or soon-to-be voters become more informed and more civically engaged.

“I am grateful to these students for the work they put into this project,” said Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Kim Barton. “I am hopeful that other youth advisory councils can use it as a model for sharing important civic information with young people.”

The project served as a timely assignment with upcoming 2020 election races approaching, but the Council was just as focused on creating an important mindset for students to participate in the voting and election process beyond 2020.

“Engaging youth in government systems of all levels allows important viewpoints to be heard,” Council Chair Lacey Walls explained. “And, it provides teens with the ability to shape their futures from the moment they’re able to exercise their right to vote.”

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ALACHUA ‒ When war strikes, everyday citizens have taken up arms to defend others, often putting their lives on the line. While most return to civilian life, some pay the ultimate price. Alachua County has had volunteers serve and die in every war since World War I. During the Vietnam War, 48 troops did not return alive, but they are not forgotten, especially by their brothers in arms who did return to live a full life. The Alachua City Commission on Aug. 10, paid homage to veteran Hurl “Butch” Mullins, who dedicated much of his life to fellow veterans.

Mullins was instrumental in assisting two veterans organizations that worked to erect a lasting monument to those Alachua County soldiers who did not return from Vietnam. The Marine Corps League,990 Chapter and the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1092 worked with the City of Alachua to build a pathway of bricks in front of City Hall inscribed with the names, rank and birth/death dates of those 48 men.

Mullins was one of the men who served in Vietnam and was a member of both organizations. He was born in Charleston, West Virginia, and joined the Army straight out of high school during the Vietnam War era. After his tour in Vietnam Mullins returned home, living in Alachua County and began a career as a stonemason for the next 50 years.

When the brick project was approved, Mullins volunteered his services as a brick mason to lay out the walkway a no cost. It was no small task, laying out thousands of bricks in an intricate pattern to cross the driveway in front of City Hall, but Mullins accepted the challenge in honor his fellow soldiers.

On Dec. 9, 2019 a ceremony was held in front of City Hall to dedicate the finished walkway Mullins had built to honor fallen comrades. In the center of the intricate brick path those 48 names are on individual bricks, two names to a group, on horizontal bricks which are then spaced two blank bricks apart for the next group. The path contains thousands of bricks, and since that December day, many living veterans have purchased bricks in their names to help cover the cost of the project. In a show of unity and to honor those who lost their lives, the living veterans bricks, which number over 100, are arranged around the 48 veterans who perished.

Honoring the men who paid the ultimate price is not limited to bricks. Forrest Hope, president of the local Vietnam Veterans of America, believes that for people to appreciate that these long-gone soldiers were real people, there should be a visual element complete with the faces and stories of each man.

Hope has collected 45 of the men's photos, stories and information on their burial places, and he expects to complete the project soon. There is a saying that a person dies twice. First at their physical death and the final time when their name is remembered for the last time. This memorial ensures these men who gave all continue to be remembered

For “Butch” Mullins, dedication to veterans causes and vets in need covered much more than just the brick memorial. Throughout his life he has helped veterans in need, especially those who returned with mental scars and PTSD from the trauma they had experienced. He was active in fundraisers and veterans events.

He also volunteered at the New River Correctional Center, counseling incarcerated veterans, many who were imprisoned, often for their inability to adjust to life at home and wound up in prison for violent acts or drug use. Mullins counseled them on a variety of subjects aimed at helping them get back on their feet once released.

“The inmates loved him,” said Alachua City Commissioner Robert Wilford. A veteran himself, Wilford had known and worked with Mullins for years in veterans projects. “Butch accepted people for who they were with no judgments or preconditions,” said Wilford. “He always put other people first and was there for them when they needed help.”

Due to his work with both the inmates and the brick path, the City of Alachua planned to honor Mullins with a ceremony at a Commission meeting. But on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020, Mullins joined those 48 men. He died from complications of liver cancer.

The Commission declared Aug. 10, 2020 as Hurl R. “Butch” Mullins “Duty, Honor, Country” Exemplary Day. The Commission presented representatives of the Marine Corp League and Vietnam Veterans with the proclamation honoring a man whose lifework was spent helping fellow veterans.

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ALACHUA – What was once just a sketch on paper has become reality as Alachua’s San Felasco Parkway has opened. On Tuesday, July 28, with a large crowd in attendance, the road was officially opened with a ceremonial ribbon cutting.

Among those attending were members of the City of Alachua Commission and staff, University of Florida President Kent Fuchs, State Representatives Chuck Clemons and Clovis Watson, Jr. as well as members of the public.

Several speakers from the City of Alachua, including Mayor Gib Coerper, City Manager Adam Boukari and Public Services Director Rodolfo Valladares provided their insights into the project and the great potential the Parkway offers for bringing hi tech economic development to the area,

University of Florida President Kent Fuchs said the academic community is enthused to play a part in the future expansion of knowledge as well as helping give a start to entrepreneurs in the UF Innovation program.

This first phase of the San Felasco Parkway includes a 1.4-mile divided road with sidewalks and bike paths. The road passes though the University of Florida Foundation's 280-acre site southwest of Progress Park. Water, wastewater and electric infrastructure improvements are also included to provide “shovel ready” sites for high-tech industries to build on with all the utilities in place.

In addition to new industry, many high-tech firms that will use the parkway are already established in the area. The road is in close proximity to Copeland Park, Alachua Research Park, San Felasco Tech City and the Santa Fe College Perry Center. In addition, students from Santa Fe College and the University of Florida provide an excellent workforce pool and serve as a catalyst for innovation and further advances in their fields. Many of the tech companies in these parks were spin-offs created by University of Florida graduates or staff.

The presence of the Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator also provides another valuable asset to grow these industries. And looking back 25 years, it was the University of Florida’s founding of the Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator on a vacant piece of land between Alachua and Gainesville that became the impetus for what would become a world-renown biotechnology hub.

At that time, the newly constructed facility was surrounded by open fields and little else. Designed to help tech entrepreneurs and scientific startups, the incubator attracted companies that would occupy incubator space and use shared scientific equipment. As the startup companies grew and matured, they moved out of the incubator with many locating into space in Progress Park. Today, over three dozen companies employing over 1,200 are centered in Progress Park.

The first phase of the San Felasco Parkway is reality and is one of the single largest capacity and infrastructure improvement investments built in the last decade in Alachua County, with more to come. While there are no confirmed plans yet, development on the UF foundation land may include a combination business and residential community for employees in the expanding Progress Park.

As Alachua Mayor Coerper put it, “The futures so bright that I'm wearing shades”.

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