Alachua County residents will only decide two Board of County Commission (BOCC) seats after Commissioner Chuck Chestnut, District 5, ran unopposed.  

Incumbent Anna Prizzia will face Jenn Garrett for the District 3 seat, representing half of Newberry and unincorporated areas just south of State Road 26.  

All Alachua County voters selected Prizzia in 2020 for her four-year term. This November, the county will vote with single-member districts, so only the residents in District 3 will vote on the Prizzia-Garrett option.  

The BOCC has also placed the single-member district option back onto the ballot, opening the door to return to at-large elections for the county.  

We sent the same questions to both candidates. Answers have been posted as received, with only edits for clarity. Another post with the District 1 candidates will post later this week. 

For more information about the election, visit the Supervisor of Elections website. For a map of the districts, click here.  

Anna Prizzia for District 3 

Age: 47 

Occupation: N/A 

Previous experience in elected office:  

• Expanding our infrastructure surtax to address our affordable housing crisis and the terrible condition of our roads – while in office our commission has expanded the funding for road repaving and maintenance from approximately 3M to almost 25M per year and we have about 7M a year in new funding for affordable housing.   

• Reworking community engagement processes to better listen to our neighbors and residents regarding development projects and program spending  

• Protecting West End Golf Course from development and purchasing it as a park for the western part of our county and working with other areas of our county to also protect them from unwanted development 

• Developing an agricultural lands protection program to buy easements from our local farmers so they can get some of the value of their land for their families while protecting our farms for food security and future generations.  

• Conducting a vulnerability analysis for climate change and working on a climate action plan for our county.  

Public service other than elected office:  

I have spent my life as a public servant, working for the local government and the University of Florida for most of my career. I have served on several local boards, volunteer for many local organizations, and founded a non-profit — Working Food — to address food security and our local food economy.  For more information on my background, please see my bio at annaforalachua.com.  

What prompted you to run for reelection? 

I love my job. I feel that I have been an effective commissioner. I want to ensure that we maintain our momentum as our county works on several important planning and action processes – many of which I was key in developing. These include climate action planning, comprehensive plan updates, transportation safety and bike and pedestrian master planning, agricultural lands protection and local food economic development, road network upgrades, and launching an affordable housing program. 

What are the two most important issues facing the county commission?  

• Climate change. Developing strategies to handle extreme temperatures and intense storms is critical. We must have robust emergency management, investments in infrastructure to manage flooding and heat, support for our farmers and natural resources, and focus on public health.  

• Social Services. We must ensure that all people in our county can meet their basic needs and thrive. With housing and food prices on the rise, we must work to develop our local economy and create quality jobs. We must also ensure that we have programs that support youth development and education, healthcare, and community-driven solutions for long term resilience.  

Do you support or oppose single-member districts for Alachua County? Why?  

Having districts is important for managing constituent needs and addressing specific community-related issues but I think that all our residents should be able to choose their commissioners and at large elections are important to ensuring we have a commission that is accountable to our entire county and works for the good of all our neighbors.   

I also believe that the methods used to pass single-members was a disservice to our community. They were not honest and used my colleague, Chuck Chestnut. 

What do you hope to accomplish as part of the county commission?  

I hope to build on my success in my first term and continue work protecting natural resources, advocating for basic needs, especially programs that address food security and affordable housing, and expanding economic development by supporting locally-owned businesses and approaches that focus on some of our key drivers — agriculture and tourism.  

I look forward to building a robust climate action plan and continuing our work to address the backlog of infrastructure projects, including road repaving and stormwater. I also hope to keep making progress on our efforts for equity and community engagement as we work on updates to our comprehensive plan and other key policies and county procedures. 

What votes from the current county commission have you disagreed with, if any, and why?  

I disagreed with the decision not to move forward with the Meat Processing facility. Again and again, we have seen the global food system fail when it comes to providing fair pricing to producers, protecting workers, prioritizing our health and ensuring food safety.  

By investing in local agriculture and addressing needs for post-harvest handling, aggregation, processing and distribution, we can increase jobs and local food access. Building this infrastructure locally allows us to ensure it aligns with our values of environmental and economic sustainability, humane animal treatment and social justice. This facility could significantly enhance our community’s resilience and self-sufficiency, promoting a fairer, healthier and more sustainable food system 

Jenn Garrett for District 3 

Age: 46 

Occupation: Artist 

Previous experience in elected office: 

This is my first time running for elected office. 

Public service other than elected office: 

I have and will continue to be a part of strengthening our community and our future leaders. I am not a politician who is just playing a game. I love this community and I am grateful for the opportunity to run for office. With the support of our community, I look forward to serving our community in a new way. 

A few of the local organizations I have been a part of include VP of Community of Junior League of Gainesville, past State Public Affairs chair for Junior League, Leadership Gainesville class 34, Gainesville Modern Chairman, Alachua County Arts Council board member and conference presenter, Board Member of UF Preservation Board of Advocates, former trustee Trinity United Methodist Church, former Member of Gainesville Fine Arts Association, PTA at Terwilliger Elementary, Meadowbrook Elementary, Kanapaha Middle, Buchholz High and P.K. Yonge, and my small business is a Certified Woman-owned business in the state of Florida. Numerous public art commissions in our community, Florida and throughout the Southeast. International public exhibitions, including the National Sculpture Exhibition of Ireland and the US National Sculpture Exhibition in Charleston. 

What prompted you to run for election?  

With almost a decade of advocacy experience through the Junior League of Gainesville’s State Public Affairs Committee, I have been actively involved in Florida politics, speaking with state representatives about important issues impacting women and children in our community. The pandemic heightened my desire to ensure western Alachua County voices are represented at the county commission level. 

What are the two most important issues facing the county commission?  

Roads: Maintaining and Improving infrastructure is one of the primary functions of local government. During my tenure at a cultural resource management firm, a significant portion of my responsibilities involved working with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to ensure compliance with federal Section 106 regulations. This hands-on experience provided me with invaluable insights into the development of state road projects and the profound impact that FDOT initiatives can exert on local communities. A recent Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization (MTPO) meeting revealed that our county risks losing over $6 million dollars of FDOT funding because of mismanagement. As a county commissioner, I will ensure we have a strong relationship with FDOT to maximize the funding available to complete our road projects. 

Development: The rapid development of western Alachua County has brought about significant growth, but not without challenges. As part of my master’s research, I crafted redevelopment plans to preserve the essence of communities — their historic structures, natural surroundings, cultural assets, and more — all while fostering sustainable economic growth. I have already been working with businesses in Newberry’s Historic Main Street to ensure that when FDOT splits Newberry Road/SR26 into one-way pairs, Newberry can preserve and even enhance its historic character to the benefit of business owners and residents.  

Do you support or oppose single-member districts for Alachua County? Why?  

I support single-member districts. Why? The concerns and needs of residents living on the county’s western side are not the same as those of the east side or north side of the County. For example, suppose a development is being proposed in my district. In that case, I will know the surrounding neighborhood and community, be familiar with the streets and traffic patterns, and even know the neighbors personally. Single-member districts allow me to focus on what’s most important to the residents in my district and be a voice for what they need from our local government. Please note the City of Gainesville has had single-member district voting for decades. 

 What do you hope to accomplish as part of the county commission? 

As a county commissioner, I aim to foster collaboration and community engagement. Our decisions impact everyone, and we must take this responsibility seriously. I am committed to an agenda that enhances the quality of life through higher-paying jobs, which is essential for supporting that quality.  

Key priorities include: 

• Strengthening infrastructure: Ensuring robust and well-maintained roads, public transportation, and utilities. 

• Reducing crime: Implementing effective strategies for safer neighborhoods. 

• Expanding affordable housing: Providing more accessible housing options for all residents. 

Achieving these goals requires more than policy changes; it demands genuine community engagement. Listening to and addressing the needs and concerns of our residents is crucial. We can build a brighter future for everyone in our county by working together and fostering open communication. 

What votes from the current county commission have you disagreed with, if any, and why?   

Last fall, our county commission voted to allow unlimited free phone calls to inmates in our jail. As a result, the volume of calls increased dramatically, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars to taxpayers. Staff at the jail report that the inmates are now running their criminal enterprises from inside the jail. When this newly created problem was brought to the attention of the county commission a few months later, the commission doubled down and stopped the use of recording software on jail phones—software that had prevented homicides in our community.  

I cannot understand why our county commission would grant these unlimited phone privileges to inmates at the cost of public safety and tax dollars. This is an example of the commission creating problems, not solving them. 

Another example is the decision to address our homelessness issue by spending $15 million dollars to purchase and convert the Budget Inn and Scottish Inn into 99 “supportive housing” units. While I appreciate the desire to address our homelessness problem, the density and location of this project will create more problems than it solves. Not only does it take valuable commercial real estate off the tax rolls in an area finally experiencing an economic turnaround, but it also places people who may be in recovery in a situation where they are surrounded by others in recovery, making it more likely that they would relapse. These densely planned units will be located right on US 441, the first thing visitors to our largest city will see after the scenic drive through Paynes Prairie. The location and density of this project will cause crime and safety issues, it will not be suitable for homeless families, and it will work against the recovery efforts of those living in the units. 

Anything else you’d like to tell voters? 

I need your vote for Alachua County commissioner to see real improvements in our community. I prioritize: 

• Community Engagement: Ensuring residents’ voices are heard and needs addressed. 

• Economic Growth: Promoting higher-paying jobs and supporting local businesses. 

• Infrastructure Improvement: Strengthening roads, public transportation, and utilities. 

• Safety: Implementing strategies to reduce crime and create safer neighborhoods. 

• Affordable Housing: Expanding accessible and affordable housing options. 

• Choose a dedicated, responsive leader focused on creating a thriving, inclusive, and sustainable Alachua County.  

Your vote is for a brighter future for all residents.  For more information, please visit our campaign webpage at www.jenngarrettcampaign.com, jenngfordistrict3 on Instagram and Jenn Garrett on Facebook.