Since 2017, no one but Jordan Marlowe has run for mayor in Newberry. Marlowe has run unopposed for four terms, but in February the city commission voted to negotiate a contract that will make Marlowe city manager, a position he cannot hold at the same time as his mayoral seat. 

In April, Newberry voters will have a choice between two mayoral candidates: Tim Marden, the current commissioner for Group 4, and Joy Glanzer, a local real estate broker and former city commissioner. 

Glanzer ran against Marden for his Group 4 seat in Newberry’s 2021 election, and Marden edged her out by only 60 out of a total of 914 votes. 

Newberry’s polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8 at the Mentholee Norfleet Municipal Building (25420 W. Newberry Rd.). 

We sent each candidate the same questions. The responses are posted below. 

Tim Marden 

Age: 52  

Occupation: Development Officer 

Previous experience in elected office: 12 years, City Commissioner in Newberry 

Public service other than elected office: As City Commissioner we dually sit on other boards (Board of Adjustment, Community Redevelopment Association, Quasi-Judicial Board). But I have led various community initiatives like Hurricane Helene relief efforts, community clean ups, youth coach, and hosted voter education town halls. I started broadcasting our high school football and basketball games for our community several years ago. I have also been a Take Stock in Children and Junior Achievement mentor. 

Website: www.facebook.com/TimMardenNewberry/ 

What prompted you to run for mayor?  

When our commission decided to hire the current mayor as our next city manager, leaving a vacancy for that seat, I felt it was the right thing to do for the citizens, staff, and to maintain the overall integrity of the commission that I have been a part of for 12 years. My total focus has been what is best for the city and I think, if elected, maintaining a sense of continuity is important. And frankly I do not want Newberry to become Gainesville. 

What are your top two priorities if you are elected?  

1. Maintaining stability for the city. We have a lot of positives happening right now. I want to keep that attitude going. 

2. Ensure Newberry continues to be a leader and innovator in our: overall approach to government, fiscal responsibility and costs. Newberry has delivered Cadillac services for Chevy prices. I think people expect that and it has become part of our identity. We do that by focusing on core services as much as possible. 

What is your approach to the Newberry Elementary School charter conversion? 

I have been a cheerleader for the charter school conversion since the beginning. I have not flip flopped whenever it is politically convenient like my opponent. Our community deserves a school board that cares about its students. Newberry will rise to the occasion because it is the right thing, and Newberry will again rise to the challenge and make it successful. 

What are the two most important issues facing Newberry’s government?  

1. Although it has slowed down, growth. We have issued around 200 building permits the last two years and we are on pace for less than 170 this year, last I checked. As a commission we are tasked with a very hard decision of balancing private property rights with the effects it will have on the community at large. There are lots of legal and historical implications to consider and lots of other entities involved. We have to keep up those relationships. Our commission has done our best to strike the right balance of the 1,000 different factors going into those massive decisions. I bring that depth of knowledge and leadership to the table. 

2. Infrastructure that goes along with growth. Most people do not realize we do not build infrastructure too far in advance because the current residents will be paying for it if we did that. We want the new movers causing the need to pay for it. We have instituted a number of measures to thread that needle and credit goes largely to the staff bringing their expertise to those decisions. I believe we have the best city staff in the area. It has taken us a long time to get to this level and I am proud of the work they do every day. 

Joy Glanzer 

Age: 69 

Occupation: Real Estate Broker/Owner Glanzer Realty 

Previous experience in elected office: Newberry City Commissioner 2017-2019 

Public service other than elected office: Newberry Chamber of Commerce Past President, Newberry Mainstreet Organization Past President, Newberry Planning & Zoning Board Past Chair, Newberry Opioid Task Force Past Chair, SIAtech Charter School Board Member, Gainesville Alachua County Association of Realtors Board 2009-2012, Leadership Gainesville 20, Take Stock in Children Mentor, The Real Rosewood Foundation Board, Newberry NarAnon Chapter, Lay Servant Newberry United Methodist Church 

Campaign website: Joy Glanzer for Mayor on Facebook 

What prompted you to run for election? 

I love Newberry! But seriously, the growth trajectory of Newberry over the past few years has been historic. Having lived in Newberry for 48 years and having participated in the visioning process preceding the growth, it is a natural progression of my public service to see this through. My career in real estate has enabled me to be closely involved with the processes and procedures for development to make sure our comprehensive plan is followed, and we honor our future land use plan. The mayor does not vote, but I will be a vocal proponent of following these plans and putting the focus on getting it right. You don’t get a second chance once a development is in the ground. Also, the mayor is the face of the community. She must be welcoming to all citizens, no matter their political beliefs, which is another thing that prompted my run for mayor. 

What are your top two priorities if you are elected? 

Newberry’s streets and roads are in disrepair, as are many of the roads around Alachua County. Newberry has a few newer sources of revenue into which I will tap: Newberry’s CRA, impact fees on development and the Wild Spaces Public Places funds, to name three. I will also work diligently with Alachua County to negotiate improvement on the roads owned by them within our city limits. 

Secondly, I will make Newberry’s government truly transparent. There is a perception that not all business is done in the Sunshine. We will eliminate this perception. My door will be open, texts, emails and phone calls will be answered promptly. No citizen will be left to feel that they are unheard. We are a small town, there is no reason why all citizens can’t have a voice.  

What is your approach to the Newberry Elementary School charter conversion? 

There is one thing we all agree on, no matter if you were for or against the Public Charter School conversion of Newberry Elementary, and that is to provide our children with the best education opportunities possible. Education has always been a priority in our town and because of that there has been extreme passion following the State Department of Education decision which confirmed that the charter will proceed in Newberry, beginning in 2026. Citizens opposing it have pointed to questions about the budget not being solid, children being denied access due to economic or special needs challenges, and transportation limitations to name a few. It is crucial to have all these questions answered and allow those questions to be asked and answered publicly. The Newberry School Board needs to address the issues and remedy any shortcomings prior to the school opening. 

What are the two most important issues facing Newberry’s government? 

Helping our staff maintain the resources they need to continue to serve the public at the highest level. Newberry has won awards for the way our city is run and it is a top priority for me. Our citizens deserve to have access to services they need and the personnel available to serve them. That’s where everything starts. 

Next, we need to be aggressive and creative in going after state and federal money to build the new wastewater treatment plant. The cost is far more than the city can afford alone. The state mandates the capacity and level of treatment but gives municipalities no clear path for obtaining the money to comply with their mandates.  

What do you think Newberry needs to be doing differently, if anything, and why? 

In my job I have the opportunity to engage with other municipalities from time to time. When I do, I am aware that all cities do not have the wheels turning as smoothly as we do. That being said, the one thing that I hear from the public is that they sometimes feel unheard or even shy away from interacting with our elected officials. I’d like to see more effort made to circle the wagons and all get along, no matter if the officials agree or disagree with the citizen.