The Alachua Branch library will open as a voting precinct during the city’s April 14 election due to potential structural safety concerns and pending construction timelines at Precinct 53, the Cleather Hathcock Community Center.  

The Alachua City Commission unanimously voted during its Feb. 9 regular meeting to install the library as a temporary precinct after voting last month to close the community center, consolidating voters into the Legacy Park Multipurpose Center (Precinct 3) and Turkey Creek Clubhouse (Precinct 63). 

Staff originally said the center would be under construction during the election, but didn’t give a start date for the project, which still needs approved design plans. 

On Monday, City Manager Rodolfo Valladares said crews from GSC and Monarch were performing structural inspections of the building due to concerns over Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, fire code and water-damaged floors.  

Valladares said he didn’t know if they’d finish in time for the commission to amend its election proclamation, and that closing Precinct 53 without set timelines was intended to be a proactive measure, preventing last-minute changes for voters. 

“Our preference is to have Hathcock as the voting precinct,” he said. “Our concern is, if we don’t do the right steps to communicate with the public, there is the potential for us to have to say the last minute, ‘nope, can’t vote here, we have to vote somewhere else.’ That will cause more confusion.” 

Hathcock’s closure sparked fiery criticism from various citizens and political groups. 

The Alachua County Democratic Party and Alachua County Labor Coalition called the closure voter suppression without precinct alternatives closer to the community center and no start date for construction.  

According to the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections, the center accounted for 63% of Black votes during the city’s April 2025 election. 

The groups also targeted Commissioner Dayna Williams, whose Seat 3 will be contested during the upcoming election. They said the non-partisan incumbent, who is endorsed by the Alachua County Republican Party, intended to inhibit citizens from voting.

On Monday, Williams called the group’s accusations slanderous, insulting and a disgusting start to campaign season. 

She said she wasn’t able to attend last month’s meeting when the center closed because she was on vacation, and that it was unfortunate to come home to what she called lies. 

“Mr. Mayor, I can promise you that if I decide to run again, I can promise you I will run hard, I will run fair, I will run clean, but I will fight back against things like that. That was uncalled for, and it was disgusting,” Williams said. 

Valladares said staff have been transparent about the potential polling change with the community center’s construction since last year.  

He said Legacy Park was originally proposed as the Precinct 53 substitute in September 2025 because it was already certified for elections and familiar to citizens. 

Since last month’s precinct shuffle, Valladares said he’d contacted St. Matthew Baptist Church and the library as viable alternatives within walking distance of the community center.  

He said staff selected the library because it had stronger ADA compliance and accommodations, such as parking, and that the Supervisor of Elections had affirmatively reviewed the site. 

Valladares said the city’s website would be updated and signage posted about the temporary precinct and that city transportation will not be provided to the polling places due to liability. The community center’s construction start date will be refined once the design from Monarch is defined. 

Vice Mayor Shirley Green Brown said she resonated with concerned citizens because the Hathcock Community Center has been her polling place. But she said the city aimed to provide the safest places to vote, which everyone should do no matter how the precincts might change. 

“We are not, absolutely not trying to interfere with anybody voting; black, white, green, polka dot. That’s not what we do,” she said. “I am a citizen, just like each of you. I have the right to vote, just like you, in a safe environment. I’ve been to the fire station to vote. I’ve been to Legacy to vote. Wherever I need to go, I’m going.” 

All three of Alachua’s polling precincts will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for voting on April 14. The commissioner elected to Seat 3 will serve a three-year term. 

Editor’s note: The Alachua City Commission seats are non-partisan, but local political parties endorse the candidates.

Editor’s note: This story was underwritten by a grant from the Rural Reporting Initiative at the Community Foundation of North Central Florida. To learn more or get involved, click here.