- Newberry, Archer, and Alachua city commissions have finalized candidates for elections set on Tuesday, April 14, with various term lengths contested.
- Incumbents Rick Coleman and Mark Clark seek re-election in Newberry, while Archer's Bill Lewandowski runs unopposed for Seat 4 replacing Marilyn Green.
With qualifying windows closed, candidates for Newberry, Archer and Alachua city commissions are gearing up for elections on Tuesday, April 14.
Alachua will see three candidates compete for a three-year term in Seat 3. Seven candidates will go for two-year terms across three seats in Newberry, while three candidates are running for four-year terms in Seats 4 and 5 in Archer.
All nine municipalities in Alachua County are in an election year. Mainstreet will publish reports featuring question-and-answer interviews with candidates in the coming weeks.
Newberry
Seat 1
Rick Coleman is the incumbent and carries more than 18 years of experience in the financial industry. According to Facebook, Coleman identifies as a fiscally conservative agriculture advocate and wants to see ongoing projects like Harvest Singularity’s $132 million investment into the F300 AgFoodTech Innovation Park carried out during another term.
Brandy Oldman, a mother of four and Newberry resident since 2013, will be Coleman’s only challenger. She posted on Facebook that she’d prioritize integrity, smart growth and lower taxes if elected.
Oldman campaigned for mayor last spring but dropped out due to family obligations. She has vocally opposed the conversion of Newberry Elementary School into Newberry Charter School.
Seat 2
Incumbent Mark Clark will run for reelection against David Wallace but told Mainstreet this fourth term would be his last.
The retired U.S. Marine said he’s proud to have accomplished getting the Veterans Memorial built and wants to continue working on projects like the sewer plant and two-way road pairs with a commonsense approach. Then, it’ll be time to enjoy his grandbabies full-time.
Wallace is a technician at Oak Hammock in Gainesville and has coached youth sports in Newberry since 1986. Following retirement from the city of Newberry after 27 years, he said being a commissioner would be a way he could continue serving it.
Wallace, who previously challenged Commissioner Monty Farnsworth’s seat, said he expected the race against Clark to be like a pillow fight as he’d be running against a neighbor and former high school classmate with whom he sees eye-to-eye on many issues.
Seat 3
With over 20 years on the dais, Farnsworth is Newberry’s longest-serving elected official and announced during a regular meeting last month that this would be his last City Commission term.
Naim Joseph Erched and J.D. Mercado will run against Farnsworth. Erched works at Tower Hill Insurance Group and posted on Facebook that he is “running to be a voice of reason and to help bridge conversations” to move Newberry forward.
Archer
Seat 4
Archer resident Bill Lewandowski will be sworn onto the dais this spring, replacing Commissioner Marilyn Green. He was the only candidate who applied for the seat.
Lewandowski is a retired Army lieutenant colonel and business developer. He said he’s been unhappy with measures the City Commission has taken to mitigate Archer’s financial emergency and wants to involve the community in the city’s goal setting with a fiscally conservative approach.
Lewandowski also applied for Archer’s city manager position earlier this year.
Seat 5
Incumbent Kathy Penny will be challenged by Jennifer Rossi, owner and artist of Love and Laughter Art.
Rossi posted on Facebook that she has experience in small-town leadership and aims to help Archer regain financial stability to create a stronger future for families and businesses.
Penny is a graduate of Santa Fe College and has worked in customer service at HCA Healthcare.