High Springs citizens will head to the voting polls on Tuesday, Nov. 4, to decide the next city commissioner for Seat No. 3. Mayor Tristan Grunder is the incumbent and he will be challenged by Julie Tapia-Ruano.
Voters will also determine whether five charter amendments and one code amendment will pass or fail, including the highly contested alcohol ordinance amendment that would expand the window of time establishments can sell alcohol on Sundays.
For a complete list of the amendments that will be on the ballot and how to vote in the election, visit High Springs’ election website.
The following questionnaire was sent to Grunder and Tapia-Ruano. Their responses are published with edits for style conformity.
Tristan Grunder, incumbent
What’s your occupation?
A sergeant with the Gainesville Police Department.
What elected or public service positions have you held?
City commissioner, vice mayor and mayor of High Springs, Fraternal Order of Police union president for Gator Lodge 67.
Where can voters go to learn more about you?
I am on Facebook at Tristan Grunder for High Springs City Commission Seat 3 and my website is tristangrunder.com.
What prompted you to run for office?
I feel we have unfinished business. When I get done being a keener of the commission, I want to make sure the city is in a better place than when I took over.
What vote are you proudest of the commission making in the past year?
What I’m truly proudest of is that we’re getting more involved with the county and city around us to protect our natural resources, such as the fresh water that runs to the families of High Springs. We became an affected party for a housing development in the city of Alachua that would have negatively impacted the quality of our drinking water. The more I learn about this, the more important it has become to me.
What has changed the most about the city since you first campaigned?
Truthfully, what I think has changed the most is my knowledge of the current situation we are in. You don’t know what you don’t know going into this. But as you learn, you see what the true underlying issues are. People only see the decisions you make, not the choices you had.
What are the two most important issues facing High Springs?
Number one is the budget! Number two is the budget! Until we get the budget cleaned up and official, we cannot be effective. We need to get a handle of the situation and start having hard conversations, like where these budget cuts are going to come from and how are we going to bring in more revenue?
How do you think the commission should address those issues?
We need to continue having meaningful workshops throughout the year where we get down and really go over the numbers. The citizens need a chance to give their input, too. If you don’t want taxes to go up, what are we willing to go without in High Springs?
What decisions do you believe need to be made this year to address budget concerns ahead of the 2026-27 fiscal year?
It’s a tough decision. This is something the commission needs to come together and really discuss. We need to be more transparent sooner, instead of waiting until July and telling people we have two or three months to figure out what cuts are going to be made. I want the city manager and city staff to bring hard numbers and facts to these budget meetings throughout the year so that we can continue the conversation, and it’s not just a shock to all of us in the summer.
What problems do you see passing the alcohol ordinance amendment solving or initiating?
Alcohol is a very touchy topic in our town and it has been for decades. I simply want the people to have a voice. This is something that the commission shouldn’t decide on. It’s something the citizens of High Springs should choose. I support whatever the citizens vote for on this topic.
Open comment:
I’m born and raised in this town. I truly want what’s best for the citizens who live here. I started this whole journey because I was concerned with the direction our town was heading. I want to be a part of getting it back on track. We have an amazing town with great people in it.
Julie Tapia-Ruano
What’s your occupation?
I have experience in retail, food service, television production and journalism, and in construction as a secretary for a local plumber. I am most proud of my three decades at home raising our five children and building a lifetime of volunteerism in their schools, at our church, for their teams, and as a proven leader in the Daughters of the American Revolution, in which I serve on two state-level committees.
What elected or public service positions have you held?
I have been a Notary Public, a poll worker and an Assistant Clerk for Alachua County Supervisor of Elections. I was appointed to the High Springs Charter Review Board in 2024 and was able to recommend several updates to the commission, the last of which are on this year’s ballot for approval. I first ran for High Springs Seat No. 4 in 2024, but conceded the race to my opponent. Subsequently, I was appointed to the Planning and Historical Preservation Board on which I currently serve.
Over the last few years, I have put myself through an “internship” of city leadership. I attended numerous commission meetings, special meetings, magistrate hearings, budget workshops, a parks and rec advisory meeting, and one ethics training course conducted by our city attorney. I have often come prepared with a statement addressing issues of the day. I do my homework when I have questions. I have studied the Charter, the Land Code, and Robert’s Rules of Order for Parliamentary procedure.
Where can voters go to learn more about you?
At seat3julie.com, via email at seat3julie@gmail.com, text at 352-562-4850, or on Facebook under Julie Tapia-Ruano. (Note: an earlier version of the page was hacked, so look for my red, white, and blue campaign sign as my cover photo and my image in front of City Hall as the correct page.) Donations can be mailed to 21428 NW 154th Pl., High Springs, FL 32643.
What prompted you to run for office?
My work at the election precincts coincided with a newfound awareness of big changes trying to sweep into our small town with the introduction of Bridlewood and its massive scope. I found myself paying more attention to, and becoming more vocal, at commission meetings as other issues, such as the Waste Pro contract and other financial perils were made manifest. It didn’t take long for a former commissioner to ask, “When are you going to run?” I had considered entering the special election in early 2024, but deferred to the general election for Seat No. 4, taking up the Charter Review Board instead.
Running for Seat No. 3 in 2025 is the continuation of those efforts. I have applied myself to qualifying for the position by serving on the Planning Board and attending many meetings in person and virtually when needed. I have had a presence at many public events such as Veterans Day, dedications and Splash Day at Catherine Taylor Park.
What vote are you proudest of the commission making in the last year?
It is the vote to deny Bridlewood a Community Development District (CDD). We had a long, joint meeting as Planning Board with the commission where the builder kept trying to sell the merits of another layer of fees and bureaucracy imposed on the development. It is basically a tool that favors the builder financially and encumbers the buyer.
After much discussion, some for and some against, the commission voted 3-2 to deny the CDD, effectively slowing down the pace of that particular development so the city can better prepare for it. Future neighborhood constraints will be addressed as the city reworks our comprehensive land and development codes over the next year.
What has changed the most about the city since you first campaigned?
We have entered into a new phase of transparency and discovery since the turnovers with the city manager, department positions and recent commissions. It seems there is a new willingness to work together. Volumes of data and research presented now point to past decisions and leadership styles which may have harmed High Springs’ financial status and perceived accountability in the past, with or without intent. There are fresh eyes on the problems, a renewed vision for “home rule” and a collective determination to lay the foundation for the future. The ship is being slowly turned around.
What are the two most important issues facing High Springs?
These would be how to roll back rates and fees wherever possible, relieving the burden on our citizens, and to offer rebates for the fire assessment even if in part when county numbers prove out. The second would be to find ways to promote a measured and managed growth formula that preserves historical integrity while modernizing systems and ordinances, generates sufficient revenue while staying affordable, and makes room for new schools, sewer structure and other services.
How do you think the commission should address those issues?
Every effort must be made to source out and secure new revenue streams in grants, creative fee structures for buildouts, and to get out of the real estate business. Properties such as the Priest Theatre, Canoe Outpost and others would be better served if privately owned and operated, relieving the city from liabilities and maintenance costs. The monies (that are not designated for Wild Spaces) would be used to rebuild our currently depleted reserves across enterprise systems. Annexation efforts can be studied once again. The budget can be amended throughout the year to remove or change items deemed to be extraneous. Mutual agreements can be sought with adjacent counties that may be served by our fire and police departments, not unlike the one we have with Alachua County.
What decisions do you believe need to be made this year in order to address budget concerns ahead of the 2026-27 fiscal year?
The hard look at current staff levels needs to be always under scrutiny. Proposals to reduce hours or number of employees in various departments can go a long way to reduce deficits. Cutting reliable personnel is never desired, but can be temporary. Commissioners need to commit to the will to reduce millage to at least a rollback rate. The city definitely needs to find a way to reduce attorney costs across the board. If that means getting a [Request for Proposal] started, then so be it.
The cry has been going up for this for a long time. The city’s IT contractor was able to reduce their overall fees and still provide excellent service in last year’s budget. The city should be able to demand the same action and quality from our legal team. Commissioners need to carefully consider each ordinance and special election they promote in that the cost for each one can rise to thousands or tens of thousands in legal fees. The most recent brewery ordinance on the ballot is a prime example. Decisions must be thoroughly vetted, researched and data-driven.
What problems do you see passing the alcohol ordinance amendment solving or initiating?
The fact that this is even on the ballot this year is problematic from a procedural standpoint. The commission had provided a way by special permit for a brewery to operate in special hours where there was no applicable language in our codes. There was a legal petition underway obtaining signatures in favor of a ballot initiative eventually. This was overrun by an improper motion and vote at the joint county and city meeting over the summer. That being said, a proper ordinance was eventually crafted and now is before the voters.
A YES to approve vote will carve out a niche for breweries, or those that craft malt beverages for sale on site, thus solving the language problem and suspending the permit process. The NO vote will simply defer back to the very broad and easy to obtain special permit process. The YES vote could open doors for the next entity seeking special treatment to push their own agendas on precedent, while a NO vote would see this issue being brought up again in future meetings in perpetuity. It also has been costly in legal fees. The dream or nightmare, depending on how one looks at it, of an entertainment district in our small town will be closer to reality, like it or not.
Open comment:
I wish to thank Mainstreet Daily News for this open platform to share our views and biographies. It is an honor to serve.
The people of the city have demanded and should receive leadership that is fresh, informed, and qualified. They deserve representation that is engaged with the room and not their cellphones. Citizens expect leaders to know and be able to execute the tedious lanes of protocol for decorum and order and to keep the meeting “right on time and right on track” for the issues. Leaders should be asking questions all the time for clarification and purpose. There are expectations for professionalism and moderation in the chambers as well as in personal life. Guests to the meetings should feel welcomed and heard, whether it be for special presentations or the various department reports. The qualities of flexibility, concession, negotiation, patience, and listening are highly favored in such a candidate. Though no candidate will be perfect, there should be a reliance on fellow commissioners and a trust that what is being said is forthright and true.
As your challenger for Seat No. 3, I have immersed myself in all things pertaining to the governance of High Springs. I have a volunteer-community service personality and have prepared myself by attending meetings, budget workshops, and special meetings over the last two years. I am committed to data-driven decision-making and taking ownership of the outcomes.
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.