The Archer City Commission welcomed Bill Lewandowski and Jennifer Rossi to the dais on Monday as the city swore in the new commissioners during a ceremony preceding its regular meeting. 

Local artist Rossi slimly defeated Seat 5 incumbent Kathy Penny 70 to 61 during the April 14 election. Rossi told Mainstreet she has experience working in a county tax office, as well as being a town department manager and preparing budgets.  

“I am going to do my best, that’s all I can say,” Rossi said after being sworn in by Judge Jonathan Ramsey. “I have experience and I’m here to listen to what everybody has to say and what everybody wants, and we’ll move forward from there.” 

Lewandowski, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and business developer, ran unopposed for Seat 4. Marilyn Green previously occupied the seat. 

A frequent public commentor at meetings and Archer city manager applicant, Lewandowski said before the election, he’s been unhappy with how the City Commission tried to mitigate Archer’s financial emergency. He said he wants to involve the community in the city’s goal-setting with a fiscally conservative approach. 

“I know I’ve been vocal sometimes, but I think that we all agree that we’re all doing this for the benefit of our city, and that’s certainly how I always take it through my fellow citizens,” Lewandowski said Monday. “I see my job as getting to be your advocate, your representative and your neighbor.” 

Alachua County Board of County Commissioner Mary Alford presided over the ceremony. She said holding public office in a small town is a unique honor as the decisions made directly impact people every day. 

Alford encouraged the commissioners to strive for consensus together over winning votes individually, and to see themselves as caretakers of the public’s trust. She encouraged citizens to stay engaged to promote a healthy democracy. 

“May tonight be marked by wisdom, integrity, cooperation and a shared commitment to the people we all serve,” Alford said. “And congratulations to the newly elected commissioners, and to the ones leaving us, and may God bless this country and the city and all that call it home.” 

After receiving awards from the city, Green and Penny gave remarks as they departed. 

Penny, who was elected in 2021 and reelected in 2022, said she enjoyed her years as a commissioner and would continue volunteering and serving the community as she did before.  

Green served one term on the commission starting in 2022. She said she knew the good and hard parts of being a commissioner beforehand since her father was Archer’s first African American commissioner and mayor. 

Green said she prayed about every vote she made and gave God praise for giving her the ability to shake off criticism. 

“I believe with a clear heart and with a clear mind that I was fair to each and everybody, and I did what I thought was best for the city of Archer,” she said. 

Editor’s note: This story was underwritten by a grant from the Rural Reporting Initiative at the Community Foundation of North Central Florida.