An Alachua County judge this week denied an attempt by the Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) Authority to stop the Gainesville City Commission from holding a referendum while the authority’s challenge works its way through the legal process.

In April, Eighth Judicial Circuit Court Judge George Wright annulled the results of a 2024 Gainesville referendum that sought to take control of GRU from the authority and return it to the City Commission. But in the same opinion, Wright also ruled that the city could change elements of its charter added by the Florida Legislature.

In May, the commission began the process of putting another referendum before voters, amid GRU Authority legal efforts to stop it.

In June, GRU filed an emergency motion to stop the commission from holding the referendum while its appeal of the April ruling is awaiting a decision. On Thursday, Wright denied the request.

“We respect Judge Wright’s decision and will continue with the appeals process while pursuing all available legal alternatives,” GRU CEO Ed Bielarski said in a statement. “We are confident the special legislative act that created the GRU Authority will ultimately be upheld by the courts and are committed to pursuing any legal means necessary to achieve this for GRU’s customers, thousands of whom receive no representation under a City Commission governance model.”