Three races for Gainesville city offices were on the August primary ballot. In each race, a candidate was able to get more than 50% of the vote, so no runoffs are needed in the November election for these offices. Harvey Ward, Jr. was re-elected as mayor. Nathan Crabbe was elected to an open commission seat in District 2, and Casey Willits was re-elected in District 3. The commissioner in District 4, Bryan Eastman, was unopposed and is re-elected as a result.
Although no city races are on the general election ballot, voters within Gainesville city limits will be asked to vote yes or no on a proposed charter amendment regarding how commission vacancies are filled.
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News4JAX sent a questionnaire to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote in their own words.
Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4JAX staff.
| MAYORAL CANDIDATE |
Harvey Ward, Jr.
Occupation: I am currently Mayor of Gainesville, but my previous career was in non-profit management and fundraising.
Age: 58
Family: My wife and I have three daughters.
Education: I’m a graduate of Eastside High, Santa Fe College and the University of Florida.
Political experience: I served two terms as a Gainesville City Commissioner and am currently serving in my first term as Mayor.
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
Public safety, both as it relates to crime and to traffic safety, and access to affordable homes. We have delivered less gun violence and fewer injuries and deaths on our streets, and we will keep doing what has worked and continue to listen to the community about how to our city even more safe. We have delivered more than 800 new affordable homes over the past four years, and we will continue to prioritize more affordable homes in the next term.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
My experience at City Hall and a lifetime of living, working and raising a family in our community sets me apart in knowing where our issues and our opportunities lie, and my experience working with other mayors across the world through the Bloomberg Center for Cities, the US Conference of Mayors and the Democratic Mayors Association gives me a wealth of support and connections that benefits our neighbors here at home.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
Gainesville has more than doubled in size since I was a child, and as a community of more than 150,000 neighbors, we are no longer a sleepy college town, but a mid-size university city. I hope to be remembered as having helped move our city through some growing pains in a way that helps everyone who chooses to call Gainesville home thrive.
Campaign website: wardformayor.com
Campaign social media: (None given)
| DISTRICT 2 CANDIDATE |
Nathan Crabbe
Occupation: I am a longtime journalist who is currently editor of The Invading Sea, a website with news and commentary on climate change and other environmental issues affecting Florida. I previously spent more than 17 years as an editor and reporter for The Gainesville Sun newspaper, including nearly 10 years as opinion editor.
Age: 50
Family: My wife Colleen is a nurse practitioner in Gainesville and we have two children, ages 14 and 11, who attend public schools here.
Education: I earned a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pa., and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
Political experience: I have no previous political experience. As a journalist, I kept out of politics to remain objective when writing about the major challenges facing Gainesville. I’m now running for office to play a greater part in helping to solve these problems.
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
1) Affordability: I support programs to improve energy efficiency in homes and reduce utility bills. I want to increase access to starter housing for young members of our workforce as well as housing for seniors who want to be able to age in place.
2) Environment: Gainesville needs to demand responsible development and protect green spaces in our neighborhoods that lower temperatures and improve our quality of life. I support having accessible parks, connected trails and walkable neighborhoods.
3) Infrastructure: Our community should have well-maintained roads that are safe for everyone. I support having resilient infrastructure and using nature-based solutions to reduce flooding and improve water quality.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I have spent my journalism career helping people better understand government, holding elected officials accountable and providing platforms for people to express a diversity of opinions. These experiences would inform my approach to being a city commissioner. I would help my constituents navigate local government and ensure that it is responsive to their needs. I would listen to the concerns of a wide range of residents when considering issues before the commission and then be transparent in explaining my decisions.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
I want to be remembered as someone who protected what makes Gainesville special while better preparing our community for the future. We face fiscal, environmental and social challenges. Local government needs to spend wisely, plan responsibly and strengthen local institutions that help residents who struggle.
Campaign website: nathancrabbe.com
Campaign social media: Facebook | Instagram
| DISTRICT 3 CANDIDATE |
Casey Willits
Campaign website: caseyforcommission.com
Campaign social media: Facebook
The incumbent, first elected in 2022, has not responded to email and telephone invitations to complete the News4JAX candidate questionnaire. If responses are received, they will be promptly posted in this space.
Gainesville Charter Amendment
In May, the Gainesville City Commission approved Ordinance 2026-165, which placed a proposed charter amendment on the November ballot, that would address how vacancies on the city commission are filled.
Currently, if less than six months remain in the unexpired term, the remaining commission members choose and appoint a successor by majority vote. If more than six months remain, then a special election must be held.
Under the proposed charter amendment, regardless of the amount of time left in an unexpired term, the remaining commissioners would appoint a replacement by a majority vote. That replacement commissioner would then remain in place until the next regularly scheduled city election.
Voters will be asked to vote yes or no based on the following ballot language:
“Shall the city charter be amended to provide that vacancies in the offices of mayor or city commission be filled by appointment by the remaining city commissioners until the next regular municipal election if the vacancy occurs with sufficient time before the candidate qualifying period for such election, and otherwise by appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term, as proposed by Ordinance No. 2026-165?”