On Thursday, March 21st, the League of Women Voters led a coalition of organizations, including the Alachua County Labor Coalition, the NAACP and Gainesville Residents United, along with many community leaders in speaking to the city commission. We asked for a referendum on the ballot to repeal the GRU Authority from the city charter. Gainesville City Commission voted 6-0 (Commissioner Duncan-Walker was absent) to begin the process. The motion was to direct the city attorney to come back to the commission with a draft ordinance allowing Gainesville residents to vote on whether they want to keep the new unelected GRU Authority or to return control to the democratically elected city commission.

While this is a major victory for home rule in Gainesville, there are several steps along the road. The commission vote begins the process of putting a referendum on the ballot. They will have discussions and make decisions over several meetings. Ultimately, during two readings at commission meetings, six of the seven Commissioners must vote in favor of the referendum in order for it to go before the people.

You can help with this important local issue.

• If possible, please attend the city commission meeting 4/18/24 at 1pm when the first reading of the ordinance and discussion of the referendum will take place.
• If you are unable to attend, send a message to the mayor and commissioners, all of whom you can reach at CityComm [at] cityofgainesville.org.
• First thank them for their vote for starting the process of including a referendum on the ballot pertaining to the GRU Authority.
• Second, encourage them to vote in favor of the ordinance that will give voters a choice of who will govern Gainesville’s utility.

Thank you.