Three Alachua County Commissioners will keep their seats from 2008 to 2012 after running for re-election.
Democratic incumbents Mike Byerly of District 1, Paula DeLaney of District 3 and Rodney Long of District 5 retained their positions on the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners in Tuesday's election.
A nervous crowd, dominated by Democrats, watched the results come in on the second floor of the downtown County Administration Building.
DeLaney and Byerly watched together. DeLaney said she had butterflies as early results from rural precincts showed Republicans in the lead.
But with 86.7 percent of the precincts reporting at about 7:45 p.m., DeLaney had pulled ahead.
Byerly broke into a smile as he and Long both surpassed their opponents when early voting numbers started to come in.
"That was a tough hour," Byerly said.
By midnight, not all early votes had been counted, but numbers from the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections showed Byerly with 57.3 percent of the vote and DeLaney with 58.7 percent. Rodney Long was ahead with 54.22 percent.
Surrounded by family and friends, Long celebrated his re-election formally at the Sweetwater Branch Inn.
"It's a historic night," he said, celebrating his victory and the results of the presidential election.
At Gainesville's Republican Headquarters on North Main Street, more than 150 candidates and supporters watched the results over food, beer and disappointment.
Candidate Lloyd W. Bailey Jr., who had run for District 3, said goodbye to fellow candidate Ward Scott, who had run for District 5, inviting him to share "tears in our beers."
A three-time candidate, Bailey, who ran against DeLaney, said he plans to run again.
"The County Commission is not my ambition, but it is my duty," he said. "I don't have an agenda. I'm a scuba instructor. I should be sitting on a boat listening to Jimmy Buffett."
In his second run for county commission, Scott said he felt that his campaign was better informed about the community's needs.
"We did our homework," he said. "We felt like we made good contact with the community."
Scott said his campaign used scientific research to better prepare for the election.
Kevin Riordan, candidate for District 1, remained optimistic until the end as he waited with a crowd at Dragonfly restaurant downtown.
The incumbent Democrats have years of experience on the County Commission.
Long, the current chairman, has been on the Commission for eight years.
He said his focus is on helping the less fortunate in his district. He also has supported the construction and growth in East Gainesville.
Long said his campaign ran smoothly, though he said negative campaign ads from his opponent did not help.
This will be Paula DeLaney's second term on the commission.
The first campaign had a completely different feel, with three major hurricanes occurring and President George W. Bush running for re-election, she said, adding that this year has had a difference in the dynamic because of that strength of influence.
She said her opponent, Bailey, has been charming and her most fun opponent so far.
DeLaney has served as Gainesville's mayor and said has spent her years as a local politician focusing on the poverty in the community, the increasing cost of energy, criminal justice and taxes.
Byerly, a Gainesville resident for almost 30 years, has been on the commission for eight years.
He said his campaign has been similar to past campaigns, staying volunteer-oriented and being outspent by his opponent, Kevin Riordan.
Byerly said he will continue to make energy and water conservation his main issues, in addition to making investments that will counteract the declining revenues.
He said he appreciates the huge turnout this year and hopes it is a new trend.
Laura Bresko, a member of the Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee and the chapter president of Judy Levy National Organization for Women, said she was confident that the Democrats would win the County Commission races, saying it would be a "huge mistake" if they were to lose.
"We are truly fortunate to have such an intelligent, diligent commission," she said.
Bailey disagreed. He said it's important to keep putting conservatives in the race against liberals, even if there doesn't seem to be a chance to win.
"The county's not ready yet. But it will be. Eventually we will win," he said.
