Following in lock step with citizens all across the state, tens of thousands of Alachua County residents came out to the polls Tuesday to cast their vote in the local primaries.
Of the 151,225 voters registered in Alachua County, only 33,414 cards were cast in Tuesday's local primaries, which is a 22.1 percent turnout.
These figures represent a decrease from 2008 when the last election primaries were held. Those primaries saw a 24.64 percent turnout.
According to Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Pam Carpenter, a culmination of rainy weather, which drenched the county periodically throughout the day, and the returning influx of people into the county due to the start of the school year, may explain the lower yield of voters.
In the Democratic race for District 2 of the County Commission, incumbent commissioner Lee Pinkoson fended off a strong challenge from Gainesville City Commissioner Jack Donovan, gaining 9,722 votes to Donovan's 8,360. Pinkoson will now go on to the general election, where he will face Republican challenger Jim Gabriel.
Speaking to reporters after a majority of the results were submitted, Donovan speculated that the unfortunate outcome may have been the result of trying to balance his duties to the City Commission and his church along with a primary county election encompassing parts of town where his name recognition isn't as high as Pinkoson's.
Although disappointed by the results, Donovan, who is term-limited in the City Commission, did not disqualify any future attempts in the political arena and remained optimistic for the county, even though he said his opponent was heading in a far different direction than he would like.
"I think the county has a long way to go," Donovan said. "But they have a good county manager and good commissioners. I think they'll press forward.
Also at stake were three seats on the Alachua County School Board as well as a seat for District 5 county judge. In the school board elections, April Griffin, Gunnar Paulson and Carol Oyenarte emerged victorious in districts 1, 3 and 5 respectively. In the race for county judge, Tom Jaworski handily defeated his opponent Michael Becker 71 percent to 29 percent.
Backed by a crowd of cheering supporters wearing yellow shirts reading "Gunnar 4 School Board," Paulson expressed satisfaction and relief as the results were updated and displayed at the Alachua County Administration Building.
"It was a long journey," Paulson said as supporters came up and congratulated him for his victory. "I think there was a clear distinction between me and my opponents - I had more experience."
Also on hand to watch the results come in was Gainesville Mayor Craig Lowe, who met and shook hands with dozens of onlookers. No stranger to the nerve-racking uncertainty that goes along with election night, Lowe acknowledged that he enjoyed being on the sidelines more than awaiting results.
"It's a much more relaxed feeling," Lowe said.
