During his first term, city commissioner Casey Willits approved a new park in southwest Gainesville, sought to improve Gainesville’s Regional Transit System and advocated for affordable housing. Gainesville residents can expect the newly reelected commissioner to continue this work into 2031.
Willits, the 44-year-old District 3 city commissioner, was first elected to serve southwest Gainesville in 2022. On Aug. 18, he earned roughly 54% of votes and was reelected to carry out his second and final consecutive term on the commission.
Gainesville city commissioners are limited to two consecutive terms, so Willits won’t be eligible to run again in 2031. City commission positions are nonpartisan, meaning candidates run without party affiliations listed on the ballot.
Before serving on the city commission, Willits graduated from the University of Arkansas with a bachelor’s degree in geography and a minor in Spanish. He also took graduate-level courses in public administration.
Willits also brings a decadeslong background in political campaigning, nonprofit advocacy and university administration.
Willits has worked on former President Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, acted as regional field director for the Florida Democratic Party and served as field director of the Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee.
He also worked in nonprofit operations, holding leadership positions with Make the Road NY, a New York civic engagement organization, and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups such as Equality Florida, Fairness West Virginia and NEW Equality.
Aside from his work with local organizations, Willits has developed his career at UF. He currently serves as a fiscal assistant in UF Health’s otolaryngology department.
“I’m a pretty average person,” Willits said. "I’m not some fancy business owner. I’m not a lawyer. I’m not wealthy. I work at UF. I’m an administrative helper.”
Willits built his reelection campaign on advancing Gainesville’s parks and nature, transportation and affordable housing.
Willits said he’s deeply concerned that southwest Gainesville lacks natural spaces for residents to relax and play. During his first term, Willits advocated for the 75-acre Southwest Nature Park, which is set to open in 2028.
Expanding southwest Gainesville’s preservation land was a major victory during his first term, he added.
He also said he’ll continue to advocate for public transportation access. Threats to funding continue to pose challenges, he said.
In May 2025, UF reallocated funds from RTS to campus-based transportation, like the Campus Connector.
“The bus system really is something that we’re going to have to work on and help protect,” Willits said. “[RTS] is something that we just can't do without. Too many people in our community will suffer.”
Jason Sanchez, a 44-year-old Gainesville resident, knows commissioner Willits from his work as the chair of the City Plan Board.
The City Plan Board is a citizen committee appointed by the Gainesville City Commission tasked with reviewing land use, zoning changes, special-use permits, comprehensive plans and land development codes.
While describing Willits' path to office, Sanchez said personal ambition likely wasn’t his driving force.
"His track wasn’t like he was angling to be a politician," Sanchez said. "I think he saw a need and was like, 'Well, why not me? I should run.'"
He also appreciates Willits’ demeanor and listening skills, he added.
Sanchez said Willits, alongside other commissioners, is responsive to feedback and a good listener. While he may not agree with you all the time, he said, he will hear you out and listen to your perspective.
"[Willits is] not doing a thing where you're listening but you have the statement sort of in your head already that you want to jump out and say," Sanchez said.
Sanchez added that Willits’ connection with the community is beyond what older, wealthier politicians might be able to achieve. He said Willits offers the board a working-class perspective and puts his all into it despite its meager pay.
City commissioners are technically budgeted as part-time positions, earning roughly $43,000 annually.
"The pay is so low … but Casey treats it as a full-time role," Sanchez said. "He shows up to every meeting prepared."
Craig Carter, a 65-year-old former Gainesville city commissioner and the former director of the Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority, said he’s spoken to Willits about affordable housing and Ironwood Golf Course.
The small business owner and commercial realtor said he’s found Willits personable and receptive to residents’ concerns.
As Willits enters his second term on the Gainesville City Commission, Carter said effective representation comes down to community engagement.
“Just listen to everybody,” Carter said, “because as soon as you think you know what someone wants or someone needs, you take away their decision and their vote.”
Contact Ray Garcia at rgarcia@alligator.org. Follow him on X @raygarciafl.
Ray Garcia is a first-year Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law and Public Relations double major at UF, serving as this fall's K-12 education reporter. This is Ray's first semester at The Alligator. Outside of writing for The Alligator, you can often find him spending time with friends, reading, listening to music, or sidequesting around Gainesville.
