Transportation Forum Endorses City Candidates
The Center for Innovation and Economic Development (CIED) at Santa Fe College lives in the heart of downtown Gainesville’s incubator hub. It was designed to foster innovation, entrepreneurialism, and big ideas.
Monday night, it got all that and more.
Gainesville Citizens for Active Transportation (GCAT) hosted a Candidate Forum for the City Commission races that will be decided on March 11th and in early voting. The Gainesville Cycling Club (GCC) is 1100 members strong. GCC joined GCAT in a double debut candidate forum.
The GCAT Candidate endorsements are unanimously for Susan Bottcher, District 3; and unanimously for Helen K. Warren, At-Large Seat 2. The majority vote to endorse Sheryl Eddie (District 2) was 7 for, 1 against, and 1 abstaining.
Nine of the ten candidates for District 2, District 3, and At-Large Seat 2 honored a packed house and three media representatives with a lively debate about the future of Gainesville, its families, and the environment (Craig Carter was ill).
One question stated, “Transportation is something we all do together, no matter where we are from, our age, our gender, what we ride or drive, or our culture.”
Most of the candidates seemed to agree that some kind of multi-modal approach was wise. While there were differences, this was the most agreeable of meetings in a City Candidate forum in years. Multi-modalism is hot. Transit is good and needs expanding. Bike-ped is on the table. Complete Streets got a warm reception.
GCAT and GCC advocates generally argued that research, experience, local projects, and personal anecdotes favored a more multi-modal approach.
GCAT was in line to make endorsements after the meeting. GCC is waiting until a Board Meeting this Sunday, March 2.