Alachua asks county Supervisor of Elections to run city's elections

ALACHUA - The city of Alachua does not want to run its own elections any more.

The city has asked for the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections to take over.

"Our city is growing, and the complexities of running a municipal election would best be handled by an office that performs those duties all year," Alachua City Manager Clovis Watson Jr. wrote in a Sept. 5 letter.

That letter was sent to Pam Carpenter, the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections. Watson asked for the county to take over the next city elections, which will be held in April of 2007.

Carpenter said she and Watson will soon meet to discuss the possibility. The only city to use the county for elections is Gainesville, and when a city uses the county, the city loses much flexibility, Carpenter said.

"We need to sit down and discuss the pros and cons and the cost," she said.

Carpenter said other cities have approached her about taking over their elections, as well. She needs to look at the big picture of what her office can handle, she said.

The Alachua County Supervisor of Elections is not required to run a city's elections, Carpenter said, adding that there must be mutual agreement between a city and her office before the county can take over.