Incumbent Marihelen Wheeler to face Ed Braddy in Alachua County commission District 2 race

Katie Delk
·2 min read

In a decisive victory, incumbent Marihelen Wheeler won the Democratic primary election Tuesday for the Alachua county commission’s District 2 seat.

Wheeler will face former Gainesville mayor and Alachua County Republican Party chairman Ed Braddy in November.

Marihelen Wheeler, who won her primary to defend her county commission seat, talks with supporters at an election night party at Cypress & Grove Brewery in Gainesville FL. August 23, 2022.
Marihelen Wheeler, who won her primary to defend her county commission seat, talks with supporters at an election night party at Cypress & Grove Brewery in Gainesville FL. August 23, 2022.

Wheeler, 71, faced former facilities director Charlie Jackson in the primary. Jackson was terminated from the job for charges of retaliation and falsification of documents.

Roughly 72.7% of county voters supported Wheeler over Jackson, nearly tripling his vote count.

She watched her votes pour in at Cypress and Grove Brewing Co., surrounded by fellow candidates Harvey Ward, Tina Certain, James Ingle and Sarah Rockwell.

“Running friends against friends is hard. Democrats running against Democrats in this community, particularly, is hard,” Wheeler said. “I feel really relieved to have this part done.”

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Wheeler is serving her first term on the county commission after being elected in 2018. She previously ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2014 and the Florida House in 2012 and 2016.

She had taught for 36 years, most of which were spent at Westwood Middle School, before retiring from teaching.

Her seat is among three on the county commission that are up for grabs in November, with the Democratic majority facing Republican challengers.

“We will be running parallel to each other and supporting each other as we go,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler said she’s built bridges between people, and if elected, would aim to do so for residents in her largely conservative district. She said they relate over Southern cooking, music and a small-town upbringing.

She plans to advocate for their needs, such as establishing traffic lights, and also prioritizes policies that protect the environment and migrant rights.

Wheeler also looks forward to the grand opening of Camp Cuscowilla, where the Seminole Nation of Florida will offer a blessing.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Marihelen Wheeler facing Ed Braddy in Alachua County commission race