The Gainesville Sun's 2024 Voter Guide: Florida House of Representatives District 22

In what is shaping up to be a competitive race, four candidates have qualified to appear on the ballot for Florida House District 22 primaries.

The position was previously held by Chuck Clemons, a prominent local Republican and creator of HB-1645, the bill that created the Gov. Ron DeSantis-appointed Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority. Clemons was first elected to the Florida House in 2016, but is leaving office because of term limits.

Read a breakdown of all the Florida House District 22 candidates with The Gainesville Sun’s 2024 voter guide.

More: 2024 Voter Guide: Gainesville City Commission. See how the candidates stack up

More: 2024 Voter Guide: School Board of Alachua County. See how the candidates stack up

Florida House District 22 - Republicans

There are two Republicans facing off in the primary, Raemi Eagle-Glenn and Chad "Cracker" Johnson.

Eagle-Glenn is the Alachua County Republican state committeewoman and was appointed by DeSantis to the Alachua County Commission before she was defeated by Commissioner Mary Alford in the 2022 election.

Her first priority is limiting the size of government in order to create a flourishing economy, according to her campaign website. Other priorities include supporting law enforcement, advocating for farmers and protecting the state’s natural resources.

Eagle-Glenn has raised $83,710 for her run, according to campaign finance data. Notable contributions include $20 from Alachua County Supervisor of Elections candidate Judith Jenson and $100 from State Attorney Brian Kramer.

Competing against Eagle-Glenn is Johnson, a former Levy County commissioner and former president of the Levy County Farm Bureau.

Johnson, a former Democrat, is endorsed by Clemons and the Associated Industries of Florida. He is prioritizing sustainable agriculture, lowering taxes, and parental rights in schools, according to his website.

Johnson has raised $132,460 for his run, according to campaign finance data. Notable contributions include $250 from Alachua County Sheriff Emery Gainey, $500 from Allen Law Firm, and $500 from local real estate developer Nathan Collier.

Florida House District 22 - Democrats

There are two qualifying Democrats running for Florida House District 22 — David Arreola and Amy Trask.

In 2017, Arreola became the youngest person ever elected to the Gainesville City Commission and was selected as mayor pro tempore twice. He also works for 21st Century Communications, a rural internet service.

His priorities include improving gun safety, increasing housing affordability and fighting for access to reproductive freedom, according to his campaign website. Arreola is endorsed by the North Central Florida Labor Council, Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward, numerous Gainesville commissioners and state Rep. Yvonne Hayes-Hinson.

Arreola has raised $66,842 for his run, according to campaign finance data. Notable contributions include $500 from Brandon Peters who was the Democratic nominee for the same seat in 2022, $50 from former Gainesville Commissioner Adrian Hayes-Santos, $25 from Commissioner Casey Willits, $100 from Commissioner Bryan Eastman, $50 from Alachua County School Board member Sarah Rockwell and $500 from James Coats, a previous member and DeSantis-appointee of the GRU Authority board.

Arreola will face Trask in the August primary. Trask describes herself as a parent and public servant and works as a landscape analyst for Harvard Safra Center for Ethics, according to her campaign website. Trask’s priorities include supporting public education, eliminating censorship in public education and protecting women’s rights.

Trask has raised $7,389 for her run, according to campaign finance data. Notable contributions include $50 from Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward, $100 from Rockwell and $100 from Alford.

Voters can find their precinct ahead of the August election by visiting the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections’ website.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: 2024 Voter Guide: Florida House of Representatives District 22