Santa Fe student files to run for mayor

A 20-year-old Santa Fe College student has filed to run for Gainesville mayor.

Marlon ChristanBruce, a political science major, filed to run against Mayor Lauren Poe last week, according to campaign documents.

Bruce joins a pool of candidates hoping to unseat Poe that includes Jenn Powell and Jennifer Reid.

Bruce said he decided to run after becoming concerned with public safety issues, primarily the pay and staffing of first responders, the city’s lack of affordable housing and increased GRU utility rates.

“I chose to run because I feel like I have to run,” he said. “The problems that we are facing shouldn't be problems, but they are.”

He moved to Gainesville about two years ago from Ocala to attend SF College where he worked as a senator for student government. He is a first-generation American with two Jamaican immigrant parents. He works as a leasing specialist for The Pavilion on 62nd, a student living complex in west Gainesville.

Bruce is politically active and worked on state Rep. Chuck Clemons’ re-election campaign. He is a registered Republican, though the mayoral race is nonpartisan. He supported Sen. Keith Perry and U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho during the midterm elections and attended Gov. Ron DeSantis’ inauguration.

While working with Clemons, R-Newberry, Bruce said he learned the importance of connecting with people on a “one-on-one” level and to not assume how people feel about issues.

But Bruce may face a hurdle ahead of the March election.

According to his voting record, he was previously registered to vote in Precinct 62, which he did in the Aug. 28 primary. The precinct is outside the city limits.

In order to run for City Commission, candidates must live within the city limits for at least six months before qualifying.

Bruce said he was unable to change his voter information in time for the primary but that he has been a city resident longer than six months. He said he'd provide The Sun with a document on Tuesday that proves he meets residency requirements but didn't send one.

Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office outreach director TJ Pyche, said voters can update their information on Election Day and are asked if they need to change any information prior to voting. If someone needs to change their address, he added, they are sent to the correct voting precinct.

Bruce said in a phone interview that he knowingly voted at the wrong precinct.

Bruce's address listed on his campaign documents and voter registration places him inside city limits at Precinct 44, though the change didn't take effect until late October, according to state voter records.

The city election will be held March 19. The mayoral and District 4 commissioner races will be on the ballot.

As of Tuesday, no one has filed to challenge District 4 Commissioner Adrian Hayes-Santos, though Bruce said a close friend of his is contemplating a run.

The qualifying period to run for the commission ends Feb. 1 at noon.