Primary Election – August 18
Because there are more than 2 candidates running for Groveland City Council District 3, a primary election will be held on August 18 and the candidate who receives more than 50% of the vote will be elected. If none of the candidates receive a majority vote, the two candidates with the highest number of votes will participate in a run-off on November 3 ballot.
City Council District 3: Three candidates are vying for the position: Ana Afshin, Barbara Gaines and Dina Sweatt
Ana Afshin
My Vision For The Future of Groveland: I believe that several changes need to be made. Some of my goals for Groveland are as follows… Work with FDOT to fix Crittenden along with other roads. As well as study traffic incidents and add lights where they are needed. Work with home builders to create housing that is affordable. Setting a max price in the mid $200,000s. That will allow for more people to afford homes. I also want to have programs for our Heroes and allow them the opportunity to purchase a home in our city. Revitalize the downtown and the train depot. We need another grocery store. For example, Sprouts. Bring developers to add office and retail spaces as well as bring boutique dine-in restaurants. Build a Dog park. YMCA with fitness center, pool, playground, after school programs, etc. Incentives for small business owners to open new businesses or existing businesses to revitalize their locations. A weekly farmers market or a permanent location. Maybe something similar to Granville Island in Vancouver Canada. I want to start a committee that visits our different communities and speaks directly to our residents. One community bi-weekly where residents can voice their concerns and opinions. My mission is to EXCEED…Exceeding Community Expectations Every Day!
Ana is from Lynnwood, Washington and Broker/Owner of Vera Mortgage.
Barbara Gaines
I am Barbara Gaines and I’m running for Groveland’s City Council District 3. I’ve been married for 35 years and my husband and I have 3 children, 6 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. I’ve been a resident of Groveland for 6 years and this community is an extraordinary place to live. For 35+ years, I served my country and community at the federal level. I want to continue my service on the City Council because of my passion for public service. When we moved here as permanent snowbirds, we chose Groveland because we felt, and still feel, that Groveland lives up to its reputation as the “City with Natural Charm.”
I care about Groveland and the people who live, work, and play here and I truly believe your voice matters. Some citizens in District 3 feel they are not represented as we plan for growth that will affect every citizen, in every neighborhood. I believe we need a balanced Council with representatives from diverse backgrounds. I know I am the person who can bridge the gap between the community and the Council. My experience and leadership as a public servant gives me a unique perspective that will help the Council and staff in building a consensus o
Dina Sweatt (incumbent)
Campaigning during the Coronavirus pandemic sure has been interesting. At any other time, I would be out knocking on doors and talking to voters about my record and my vision for Groveland. Since we can’t do that, talking to voters here on Facebook is the next best thing.
The No. 1 question I get from voters is why I am running for re-election on the Groveland City Council. My answer is simple: I love Groveland and I am passionate about our city’s future.
Here’s some of my history: I have lived in Groveland for nearly 19 years and the longer I lived here, the more I wanted to get involved. I attended the City Council meetings and even served on the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) board) for almost 2 years before running for City Council, District 3. I’ve participated in the Christmas parades. I did a marketplace with vendors one Easter where my mother and I stuffed 6,500 Easter Eggs. My husband and I – along with a few volunteers – put those eggs all over Lake David Park. We actually had to do two egg hunts to accommodate all the children. A friend of mine and her young gentleman friend played the Easter bunnies and the children had a great time! The bunnies were brought into the park by Rose Radzik driving her vintage Mustang. It was a great day. I am also the co-founder of Groveland Cares, an organization that feeds the needy at Thanksgiving.
One of the things you learn as an elected official is how much power you actually have, and what it takes to get things done. As a Council member, I have one of five votes. In order to get anything done, the Council members have to build consensus and persuade the other council members to go along with them. As I think back on my City Council service, I have come to understand that I am a doer and a helper. I like to help get things done the right way, in a way that we can be all proud of. Other Council members have their own specialties, like watching over the numbers or serving as a person who networks, but we are all ambassadors for Groveland.
Thinking about Groveland’s future, here’s what our City needs more than ever: Proven leadership. After many years of struggling, Groveland is on the right track. We have had some big successes in recent years such as recruiting Kroger-Ocado, which will bring jobs to our community. We also have some great plans in place to re-align State Road 50 and create a revitalized, walkable downtown business district. I am deeply honored to be part of a great City Council that has seen success and has put great plans in place.
I love serving my community and I LOVE Groveland. I respectfully ask for your vote
November Election
District 1 Mayor – Mayor Evelyn Wilson (incumbent) and Chris Walker
