High Springs votes incumbents out

There was a changing of the guard on the High Springs City Commission Tuesday, as the two candidates who campaigned on the premise that government had grown too big in their small town emerged victorious from a crowded field that included two incumbents.

Dean Davis, 72, a 58-year High Springs resident and former president of the city's Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Merchants Association, and Eric May, 23, a graphics and Web site designer, were voted to three-year terms on the commission. Davis received 364 votes and May had 297 in a crowded seven-candidate race.

Three-term incumbent Jim Gabriel, High Springs' current mayor, and two-term incumbent Byran Williams were voted out of office.

May and Davis had similar campaign messages -- arguing that High Springs' budget and the size of city government had grown too large.

Tuesday night, May said he planned to go home and make out a list of priority issues he wants to tackle. He said one will be the potential privatization of some city services and jobs.

"I'm a big believer in the private sector," May said.

Davis said his goal was "to return control of government to the people."

"I think the people have spoken and I will do what they want, not what I want," he said. "Government should serve the people, not people serve the government."

Gabriel said he felt the city's government has grown more streamlined, not more bureaucratic, during his tenure -- pointing to the addition of a professional city manager and department heads.

"I've said all along, I think we in High Springs were doing a good job, moving forward and improving services," he said.

Contact Christopher Curry at 374-5088 or chris.curry@gvillesun.com