The year in politics was filled with deceptive tactics from dark money groups, a flurry of false campaign advertisements, direct and veiled threats made from sitting officials and people barking about Gainesville’s utility.

In other words, 2018 was much like any other election year.

Here’s a recap of some of the biggest stories throughout 2018:

Senate race draws dark money



Arguably the most controversial local race this past election cycle was the state Senate District 8 race, where Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, defeated first-time Democratic candidate Kayser Enneking by 2,000 votes, in a race that brought out more than 200,000 voters.

The results of the race might have been different, however, had independent candidate Charles Goston, a longtime registered Democrat, not been in the mix. He pulled in 4,300 votes, most of which came from heavily-Democratic Alachua County.

But it was more the tactics used by Republican operatives to help Perry, while attacking Enneking throughout the primary and general elections that caught constituents' attention. Much of the criticism came via direct mailers and commercials that made false claims against Enneking.

In the primary election, a Ocala-based nonprofit civil rights group pushed out about $100,000 in dark money advertisements that attacked Enneking and supported her lesser-funded Democratic opponent Olysha Magruder. Magruder’s campaign officials said they didn’t know who was behind the Ocala group’s ads, as the group was not a registered political committee at the time.

During the general election, those funding Goston's campaign used a similar tactic. Goston received about $135,000 from a PAC that pushed out more than $100,000 in advertisements from dark money donations. Goston also said he didn't know who was behind the money, but said he didn't care and that voters didn't have a right to know.

Goston received much of his individual campaign donations from Republican lobbyists in Tallahassee who also have given about $64,000 to Republican operatives and PACs working for and funding Perry’s campaign. Those behind the Magruder ads also led back to the GOP.

Voters reject GRU referendum



After much debate over increasing rates at Gainesville Regional Utilities, voters rejected a referendum in November that would have given an independent, un-elected board the authority to make GRU-related decisions. Currently, the City Commission makes GRU decisions and receives recommendations from its Utility Advisory Board.

Supporters of the referendum argued that the commission shouldn’t be allowed to make GRU decisions after increasing rates each of the last two years during budget talks. Some also pointed to a pair of biomass plant contracts that nearly doubled the city’s debt and will cost taxpayers $1.5 billion over the next 30 years.

City Commissioners, while campaigning against the referendum, said they would be open to creating an independent board that could make decisions regarding the utility, but not the version that was on the ballot.

The city has not taken up the discussion since the referendum failed but have allowed two additional non-voting members onto its UAB.

African-American women win offices

Two women were elected to the Gainesville city commission in 2018. Gail Johnson and Gigi Simmons were elected to the City Commission, making it the first time two black women served on the board at the same time.

Newberry official sparks controversy



Over the summer, one Newberry city commissioner made headlines after threatening a resident after a debate about whether the city should add speed tables on a road.

According to a 911 call, Coleman threatened to “kick” one of his neighbor’s “f****** teeth in” over the phone. Authorities went to each home and deemed there was no threat. Coleman, who initially denied making the comment, later told The Sun he was sorry for doing so.

After that incident, other Newberry residents spoke out against Coleman, supplying evidence to show that he had a history of being offensive or aggressive toward others since he was elected.

Some of the unrelated incidents included making bigoted remarks to a city employee from Pakistan, making an obscene gesture to a family setting off fireworks, confronting bank tellers over a dispute with the city and threatening to "whip" a woman outside City Hall.

Coleman told The Sun that “liberals that live here hate the good ol’ boys” and that the accusations against him were an orchestrated effort.

When residents showed up to City Hall calling for Coleman’s resignation, they were outnumbered by other residents who told the accusers to “toughen up” or that they didn’t believe the accusations and were sick of “political correctness.” Mayor Jordan Marlowe said the board couldn’t act unless complaints were found true in court with criminal charges. Coleman faced no disciplinary action from the city.