Previous Term(s): 2025-current 

Mayor:  2025-current

Term Expires: April 2028

Mayor Walter Welch was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. He has been a resident of Alachua, Florida, for 30 years, and has been married to Annie Lee Welch for 35 years. He is a father to four adult children, LaTasha Williams, Lonika Boston, Akeem R. Welch and Tavereous Williams.

Mayor Welch is the current Pastor of True Worship Church of God in Christ, and in that role, he is in charge of the outreach ministry for the Gainesville District.

Prior to becoming Mayor, he worked for CareerSource as a Workforce Specialist Assistant and was a long-time Supervisor at Commercial Metals.

Mayor Welch finds great happiness in volunteering his time to the underserved, elderly and youth. In the past, he has volunteered at Habitat for Humanity, where he was in charge of customer service.

Mayor Welch was a long-time member of the Commission-appointed City of Alachua Citizen Advisory Task Force.

Mayor Welch has a few programs that he created and continues to operate, which include “Operation Shift Change,” “In God’s Care” and he teaches “Word School.”

“Operation Shift Change” is a program devoted to youth, where he mentors youth to maintain the straight and narrow path and assists them with career development skills.

“In God’s Care” is a program where Mayor Welch utilizes the youth in his “Operation Shift Change” to help the elderly with small home projects. These projects include painting, mowing and others as needed.

In “Word School,” Mayor Welch teaches youth how to read and understand the Bible. This is a three-year course, and at the end of the course the participants are presented with a certificate.

Mayor Welch is an author, and has published one book, “I’m Talking to You.” He is currently working on completing his second book, “I’m Not Perfect, but I am Completed.”