GAINESVILLE — Veteran Gainesville city councilwoman Myrtle Figueras confirmed Sunday she will not seek re-election this year.
Figueras has been on the council 19 years, having been first elected to fill the unexpired term of the late John Morrow, Jr..
"I do not plan to run for a fifth term on the Gainesville City Council," Figueras said. "I am sure that our beautiful city has produced many others who will serve with as great a commitment to public service as I have."
Figueras first sought the city council seat after retiring after more than 30 years as teacher in the Gainesville City School System.
The full text of the statement announcing her decision follows:
"In late 1995, after retiring from 30+ years of teaching in the Gainesville School System, I made a decision to the run for the position to fill the unexpired term of John W. Morrow, Jr. [who had served as Council Member with 2 terms as Mayor] on the Gainesville City Council. In my mind at that time, I felt that I could serve in this role until someone else decided to take over.Today after filling the 3 remaining years of Mr. Morrow’s term, and being reelected for consecutive 4-year terms, my mind now leads me to resign from my service as Council Member as of December 31, 2015. TODAY, June 11, 2015, I do not plan to run for a 5th term on the Gainesville City Council. Who knows what will happen tomorrow? I am sure that our beautiful City has produced many others who will serve with as great a commitment to public service as I have.The trust that you have placed in me for the past 19 years to serve as a Member of the Gainesville City Council causes me to be even more humble. My major goal has been to connect the everyday life of average citizens with the actual functions of City government. Each resident is important! Each opinion matters, no matter the background or the area of town where one lives. I have wished to share the governmental services with everyone who would listen. I have aimed to share the beauty of appreciating what we already have with all that we wish for or that we may have perceived as the role of government in our daily living. I sincerely hope that the general public has begun to associate itself with the greatness, the goodness, the positiveness of City government, and that this positive foundation will lead all of us to enjoy and to have positive input in each area of our life, including our local government.
At age 72, I plan to continue to be used as the Master guides me into the next season of my life. I will always remain available to serve where needed."
