GAINESVILLE – 2019 will be the final year on the Gainesville City Council for longtime community servant Ruth Bruner.
She made her decision public at Tuesday evening’s voting session moments after Mayor Danny Dunagan presented the annual State of the City address. Most would agree that many of the highlights mentioned in the mayor’s speech could be traced back to Bruner’s 16-year involvement on the council.
The South Carolina native has lived in Gainesville since 1974, and after nearly a decade on the city’s school board Bruner made the decision to run for city council in 2003. At that time the position of mayor was rotated among city council members: Bruner took her turn in 2010 and served Gainesville well as the city’s top executive for the next two years.
Bruner said after Tuesday’s meeting, “After nearly twenty-six years of service, which I’ve loved, I’ve really enjoyed it, I feel like it’s time for somebody new to come in with some new ideas and let me have time do some of the things I want to do. It’s been a joy and I appreciate the support of the citizens.”
When asked what memories of her time on the council stood out she said, “I’m real proud of our emphasis, that we’re doing so much to support the Lake Lanier Olympic Center. That is such a great legacy from the (1996) Olympics and also such a great spot for rowing and canoeing and kayaking.”
“I was really one of the champions to get that started, to get some emphasis, back several years ago,” Bruner shared. Bruner also said building the Frances Meadows Center was something she was proud to have been a part of.
Her time on the council, she said, has not been without some controversy. She said, “When we bought the jail that was controversial; when we built the bridge that was controversial. Yet I feel like that was the right thing to do and I’m glad we did those kinds of things to sort of spur growth in midtown and downtown.”
“When we moved here in ‘74 the Square was kind of dead, there was not much going on. It was real quiet downtown; now it’s vibrant and parking is better with the new (expanded) deck and you can just see a lot of life and activity…a lot of young people downtown, and that’s great, and I’m proud of that.”
While Bruner did not disclose any names, she did say that she had talked to a couple of people who were interested in filling her Ward 5 seat. Those conversations, she said, led to her announcement being made now so those individuals can have ample opportunity to organize their own campaigns.
“I think we’re going to have some good candidates…(so I announced now) so they could be really thinking about it and planning and not wait until August…I think it’s going to give them time to make their plans.”
