Thursday March 28th, 2024 12:07PM

Gainesville native asks home district to write him in for Hall County Commissioner's race

Signs for a Hall County Commission write-in candidate have started appearing around District 4.

The signs encourage voters to write-in Emory Turner, a longtime resident of District 4, in order to oust incumbent Jeff Stowe from the post.

"The number one thing is the community, I feel, has not been justly represented by ... the incumbent," said Turner over the phone. "And number two, by me being ... a more stable member of my community because of my age, I'm 72 years old, and I've been in the community this many years, been active in the community this many years, where people have to contact the incumbent and try to get his attention, they already have mine. I am a part of the needs and the things that are needed in District 4."

Turner graduated from E.E. Butler High School in 1966 and spent most of his adult life in the area, participating in varying civic activities. He said he was a part of the things that were needed in the community, which includes the Fair Street and Newtown communities, as well as the city of Gainesville itself, where Stowe resides.

"We have passed numerous SPLOSTs and had opportunities for financing this area if that's what he was interested in," said Turner, saying it felt like they remained at "Square One" for the new park located in the district. "I've been talking to other people, and while not all of them live in District 4, but other people show a great interest in getting that ball rolling. And I want to know, just what is the hold-up? What keeps things from happening?"

Stowe, via email statement, shared that the National Parks Service reported this week that they were in process of completing tribal consultation, and final approval on the grant was expected soon.

The future Butler Park is being built in the district on 13 acres of land behind Fieldale Farms, next to the former high school.

Speaking of Butler High, one of Turner's biggest ideas is to transform the building into a prosperous, multi-use development and community center. 

Stowe also has put forth effort on the former E.E. Butler High School. In recent years, Stowe has helped secure funding for and begin work on a new park on the property, though not without its challenges.

The former segregated high school was closed in 1969 as white and Black schools integrated in Gainesville. It most recently has served as the home of the Ninth District Opportunity Hall County Head Start Program, and previously the defunct Alpine Psychoeducational Program, however, the majority of the school, including the gymnasium, has been left to blight, much to the upset of neighboring and longtime residents of the area, as well as alumni.

Other goals of Turner's include improving representation in the local governments, especially in terms of the racial challenges that have come up in Gainesville since he qualified March 6; addressing affordable housing needs in the city limits; and working with constituents on what is needed in the area. 

"I think I am the one who address these issues, and I think I can get things done," he said.

Turner holds degrees from Morris Brown College, an Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies Degree Approved by the American Bar Association, and the University of North Georgia, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Technology Management, and he is currently continuing his education in the arts at UNG. He has three adult children, five adult grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter. A more thorough biography is on his website.

You may remember his name running for the Ward 2 seat on the Gainesville City Council in 2015 when Bob Hamrick vacated the post. That seat is currently held by Zack Thompson. The Hall County Commission seat for District 4 has been occupied by Stowe since 2012. Prior to him, Ashley Bell held the seat.

Stowe said via an email statement that he was looking forward to this election cycle. He declined to comment specifically on his write-in competition, instead sharing how much he enjoyed being a commissioner.

"I have really enjoyed representing the people of District 4 these past 8 years. I have worked with other commissioners to get a new park for District 4, reopen 2 closed parks, open new sheriffs precincts, overhauled our fleet of public safety vehicles, and constructed a large section of the Highlands to Islands trail network," Stowe said in the statement. "I look forward to continuing working our commission to continue to make this the best place to live, work and play. We [have] it all in Hall."

Stowe is a 1985 graduate of Gainesville High School, Stowe holds a finance degree from Western Carolina University; he is currently an account executive at The Norton Agency. He and his wife have four children. His biography can be found here.

© Copyright 2024 AccessWDUN.com
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.