Current Gainesville mayor to run for elected post

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville's current mayor Thursday morning accidentally announced for a historic run to be the city's first full-time mayor.

Danny Dunagan was discussing the emergency order of succession for mayor when he disclosed that he would be running in August for mayor full-time.

Up to now, the position has been an un-elected post filled by rotating city council members.

"We've come a long way. We've come through some tough times, and we've got some exciting things in the future. I want to carry them through. There's just so many things going on. There's so many things that are going to happen that I want to be a part of," Dunagan said.

Political newcomer Charles Alvarez announced his intentions to run for mayor last Friday.

The announcement by Councilman George Wangemann that he was resigning as Mayor ProTem to seek re-election to his council seat brought on discussion of the resolution for an emergency interim succession plan to fill the mayor's office.

"Mr. Hamrick (Bob Hamrick) will move into the Mayor ProTem position and Myrtle (Myrtle Figueras) will move in behind him and Ruth Bruner, and then George,(George Wangemann), the Mayor said. "I will have to resign in August to run for mayor and Mr. Hamrick will become mayor then."

In effect, Dunagan disclosed the poorly kept secret that he was planning to run for a full term as mayor, so he decided to make it official. The mayoral election's historic significance did not escape Dunagan, who said if elected he would be the first mayor of the city chosen by the voters.

"That's exciting, it's very humbling," Dunagan added. "We've still got time to go, I've got an opponent and we have more opponents and that's what it's about, that's what makes America great. It'll be the first time the city of Gainesville will have an elected mayor."

Discussion on making Gainesville's mayor an elected post began in 2008 by state legislators and council members, who had to approve a city charter amendment to permit it. Up to now the mayor has performed ceremonial duties and presided over council meetings, with administrative decisions made by the council as a whole and carried out by the city manager.

At its Thursday morning work session Council also agreed to formalize a 25 year old agreement for the Hall County Elections Office to provide election services. City Clerk Denise Jordan additionally announced the three day qualifying period for city elections in November for Mayor, Council Wards (1) and (4) and Gainesville Board of Education Districts (1) and (4).

Qualifying begins Monday, August 26th at 8:30 AM and ends Wednesday, August 28th, at 4:30 PM.