Gainesville Mayoral Candidates Speakers: Pegeen Hanrahan and Wesley Watson Elgee A. Alumnus Award Winner: Jani Sherrard
PEGEEN HANRAHAN is mayor (as of 2006) of Gainesville, Florida, her native city. Described by The Nation as a "vegetarian, bike-riding environmentalist", Hanrahan has been active in politics since her teens. An environmental engineer, she was elected to the city commission at in 1995, and was elected mayor in 2004. Hanrahan has been married to Tony Malone since 2003. They had their first daughter, Evyleen, in 2005
WESLEY WATSON was born and raised in Avon Park, Florida and graduated from Avon Park High School in 1975. He has been married to LuAnne for 30 years and has lived and worked in Gainesville since 1977. He retired from Gainesville Gas Co. / Gainesville Regional Utilities in 2002 after 25 years of service. While employed, he held leadership positions with the union. He and his wife own a small business and manage their rental properties, since 1997.
On Saturday, February 24, 2007, the LGAA team played in the ACEL & Gainesville Jaycees "Champions for Charity" kickball tournament at the Alachua County Fairgrounds. Team Kane won and gave their winnings of $2500 to Tyler's Hope. Tyler's Hope team won the $500 round and Rebuild Gainesville team won $500.
Alachua County Sheriff Candidates Speakers: Sadie Darnell and Emory Gainey Elgee A. Alumnus Award Winner: Evan Pitts
SADIE DARNELL One of Gainesville's best known law enforcement leaders, Darnell began working the streets at a time when women weren't welcome in law enforcement, and through sheer persistence and determination gradually won the respect of her brother officers. Darnell is perhaps best known as a ferocious advocate for victims rights. As GPD's public information officer during the student murders she handled national media inquiries with aplomb while compassionately dealing with the students' grief-stricken families. For years after the murders, Darnell personally maintained the student memorial on the 34th Street wall.
EMORY GAINEY Throughout his 24 - year career with the Alachua County Sheriff's Office, Gainey has fulfilled assignments within nearly every department. Today, he serves as Chief of Staff, the agency's highest - ranking position and second in command, and Chief Financial Officer. As such, he manages the agency's 800-plus employees and oversees the roughly $60 million dollar budget. This Gainesville native and University of Florida and FBI National Academy graduate is tough on crime but also pragmatic.
State Senate 14th District Candidates Speakers: Ed Jennings, Jr. and Perry McGriff Elgee A. Alumnus Award Winner: Jani Sherrard
ED JENNINGS, JR. Ed Jennings, Jr. has proven himself to be a leader in the State Legislature and the Gainesville community. Elected to the State House of Representatives in 2000, Ed has worked hard to improve the lives of the people of North Florida. During the 2006 Legislative Session, Representative Jennings served as Vice-Chair of the House Committee on Community Colleges and Workforce Development, a member of the Commerce Council, Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations, the House Insurance Committee and was the Immediate Past Chair of the Florida Conference of Black State Legislators.
PERRY McGRIFF also has a proven record as a leader in the State Legislature and the Gainesville community. Elected to the State House of Representatives in 2000 he has championed the critical need for consensus building to bene?t Floridian's health care, environment, economy, and most importantly, the education of our children. He has served his community as an Alachua County Commissioner, Gainesville City Commissioner and Mayor. He is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified County Mediator.
Gainesville Sun Editor and Editorial Cartoonist Speakers: Ron Cunningham and Jake Fuller Special Guest: Bill Nelson, US Senator, presented a special resolution to the UF Basketball Team in recognition of the NCAA National Title. Elgee A. Alumnus Award Winner: John Stevenson
BILL NELSON is a fifth-generation Floridian who has served the people of his home state for over 30 years as a state legislator, congressman, state insurance commissioner and now as a U.S. senator. During his time in the Senate, he's supported measures to protect consumers from identity theft and increase penalties for sending spam e-mails. He also has fought to get affordable prescription drugs for seniors and quality health care for veterans and their spouses. He has been an outspoken advocate for space exploration, and has worked in the Senate to protect Florida's environment and tourism-based economy by preventing oil drilling off US coastlines.
Gainesville Commission Candidates Forum Speakers: Jeanna Mastrodicasa and Tony Domenech Elgee A. Alumnus Award Winner: Chic Holden
JEANNA MASTRODICASA Dr. Mastrodicasa works with the undergraduate opportunities, including University Scholars Program and undergraduate research at UF, prestigious fellowship advising and recruiting, and general academic advising for the Honors Program. In 2004 she earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Florida. Before coming to work in the Honors Program, Dr. Mastrodicasa served as the Assistant Dean of Students for Orientation and an academic advisor/pre-law advisor in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UF. She earned a Master of Science degree in College Student Personnel from the Leadership Studies Unit in the College of Education at the University of Tennessee in 1997. She also holds a J.D. and a A.B.J. in public relations from the University of Georgia.
TONY DOMENECH The Key West native of Cuban descent and District 3 incumbent came to UF for his bachelor's degree in the 1960s, and, other than serving two years in Vietnam, he has lived in Gainesville ever since. Lynn, his wife and high school sweetheart, and daughter Jocelyn are UF grads as well. His longstanding ties with UF ensure that he's in tune with student needs, a critical point considering the mass of students concentrated in his district, the area west and southwest of UF's campus.
Inaugural Meeting Introduction: Jon Mills Speakers: Larry Cretul, Florida House of Representatives Elgee A. Alumnus Award Winner: Teresa Harrison
REP. LARRY CRETUL was first elected to his current seat in the Florida House of Representatives in 2002, defeating incumbent Perry McGriff. Prior to his election in 2002, he served on the Marion County Commission for eight years, including two terms as Chairman and Vice Chairman. His district includes a diverse population of citizens from Marion, Levy, and Alachua Counties.
A self-employed building contractor and licensed real estate broker, Rep. Cretul served as Board Member a of Marion County Chamber of Commerce, Board Member of the Economic Development Council, Board Member to Success by 6 Leadership Council, Board Member of the Children Alliance, and Advisory Board Member for the Salvation Army. A graduate of Leadership Ocala/Marion County and Leadership Gainesville, he also has served as past Chairman of the Community Council Against Substance Abuse and as a deacon of the First Baptist Church of Ocala. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
Rep. Larry Cretul has been a resident of Marion County for over 32 years and married to his childhood sweetheart, Lana, for over 35 years. They have two grown sons, Brian and Scott. When he finds the time, he enjoys touring the countryside with his wife on their Harley Davidson.
JON MILLS is Dean Emeritus, Professor of Law, and Director of Center for Governmental Responsibility at the University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law. As Dean, he secured 23 million dollars for new classroom and library facilities and hired 15 new faculty who contributed to making the current faculty the most diverse and productive in college history.
He has taught and lectured in Constitutional Law, International Trade and Environment in Costa Rica, Brazil, the University of Warsaw and Cambridge University. He has authored books, law review articles and reports on constitutional issues, environmental issues, Voting Rights, and Ethics in Government.
He has appeared on CNN's "Burden of Proof," Public Television's "Lehr Report," National Public Radio, ABC, BBC and other media. He also produced an Emmy winning show on the Florida Everglades. In public service, Mr. Mills served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. Since 2004, he chairs the Florida's Supreme Court Committee on Privacy and Court Records.
He acted as a Special Assistant State Attorney in the Rolling Murder Case, and an attorney in the Versace Murder Case, and the Dale Earnhardt case representing the privacy right of victims and victims' families. He is a scuba diver, licensed pilot and studied karate. He is married to Beth Mills and has two daughters, Marguerite and Elizabeth.
