Updated: City's Preservation Chairman Seeking Office

"ALL ABOUT PLANNING"

Gary Gover, the long time chairman of the city's History Preservation Committee has announced he is running for city council for the first time; he also currently serves on the city's recycling and environmental committees -- and has on various others in the past as well.

He is also a member and former chairman of the annual 'Earth Day Mobile' event, held each Spring at the pier park (click).

Retired from federal civil service, in recent years Gover has kept busy raising his two grandchildren.

In his announcement, Gover emphasized the need for sound planning to maintain the city's special character.

Gover's campaign so far is notable for its shoestring budget and low tech campaign signs.

His campaign Facebook page may be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/Gary-Gover-for-Fairhope-1806126126284895/?fref=ts

Gary Gover for Fairhope City Council Place No. 5

                                              

 "I’m All About the Plan"

I’m Gary Gover, and I’m running for a place on the Fairhope City Council.

Let me honor the community of Fairhope for making the City’s new
Comprehensive Plan. It went into effect in June, and it is simply outstanding. I will work relentlessly to bring the City’s resources to accomplishing the plan.

I want Fairhope to always be a jewel among communities. I want it to be
outstanding in all its characteristics. The vision of the plan is for
Fairhope to continue to be a premier small town, where growth enhances the
vibrancy, while offering exceptional quality of life and preserving
the “Fairhope” identity.

Fairhope is successful and rapidly growing. The rapid growth demands great attention in order to ensure a highly successful future. Ou priorities have to include planning, environment, transportation, schools, preservation, safety, and more, and these are all in the scope of the new comprehensive plan. It will be my objective as a member of the City Council to have the city’s leadership team focus on the plan and provide necessary resources for its accomplishment.

As it stands, the Comprehensive Plan has ten categories of goals, 66 objectives, and 167 tasks, many to be done within the coming four-year term. The plan’s important work will fill the city’s plate with projects. It’s time to get started and I know the work that needs to be done.

Education:

B.S. in Biological Science, State University of New York at Stony Brook, 1970

Graduate work in Business Administration, Temple University, 1972

Graduate work in Public Administration, Southern Illinois University 1974-1975

Career:

Supervisory systems analyst (supervisor, manager, division chief, project manager, and team member on large-scale information system projects), US Department of Veterans Affairs 1971-1996, and retired to Fairhope, Alabama

Military Service:

US Marine Corps, electronics instructor, 1963-1967

Current Local Organizations/Activities:

Fairhope Environmental Advisory Board – member; past chairman

Fairhope Historic Preservation Committee – member, secretary, chairman

Fairhope Recycling Committee – member,

Earth Day Mobile Bay, Inc. – chairman & president

Local Food Production Initiative – vice president

Fairhope Seniors Center “Sailing on Mobile Bay” – 4000 passengers, complimentary

Fairhope Seniors Center “Coffee & Conversation” – A decade of talk on issues

Past Local Organizations/Activities:

Fairhope Citizens Advisory Committee – member, chairman

Baldwin County Public Transit Coalition – member, secretary

Citizens for Responsible Government – member, secretary, chairman

Share the Beach – volunteer

Coastal Cleanup – volunteer, zone captain

Alabama Coastal Foundation Water Festival – volunteer

Fairhope Soccer League – coach

Fairhope High School Swim Club – timer, coach

Fairhope Area Swim Team – timer, stroke & turn judge

Local Awards:

Alabama Senior Citizens Hall of Fame Commission Golden Eagle Honorary Award

Baldwin County Environmental Achievement Award

govers (at) bellsouth.net