I know what Ken McGurn is about. I knew him 25 years ago. I knew one of his best friends and associates very well. His buddy’s name is William Munselle and Bill was one of my best bosses’
ever. Ken McGurn and my former Boss were both president of the Gainesville Apartment Association. Both have been politically active together. I would dare say that I am politically active this very day because of what I have learned from this man, directly and through my boss.
I have spoken to Ken and his campaign since he threw his hat in the ring challenging do nothing Yoho for the 3rd district congressional seat.
I speak my mind and was taught under the guidance of Ken McGurn the very importance of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The knowledge I learned from Ken and my former boss sent me all the way to Washington DC via invitation of Vice President Gore in the year 2000. The knowledge I learned and I acted upon actually earned my essay award from C-Span 2003. The achievements and inspiration of Ken McGurn AND his wife, Linda is almost unbelievable, but true.
I have no idea how many lives were saved in Gainesville in the year 1990 due to the leadership of this man who was President of the Gainesville Apartment Association during and after the tragic events surrounding the Gainesville Murders. I diaried that story years ago here on Daily Kos.
Ken is the most influential job creator in my opinion for the State of Florida. He is a superpower regarding solar energy. I could go on and on but next to the presidency, I think Florida’s best interest is to unseat YOHO and put a man such as Ken McGurn in office. I know Max Cleland and I know Ken McGurn. They are both cut from the same cloth.
x YouTube VideoKen actually would make a great senator or even president. God knows I think he is the best of the best.
Ken has been working for over 35 years to create jobs in our district: He brought a thousand jobs to East Gainesville, then turned his attention to the downtown Gainesville’s, crime-ridden ‘pocket of poverty’ turning it into a thriving business and cultural center bringing thousands of jobs to this once impoverished area. His efforts increased the property tax base by 800%, an additional almost $4,000,000 annual tax revenue for the City and County.
Ken started the Downtown Tech Center, the Founder’s Pad, and helped nurture Hacker Space and Hacker House, where he finances and mentors’ startup companies and young entrepreneurs. He served as Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Florida’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
He was Chair of the local multi-County Work Force Board when it earned the best workforce board in the country, by thinking outside the box, saving taxpayers money while getting people trained for better jobs.
While Congress has been about partisan squabbling, Ken is about jobs. Ken knows what is needed to create jobs, good jobs.
Ken has several plans to bring jobs to this district and to make sure we are training people for the jobs that are here. Why not pay an employer to do on the job training. The employee gets the training he or she needs for that particular job, and we benefit from investing in the workforce.
Ken has the largest solar power project in Marion County and more in Alachua County. He intends to build on what he is already doing by making this district the solar capital of the south. His plan will use Jacksonville’s port to bring in raw materials, transporting them by railroad to Starke and Hawthorne and Palatka, converting empty buildings into manufacturing and assembly factories, making solar even more affordable. This will allow our manufacturing and assembly facilities to export the systems to Georgia and South Florida. Then there will be the thousands of construction jobs installing the systems throughout the district. He will use training programs and federal money ‘already here’ to train people for these jobs. Solar will save homeowners and businesses money. It will reduce utility costs for our schools and government buildings allowing us to cut taxes.
Ken presided over The Gainesville Apartment Association and in cooperation with law enforcement did actual training for safety on the property I was overseeing. I know this.. I was there. There was no safety measure that was overlooked for the safety of the citizens and students residing in Gainesville, 1990.
Ken is a combat veteran of Vietnam.
Ken is the breath of fresh air and representation needed not only for Florida but for the entire country. Yoho is taking up space in congress and licking Donald Trump’s boots by endorsing him twice. This should not even be a contest. JUST LOOK AT THE ACHIEVEMENTS:
Positions Held State Certified General Contractor – Inactive State Registered Real Estate Broker State Certified Community Association Manager University of Florida Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Board Director Neuronet, LLC Director Stage Tally, LLC Director Cavidyne, LLC Director Sporting Odyssey, LLC Director CCP Fund1 (Real Estate Investment Fund) Executive Board Emergent 1 – Tech Start-Up Company Investment Group Past Member Florida Green Building Coalition Past Member Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness – Chair of Two of Seven Committees Past Chair Alachua/Bradford Region 9 Workforce Board (2007-2009) Past Chair Gold Standard Multi-Media (Medical Software Company) Past Chair University of Florida Real Estate Advisory Board Past PAC Chair State Home Builders Association Past President Board of Directors Florida State Museum of Natural History Past President Gainesville Apartment Association Past Chair Alachua County Community Development Block Grant Board Past Chair Downtown Redevelopment Agency Past Chair Downtown Redevelopment Authority Past Chair Downtown Redevelopment Advisory Board Past Chair Alachua County Housing Finance Authority Past Chair Boy Scouts North Florida Council Finance Champaign Committee Past Chair Gainesville Builders Association PAC Committee Past Chair Several Chamber of Commerce Committees Past Vice-President Alachua County Arts Council Past Member United Way Executive Board Past Director National Home Builders Association Past Director Gainesville Builders Association Past Director Alachua County Early Learning Coalition Twice Past President Gainesville Chamber Orchestra Board Twice Past President Gainesville Real Estate Exchangers Past Owner and Publisher of The Business Journal Past General Member of other boards like S.P.A.R.K. Awards and Recognition 2016 University of Florida – Lifetime Volunteer AwardLifetime Volunteers Award 2016
2016 Gainesville Sun – Spirit of Gainesville Community Service Award 2012 University Of Florida “Distinguished Alumni.” 2011 Appreciation of Support “Making Strides” Against Breast Cancer 2011 Florida Trend Magazine 2011 “Must Know People” in Gainesville 2010 SEBC Grand Aurora Award for Parking Garage Solar Voltaic Project 2010 SEBC Aurora Award for Solar Voltaic Energy Home 2009 Matheson Historical Society for Significant and Lasting Contributions to History of Alachua County 2009 Chamber of Commerce Annual Leadership Award for Work Force Board 2007 University of Florida CEI Gainesville Entrepreneur of the Year 2007 Alachua Conservation Trust’s Conservation Stewards of the Year 2005 National Alliance to Save Energy 2005 Energy Value Housing Award 2001 South Eastern Building Conference (SEBC) Gold Aurora Award for Best Commercial Project 2001 SEBC (11 Southern States) – Aurora Award for Best Redevelopment 2001 SEBC – Aurora Award for “Best Water Wise” Development (Conservation) 2001 SEBC – Aurora Award for Best Office/Commercial Park 2001 Masonry Association of Florida “Outstanding Masonry Multifamily Project for 2001”. 2001 National Home Builder’s Energy Value Housing Award 2000 Gainesville Sun Newspaper’s “50 People Who Made a Difference in North Central Florida Over the Last Century” 2000 Governor Bush’s Sustainable Florida Initiative Award2001 Grand Aurora Award
2000 Keep Alachua County Beautiful Chairman’s Millennium Gold Award for the people who made the most difference in the county over the millennium 2000 Gainesville City Beautification First Place Award for Union Street Station Building 2000 Insite Magazine “Gainesville’s 20 Most Interesting People” 2000 Alachua County Commission Appreciation of Voluntary Service 1999 North Central Florida Boy Scout Recognition for Outstanding Volunteer Support 1999 Continuous Support of Downtown Festival and Art Show 1998 North Central Florida Boy Scout Recognition for Outstanding Volunteer Support 1998 Gainesville Builder’s Association for Outstanding Volunteer Support 1997 United Way Appreciation of Volunteer Support 1997 Friends of the Gainesville Mounted Patrol Appreciation of Support 1997 Hippodrome State Theater for Contribution to the Arts 1996 YMCA Appreciation Award 1996 Hippodrome State Theater for Exceptional Support 1996 First Place Beautification Award – City of Baytown, Texas 1995 Gainesville Sun Newspaper’s Business People of the Year 1995 Chamber of Commerce’s top volunteers of the year 1994 Appreciation of Service Gainesville Chamber of Commerce 1994 Historic Gainesville Preservation Award for Renovation of the Opera House2000 Keep Alachua County Beautiful Chairman’s Millennium Gold Award
1994 Gainesville City Beautification Award for Historic Opera House Renovation 1993 First Place Beautification Award – City of Baytown, Texas 1992 Redevelopment Agency and City Commission Award for Outstanding Renovations 1991 Hippodrome State Theater for Exceptional Support 1990 Stop Children’s Cancer, Inc. Appreciation Award 1989 Alachua County Mental Health Association Appreciation of Support 1989 City Commission Award for a Unique Joint Community Project 1989 Business Gainesville Magazine Real Estate People of the Year 1988 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Certificate of National Merit 1988 Alachua County Arts Council and Chamber of Commerce for Outstanding Support 1988 City Beautification Award for Sun Center East Most Beautiful Atrium Design 1988 Local Architectural Institute of America Award for Outstanding Design 1988 City Beautification Award for Downtown Sun Center West office building 1988 City Beautification Award for Downtown Arlington Square Apartments 1987 Neighborhood Housing Services Neighborhood Preservation Award 1987 City Beautification Award for the Downtown Sun Center East building 1987 City Commission Award for Outstanding Renovations of the Sun Center 1986 City Commission Award for Outstanding Renovations of the Florida Theatre 1984 Alachua County Coordinated Child Care Award for Major Program Assistance 1983 City Commission Award for Outstanding Renovations at 108-112 South Main StreetGET THE VOTE OUT FOR KEN MCGURN.
This is one man I cannot recommend enough !!!!! The above is who he is. I have seen him in action for some of these projects for over 25 years. Send this info to everyone you know. Send this GOTV to all voters in the third district and all donors ..everywhere.
If one life truly touches another and I believe it does, then I am partly who I am because of his influence. I am politically active. I help veterans and I sure want to pay forward helping this one.
“The incident in Gainesville was one of many reasons Congress passes the Clery Act,” Barton said. “The president of every college has to sign an affidavit for every crime on campus — so that the student applicant to the university knows whether there is a higher crime rate and how well that institution is managed.”
The president and two top administrators at Eastern Michigan University were fired in 2007 for not reporting the killing of Laura Dickinson by another student as a murder.
Today, universities have better means of communicating when an attack occurs on campus, better mental health services for students and the Tarasoff rule that allows psychiatrists, lawyers, clergy and others to break confidentiality rules if someone has made a direct threat to themselves or someone else.
Florida is cited among the five best prepared states in the country for identifying students at risk, he said, thanks largely to how UF responded to Rolling and other campus crimes.
Ken Mc Gurn helped keep Gainesville safe after the Gainesville Murders.
x YouTube VideoVOTE KEN MCGURN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bojo Yoho !!! Send him home and Vote Ken In.
Ken is a member of 90 for 90 and a supporter of Dr. Reid.