Reina Saco Says Goodbye to Commission Seat
The afternoon of December 5 was the last time Gainesville City Commissioner Reina Saco sat in her seat as a city commissioner. Commissioner-elect James Ingle will be taking her seat at the next city commission meeting in January.
Before commissioners reflected on Saco’s time, Mayor Harvey Ward declared December 5 Video Games Are Epic Day in Gainesville.
Mayor Harvey Ward declares December 5 Video Games Are Epic Day in Gainesville at the December 5 Gainesville City Commission meeting
Commissioners approved a resolution amending the Fiscal Year 2025 budget by “making certain adjustments to the General Government Financial Operating Plan Budget.”
The commission went into the item recognizing Saco and played a video montage of her accomplishments.
Montage of Saco's accomplishments played at the December 5 Gainesville City Commission meeting
Chief Operating Officer Andrew Pearsons thanked Saco on behalf of general government employees and gave her a street sign with her name on it.
Gainesville’s Equal Opportunity Director Zeriah Folston said, “I appreciate you for all your support for all our initiatives. Whether it was housing or language access. I appreciate you looking to me as a source of wisdom for you. When you would get ‘Ahhhh’ and call me, I’d be like, ‘Okay, go on,’ and you would calm down, and I’d let you vent, and I appreciate that…. We have some small and sweet tokens for you.”
City Attorney Daniel Nee told Saco, “Good luck in the future. I think your endeavors are going to be bright. We’re glad to hear you’re staying in the community, and we look forward to seeing you throughout your career. Thank you.”
City Auditor Stephen Mhere told Saco, “My office is very appreciative of what you’ve done for us. They would like to wish you good luck with a card.”
City Clerk Kristen Bryant told Saco, “I started as an executive assistant when I got to know you. Seeing you go down to those rental housing meetings down in the basement that sometimes went to overflowing, we had to call the police to come in and keep everyone calm. You fought really hard for renters’ rights and standing up for people…. We wish you all the best, and on behalf of the City Clerk’s office, we have a little token.”
Commissioner Casey Willits spoke highly of Saco and said she is focused on “getting the end results even if she or we aren’t on the commission or alive to see those results.”
Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut said she’s learned a lot by “listening and watching” Saco and that the commission will “miss her dearly.”
Commissioner Ed Book told Saco, “When I hear you talk about legal advice, that is your area of expertise, and I listen even if we’re on different sides.”
Ward said, “I knew Reina because she was a dedicated activist in these halls and at the county commission, getting work done and getting things passed…. We have a lot of people standing here and shouting at us. That happens partially because that's the first thing people do as an activist. They think that's the way it’s supposed to work because that's what they see. She didn’t just come here to talk to us or at us or yell at us every now and then; she also made appointments to talk with us and make sure we understood her issues."
Saco said she ran for city commission because she didn’t think “three minutes would be enough,” referring to the amount of time Gainesville citizens get for public comment. “Turns out I learned three minutes is plenty,” said Saco.
Saco reflected on her time as a commissioner saying, "It has been an experience I will not regret and that I will not forget. There were good times, and there were bad times, and there were worse times. There were wonderful, elated moments that I genuinely felt we had done something good.... I’m proud of what I’ve done. I don’t think there is a vote I regret here.”
Reina Saco's last words as Gainesville City Commissioner (December 5 Gainesville City Commission meeting)
