Former Gainesville mayor dies

Former Gainesville Mayor Stuart “Craig” Lowe died on Saturday.

According to a city of Gainesville release, Lowe, 65, served as the District 4 commissioner from 2003-10 and then made history as the city’s first openly gay mayor, serving until 2013.

During Lowe’s time in office, the following items were accomplished:

• Opening of Senior Recreation Center at Northside Park
• Opening of Fire Station 8
• Installation of competition-level track at Fred Cone Park
• Opening of Innovation Square
• Approval of Sweetwater Wetlands Park project
• Removal of a cap that limited feeding homeless neighbors more than 13 meals per day.

Lowe also helped unite the community against a group of extremists who threatened to burn the Quran, the Islamic holy book. The story made international headlines.