Ward returns from D.C., praises opportunities 

Mayor-elect Harvey Ward returned from a White House trip and praised the opportunities created by the Biden administration.  

“This administration has created and is creating opportunities for our neighbors in Gainesville the likes of which have not been seen in my lifetime,” Ward said in a Facebook post.  

Ward joined a contingent of newly elected mayors who met and questioned the Secretaries of Labor, Transportation and Housing and Urban Development along with members of their staff.  

In the post, Ward said contacts he made will help Gainesville in the years to come.  

“It was, as you might expect, a profound experience personally, but more importantly, I believe the contacts I was able to make and the relationships I hope to build will be good for our city and our neighbors,” Ward said.  

Ward added that the mayoral post tends to isolate, and he anticipates creating relationships through the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the Democratic Mayors Association. He also said he will travel as mayor as the role demands.  

“Gainesville is a university community,” Ward said. “We expect our leaders to be well-informed and to have a good network of professional relationships.” 

Ward won a runoff election in November and will take office in January.