Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Jim Painter, who passed away following an unforeseen complication during his yearlong battle with cancer. Jim was a third-generation brick mason who devoted his life to the masonry industry in Gainesville, Florida. The first of many jobs the Painter family would work on at the University of Florida, one of Jim's family's first projects was working on Williamson Hall on the UF campus. Over the course of 40 years with Painter Masonry, Jim worked alongside his father, Abe, and his brother, Jerry, to set the standard for quality masonry for commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings at the University of Florida and across north central Florida. From 1990 to 1996, Jim served as a city commissioner in Gainesville and as the mayor from 1993 to 1996. While he was mayor, Gainesville earned the title of America's Most Livable City award. He gave his time and talents to many organizations, including the Alachua-Bradford County Workforce Development Board, the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Gainesville Elks Lodge, the Builders Association of North Central Florida, the Florida Home Builders Association, and the Girls Club of Alachua County. A stranger to none, Jim was a public servant, a friend, and a confidant to many. I know that I will miss Jim, and so many will miss him, as well. Congratulating the Hawthorne Girls Basketball Team”