Craig Lowe
Stuart Craig Lowe (July 18, 1957 – January 14, 2023) was an American politician who served as Mayor of Gainesville, Florida, from 2010 to 2013; he previously served as Gainesville City Commissioner from 2003 through his becoming mayor. Lowe was the first openly gay mayor of the city.
Craig Lowe | |
|---|---|
Lowe in 2010 | |
| Mayor of Gainesville | |
| In office May 20, 2010 – May 23, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Pegeen Hanrahan |
| Succeeded by | Ed Braddy |
| City Commissioner from Gainesville District 4 | |
| Assumed office May 22, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | Randy Wells |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 18, 1957 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | January 14, 2023 (aged 65) Gainesville, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater |
|
| Profession | Scientist, educator |
| Website | City of Gainesville Bio |
Lowe was first elected to the Gainesville City Commission to fill the newly created District 4 seat for a one-year term in April 2003 and consecutively to two full (3-year) terms until being sworn in as mayor.
After winning a runoff election on April 13, 2010, by a margin of 42 votes (which held through an automatic recount) Lowe became mayor-elect of Gainesville. He was sworn in on May 20, 2010. He lost his bid for re-election on April 16, 2013, to former City Commissioner Ed Braddy after being arrested for a DUI during the campaign.
Lowe also served as Chair of the Gainesville City Commission’s Equal Opportunity Committee, a member of the Regional Utilities, Community Development, and Countywide Visioning & Planning committees as well as the local Community Redevelopment Agency, the Gainesville/Alachua County Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization and the Alachua County Library Governing Board.
Lowe was a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition, an organization formed in 2006 and co-chaired by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.