'Faith in the citizens': Mayor Andy Harville ready to "hit the ground running"
Andy Harville picked up the voting results for the mayoral race in Guyton and did not waste any time looking at it. There was tension inside but in a good way.
And there it was – his name alongside the number of votes he had received. This time around, they outnumbered his opponent, incumbent Mayor Russ Deen.
He let out a sigh and the celebration began. “I felt relieved. The weight came off my shoulders from the anticipation from this race.”
Like many young boys, Harville’s childhood dream was to become a police officer. He certainly was not walking around in a business suit proclaiming to be mayor one day. Now, he will protect and serve in a different capacity.
“I had faith in the citizens of Guyton to get me in that position,” said Harville. “I reached out to all the citizens. I have always been a personable person and they understand where I am coming from. I had confidence in myself to win this position.”
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Harville’s rise to the top was anything short of glamorous.
In 2019, Harville ran for an open seat in city council but was defeated by Hursula Pelote. He had a brief stint in the planning and zoning department before running for council again in 2022, but would go on to lose against Michael Johnson. Still, something kept driving Harville to pursue politics.
“The passion is what carried me over and caring for the citizens and wanting to do what’s right,” said Harville. “I don’t let past things affect me. I’ve learned a lot and there is still going to be a learning process.”
According to Harville, the town he grew up in was marred by decision-making in city hall. He publicly slammed Deen on social media but is confident he can find a common ground with the rest of the administration in city hall.
“You have to take away the aspect of being a citizen versus a coworker,” said Harville. “I think when we get behind the scenes, we will be able to see what’s going on. It’s going to be a rebuilding process between the people that work there. We can work together and get things worked out. I’ve always been willing to work with other people.”
As he looks ahead, Harville is already prepping for his first weeks in office. Wastewater treatment and recreation are at the top of his to-do list.
“There is a lot of good that can come to Guyton,” said Harville. “There are a bunch of grants that can be applied for to help the city. We need to get our infrastructure right with the wastewater treatment. I’m glad the YMCA is coming and will get to see how they operate. There are more things I want to do with recreation. I want to get the ball fields in shape to utilize for travel ball teams…keep it busy out there. Once I get into office, I’m sure I will learn a lot more.”
Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Newly elected Mayor Andy Harville ready to push Guyton forward
