Guyton Mayor Michael Garvin said he has decided to run for the mayoral post for one simple reason — community service.
“Certain people do certain things in their community when they see a need,” he explained. “It’s just service to the community.”
Appointed three years ago to be mayor after the late mayor C.D. Dean died while in office, this will be Garvin’s first run for the job,
It follows many years in public office. He first joined the council in 1998. Over the years, he became one of the first members of the planning and zoning board and mayor pro-tem under Dean.
If elected, he wants to see projects currently on the table completed. These include the Rails to Trails project, the sidewalk plan, which will start at Samuel Smalls Sr. Place, and improvements to recreation, such as adding soccer fields.
The city’s more pressing needs also are not lost on him.
Garvin favors the city building its own wastewater treatment plant to address the lack of water and sewer capacity.
“With that, Guyton controls its growth and its destiny,” he said. “Right now, it’s very dependent on Springfield.”
In addition, he points out that the contract with the county is not permanent.
“Things change, so what you may have now, you may not have that down the road,” Garvin said.
He wants to make the city more “self-sufficient.” He also wants to continue to upgrade the fire and “young” police departments. He would like to see a couple of full-time firefighters at the station.
“Public safety is a major thing for the city, the way the city is growing,” Garvin said.
Growth and change are inevitable for the town just like it is for the entire county, but Garvin, like many others, wants to make sure that the character of Guyton remains in place.
“I want to see Guyton stay that historic hometown, but still yet it prospers and grows,” he said.
Being mayor is just one of the balls in his juggling act.
Described as a workaholic by others, he works at Georgia-Pacific and is the owner of Smalls Funeral Home in Guyton. The 42-year-old has worked there for 30 years.
The late proprietor of Smalls Funeral Home, Samuel Smalls, took him under his wing when he was a little boy and new to the city of Guyton. Born in Evans County as the youngest of nine children, Garvin moved to Guyton at around age 10.
Smalls, a well-known community figure who was passionate about helping the youth, played a huge part in Garvin’s dedication to serving Guyton and in his growth as a man.
“He was very instrumental in my life,” Garvin said.
As a little boy he took an interest in what Smalls did for a living. Garvin started helping out at the funeral home as a child. When he was old enough to drive, he became a driver there.
Once Smalls became a councilman, Garvin would drive him and go with him to the council meetings. In 1996, he became a partner in the business and now he is the owner.
Though some may wonder how he can essentially hold down three jobs — mayor, Georgia Pacific supervisor and entrepreneur — Garvin takes it all in stride.
“It’s just time management,” he explained. “You gotta manage your time.”
Having served six years in the Marines Reserves no doubt helps, too. Garvin added that both jobs also provide him with the flexibility he requires.
And he’s satisfied with the job he has done as a mayor, so far.
“I feel like I’ve done a good job serving Guyton,” he said. “I know you can’t satisfy everybody, but I believe in doing what’s right and when you do what’s right — that’s all you can do. It may not satisfy everybody, but at least you can go home and lay down at night saying ‘I did the right thing; I tried to do what was right.’”
Though he only has positive things to say for Jimmy L. Wells and Fred Griffin, the other candidates running for mayor, Garvin is clear on what he believes makes him different.
“Well, for one, I’m here for the duration,” he noted. “When I came to Guyton, I fell in love with Guyton. This is my home. I’ve had a lot of opportunities to leave Guyton, a lot of friends have left Guyton, but I’m still remaining right here in Guyton.”
