Political newcomer challenges 28-year veteran councilor

Marquese Averett had yet to be born when District 4 Columbus Councilor Evelyn Turner Pugh was first elected.

Averett is 26 and Turner Pugh has been on council for 28 years. Despite the difference in their their age and experience, they agree on some of the challenges facing District 4 and south Columbus in general — better opportunities for young people through parks and recreation and better opportunities for adults through new and better-paying jobs. They’re also both Columbus natives, graduates of local public schools and have lived their lives in south Columbus.

Evelyn Turner Pugh

Turner Pugh graduated from Carver High School in 1968 and earned a B.S. in business from Columbus State. She worked at Blue Cross/Blue Shield for almost 20 years in various management and accounting positions, then at SunTrust Bank for 15 years until she recently retired.

Turner Pugh, 65, says she decided to run for council after working for other candidates’ campaigns and because she realized she wanted to make a difference. Now, 28 years later, she says she still has the vision for the city and passion for its people to serve at least another four years.

“I have a passion for people and making sure people get treated right,” Turner Pugh said. “I’m not afraid to speak out.”

One issue she is outspoken on is having healthy parks and recreation programs to keep young people busy with productive activities. She also said recent sales tax money that is coming into Metra presents an opportunity to get young people into the recreational venues.

“We have to look for creative recreational activities for our young people, so we don’t have to end up hiring more police officers because they’re getting in trouble,” Turner Pugh said. “If we can do something for jobs, transportation and recreation, we are going to be the best city in the state of Georgia.”

Turner Pugh said she wants another term because there are a lot of projects in the works that she wants to see through.

“I’m running because there’s still a lot to be done in Columbus,” Turner Pugh said. “We have a new (Benning) Technology Park, and we don’t need just a park out there. We need to go out and actively recruit industry to come here.”

Marquese Averett

Averett, 26, also grew up in south Columbus and in local schools, then studied political science at Fort Valley State University. His current vocation is community organizer.

Like Turner Pugh, he sees recreational opportunities for youth as a primary goal. An example is, while building the Shirley B. Winston Center is great, some of the other amenities in the district have suffered.

“No one would doubt that Shirley B. Winston is a jewel in our community,” Averett said. “But at the expense of bringing it to the community, we let Belvedere Park close and we also have not been investing in Carver Park as we should.”

District 4 reaches from its northern tip on Macon Road down to St. Marys Road, so it is completely in south Columbus. Averett wants to erase the dividing line that Macon Road has become and bring the standard of living south of it up to that north of it.

“From where I live, I have to drive 20 minutes to get a decent meal that isn’t fast food,” Averett said. “I have to drive 20 minutes to get to a movie theater or a bowling alley or any kind of activity.”

Job creation is another plank in Averett’s platform, but not the kinds of jobs that have been coming to town.

“I don’t think it’s good enough to continue to bring minimum wage jobs to Columbus,” Averett said. “We must start bringing livable-wage jobs here so that people can take care of themselves and their families. Too many of our people are driving to LaGrange, West Point and Opelika to try to find a decent wage. That isn’t good enough.”

This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 5:47 PM with the headline "Political newcomer challenges 28-year veteran councilor."