Bob Wright throws full support behind City Councilor Evelyn Turner-Pugh in District 4 Race

Dr. Robert L. Wright, a former Columbus City Councilor, held a press conference Wednesday to publicly acknowledge his support for Mayor Pro-Tem Evelyn Turner-Pugh.

Pugh, who has represented District 4 for 28 years, is being challenged by political newcomer Marquese “Skinny” Averett, a community organizer.

The press conference was held at Shirley Winston Park, where a group of about 25 friends and political leaders gathered in support of the long-time city councilwoman. Wright said Pugh has the experience and established relationships to continue progress that began when he sat on Columbus Council.

“Evelyn is very special to me because for 10 years I was the councilor for District 2, which is now District 4, and I started things like Belvedere Park that Evelyn now has turned into Shirley Winston,” Wright said. “This is an example of the kind of progress that has been made under Evelyn’s leadership.”

Wright said he and Pugh toured the city last week and looked at some of the things she has achieved. “One of the things that’s very important is the number of jobs and the number of multinational corporations located in this district that she has had a major hand in,” he said. “So I’m here as a former councilman and a part of this community all my life. I’m here with members of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance. I’m here with Councilman Bruce Huff, members of the various sororities. ...And we just appreciate this support for Evelyn.”

Huff said some in the community have questioned Turner-Pugh’s ability to lead with Parkinson’s, but he said she can make it another four years, and her ability to serve with the disease should be celebrated.

“Nothing is wrong with her brain,” Huff said to the applause of the audience. “She struggles through every day with what she has to deal with and she gets the job done. We have hundreds of millions of dollars of projects going on here in Columbus, Ga. I’ve been on Council now for five and half years, and her vision and experience has been with me the whole five and a half years.”

Wright thanked Wright, Huff and the others for their support, and said she would continue fighting for the district.

“I know the young people are saying it’s time for the young people,” she said. “I say, ‘My age has nothing to do with my mental state because I think my brain is just as sharp as it was 20 or 30 years ago. And sometimes it might even be sharper because I don’t have to do as much. Back then I was working two and three jobs, and going to school and raising two boys as a single parent.”

Averett responded to comments made at the press conference later in an interview with the Ledger-Enquirer. He said he has been running a clean campaign, and has never made reference to Turner-Pugh’s disability.

“I’ve always spoken highly of Mrs. Pugh, but I think it’s time for a change,” he said. “ I believe it’s wrong for them to keep insinuating that this campaign is about who has Parkinson’s and who doesn’t. I think this campaign should be based on who can speak directly to the issues.”

This story was originally published May 18, 2016 at 1:47 PM with the headline "Bob Wright throws full support behind City Councilor Evelyn Turner-Pugh in District 4 Race."