Lowell Harris failed to retain his City Commission seat this week, but he has plenty to keep him busy.
By MOLLY MOORHEAD
Published April 17, 2004
DADE CITY - Lowell Harris lost one of his hats this week.
He has plenty left.
Harris, 69, failed to win re-election to the City Commission on Tuesday, losing to 28-year-old educator Steve Van Gorden. Harris, who was seeking a third term, collected 189 votes to Van Gorden's 268.
"Naturally, I was disappointed," Harris said Thursday. "But life goes on."
That adage seems especially true in the case of Harris, a part-time pharmacist and full-time community activist who rises at 5:30 every morning to begin his day with prayer and meditation.
Then he picks up breakfast for himself and his wife, Patsy, and stops at the post office to retrieve the mail for East Pasco Habitat for Humanity, the cause closest to his heart. There, he coordinates mailings, groundbreaking ceremonies for new homes and leads devotions.
That's all before lunch.
His afternoons are spent visiting friends in the hospital or meeting with other activists about Boy Scout functions and downtown festivals.
He works one day a week at the Winn-Dixie pharmacy, and on weekends he runs Promise Keepers prayer breakfasts and is head usher at First United Methodist Church.
"I don't have any trouble keeping busy," Harris said. "In fact, I usually can't get it all in."
With Dade City poised for major changes, Harris said he plans to keep attending commission meetings. Hundreds of acres of land targeted for development could signal dramatic increases in population and traffic.
"I think this next four years is very important to what happens in Dade City," said Harris, who served one term on the board in 1969-70 and hasn't ruled out running again.
"We have a perfect place here," he said of the quaint downtown and slow pace. "I hope we can keep it. I really want us to keep our charm and character."
Harris, a resident for more than 40 years, said he supports Van Gorden and hopes the community will work with its leaders to ensure smart growth.
Regarding his loss Tuesday, Harris is reflective: "I think the Lord's probably giving me a message: slow down."
No sign of that.
He is headed to Jacksonville today, to celebrate his mother's 91st birthday with his two siblings. He also has been taking care of his wife, who recently had surgery.
They'll celebrate their 46th wedding anniversary this month.
