Meet Mayor Sam Couvillon! Currently serving as the mayor of Gainesville, Sam is a former city councilman and now a candidate for Congress in Georgia’s 9th District. He’s married to Margie, and together they have two daughters, Sarah Grace and Molly. Molly recently married Brandon Morton.
We want to thank Sam for spending time with us recently and sharing more about his life and his love for Hall County.
Question: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
Answer: “I am married to Margie (31 years this July) and I have two daughters. Sarah Grace (26) and Molly (23). Molly is getting married June 14th to Brandon Morton, so we are adding to the family.”
Q: Please tell us about your current career. What do you love most about what you do?
A: “I have been in the insurance business as a Life and Health Insurance broker for over 20 years. I am a partner with the Norton Agency. I also serve as the Mayor of Gainesville and have recently announced that I am running for congress as a Republican in the 9th district.”
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
A: “I like some of the staples best. Longstreet, Sweet Magnolias, Collegiate. A few more recent additions are Consuelo and The Stag.”
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
A: “I moved here in February 2009.”
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
A: “Abit Massey is probably the most common answer given. He was legendary for so many people and it has now been a year without him. He made everyone he met feel special and he loved our hometown of Gainesville.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
A: “I think our next trip should be out to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I look forward to going to Jackson in the summer time.”
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
A: “My favorite movie of all time is ‘Top Gun’ and favorite TV show is ‘Seinfeld.’ I also like ‘House of Cards.’ I don’t know what it is about political shows, but I do enjoy them.”
Q: What advice would you want to give or leave with people?
A: “When you think about taking the chance, do it. One of the worst things we can do is live life with regrets wishing we had done something and having not tried.”
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
A: “Carroll Daniel Daniel Construction. I recently was in a meeting where Brian Daniel talked about the history of his grandfather’s business and the story is amazing. What started as a local construction company has grown into an entity with numerous companies that operate under an umbrella while employing hundreds of employees who work in states across the Southeast. CDC is a company that any community would like to call its own and I am happy that CDC headquarters is in downtown Gainesville.”
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
A: “Kirby Smart and The Inn Between. I would love to talk to him and learn about the drive that he has and the method to his madness in the pursuit of greatness. He often talks about taking care of the ‘duty that lies nearest.’ Being able to focus on the task at hand and without distraction is something Kirby does and I would love to learn more about this. I would select the Inn Between because I would want to show Kirby something that is unique to Gainesville and there is certainly is some uniqueness to an Inn Between sandwich.”
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community? And secondly, what is something you hope our community has or does in the future?
A: “I love Christmas on Green Street. Each year our community comes out and celebrates the Christmas season together with a parade and the lighting of the tree. I love that Gainesville has traditions and I hope that we hold onto those traditions. Change is inevitable but I hope when change comes that we will still celebrate our communities traditions.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in five to 10 years?
A: “With me currently, running for congress I have to assume I will win and in 10 years I see myself wrapping up my career in congress. Being a term limits guy, I think that would be plenty of time in that role. I am not someone who will retire to another community. Gainesville is home for me and I think I will be here for the long haul.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “I would like to see Georgia play in the Rose Bowl. I missed the Jan. 1, 2018 game in Pasadena. Fingers crossed we get another shot.”
Q: What is something you have been proud to check off your bucket list?
A: “I am a sports fanatic, so my bucket list often is centered around sports. I am glad that I was able to see a game at Fenway Park in Boston. My father grew up in Louisiana and as a child he was only able to listen to Red Sox games on the radio. He never was able to get to Fenway, so I feel blessed that I was able to do so and it made me think of the memories of my dad telling me about Ted Williams when he was a kid.”
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
A: “I probably listen to country music more than any other types of music. Luke Combs, Eric Church, Jason Aldean are all at the top of my list. I also like One Republic.”
Q: In hard times we can sometimes see and recognize greatness in those around us. Hard working. Positive attitudes. Helping on the front lines. Who is one of our local shining lights today?
A: “Doug Hanson is an angel on earth whose light certainly shines bright. His commitment to the North Georgia Works program and getting the program to a point of sustainability is an example of hard work and perseverance. Doug started this with a vision and he fought for that vision to come to fruition. He is a great American.”
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
A: “I have been to Acadia National Park, Niagra Falls, any number of places in the Caribbean but for me the most beautiful place is Sanford Stadium in Athens in the fall.”
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
A: “My mom’s Sunday meals. As a child we always at a late afternoon meal that would include roast, rice and gravy, okra, squash and any number of other sides. It was a constant and just brings back great memories.”
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
A: “My family.”
