Special to the LPJ
One of the questions I’ve been asked the most is, “Why are you running for city council at just 24 years old?”
It’s a fair question. Some people believe you need decades of experience before serving in public office. I understand that viewpoint. But I also believe every generation deserves a seat at the table, and I believe now is the right time for me to serve.
The first reason is simple: I love Ruston.
Ruston has been my home my entire life. I grew up here, went to Ruston High School, attended Louisiana Tech, and chose to stay after graduation. This community has invested so much in me through my teachers, coaches, church, friends, and neighbors. Running for alderman is my way of giving something back.
I also believe my generation needs a voice in our city government.
Ruston and Lincoln Parish are growing and changing. Louisiana Tech and Grambling State continue to grow, and more young professionals are choosing to build their careers and raise their families here. As our city grows, I think it’s important that the next generation has someone at the table who understands both the opportunities and the challenges that come with being a young adult in today’s world.
Now I want to make something very clear: our current Mayor and City Council have done a lot of great things for Ruston.
As a young Ruston native, I feel incredibly blessed to have started my adult life in a city with strong, effective leadership. In fact, that is one of the reasons I am running now. I want to be a part of it.
Unity is such a rarity in politics. But here in Ruston, I have watched a group of dedicated public servants work together, find common ground, and get things done for the hometown I love. Seeing that has inspired me to want to serve.
I want the opportunity to work alongside experienced leaders, learn from them, and bring a new generational perspective to the table. I don’t believe those things are in conflict. I believe a good government needs both experience and new voices.
And that brings me to something worth thinking about: if you doubled my age, I would still be younger than the youngest member of our current City Council.
That isn’t a criticism of anyone serving today. It’s a reminder that the next generation needs a seat at the table, too.
I’m not running because I think Ruston is headed in the wrong direction.
I’m running because I believe we’re headed in the right direction, and I want my generation to help carry that torch forward.
My interest in public service didn’t begin with this campaign.
While attending Louisiana Tech, I served four years in the Student Government Association Senate. During that time, I learned how to write legislation, appropriate student funds, work through disagreements, and build support for ideas that benefited the student body. Student government isn’t city government, but many of the same skills apply. Both require listening carefully, managing public dollars responsibly, and working with other elected officials to solve problems.
Those four years confirmed something for me: I genuinely enjoy serving others.
Today, I continue serving as a geometry teacher and swim coach at Ruston High School, where we’ve celebrated success both in the classroom and in the pool, from strong geometry test scores to the boys team winning the 2025 state swimming championship.
Teaching and Coaching has helped me learn from my students. Every day I work with students who ask hard questions, challenge me to think differently, and remind me that every person has a unique story. I’ve also learned to accept criticism with humility…sometimes from students, sometimes from parents, and sometimes from myself.
Perhaps most importantly, teaching has taught me patience, communication, and how to listen before speaking. Those are qualities every public servant should have.
My church family at Temple Baptist has also shaped who I am.
Many of the people who have encouraged me to run are mentors and friends from my church. They have challenged me to lead with humility, serve with integrity, and remember that leadership is about putting others before yourself. Their encouragement gave me the confidence to take this step.
I also believe my age gives me a perspective that can benefit our city.
When I think about Ruston’s future, I’m not just thinking about the next four years. I’m thinking about the next forty.
I hope to spend my life here. One day I hope to raise a family here. That means the decisions we make today will directly affect the community I’ll call home for decades to come.
Whether we’re talking about infrastructure, public safety, economic development, healthcare, parks, or supporting Louisiana Tech, I want us to make decisions that don’t just solve today’s problems but prepare Ruston for tomorrow’s opportunities.
Being young also gives me something else: energy.
At this stage of my life, I have the time, passion, and commitment to dedicate myself fully to serving the people of Ward 5. I want to be accessible. I want to answer phone calls, return emails, attend neighborhood meetings, and listen to concerns. I believe public office should be active, visible, and engaged.
Of course, youth alone isn’t enough to qualify someone for office. Character matters. Preparation matters. Experience matters.
But history has shown us that great ideas and strong leadership are not limited by age. Throughout American history, young leaders have stepped forward with fresh perspectives while learning from those who came before them. I believe the strongest communities are built when experience and new ideas work together, not when one replaces the other.
I’m not running because I think I have all the answers.
I’m running because I care deeply about Ruston, I want to serve, and I believe our city’s best days are still ahead.
If elected, I hope to bring energy, a long-term vision, and a servant’s heart to the city council. My goal isn’t simply to represent Ward 5 for the next four years. My goal is to help build a Ruston that will continue to thrive for the next forty.
At 24 years old, I know I still have much to learn.
But I also know one thing with certainty: there has never been a day when I haven’t loved Ruston
And that’s exactly why I’m running.
Find out more at gogalenturner.com.
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The above information has been provided by a political campaign. Unless otherwise noted, the Lincoln Parish Journal publishing staff does not endorse specific candidates or ballot measures.
