Wall announces for Gallup council post

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Bill Donovan
Staff writer

GALLUP — Emmett Bryan Wall has had two major interests in his life — plants and politics.

The former owner of Gallup’s largest nursery, Wall is now actively pursuing the second of these interests, announcing this week that he plans to run for the city council.

Wall plans to run against incumbent Pat Butler, who has already announced he will also be a candidate for the southside Council District. The filing date for this council seat as well as for the one on the north side, held by Bill Nechero, is Tuesday. The election is March 10.

A former state legislator in 1973 and 1974, Wall left Gallup for several years after owning and operating the Holiday Nursery for 20 years and then came back five years ago to enjoy his retirement years. During those years, he lived in Phoenix and operated an Indian jewelry store and did real estate on the side.

“I started Holiday Nursery in 1963 from scratch with $500,” he remembered, adding by that time he had a lot of experience in business because of his years in working at the Gallup Feed Store, which was owned by his family.

While in Arizona, he said he worked on several different campaigns, including that of Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, and thoroughly enjoyed himself while at the same time gaining experience in what it takes to be a successful candidate.

“I’ve always been a very positive person, and hopefully I can bring that attitude to the city government,” he said.

Born and raised in Gallup, his parents were Emmett and Anna (Schmaltz) Wall, he was a graduate of Cathedral High School and after completing 2 1/2 years of college, served in the U.S. Army as an architectural draftsman.

Wall said he loved being a state legislator. “It was probably the greatest experience of my life,” he said, adding that one of the main reasons he enjoyed it so much was that it gave him an opportunity to help out people and the city.

For example, when he learned that the people who were running the national high school rodeo program were looking for another location to hold the event, he immediately thought this would be a big plus for Gallup.

After all, the state was building a new park for the Ceremonial and there would be a rodeo arena.

He also realized that there needed to be more stalls and more work done for the arena, so he met with the state’s governor at the time, Bruce King, and pointed out that this was a great opportunity not only for Gallup but the state as well and, as a result, got another $100,000 for the park.

He said that’s the kind of attitude he wants to bring to the city council and to the residents of the southside.

“I’ve always been in favor of term limits,” he said, adding that 16 years is too long to serve in any elected position.

“I feel I can bring a fresh new perspective,” he said. If elected, he said he would work for the establishment of a vocational and industrial school and help to promote commerce and tourism.

Remembering the days Gallup was visited by a number of movie producers, he said he would also work to see if this part of Gallup’s history could be promoted again.

He said that the city also needs to work with businesses that are already here and help them grow and be prosperous.

“I’ll work with anyone — federal, state and local agencies as well as the Navajo Nation to secure funding for needed projects,” he said.