Gene Anderson said he will focus on lowering taxes for homeowners, business owners and elderly residents if elected to the Bulloch County Commission seat 2C.
A small-business owner himself, Anderson is running for the seat that will be vacated by incumbent Roy Thompson, who is not seeking re-election to that seat and instead has qualified unopposed for the County Commission chairman position, which will be vacated when incumbent Garrett Nevil retires Dec. 31. Anderson is opposed by candidates Jappy Stringer and Gail Dismuke.
"I have been in the community my whole life and see the need to run for the office of County Commission because of the areas in our community that need growing and revitalizing," he said. "I wish to point out that our community has seen great growth in many areas and continues to grow. However, I do not see the need to grow property taxes or increase the burden on small businesses in the area.
"There are ways to encourage new businesses and support the local community with new jobs," he continued. "I understand the local people who face the rising costs and complexity in today's economy."
If elected, Anderson said he "will improve the county through more efficient operations without sacrificing the needs and jobs of those who live and work here." He suggests "selling old offices and combining them into one new facility, making improvements in technology the county uses to operate at lower costs, and offering new business incentives for the county to increase business in the area."
He said he feels that improving conditions for existing businesses so they remain profitable and encouraging jobs would be beneficial to the community as well.
Anderson graduated from Southeast Bulloch High School in 1968 and from Georgia Southern College (not University) in 1975 with a degree in trade and industrial education.
He taught school at Gwinnett County Career Institute and later began a career at Georgia Power as a quality control instructor.
He and his wife, the former Karen Dickey, have four kids and four grandchildren.
Herald reporter Holli Deal Saxon may be reached at (912) 489-9414.