With the opening of qualifying for the Nov. 8 city elections just 12 days away, a race has already developed for the Ward 4 seat on the Commerce City Council.
Chris Bulls, president of CMC Consulting, and Steve Perry, pharmacist at CVS Pharmacy and a former Commerce Board of Education chairman, have both announced plans to seek the position now held by Clark Hill — who previously announced that he’s running for mayor.
Qualifying begins on Aug. 29 and continues through Sept. 2. Other positions to be filled Nov. 8 include those of mayor, the council seats from wards 3 and 5 and the school board seats in districts 3, 4 and 5.
Bulls has lived in Commerce for 17 years. She is a graduate of North Clayton Senior High School, holds associate’s degrees from Athens Tech and Central Texas College and a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in business administration from Brenau University.
She and her husband, Michael Bulls, own and operate CMC Consulting, a company they started in 1997 that offers information technology services to the business market, with emphasis on small business.
“I just want to be part of the future and how we go forward in the future,” said Bulls. “I’ve always wanted to be involved in the community.”
Bulls is a foster and adoptive mom and is active in the Jackson County Foster and Adoptive Parents Association, where she is president.
Winning the office would also cost CMC a major customer, Bulls acknowledges.
“I would have to give up my work for the city if I win,” she said. “I would use the transition period from November to Jan. 1 to help the city switch it over.”
Bulls is a member of St. Catherine Labouré Catholic Mission, the Commerce Kiwanis Club, the Commerce Area Business Association and the Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce. She served nine years in the U.S. Army and retired from the Air National Guard.
A native of Commerce, Perry graduated from Commerce High School and the University of Georgia with a degree in pharmacy. Perry served on the Jackson County Planning Commission and 12 years on the Commerce City School Board of Education, nine of those years as chairman.
In making his announcement, Perry stated that the next four years will be critical for Commerce in maintaining its position as a “City on the Right Track.” Perry further noted that in the next 18 months, the city council will have to replace the city manager, city clerk, and several other department heads. He pointed to his tenure on the board of education in conducting two searches for a city school superintendent. He also noted that he spearheaded the construction of the new middle school and track, as well as, a new high school — with no increase in local property taxes.
“In this time of transition,” Perry stated, “we need serious leaders during serious times to make hard decisions, and I would like to have the opportunity to be that strong voice representing the Fourth Ward.”
