Jackson County Commissioner Bruce Yates has announced his intentions to run for chairman of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners in the Republican primary.
A six-year veteran of the commission, Yates is retired from the Jackson County School System and was an assistant principal at Jackson County Comprehensive High School. On the BOC, Yates represents District 3 — which is mostly West Jackson.
Yates serves as an adviser to the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department and is on the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Jackson County. Prior to his election to the commission, he served as a councilman in Braselton.
In his announcement, Yates spoke of four specific reasons and passions for running: Strengthening the county’s economic base; intergovernmental relations between cities, school boards, neighboring counties, as well as state and federal government; being good stewards of the county’s finances; and open communications.
“We will reach out and partner with the private sector for planning,” Yates said in a statement. “We will live within our means. We will educate citizens about services, and we will foster an atmosphere of cooperation with all stakeholders.”
Yates formally announced his candidacy during a reception on Thursday at Ali V’s restaurant in Jefferson. So far, he is the only person to announce that he will run for chairman of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners. Current BOC chairman Hunter Bicknell is running for Congress.
Yates will have to resign from the District 3 position to run for chairman.
Qualifying for local races will be held in May and the Republican primary will be held in July.
For more information about Yates, call 706-708-6556 or e-mail bruceyates4chairman@gmail.com .
