A Decision Years in the Making

I've been asked several times what made me decide to run for Baldwin County Commissioner, District 3. I thought it might be worth sharing a little more about how I arrived at that decision.

The truth is, running for public office is something I've considered for many years.

Baldwin County has been my home my entire life. I've spent nearly 30 years working in small business here, and over the years I've had the opportunity to serve our community through several boards and organizations. That involvement has given me a chance to learn more about our county, meet people from all walks of life, and better understand some of the challenges we face.

I've also had countless conversations with friends and neighbors over the years about Baldwin County's future and the possibility of running for county commission.

One of those people was my neighbor, Gale Hooks.

Gale passed away in 2023. He was someone I grew very close to, someone I admired and considered family. Years ago, Gale encouraged me to run for county commissioner. We had many conversations about how our county and our district could be better. He wasn't the only one, but his encouragement is something I've never forgotten.

So why did I wait?

Part of it was that I knew I had more to learn. Serving on the county commission is a serious responsibility, and I didn't want to simply put my name on a ballot without first developing a better understanding of the job, the issues facing our county, and the decisions commissioners are expected to make. I wanted to be better prepared before asking the people of District 3 to place their trust in me.

There was also the practical reality that our current commissioner, Sammy Hall, had held the seat for nearly 30 years. He was well established, and I didn't believe there was much opportunity for someone new to win that seat while he continued to seek reelection.

Earlier this year, I had a conversation with Sammy, and he told me he would not be running again.

That conversation helped me realize that the opportunity I had thought about for so many years was finally here.

I've heard some suggest that Sammy recruited me to run. I want to be clear about that. While we did have a conversation, my interest in serving on the county commission began long before it. I made the decision to run because I believed the time was right for me to step forward.

I am not Sammy Hall. I have my own views about the challenges facing Baldwin County, including our financial situation, the need for better planning, and the importance of accountability in county government. Those views have developed through years of community involvement, conversations with citizens, and my own efforts to learn more about how our county operates.

I didn't decide to run because someone asked me to carry on what had been done before.

I decided to run because I care deeply about Baldwin County, I've spent years preparing myself for the opportunity, and I believe I have something to contribute.

I wish Gale were still here to have one more conversation about it. I think about his encouragement often.

This is something I've wanted to do for a long time. And when the opportunity finally came, I knew it was time to try.

A Better Baldwin Starts Here.