The election may be two years away, but Board of Education member Brad Smith recently officially announced his intention to run for the Rockdale County Commission Chair on the Republican ticket.
Smith was elected to his first four year term on the Rockdale County school board in 2008; the term would end in 2012.
Smith, a Covington firefighter, Air Force veteran who retired after 20 years with the 23rd Aircraft Maintenance squadron and worked with 75th Fighter Squadron, Heritage alumnus and father of children in the RCPS system, said he had been thinking about the decision for the past five months and announced his intention at the Nov. 20 Republican party meeting.
When asked why he wanted to run, Smith said he would like to change and update the format of the Rockdale County government. "I think it should move to a county management style of government," he said. "I think Rockdale County deserves a professional." He pointed out every four years a new person who doesn't know the job of running the county can be elected to the chairman's seat.
"Basically I want to set it up like the school board operates," he said. He explained the school board gives guidance and policy direction to the Superintendent, who oversees the day to day operations of the school system. "We report to the tax payer and (Superintendent Dr. Sam King) reports to us."
Board of Elections Supervisor Cynthia Welch said Smith would be able to stay on the school board until he officially files his intent to run during the qualification period in June 2012.The school board seats are all at-large seats so the board could choose to leave the seat empty for the rest of the term or appoint a replacement, she said.
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