Two candidates have announced plans to seek the District 5 county commission seat following the recent death of Commissioner Charles “Scooter Bill” Deen: Howard Holt and Ted O’Steen.
Both candidates have set up Facebook pages for their respective campaigns. Here is the statement made by Holt on his page:
“Hi, my name is Howard Holt and I am running for the District 5 Coffee County Commissioner’s seat. I am a lifelong resident of Coffee County. I am the youngest son of Cecil and Lucille Holt. I am also the owner and operator of Holt’s Bakery in Douglas and Fitzgerald, Georgia. I have been married to Kathy Smith Holt, daughter of Warren and Hortell Smith, from the Ambrose area for 34 years. We have two sons. Andrew and his wife, Charity, own McRae’s Pharmacy in Douglas, Georgia. My other son, Alex and his wife, Houston, are continuing the family business. I have three beautiful granddaughters and one handsome grandson; Jayden, Eleanor, Novalee, and Anderson.
“I am a member of Wray Holiness Baptist Church, and do my best to put Christ first in all things I do. Coffee County is all I have ever known. The people here are some of the greatest in the world. Through my lifetime, I have seen with my own eyes and know personally the goodness of people in our community. I have witnessed our community rally together in times of need. Coffee County has been good to me and my family for generations, and I desire the best for the whole county. I realize the importance of every district because we are one body; but for nearly 30 years, District 5 has been my home. I love the people in my district and Coffee County. Neighbor knowing neighbor, not just next door, but across the district, is a wonderful attribute of our community.
“I own farmland and livestock and I understand the agricultural side of our district. I truly love how our district blends small town and agriculture together, which makes to me, the best place to live on earth. I long to make it prosperous for all of us so that all of our children and grandchildren have the best place possible to live.
“In life, I have tried to treat everyone with the same respect and fairness. If you talk to those who know me, I feel that is what they would say about me. If I am elected, I will do my very best to see to the need’s of all the people in my district; not by the order of the person’s status, but by the priority of the need. Safety being my first priority.
“I look forward to bringing improvements to better our district while staying accountable for each of our taxpayer dollars. I will strive for efficiency in every area of operation.
To sum things up, Coffee County and District 5 are my home and they have given so much to my family that I want to try to give back to our community.
“I humbly ask for your prayers and on June 18th your VOTE.”
O’Steen’s announcement is as follows:
“My name is Ted O’Steen, and I am announcing my candidacy for County Commissioner in Coffee County’s Fifth District.
“I am a lifelong resident of Coffee County. My parents are Dan and Susan O’Steen of Ambrose, Georgia. I am married to Jill D. O’Steen, daughter of the late Murrell Dukes and Dorothy L. Dukes. We have been married for twenty-one years, and have a daughter named Caitlin. She will be a senior this year and is presently dual enrolled at South Georgia State College.
“Jill and I own and operate Peach State Non-Emergency Transport, which provides transportation for ambulatory, wheelchair and stretcher patients in the southeast area. We also own Shore 2 Shore Trailer Depot, an internet trailer sales company. I am a member of West Ward Street Church of God in Douglas, Georgia. After graduating from Coffee High School in 1993, I earned a degree in Diesel Mechanics from Ben Hill Irwin Tech.
“Being a fourth-generation farmer, I own and operate Caitlin Farms in Ambrose, Georgia. Farming for a living in this present economy, it takes conservative decisions to stretch a dollar in order to make it through the trials that weather conditions and volatile markets may bring. I promise that I will always focus on what is best for Coffee County, and I will keep the same conservative values in my decision making on behalf of Coffee County when spending the hard-earned taxpayer’s money.
“I humbly ask for your vote and support as I seek to serve as your county commissioner. If you have any questions or concern, please feel free to contact me at (912) 393-5141 or send me an email at elect.tedosteen@gmail.com.”