Commissioner Butts seeks re-election to D2

Mar. 6—Baldwin County District 2 Commissioner Kendrick Butts is seeking another term as an elected official.

Earlier this year, Butts was elected vice chairman of the five-member board. His new leadership position is important because he presides over county commission meetings should Commission chairman Johnny Westmoreland be unable to attend.

"I'm deeply honored and humbled to serve as a member of the Baldwin County Board of Commissioners," Butts told The Union-Recorder during a recent interview.

Butts said he has learned a lot about the office and that county government is very fast-paced.

Butts was elected to the District 2 seat nearly four years ago after Commissioner Tommy French decided not to seek re-election.

Before Butts was elected to office as a Democrat, he campaigned with a clear message.

He said he wanted to be the voice for the people who live within the district.

Butts chose to go a step forward.

It's the same message he's going with again in his re-election bid.

"I wanted all the people, even those outside my district, to know that I want to serve them, too," Butts said.

He said he has learned that many decisions made by the county commission affect people living throughout the county, not just in a particular district.

When those matters arise, commissioners discuss them and then decide the best course of action.

"The decisions we make affect a lot of people in our county, not just those we represent within our district," Butts said.

Butts said he believes it's important to make sound decisions, but before such decisions can be made, it's important to listen to others' viewpoints and to show respect.

"This is the way I've always been," Butts said. "It didn't take me getting into politics to think like that. I was raised that way."

Butts said his mother and grandparents instilled discipline in him as he grew up on the southside of Milledgeville.

"It was easy for me, because I go back to my foundation of how I was raised to become a man and respect people, and to love God and the families in your communities," Butts said.

Butts said one thing he learned when he became a public official was that he had to educate people on the fact that commissioners do just work for one district.

"And this is why it doesn't work that way," he said. "It can't work that way because I can't just be the commissioner of District 2, because the decisions I made are going to affect everybody, even some of them who are not citizens of Baldwin County."

Butts said he enjoys interacting with people of different races, cultures and economic backgrounds.

"I love doing that," he said.

During his time in office thus far, Butts, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years and left as a lance corporal. He later joined the Georgia National Guard. His military career lasted eight years.

Butts said his military career was invaluable to him.

"The military taught me discipline, and it gave me the education I needed to become an electrican and eventually own my business," Butts said.

Butts said he has learned a lot from each of the other four members on the county commission.

"They have always filled me in on decisions they have made four, five or six years ago," Butts said. "I've asked them several times why they made the decision they did about certain things and they've always shared those kinds of things with me. They have always been helpful to talk with me and fill me in on the background of certain things."

Butts said sometimes he hasn't always agreed with his colleagues, but it was never out of disrespect or hatred.

"It was about helping to move Baldwin County forward and make this a better place to live and raise families," said Butts, who has owned and operated Butts' Electrical Services since 2002.

Butts said he is proud to be the first member on either side of his family to hold elected office.

"I'm the first generation person in my entire family to do that and that makes me very proud," he said.

Butts said he hopes that the voters of District 2 will see fit to re-elect him to another term in office later this year.