Bainbridge resident Joe Putnal qualified as a republican for the May 2014 primary election and is running against republican Ted Snell and democrat Thomas “Rusty” Davis for the District 4 seat on the Decatur County Board of Commissioners.
Putnal was born and raised in Bainbridge.
He spent the last 30 years working in the insurance business in South Carolina and Florida. While away, he still kept up with Decatur County news.
When he retired in 2006, he returned to Bainbridge and invested in Decatur County properties.
“I want to help the residents of Bainbridge, not just District 4, but all the residents,” Putnal said. “Being gone for a long, I’ve seen some changes, but I see a lot of thing that haven’t changed. I’d really like to be instrumental in trying to help with new industry and bringing new jobs.”
Putnal said although the biggest industry in Decatur County is agriculture, he would like ensure more manufacturing jobs become available to other working-class residents.
“I’d like to see a shift to things like manufacturing that are offered to a blue-collar type of community,” Putnal said. “I want to see the city and county grow. Being a Bainbridge product, I’ve always been very interested in that.”
Putnal also said his goal is to represent the people of his district and Decatur County as a whole and give them a voice, regardless if it is contrary top his own opinion.
As a property owner and investor in the area, Putnal said he was interested in how the local government was working and what directions it was taking. His interest brought him to qualifying for the May primaries.
Putnal is involved in a number of local boards, including an active participant and past president of the Bainbridge Country Club, current president of the home bill association in Bainbridge and a member of the board of directors for Bikefest.
“I’ve always been pretty involved with community wherever I’m at,” Putnal said. “Now I’m back home I’m here to stay.”
Decatur County Chairman Frank Loeffler currently holds the District 4 seat.