Hank Garrett to Run for County Commission

Hank Garrett, of Eastpoint, has announced plans to seek election to the post of county commissioner from District 5.
Garrett faces incumbent Bevin Putnal, of Carrabelle, in the Aug. 26 Democratic primary ballot. The winner of that primary advances to the Nov. 4 general election, where he will face Dawn Evans Radford, of Eastpoint, who is running unopposed in the Republican primary.
Individuals who are not registered to vote, or who plan to switch their party affiliation, have until July 28 to register for the primary election, and until Oct. 6 to register for the general election.
The following is a campaign announcements provided by Garrett.
Hello voters of District 5. My name is Hank Garrett and I seek the Franklin County Commission District 5 seat. My wife Melissa and I have been married for 22 years and have two children, Chavon and Hank Jr.
I have been a seafood worker most of my life; from age 8 my brother Charles Pennycuff and I shrimped and oystered. At the age of 12, I purchased my own oyster boat and oystered after school and on weekends. (Back then the laws were very different). Some of my most memorable days when I was young were when Tony and Travis Millender and I were fishing and skim boarding in the Eastpoint Channel. I will say that there is Apalachicola Bay water flowing through my veins. My love of Apalachicola Bay runs very deep; as an adult I have had some of my best and most memorable days on the bay fishing with my kids.
I graduated from Carrabelle High School in 1983 and after graduation I went to work for Plantation Security on St. George Island as a security guard. In early 1984, I switched to the St. George Island Utility Company. (Gene Brown owned both companies)
In 1988 after 26 months with the City of Apalachicola, I again went to work for St. George Island Utility as utility director, where I stayed until 2005. I am presently employed by the Eastpoint Water and Sewer District as utility director. I have had a ClassC Water Treatment Plant Operator License since 1990, and in 1994 upgraded this license to a Class B. I have held a Class C Waste Water Treatment Plant Operator License since 1988. In my opinion, Waste Water Treatment Plant Operators are first-line environmentalists. They are working to protect our environment every day.
The citizens of Franklin County are in a unique position. The rush to develop is off now and the communities can step back and look closely at the type of developments, if any, that will benefit the bay instead of harm it. Due to the falling land prices, we have a very unique opportunity to eliminate or at least diminish some of the point of source pollution that is entering the bay.
I sincerely appreciate your consideration and vote on Aug. 26. I will be visiting door-to-door until the election and look forward to seeing you and talking to each of you. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me at 670-8103.