John Barrett has announced his intentions to seek re-election to the Cedartown City Commission.

Barrett stated the City Commission has accomplished many projects over the past four years. While other cities have cut basic services, closed parks and recreation centers and created difficult decisions for people in other communities by raising their property taxes, Cedartown has maintained their commitment to high quality, low cost public utilities and services and fiscal responsibility in all City departments while not supporting a tax increases. Johnny voted not to increase fees for City Business Licence for our merchants. He ensures that every dollar spent during his watch has made cents because he realizes that it is ALL tax payers money.

Barrett said he is very proud of our current industries that we are fortunate to have during this economic down turn; but he is committed to work hard in bringing in new Industrial growth. Barrett also works with our State and Federal Officials to obtain Grants and Stimulus monies to better our community.

Barrett is a 1970 graduate of Cedartown High School and attended Floyd College. He is a graduate of Citizens and Southern National Bank Consumer Lending School and a graduate of Nation’s Bank Branch Management School in Atlanta. He has also receive his certificate of Achievement in which he has obtained over 72 classroom hours in studies on local government with the Carl Vinson Institute, a division of the University of Georgia. Barrett has been affiliated with banking in Cedartown for 35 years and is an Assistant Vice President and a Consumer Lending Officer with First National Bank of Polk County. He is a member of the 1st Baptist Church and serves on the active Board of Deacons.

He has served as President of the Cedartown Optimist Club, and is on the Executive Board and Treasure of the Cedartown United Fund for the past 28 years. Barrett is a member and a Past Master of the Caledonia Lodge #121 F & A M in Cedartown, 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Cedar Valley Shrine Club and Yaarab Temple of Atlanta.

Barrett is the son of Mattie Jo Barrett and the late Curtis Barrett who was the co-owner of Ed’s Cleaners for over 35 years. He is married to the former Deborah Benefield. Their son, Daniel, married in December to Mandy Aldrich and they are expecting their first child in January. Daniel is a ninth grade history teacher and Coach at Northgate High School in Newnan and Mandy is an attorney at a local law firm also in Newnan.

Barrett stated it has been a honor for him to serve the citizens Cedartown. It is his goal to continue to give the best quality service to all the citizens of Cedartown.

Tomorrow: Larry Odom seeks re-election