Jimmy Holland, a lifelong resident and former city commissioner in Cedartown, has announced his candidacy in the upcoming city election on Nov. 3.

Holland is a former commissioner, serving on the Cedartown City Commission from 1990 to 2001. He noted that when he was first elected to the commission, at the age of 34, he was the second-youngest person ever elected as a city commissioner in Cedartown.

Holland served 12 years as city commissioner and last served eight years ago. He said he learned a lot while serving on the commission. He learned that “people don’t always agree on all issues and people don’t always see things as you do, and likewise you won’t always see things as someone else does.”

“As a commissioner you have to learn to agree and learn to disagree and do what is best for the city and its citizens,” Holland said. “I strongly believe that an elected official should be strong in their convictions, make good sound decisions and stand by that decision.

“Be true to your word, have the courage to stand for right and do what is right and have the integrity to defend it.”

Holland is employed with the Georgia Department of Corrections, Probation Division as a probation surveillance officer with the Rome Judicial Circuit. He also is employed part-time with Olin L. Gammage & Sons Funeral Home in Cedartown.

Holland has lived his entire life in Cedartown, attending Third Street School, Purks Junior High School and is a 1973 graduate of Cedartown High School. Holland also is a graduate of Floyd College with an associates degree in political science.

Holland is chairman of the Cedartown Tree Board, a six-member board that oversees trees on city-owned property. He served twice as chairman pro-tem while on previous city commissions and served on several committees within city government.

He was active with Cedartown Little League for 26 years, five as coach and 21 as an umpire. He also served for approximately 15 years with the Cedartown Recreation Department as a football referee and softball umpire.

Holland has also done volunteer work with the March of Dimes and Easter Seals. Holland is a member of the Cedartown Church of Christ and resides on John Hand Drive in Cedartown.

Holland is the son of Mr. James H. Holland Sr. and Mrs. Ruby Moncrief Holland.

Past accomplishments

Holland noted several accomplishments of the commission during his past term. These include opening a new waste water treatment plant, Bell South (AT&T) locating in Cedartown, the purchase of land and construction of the North Business Park and completion of the Northwest Park.

Other accomplishments were the new Senior Citizens Building, establishment of competitive salaries for police and fire departments, the beginning of four-laning Highway 278, improvements to water and sewage systems and the location of Dean Steel Company is the STAR building.

In addition, Holland notes the city’s cooperation with Polk County to implement the 911 system as an improvement in the lives of local citizens. Also during his past term on the commission, the city eliminated three Super Fund sites that the EPA had listed in Cedartown. The pre-Peachtree wheelchair training event began during this time, the new depot on Main Street was begun and the Boys and Girls Club gained a new location.

“All of these items happened because of people working together: city commissioners, Polk County Board of Commissioners, civic clubs, state and federal elected officials and many who volunteered to help get things done,” he said.

As for future goals, Holland said he believes it is important that the city “have a budget we can all live with in these economic times and still provide the services our citizens deserve.” He notes that the community has lost a lot of industry over the years and it is difficult to recover from those lost revenues.

“I would consider it an honor and privilege to serve the people of Cedartown again as city commissioner,” Holland said. “I genuinely care about this town and its people and believe that each part of this town is important and all its citizens.

“Our future is now and we need to make Cedartown what it can and should be.”

He adds, “If given the opportunity to serve the citizens of Cedartown as a city commissioner, I will do as I have always done: straight talk, honesty, hard work, listen to people’s concerns and treat people as I would want to be treated.”