Cedartown Commission Chairman Larry Odom is running for re-election to the commission.

Odom says he had to think long and hard about serving another term on the city’s governing board.

“Public service is rewarding, but it requires commitment. I had to make sure I would have the time necessary to do a good job for the people,” said Odom.

“In the end, I decided the work we have begun is too important to leave the job partially done. Johnny Barrett and Scotty Tillery have agreed to join me in running for another term.”

The Cedartown City Commission is composed of five seats with staggered four-year terms. Odom, Barrett and Tillery’s terms expire at the end of 2009.

The city’s commission seats are filled in an open election. The top three vote-getters will be seated. A total of five candidates have qualified for three seats.

The municipal election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 3. If necessary, a runoff election will be held on Dec. 1.

Odom said he hopes Cedartown residents will notice the hard work that the incumbents have put in and also their achievements.

“This commission has made substantial progress in handling serious problems that have faced our community,” Odom said. “With the downturn in the economy, we have had to work extremely hard and make some tough decisions to ensure the city could meet its obligations and continue to provide the services that the citizens deserve.

“We have laid a solid financial foundation for city government that addresses critical infrastructure deficiencies and other serious problems that must be dealt with if our city is to move forward,” Odom continued. “We haven’t always agreed on the solution to every problem, but we have always worked as a team to keep the best interest of our community as our top goal.”

“Commissioner Barrett has provided valuable financial expertise and a wealth of experience in city government. It was his idea to refinance some old city debts at lower interest rates, saving the city more than $300,000 in 2009,” Odom said.

“Commissioner Tillery has been our spark plug on a variety of quality of life initiatives, including the city’s cleanup campaign. He was also instrumental in keeping our city bus service and obtaining a grant for the second phase of the downtown streetscape project.”

Odom is completing his first term on the city commission and his second year as chairman.

Before being elected to the City Commission, he served in the Air Force as a bomber pilot and commander and attained the rank of colonel before retiring.

Subsequently, Odom was the director of the Polk County Emergency 911 center. He has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a master’s degree in management.

“The main issue in this election is progress,” Odom said. “As a community, we can either address the problems of decline and disinvestent, or we can watch this town decline.

“I love this city and want to make it a place where our younger generations will want to live because we offer good paying jobs and the kinds of amenities they expect.

“Commissioners Barrett and Tillery share my vision of a better Cedartown,” Odom said.