Residents in district two will decide between retail store manager Jason Christmas, former Blackshear Mayor Richard E. “Dick” Larson and local contractor Jerry Ed Rich Jr.
Incumbent commissioner Graham Raley announced earlier this year he won’t run for re-election. Raley will be moving out of the district early next year.
Christmas is the manager of the Rural King in Waycross.
Christmas says one of my top priorities is attracting new businesses and industries to Pierce County.
“We have the space and capability to attract numerous businesses to our community. We have a strong workforce here to fill those jobs as well,” he says.
Another challenge he wants to focus on is improving intergovernmental relations.
“Each department has a specific job for the county. At the end of the day, we have one job, which is to better serve our citizens within our community. One of the sayings I use at my job is this, we each have a different role but we all have the same job, to help the team win,” he said.
Christmas has lived in Pierce County for almost 29 years now.
He and his wife, Wendy, have been married for 19 years. They have three children including two adult daughters, Erin and Anna, who reside in North Carolina and one son, Greyson, an 11th-grade home school student.
Christmas is an active volunteer with the Ware County 4-H and currently a coach with the S.A.F.E. Program for the BB gun, Sporter Air Rifle and .22 Rimfire Teams.
The Christmases are members of the Blackshear First United Methodist Church.
Larson says he brings decades of leadership, community service and business experience and would like to use that to serve the residents of district two.
Larson served as President of Peoples Bank in Blackshear for 40 years, guiding the institution through significant growth while supporting local families, businesses and economic development. In addition to his banking career, he served as Mayor of Blackshear following his election in 2013, where he worked to strengthen the city’s economic foundation and enhance quality of life for residents.
He is the widower of Dale Larson and the father of two children, daughter, Dana, with grandchildren Rayna Goble (husband Jacob) and Stryker Bowen and son, Rick, married to Claire Larson, with their children Reagan, Britton and Harper Larson. He is also blessed with two great-grandchildren.
“I look forward to the opportunity to continue serving the people of Pierce County with integrity, experience and a commitment to the community’s future,” he said.
Rich is the owner of Rich’s Qualify Roofing and Remodeling.
He says he felt led by the Holy Spirit to run for county commission.
“I’m running for District 2 commissioner because I believe it’s what Jesus wants me to do to get involved with the community,” said Rich. “I would like to help Pierce County in any way that I can and this is the first way that’s came along. I believe one person can make a difference if guided by the Holy Spirit.”
Rich says he will always be honest with his constituents.
“Most people tell you what you want to hear but I believe you should tell a person what they need to hear. I’ve owned Rich’s Quality Roofing and Remodeling for 13 years and have always run my business with integrity. I’m a divorced father of 8 children and I know the most important thing you can teach your children is Jesus.”
Rich says he will be transparent and will work together with his fellow commissioners to improve Pierce County.
“If we work together with full transparency, we can make our community better for the citizens and our future generations. I also know that the establishment has mostly looked out for themselves and not much change ever happens,” he said.
Rich said he is a newcomer to politics and not a politician.
“I always make decisions based on what Jesus puts on me. If elected I promise to listen to the people and do my best to bring the people’s choices to reality. I appreciate your consideration for this seat and hope to work with you in the future to make pierce County a better place for the people,” Rich said.
He is divorced and is the father of eight children and has owned his own business for the past 13 years.
District two is roughly the area from Blackshear south between U.S. Highway 84, Georgia Highway 15 to Little Frank, Dean Still, Bailey, St. Johns, Midway and Youmans Chapel Roads to the Satilla River.
