Max Bryant has announced his intentions to run for the District 5 seat on the Decatur County Board of Commissioners. Bryant has qualified as a Democratic candidate and will face incumbent Russell Smith in the primary election in July. The winner of that election will then face Republican challenger Terry Ellis in the November general election.

Bryant said he wants to help improve Decatur County’s public image and make it an attractive location for new business.

“As it stands today, I don’t think my children, when they graduate, have a choice to stay in Bainbridge and Decatur County,” he said. “We’re closing the door on our chance for growth, with this turmoil. If we’re not actually making a move and attempting to do something about it, we don’t have a right to complain.”

He added that he believes Decatur County has a lot of resources and advantages to sell to prospective industries.

“Economic growth is the No. 1 issue for me,” he said. “We’re losing small, 30-and-40-employee industries, to counties of similar size, but they don’t have the infrastructure or resources that we have. We’ve got to do a better job of selling ourselves. The perception of our county — that image is not very good right now.”

Bryant was born and raised in Decatur County and has lived here most of his life. He is a graduate of Bainbridge High School and grew up in the Climax community. He graduated from Gupton Jones College, and has been a funeral director and embalmer for 23 years.

Bryant said, if elected, he wants to serve as a voice for the people.

“I don’t have an ax to grind or a personal agenda,” he said. “I just want our county to be a place where we can be proud to say it’s where we’re from. And I want people to come here shopping for a place for their business to see us as an attractive option.

“Commissioners should represent the ideas of the people that vote for us. Our role should not be as a tyrant or to advance our agenda, but to advance the agenda of the voters, of the people who have chosen you to represent them.”

Bryant is married to the former Dana Cutchens, and they have three children and one granddaughter. He attends First Presbyterian Church and is a member of the Decatur County Young Farmers. Bryant’s parents are Cal and Jean Bryant, of Decatur County.