Retiree Frank Loeffler announced Thursday he intends to run for election to the Decatur County Board of Commissioners seat currently held by Palmer Rich, who has announced he will not run for re-election.

Loeffler, 69, has a background in agricultural business and also worked as the director of transportation and maintenance for the Board of Education for 11 years.

Loeffler moved to Bainbridge with his wife, Suzi—a school teacher—in 1978 and retired in 2006.

“This town and county have wrapped their arms around us and treated us so well,” Loeffler said. “I think I can give something back to the community.”

Loeffler said that if elected, he hopes to use his business experience to “amplify” the successes recently accomplished by county commissioners.

While he believes the present board is doing a good job, he would like to see Bainbridge and Decatur County leaders work more closely together. He said his experience in building a new baseball field at the former location of Bainbridge High School—now Bainbridge Middle School—showed him that large projects can only realistically be accomplished with teamwork.

“I went to the city and county officials; they jumped in and brought their equipment,” Loeffler recalled. “Georgia Power set the poles and helped aimed the lights. It shows we can work together.”

Loeffler said he believes his economics degree from Missouri Valley College, as well as his experience with companies like Flint River Mills and International Harvester, gives him ideas about building up the county’s financial reserves in order to weather tough times.

“Decatur County has to grow or die,” Loeffler said. “I’d like to see us be proactive about putting things in place to get business prospects to come here.”

Loeffler, who has two sons and four grandchildren, said he also believes in providing a quality of life for youth.

“We need something to keep them here after they graduate,” he said. “Having things to keep kids busy goes a long way to keep them out of trouble.”

“I’m excited about running. I think I have good qualities to be able to sit down with people and see if we can work out solutions.”

Qualifying for three Board of Commissioners seats, as well as three Board of Education seats, up for election will be held April 26-30.