Tax Commissioner Hopeful Joins Race

Corporate manager and supervisor Chuck Holt announced he's running for tax commissioner of Bartow County, facing county  as an opponent.

Holt said he'll qualify as a Republican for the July 31 primary. Current Tax Commissioner VaLenda Bailey is retiring.

Currently in his 25th year with a Fortune 500 company, Holt has successfully managed multi-million dollar budgets; supervised employees at local and regional levels; and worked closely with contractors, small businesses and large corporations throughout Bartow, he said in a press release.   

“I would like to continue the tradition of excellence that both VaLenda Bailey and Jack Nally have established in their service," Holt said in a statement. "I believe that I can bring the personal drive and skills I have learned in being part of a successful company to government in order to serve the people of Bartow County. 

"During this unfortunate economic downturn, families have learned to make every dollar go as far as possible. I believe it is the responsibility of government to do the same. Citizens are working harder than ever for every dollar they earn. It is a serious responsibility to be entrusted with the care of this hard-earned money. I do not take this responsibility lightly. I will always remember who I work for. I work for you.”

Families of both Holt and his wife, the former Valerie Waits of Taylorsville, are native to Bartow. His father played football for , then the U.S. Air Force and the 1951 University of Tennessee championship team. 

At 97, Holt's grandmother for many years served the county as an election poll worker. Valerie Holt is a Family and Consumer Science teacher at and cooks competitively nationwide.

Members of , the Holt's have one daughter, Betsy, who is a senior at and a joint-enrollment student at .

Holt holds a bachelor’s degree in Business and attended Southern Polytechnic State University’s Engineering program. 

for the July 31 primary election is set for May 23 to 25.

For all of our 2012 voting coverage, visit Elections: Participate in 2012.

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