Roy Garner to run for Bollinger County commissioner

Roy Garner of Scopus has filed to run for the Bollinger County Commission, Second District, the position held by Steve Jordan. Jordan has said he will not seek re-election.

The condition of Bollinger County roads is the main reason Garner said he wants to run for office.

Garner said he has experience in road building and maintenance. Since 1967, he has operated backhoes, driven dump trucks and worked for people building roads.

“In 1976, I bought my own equipment and have been on my own ever since,” Garner said. “I am still working. I know a little bit about building a road.”

Garner, 69, said a lot of Bollinger County residents know him, and some have asked him to run for office.

“I am no stranger,” he said.

Garner said he is familiar with the kind of rock needed for a good road, and he questions the county’s consideration of building its own quarry to get chat.

“I don’t think we’re spending our money wisely,” he said.

Garner said he believes roads in the county need better attention than what they have, especially when road beds often are lower than the ditches.

Garner was born in Bollinger County, attended Woodland School and served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, although he did not go overseas.

He and his wife Pam have three children, and “I don’t know how many grandkids and great-grandkids,” he said.

He and his family attend New Liberty General Baptist Church. He hopes people will vote for him because he will work toward building better roads.

“I don’t believe in wasting what we have worked for,” he said. “Taxpayers don’t like to see money wasted. It’s too hard to come by.”