TIFTON — Tony McBrayer is running for the Republican nomination for Tift County Board of Commissioners, District 3.

If elected, he’d like to see the city and county fire departments combine back into a single department.

“Tift County is one of the smallest land mass counties in the state of Georgia,” said McBrayer. “We don’t need two fire departments to cover such a small county. I think it needs to be put back together.

“I understand the volunteer fire department is in the best shape it’s probably ever been in Tift County today as a result of the split,” said McBrayer. “But we could obtain those same results without having to create a separate fire department.”

Along with working to rejoin the fire departments, if elected McBrayer plans to focus on city and county cohesion.

“There’s constant discord between the city and the county over different agreements, different issues,” said McBrayer. “I’d like to see us be proactive rather than reactive…I’d like to see us address those issues before it gets down to crunch time.”

McBrayer would like to see county commissioners and city council members meet up regularly and work together.

“We all live in one county, we’re all friends,” said McBrayer. “I see us as a great community. I see churches working together. I see civic clubs, different organizations working together. I see people of all colors and races working together. We just need to see our two governmental bodies working together.”

McBrayer also argues that city and county disagreements have lead to lost economic development opportunities.

“When a company is looking for a site to expand their business, they hire a site consultant,” said McBrayer. “When they find these articles where the city and county aren’t getting along, we’re just crossed off the list.”

McBrayer served as a state representative in 2011 and 2012.

“I found out at the state house, usually some of the best bills were when neither side was really happy after it passed,” said McBrayer. “Both sides have to compromise. You’re not going to get everything that you want when you’re in negotiations…When you’re not getting your way, don’t pick up your toys and go home.”

For years, McBrayer and his wife, Diane, ran TMM Enterprises, a grocery distribution business.

The company merged with another in 2015. Now, McBrayer works as an independent sales consultant for Georgia Grown entrepreneurs and a sales rep for Southern Resources.

He’s a 1977 graduate of Tift County High School, a 1979 graduate of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and a 1981 graduate of Valdosta State University.

“Tifton and Tift County is a great community,” said McBrayer. “I’d like to be of service by helping bring job growth to our area. And regardless of who you vote for, get out and vote.”

McBrayer will face incumbent Robert Setters in the May 22 primary election.