Candidate Profile: Buddy Barkley

STAFF REPORTS — Centre resident Buddy Barkley, 66, will seek the Dist. 1 seat on the Cherokee County Commission in the June 3 Democratic primary. Current commissioner Lori Owens is not running for reelection.

Barkley, a lifelong resident of Cherokee County and 1960 graduate of Cedar Bluff High School, worked at Inland Container in Rome, Ga. after graduation, leaving the company in the early 1980s. At that time he established a business grading land for new homes, which he has owned and operated for the past 25 years.

Barkley's wife, Doris, has been a school bus driver for 25 years. All three of their sons graduated from Cherokee County High School and Jacksonville State University. He and Doris have three grandchildren.

"I'm confident I can use my experience constructing quality homes to better the lives of the people in Cherokee County Dist. 1," Barkley told The Post.

Barkley said he believes Weiss Lake is one of the most prized possessions in the county and must be protected and maintained for future generations.

"For that to happen, I would like to establish -- even if I might not live long enough to see it -- a central sewer system for the populated areas of the county," he said. "I'd also like to see an inspection system so the county can inspect every building that goes up in the county to ensure they are up to the state building code. Currently, there's no one in the county who enforces the code."

Barkley said he cares deeply about Cherokee County and wants to serve the people.
"I'm excited about running and my family and I would greatly appreciate the votes and the confidence of the people here," he said.

Editor's note: This article originally ran in the May 5, 2008 edition of The Post.