TIFTON — On Monday, Tifton resident John Tibbetts announced his candidacy for the House District 153 seat.

“Today, I am announcing that I am a candidate for the House of Representatives to represent the people of Tift and Turner counties in the Georgia General Assembly,” Tibbetts said. “The name of the office, Representative, says it all. This is more than a title; it’s a job description.”

Tibbetts ran against incumbent Austin Scott in November 2006 and garnered 46 percent of the vote.

Tibbetts is a combat veteran who retired as a lieutenant colonel with the U.S. Army after 21 years of service. Since August 2005, he has taught history at Tift County High School.

Tibbetts said the district needs a representative who is active and involved in the community. “The people of Tift and Turner counties deserve a representative who is responsive and accessible to the people he represents,” Tibbetts said.

Tibbetts is a board member of the Tifton Arts council, an advisory board member of South Central Georgia United Way, a member of First Baptist Church where he is a Sunday School teacher and choir member and serves as the wrestling coach for Eight Street Middle School.

“Throughout the year, everywhere I’ve gone — to county commission and school board meetings, to community planning and input sessions, to charity events supporting the great work of the non-profit agencies in our area, to local sporting events — since the last election, hardly a week has gone by that someone hasn’t come up to me and asked, ‘John, are you going to run again?’” Tibbetts said.

He said, “I sense a real desire in our district for change. Folks are tired of Georgia consistently ranking at the bottom of the national standings in education. People are unhappy with a legislature that enacts legislation that causes our local taxes to be raised, and then tries to strip local boards of the ability to govern locally. People are unhappy with a legislature that is gridlocked because the leadership in Atlanta has hijacked any meaningful discussion of issues with posturing on personal agendas.”

Tibbetts said that people who are engaged in the community ask him about his candidacy. “I believe they are asking for leadership and involvement on the issues that matter: On education affordable health care, meaningful discussions about tax reform, bringing jobs into our community and encouraging sustainability in agribusiness,” he said.

Tibbetts said, “Two years ago when I ran for this same seat, I made the observation that I was not satisfied with the way our state government was being run. Nothing has changed — and, if anything, I am less satisfied with the leadership in Atlanta and particularly with our representation to the House.”

He said, “It is time for change in Georgia. The district can and must be part of the solution. The effort for change starts today with my campaign to be the next State Representative for Tift and Turner counties. I look forward to continuing the discussions with the people of our district, hearing their issues and working with them to find solutions.”

As an officer in the Army, Tibbetts won the Legion of Merit award, was twice awarded the Bronze Star medal, won the Defense Meritorious Service medal and was three times awarded the Army Meritorious Service medal, as well as numerous other commendation medals.

Tibbetts wife, Jeannie, is also a retired decorated Army lieutenant colonel with 21 years of service including Iraq, Kuwait and the Pentagon during 9/11. They have two sons: John, age 17, and Ryan, age 15.

He is a graduate of Tift County High School, the United States Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.



To contact reporter Jana Cone, call 382-4321, ext. 208.