Wooten announces candidacy

Vann Wooten is announcing his candidacy for re-election to the Jeff Davis County Board of Commissioners for the Ocmulgee District, with the General Primary Nonpartisan Election set for May 19.
“Serving as your county commissioner has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” said Wooten. “Together, we’ve worked diligently to make our community a place we’re proud to call home by strengthening local services, improving our roads and public spaces, and supporting the working families and small businesses that form the heart of our county.”
Wooten said his top priority has been frequently traveling to Atlanta and building strong ties with state leaders to ensure Jeff Davis County has every resource needed to serve the community. During his time as commissioner, he has been instrumental in a number of improvements, including raising salaries and adding new employees to the county’s payroll, among them nearly a dozen positions in the road department and volunteer fire department.
He said the road department is in the “best shape” it has been in years and credited recently hired supervisor Chris Horton. Among the projects he cited are the widening of Broxton Highway from Hazlehurst to Snipesville that has helped reduce the number of traffic accidents on that road, the repaving and widening of J.A. Yawn Road between Mulliganz Golf Club and Beasley Forest Products, and upgraded equipment and added a new shop and office, which Wooten noted was built at no expense to the county, and upgraded Jeff Davis County Fairgrounds events building, which he termed as “very nice.” He added that the county is moving forward with firm plans to address and reduce trash along Jeff Davis County roads.
Wooten stated that he and his fellow commissioners successfully rolled back the ad valorem tax by 3-1/4 mills, made significant park-like improvements to Burketts Ferry Landing boat ramp and surrounding public spaces, and with the generosity of the Claude P. Cook Charity Trust and many other donors, oversaw construction of the new and much-needed Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Department and jail facilities.
In addition to owning and operating TOP Farms, LLC, which primarily raises cattle, Wooten is a member of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. His accomplishments include service with the Jeff Davis County Farm Bureau and the Georgia Young Farmers Association, where he served eight years on the executive board; Governor Sonny Perdue’s State Ag Education Advisory Committee; the Jeff Davis County Board of Equalization; the Jeff Davis High School Ag Education Advisory Committee; and the Gold Kist Patron Council. Additionally, he participated in the University of Georgia and GA Ag EMS Program and is a graduate of the Georgia Agri-Leaders Forum Foundation.
Wooten’s children are Derick Wooten, married to Karleigh Kight, and Lauren Wooten Adams, who is married to Brandon Adams. He has two grandchildren, Jackson Adams and Blair Adams, plus one bonus grandchild, Grayson.
“I’m running because there is still important work to be done, from creating new opportunities for responsible growth and ensuring your tax dollars are used wisely and sensibly,” Wooten reiterated. “I’ve listened to your concerns, brought people together, and focused on practical solutions rather than politics. I promise to continue that same hands-on approach of being accessible, transparent, and committed to the well-being of every resident.”