MILTON — Republican Bob Cole is the incumbannt running for Santa Rosa County Commissioner of District 2. Cole said he wants to keep taxes down and provide the best representation for citizens.
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Cole was the stock boy in his father's grocery store. He's the oldest of three boys.
Cole served in the U.S. Navy during Vietnam as an aircraft ground support technician stationed at Naval Air Station Whiting Field. Honorably discharged, Cole entered Pensacola Junior College and worked in the automotive field becoming a nationally certified master automotive technician while earning his degree. Cole later opened Bob Cole Import Automotive Professionals. During a bad economic period, he renamed the business Bob Cole Automotive and started working on domestic vehicles.
Years later, encouraged by friends and the Republican party, Cole ran for county commissioner and won. He has been serving the citizens of Santa Rosa County since 2002.
Cole has been married to his wife, Sheila, for 46 years. They have two sons, two daughters and 11 grandchildren with another on the way.
"We have truly been blessed," Cole said.
Cole will continue working to improve roads, drainage, recreational facilities and construct a new courthouse, he said. Cole strives to improve road infrastructure in a way that recognizes the importance of managed growth in all parts of the county. He wants to continue providing the best public safety with police, fire protection and emergency management.
Cole's concern is that the county manage growth properly by reinvesting a portion of tax revenue from new homes and businesses back into county transportation infrastructure. Cole said reinvesting tax revenue by using it to repay a debt service will allow the county to move projects like the Woodbine Road and the Pea Ridge and Hamilton Bridge Road connector forward at an accelerated construction schedule. It is important, he said, to stay engaged with the BP oil spill funding, ensuring the county receives its fair share.
Cole said he is best qualified to be commissioner because he is a Christian, husband, father, veteran and business owner. He said that marriage and family life taught him patience and military taught him leadership and how to be a team member. As a business owner Cole said he learned to serve the public by providing quality service and maintaining a good reputation.
Cole wants to thank the citizens for the privilege of having served four terms and asks for everyone's vote to continue to serve as District 2 county commissioner.
"My pledge to you is that I will continue to serve with honesty, an open-door policy and consider your problem or concerns the same as if it were my own. May God continue to bless our beautiful county."
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Bob Cole runs to keep District 2 commission seat