Meet candidates for Catoosa Board of Commissioners chair
Six candidates, one Democrat and five Republicans, are seeking the chair post on the Catoosa County Board of Commissioners: Greg Bentley, incumbent Larry Black, Mickey Headrick, Steven Henry, Kay Helton Provonsha and Nick Ware.
GREG BENTLEY Political party: Personal:
Democrat Married to the former Andrea Brock since 1994. We have one daughter, Caroline, and reside in the Farming Rock community in Chickamauga.
Work history: Bentley Fabrics, Manager/owner (19801994); Th e Clo s et Factory, Owner (19951999); The Gillette Company, Territory Manager (20002003); Benchmark Appraisals, Appraiser/owner (20042009); Lowes Companies, Department Manager (20092014); Club Demonstration Services, General Manager (2014present)
Political history: Fort Oglethorpe City Councilman (19891992); Georgia Municipal Association Certified (1992); Catoosa County Commissioner, District 1 (19931996); Association County Commissioners of Georgia Certified (1995); Catoosa County Economic Development Board Member (1989); Basic Economic Development, Georgia Tech Graduate (1991)
Volunteer work, associations, etc.: Lakeviewfort Oglethorpe Jaycees, President (1983, 1988); Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce Chairman (1994);
Catoosa County Board of Elections Board Member
Why are you the best choice for the office you seek?
I have always had a strong interest in serving my community and have been fortunate to have served in several different positions. I was elected to the Inaugural Catoosa County Board of Commissioners in 1992 after serving as a Fort Oglethorpe City Councilman. I obtained Certified status in both the Georgia Municipal Association and the Association County Commissioners of Georgia. I believe in a transparent government which strives to maintain a high level of service with the lowest possible tax burden on our property owners. I believe in planned growth, both residential and economic, while not creating an overburdened infrastructure. Even though our county is relatively small, only 163 square miles, I believe we can maintain a balance of residential, industry and our rural/agriculture areas. We decide what we want our county to look like. I have many other ideas that I will share as we get further into the campaign.
Contact info: Email: Bentley4chairman@gmail.com with any questions or concerns. A campaign website is under construction.
LARRY C. BLACK (INCUMBENT) Political party: Repub
lican
Work history: Retired from the Department of Juvenile Justice where I was a field supervisor. Former Drug Task Force Commander for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit. Former Fort Oglethorpe Police Chief. Former jail administrator for Catoosa County.
Associate degree from Dalton College, Bachelor’s of science degree from Brenau University in Ganiesville, graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia (only 10% of law officers nationwide are invited to attend this academy).
Political history: Former Ringgold City councilman (20162019). Current chair of the Catoosa County Board of Commissioners (since May 2022).
One or two living elected officials within the state of Georgia whom you admire: Governor Brian Kemp, State Representative Tom Ramsey of Chatsworth (very pro police), retired police Chief Charles Land of Ringgold.
Why are you the best choice for the office you seek? I’m the best qualified with the highest level of education, the most political experience and the most knowledge of how local government works, including proper budget management. My goal is to represent Catoosa County’s residents and treat everyone the same, from private citizens to developers.
Contact info: Email: larryblack8880@gmail.com; Phone/ text: 4236539998; Facebook: Larry Black for Chairman
MICKEY E. HEADRICK Political party: Republican
Personal: I have lived in Catoosa County all my life. I have been married for 42 years and have 11 children. I praise the Lord for all of them.
Work history: I have been in the construction business for most of my life. I started my company, All Pro Siding, in 1983.
Political history: I ran for District 3 in 2020 and did not win, but I accomplished what I was seeking.
Volunteer work, associations, etc.: I served 25 years at the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church alongside my pastor, Junior Bryson “Praise the Lord,” teaching, preaching and working at the Highland Park Union Gospel Mission in Chattanooga.
One or two living elected officials within the state of Georgia whom you admire: Marjorie Taylor Greene and Vernon Jones
Why are you the best choice for the position you seek? I believe the government should be for all the people. I do not see this happening in Catoosa County. I stand on my relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and being His servant which makes me a servant to others. I believe in truth, humility, honor and respecting others and their constitutional rights.
My platform is simple, caring and common sense.
Contact info: Text: 4235968747; Email: mickeye30736@gmail.com
STEVEN M. HENRY Political party: Republican I am a proud
Personal: Republican with Christian Conservative values. I have been married to my beautiful wife Kristain for 15 years. I wouldn’t be half of the man I am without her love and support. We have a son, Graceson, and we are foster parents to two beautiful daughters, which has been an amazing experience that the Lord has provided for us.
Work history: I have owned and operated Steven M. Henry Construction for 29 years here in Catoosa County. I am extremely proud of the homes we have built but even more proud of the employees we have had that have become like family to me. I believe in surrounding myself with good hearted people who are hard workers and the success my business has had has been due in large part to the people around me who fit that description.
Political history: I served as chairman of the Catoosa County Board of Commissioners 2016 to 2022.
Volunteer work, associations, etc.: The Lord has provided me many great opportunities to serve in our community. One that I am most proud of is my work with the St. Jude Rodeo for the last 23 years. One of those years I was also given the privilege to build the St. Jude Dream Home which was a humbling and unforgettable experience. In my opinion there is no better cause than St. Jude and I am blessed to have been able to help them where I can.
One or two living elected officials within the state of Georgia whom you admire: I have a great deal of admiration for Governor Kemp. You may agree with him or disagree with him, but he always boldly takes a stance on issues that he believes are important to Georgians. I also would include former State Sen. Jeff Mullis as an official that I respect. Sen. Mullis brought a ton of opportunities to Northwest
Georgia while never embarrassing us or bringing negative attention to the good people who live here.
Why are you the best choice for the office you seek?
I believe my experience and success in the position that I am running for sets me apart from the field that is running. While in office I pushed for Catoosa County to get a hospital and the medical corridor that we will be benefiting from soon, I helped push for the College and Career Academy which will open doors for countless amounts of young people to have long and fulfilling careers, and I helped keep the millage rate among the lowest in the entire state while I was in office. Recently, I have been spearheading efforts to protect our citizens from the GRA and outsiders who are trying to take away their right to vote for who they choose. The office of Chairman is something that I take very seriously and something that is a day in day out job for me. I will never just get ready for the board meetings every two weeks, I know that there is more to this job than that and I am prepared to do that job well for the citizens of Catoosa County.
Contact info: Phone: 423991-0682; Email: Shenry@ catt.com. Website: Electstevenhenry.org; Facebook: Facebook.com/electstevenhenry
Political history: I have been active in support and funding of Political Republican candidates.
Volunteer work, associations, etc.: POST: Preservation Of Stories and Times — Treasurer, Fort Oglethorpe, GA; Tres Dias (Christian group); Vida Nueva International- Development Secretary (Christian group of 15-20-year-olds)
One or two living elected officials within the state of Georgia whom you admire: Doug Collins and Marjorie Taylor Green
Why are you the best choice for the office you seek? My vision for our county is to come together, prepare a STRATEGIC PLAN for how WE ALL might want to improve, ask for ideas, have a committee of volunteers to make a presentation to the board.
We have a lot of talent in this county and we need to utilize the people that are willing to help us. We need to come together in unity and not self-fulfilling desires. Strategic planning is imperative for every community.
I want to live in an area that respects the property rights of the citizens. I chose to quit complaining about governmental overreach, and instead become a voice to represent the TRUE INTERESTS of our residents. Even when diverse opinions are offered …“We the People” should always be heard, respected and acted upon by the County Commission. The Commissioners should not arrogantly have citizens escorted out of the building by an armed deputy.
I do not need the money and I am not trying to cash in on a big land deal. I am running because I want to ensure our children and grandchild will enjoy our beautiful community without the Atlanta-style dirty politics, and burdensome governmental restrictions. Catoosa County residents are GOOD PEOPLE and we want a board of commissioners to operate with integrity.
Contact info: Phone: 423-240-4700 Email: KayProvonsha@gmail.com
NICK WARE Political party: Repub
lican
Personal: My family has been in Catoosa county since 1838. My great-grandfather 4x was a minister in Lincoln County, North Carolina. In 1828 he was caught aiding runaway slaves. He was tried by a Superior court in Cabarrus County and executed by hanging. His oldest son moved the family, his mother and seven brothers, here to the
Keith community in 1838 to escape persecution. I have lived in the county for 30 years now and have raised my family in the Keith community.
Work history: I have been working in the telecommunications industry for 30 years. I have worked as an embedded contractor and managed an account for a global 250 company in Chattanooga and served them across the nation as a project manager, servicing 89 field office locations, four campus locations and two data centers with their needs for design and administration of their telecommunications infrastructure. For the past eight years, I have been the owner of a consulting and design company serving clients in industrial, agricultural and senior living developments across the United States. As of December of 2023, I work for an international company that contracts with the Army Corps of Engineers.
Political history: I have never held a political office.
Volunteer work, associations, etc.: 2018 Design and administration for the technology infrastructure for the Cleveland Fire Department, Station #6; 2019 Champions Community Foundation — Champions Place: design and administration of technology infrastructure for a one-ofa-kind 16-bed facility to help young disabled adults live independently. I have served on the Crossroads Community Park board since 2019, which is a local board that is raising funds to build a park in Ringgold for people of all ages and abilities.
Why are you the best choice for the office you seek? I serve no interest in this position other than the good of the citizens in the county. I believe that I have the style of leadership that fits best with the people of Catoosa County and our rural heritage while having a heart for those in the county who are often overlooked, like widowed seniors and those who are disabled.
I am also the only candidate in the race for Commissioner Chair who has publicly pledged to not take the county’s retirement and insurance benefits package, which would ultimately save the County over $100k in my four years sitting in the Chair position.
Contact info: Website: www.ware4chair.com; Email: nick4chairman@gmail.com; Facebook: Nick Ware For Catoosa Commission Chair