Savannah Realtor Austin Hill enters County Commission District 1 race
Local Realtor Austin Hill officially announced his candidacy for the Chatham County Board of Commissioners District 1 seat behind an endorsement from outgoing commissioner Hellen Stone, according to a campaign press release.
Hill is also chairman of Historic Savannah Foundation’s board, and is running on a platform to cut taxes, support law enforcement, and fix the 911 system, the press release said.
“Our citizens deserve a commissioner who will fight to lower their tax burden and cut wasteful spending,” Hill stated. “also believe every family deserves to live in a safe neighborhood, and I will work everyday to support our public safety professionals. That begins with fixing our 911 system.”
The District 1 seat is open this year after Stone decided not to run for re-election. Hill also received endorsements from Sheriff John Wilcher, and Savannah Alderpersons Carol Bell and Nick Palumbo, according to the press release. Chatham’s District 1 overlaps with Palumbo’s
city council district around the Ardsley Park neighborhood.
Hill will have a challenger in May’s primary, with former Chatham County Fire Chief Wayne Noha also running. No Democrat qualified for the District 1 seat.
Hill is a seventh-generation Savannahian who was previously chairman of the Savannah Philharmonic board of directors and has also sat on the boards of Leadership Savannah, the Savannah Board of Realtors, and the Housing Authority of Savannah.
Evan Lasseter is the city and county government reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at ELasseter@gannett.com.