Hayes seeks commission seat, committed to positive change

Published 8:00 am Sunday, April 7, 2024

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Lowndes County native Fletcher Hayes is campaigning for election to the District 3 County Commission seat. As a longtime resident of the Calhoun Community, Hayes is dedicated to working for the change he sees as vital for the county’s future.

“As a lifelong resident of Lowndes County, I have closely watched how local politics have gravely affected the entire body of our beautiful county” Hayes said “It has become quite apparent to me as well as my constituents that there has to be a change within our local government in order to turn Lowndes County away from the direction in which it has traveled for the past several years.”

Hayes’s platform for change includes supporting economic development, the Lowndes County Board of Education and education and advanced training opportunities for County employees.

Email newsletter signup

“I will be a voice for county employees for fairness and better working conditions,” Hayes said.  The commission candidate said retaining workers is also an integral step toward ensuring a bright future for Lowndes County.

“I think it’s also important to retain our people within the county,” Hayes said. “We are losing our citizens to Montgomery and surrounding counties and our population is dwindling while our crime is on the increase. This is due once again to lack of economic and industrial prosperity.”    

Hayes is the son of Theodis Hayes, SR. and Rebecca Wilson-Hayes, the third of six children. He is also the father of three children: Jeremy James of Montgomery, Quinette McCall Russell of the Calhoun Community and Nyla T. Hayes of the Calhoun Community. He is grandfather to six grandchildren.  

The Calhoun School graduate is a member of the Class of 1979. After high school he went to work at Hudson and Thompson Grocery Distributors in Montgomery, where he worked for fifteen years until the company shut its doors in 1994.  

Hayes attended truck driving school at J.P. Technical College in Montgomery and spring of 1995. He has been driving trucks for over 30 years.

Hayes’s father was in the United States Army for two years and then worked for Hudson and Thompson Grocery Distributors for thirty years until the company closed. Afterwards, Hayes, Sr. worked at Purina in Montgomery until he retired. Hayes’s  mother worked for the Lowndes County Board of Education as a cook for ten years until she retired. 

With a long history rooted in Lowndes County, Hayes said he understands the priorities of the area’s people are centered around taking care of families.

“We absolutely have to get back to the real business of taking care of our families, especially our seniors and children,” Hayes said. “It’s high time to remove our personal feelings and attitudes away from what is best for Lowndes County.

“If you and your family support true change and want a commissioner that will be straightforward and honest with you, then please support me for that change,” Hayes said. “If you are a county employee, and you are tired of being treated unfairly and working in poor conditions with mediocre pay, no chance for self-improvement or additional training, then I ask that you please support me.  I realize that I can’t do anything alone, but with God’s help and help from the citizens of District 3 and support from throughout our county, Lowndes County can be what it should be: HOME.”