Former Macon-Bibb EMA director announces plan to run for county commission

Former Macon-Bibb County Emergency Management Agency Director Don Druitt announced Thursday his intention to run for a county commission seat next year.

Druitt will run for the District 6 seat held by Ed DeFore, who has been in local elected office for more than four decades.

Druitt spent more than five years as head of Macon-Bibb EMA before retiring Wednesday.

He said he does not intend to raise any funds for his campaign, and instead wants a word-of-mouth campaign. Druitt said he will focus on projects funded by special purpose local option sales tax revenue, as well as restoring neighborhoods and commercial developments.

“I applaud those commissioners who have served in the past, but I think now is the time for fresh and progressive change,” said the retired Army veteran during his announcement outside the Macon-Bibb County Government Center.

Although DeFore has not formally announced his intention to run again, he told The Telegraph on Thursday that he will seek another term. DeFore has spent 45 years in government, first elected as a Macon councilman in 1971 and also serving on the Bibb County school board.

Another challenger, former Bibb County Commissioner Joe Allen, also said Thursday he plans to announce by early 2016 that he’s also running for District 6. Allen spent 20 years as a commissioner, is a retired Macon-Bibb County firefighter and is the founder of the Kids Yule Love charity.

To contact writer Stanley Dunlap, call 744-4623 or find him on Twitter@stan_telegraph.

This story was originally published October 1, 2015 at 9:54 PM with the headline "Former Macon-Bibb EMA director announces plan to run for county commission ."