Billy Sexton, a lifelong resident of Crenshaw County, has announced his candidacy for Probate Judge.

Sexton has operated Acme Propane Gas in Highland Home for over 30 years.

He also owns Acme Propane Gas in Hayneville and in Montgomery. Serving over 6,000 customers in Crenshaw and surrounding counties, Sexton is the only independent propane dealer in Crenshaw County and one of the few left in the state of Alabama.

&uot;I am an experienced business leader, and I have served as a Colonial Bank board member for 14 years,&uot; Sexton said.

During the late 1980s, he served as Crenshaw County commissioner.

&uot;Along with my fellow commissioners, we made several accomplishments that have had a great impact on this county,&uot; Sexton said. &uot;We implemented the E-911 emergency system and the Crenshaw County Industrial Board, which helped to bring jobs to the county. We hired the first industrial board director and developed a personnel policy for county employees.&uot;

He said that during his term as county commissioner, the tax assessor and tax collector offices were combined to what is now the revenue commissioner position, which saved approximately $60,000 per four-year term.

&uot;This made it easier to buy your tag by reducing the process from three steps to two,&uot; he said.

Sexton said that if given the opportunity to serve Crenshaw County again, he would look forward to working closely with the Industrial Board to regain new businesses to the area.

&uot;In the past few years, Crenshaw County has lost several small businesses,&uot; he said. &uot;It’s good to have the large industries coming into the county, but we also need to attract and support the small businesses as well.&uot;

Sexton has several goals in mind if elected to the Probate Judge’s office.

&uot;I would develop a system to bring a one-step process for purchasing tags, and I would update our county offices to allow tag payments or tax payments to be made by credit and/ or debit cards, which are so widely used today,&uot; he said. &uot;I would also install a toll free 1-800 direct line to the probate office. This would allow citizens to call the office to conduct business or to find out information at no cost to them.&uot;

When it comes to community support, Sexton donates gas for the Shriners’ annual peanut boil, and he has supported the local volunteer fire departments, schools, agriculture and nutrition sites in the county for several years.

Sexton, who lost his wife, Elizabeth, to lung cancer in Sept. of 2003, said that his family is the most important part of his life. He has three children, Kim Sexton, Ken Sexton and Keenar Kelley.

&uot;I will have an open door policy to all of Crenshaw County if elected,&uot; Sexton said. &uot;I believe in and stand for equal opportunity for all. I ask for your vote and support on June 6.&uot;