Joe Barton of Andalusia has announced his candidacy for Covington County Commission in District 2.

A resident of the Heath community, Barton was born and reared in Covington County on his family farm where he still resides.

A 1969 graduate of the Andalusia High School and a 1972 graduate of Troy University, Barton holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a minor in marketing.

He began his career with Ford Motor Credit in Mobile and continued with Williams and Associates Automobile Insurance, Moore Group of Atlanta Automobile Insurance, and Brown and Root Construction, working various jobs throughout the southeast United States as rigging foreman/crane operator/ truck driver.

After working for U-J Chevrolet and Bay Chevrolet in Mobile from 1986-1991 as an automobile salesman, Barton moved back to Andalusia to assist with the care of his father, an Alzheimer’s patient.

He continued his employment in the automobile industry as sales manager with Courtesy Chevrolet (formerly Radcliff Chevrolet), Tommy Thomas, and Massey Automotive until 1998.

Barton began a new venture in land development and excavation in 1998. He also is employed part-time at Hilltop Seafood Restaurant.

Barton has volunteered as captain of the Covington County Sheriff’s Posse since 1993. In 2011 alone, he clocked more than 400 hours assisting with various security and search details.

He is the son of Rebecca Seymour Barton and the late A.E. “Gene” Barton.

Barton said he would like for county government to be more open and efficient to the people; to be extremely accessible and accountable for each and every dime spent; to operate the government of the people in Covington County with professional standards, flexible meeting hours, meeting places throughout the county to ensure the citizens of Covington County are getting results from their government and its employees; to promote what Covington County already has to offer including its lakes, rivers, and waterways, national forests, farming, top-notch educational facilities and staff members; to expand the possibilities of additional youth sports; of expanding infrastructure and manufacturing for promoting the future with continued economic development at the South Alabama Regional Airport, and of building and bringing quality paying jobs to all communities throughout Covington County; to have a strong working relationship with surrounding county governments and with state lawmakers to ensure Covington County gets its fair share of public monies and resources.

He said he would like to “simply do what is best for every resident of Covington County, today, tomorrow, and for the future.”

He is seeking the office as a Republican.