Henry Craig is in the middle of what many would consider a successful tenure as a county commissioner but has decided it’s almost time to step aside.
He announced his planned retirement as a commissioner at the close of the Baldwin County Board of Commissioners’ meeting Tuesday.
“I would like to announce that I am not going to seek re-election,” he declared. “I believe in term limits, and I believe that new ideas, new people, new energy is healthy. And, I look forward to working with those that seek the position in District 4, help them out, give them information if they need it.”
Craig was elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2016 and 2020. He has served for eight years on the Board of Managers of the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) and currently is president of that body. That term ends in April at ACCG’s annual convention. He also was chairman of the local Board of Commissioners 2020-2022.
Craig had some words of advice for other Baldwin County commissioners: “I want to remind the people that are running for election and those that are seeking re-election, that, as you take the oath, there’s nothing about District 4, District 3, District 2. It’s about Baldwin County. And, as we do our work, we need to be thinking about Baldwin County, realizing we are elected by our district, but our work is for Baldwin County.”
Craig said he was appreciative of his colleagues and pledged to continue working until the term expires at the end of this year.
“I’ll work hard until then, doing the same thing I have been doing for the past 11 years,” Craig said. “And, I look forward to working with all y’all until that time.”
While reflecting on the past 11 years Wednesday morning, Craig said that one decision by the county commissioners was in his view, vitally important.
“The thing that stands out most to me is that the county saved the hospital, in that the county agreed to support the hospital each year with $500,00 for 10 years,” he explained. “We felt if the county would continue in supporting the hospital, it would keep people at the table. And, it did. The county was going to lose the hospital. They had a date they were going to chain the doors closed. And, by the county participating that way, it kept people at the table, and we still have a hospital today because of it."
The commissioner said that obligation will be coming to an end shortly, and the board will need to decide how to handle that situation in the future. The healthcare facility does give the county a return, he pointed out.
The hospital does spend well over $5 million a year in indigent care, and the largest portion of that is for the citizens of Baldwin County, he said.
"The hospital is very important to us.," he added. "I can’t imagine what our community would be like with our educational institutions if we didn’t have a hospital here.”
Craig views another physical site, the new government building, as a symbol for the county. The relatively new office complex on North Columbia Street was constructed with local sales tax funds
"I supported that vigorously because it demonstrates to everyone who goes there and everyone who passes through town, that Baldwin County is modernizing and is seeking to continue to develop as a growing and prosperous community,” he said. “I learned from my father and mother years ago that the first impression is the most important impression you can make. You make a bad impression; you spend a lot of time trying to undo a bad impression. You make a good impression; you’re working from a good position.”
Despite his career as a county commissioner now scheduled to end Dec. 31, Craig said he’ll remain involved in Baldwin County’s future.
“I’m going to continue to advocate for mental health,” he stressed, noting that has been the focus of his message while serving as ACCG president the past year. “And, I’m going to continue getting involved in things in Milledgeville and Baldwin County that my experience and interests support. I’m not going anywhere.”