The Board of Commissioners

 
Charles Glass
Chairman

Charles Glass was elected Chairman in 2014 and took office January 1st, 2015. He served one term as District 2 Commissioner immediately prior to becoming Chairman. He is originally from Lamar County and returned for good in 2003 after retiring from Cisco Systems. Commissioner Glass has been very active as a volunteer in the community and his church since retirement.

Commissioner Glass is proud of Lamar County and wants to preserve and improve what we have here. He wants to implement more planning into the operations of County government. He also hopes to establish more deliberate citizen feedback mechanisms and involve more citizens in the discussion and decision making of county business. Commissioner Glass wants to work with the citizens to make sure Lamar County is the place we want to live and will still be what we want for our children and grandchildren. If you have suggestions you can email them to Commissioner Glass at cglass@lamarcountyga.com or call him at 770-630-2372.

 
Bennie Horton
District 1

Commissioner Bennie Horton was elected in July 2002 and began his first term on January 1, 2003. He is a native of Lamar County who retired from Continental Tire after 40 years of distinguished service as a supervisor. During Commissioner Horton's tenure as commissioner, he has served as liaison for the Public Works, Building/Zoning, and Recreation Departments as well as Magistrate Court.

Commissioner Horton is the chairman of the local Democratic Party and serves on a multitude of various boards for the betterment of the community. He also spear headed the renaming of the newly constructed bypass to Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway, where his efforts came to fruition in 2008.

Commissioner Horton serves his constituents by working diligently to create more jobs and make Lamar County the best place to live, work, and raise families in Georgia. His hobbies include music. Commissioner Horton graduated from Booker High School and Flint River Tech. He has taken courses at Gordon College and is a certified County Commissioner through the ACCG advanced program. His loving, devoted and supportive wife is Mrs. Vivadon Wilcher-Horton.
 

 
Robert Heiney
District 2

More to come...

 
Van Baker
District 3

Van Baker began his 4 year term January 1, 2013 as Commissioner, District 3, on the Lamar County Board of Commissioners. He and his wife, Nancy, have lived in Barnesville 16 years and are members of the Barnesville United Methodist Church. He has a BBA degree in accounting from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia and retired with 40 years’ service from Norfolk Southern Corporation as Assistant Vice President Real Estate. He grew up in Hapeville Georgia and was active in the Boy Scouts of America, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. Van's daughter, Ashley Erb, and husband Scott, along with son Grayson, live in Leeds, Alabama.

Beginning in the Accounting Department of Southern Railway, Van held numerous positions in Freight Accounting, Revenue Accounting and the Marketing Department. He was General Manager of the Thrift Credit Union, a member of the Board of Directors for 16 years, and Treasurer of the Credit Union. He attended Fuqua Business School Duke University and MIT Executive Training in Boston, Mass. He has been on the Board of Directors of the Camp Fire Boys and Girls, Georgia Counsel and is a member of the Finance Committee of the Barnesville United Methodist Church. He served with the United States Coast Guard Reserve and is a Paul Harris Fellow and member of The Rotary International Club of Barnesville. Van and his wife Nancy are Foundation Founders in The Barnesville-Lamar Community Foundation, members of Lamar Arts, and supporters of Lamar County Humane Society and the Dolly Goodpuppy Society.

With an open door policy, he invites all citizens to feel free to contact him with concerns or issues along with suggestions to make Lamar County a better and safer place to live.
 

 
Nancy Thrash
Vice-Chairman
District 4
Member of ACCG Board of Managers

Nancy began her term as 4th District Commissioner in January, 2009. She previously worked at the Georgia State Capitol with Lt. Governor Casey Cagle and the Senate Office. Prior to that, she retired from Delta Air Lines where she held many positions including Flight Attendant, Supervisor Airport Customer Service and Supervisor Elite Customer Service. Nancy attended Mercer University where she studied Criminal Justice and Clayton State University where she studied Private Investigations.

Nancy currently serves on the Board of Managers of the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, Chairman of the Health and Human Services Board, Legislative Liaison for Lamar County, Board Member on the Lamar County Regional Solid Waste Authority and Board Member on the Towaliga Accountability Court. During her tenure as Commissioner, Nancy has guided the construction of the new Fire Station 1, assisted with obtaining funding for the Milner Library and has been very involved in each yearly Legislative Session. Nancy was previously appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue to serve on the Public Defenders Standards Council.

Nancy has lived in Barnesville for 10 years. She has two sons and seven grandchildren. She attends Rock Springs Church.