Tony Beatty, a marketing and communications consultant, announced Saturday his intention to seek the District 1 post on the Hall County Board of Commissioners currently held by Craig Lutz.

Lutz has announced he would not seek re-election.

Beatty made the announcement at a campaign event Saturday in Flowery Branch.

“Creating an environment for industry to grow is one of the important tasks of local government,” Beatty said in an email news release. “If elected, I will work to get and keep government out of the way of business, so citizens have more opportunities to achieve success and get a job.”

Beatty also said he wanted to improve relations between Hall County’s cities and its government.

“With continuing unrest between the county and our cities it’s time we sit down and figure out what is needed to stop unnecessary squabbles,” he said. “Also, with the federal government placing more and more burdens on local and state government, it is time that Hall County started fighting back and implementing policies that attract business. We need to continue working toward a more business-friendly environment to compete in a national economy.”

Beatty has been a communications and marketing consultant for six years, according to the news release, after working in the construction industry early in his career.

The news release said he is a lifelong Republican with a background in politics and grass-roots campaigning.

He served as chairman and treasurer of both the College Republicans and the Political Science Student Association at North Georgia College & State University. He was treasurer for the Lanier Tea Party Patriots from 2010-2013. He also served as political director for the Georgia Association of College Republicans.

“Hall County has accomplished much in the past several years but we have more to do,” he said. “I look forward to talking with the folks of South Hall over the next year and hearing their ideas.”