Baconton Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Hermon Scott is running for the Long County District 3 Commission vacancy left when former Commissioner Willie Thompson resigned.
Scott, who has been the pastor of Baconton since 1997, retired from the U.S. Army in 1996 and immediately got a job with the Long County School System, first as a high school social studies teacher for three years and then the district’s suspension supervisor for five years.
In 2011, he moved into his home on Mill Pond Road. He said District 3 has provided a nurturing environment for him and his family.
“I am running for county commissioner because it is my way of expressing my gratitude to the people of District 3 who welcomed me into this community,” he said. “Giving back to my community has been and continues to be one of my core values. I am a firm believer that ‘To whom much is given, much is required.’ So when the seat opened it did not take long to decide to offer myself as a candidate.”
Scott is the second person to announce their candidacy. Last month, Mike Phillips said he plans to run. Scott said he doesn’t view Phillips as an opposition.
“I am not running against anyone, but rather I am running for the office of county commissioner District 3,” he said. “I intend to study the issues that affect Long County and District 3 and work very hard for the advancement of Long County.”
Scott holds a bachelor’s of science degree in history with a minor in military science from Austin Peay State University. He also holds a master’s of ministry and a doctor of theology degree from Andersonville Theological Seminary.
He enlisted in the Army and was commissioned through ROTC. In addition to being the Baconton pastor, Scott has also served on a number of boards.
“I serve as secretary of the Liberty County Manna House board of directors,” he said. “I represent Long County on the Diversity Health Center Board of Directors. I serve as volunteer chaplain for the Long County Sheriff’s Office.”
Scott is a life member of the NAACP, and serves as vice president of the Liberty County United Ministerial Alliance.
He also served as the founding president of the Liberty County Homeless Coalition. In 2013, Scott was elected moderator of the Zion Missionary Baptist Association.
He is married to the former Pamela M. Taylor. Their children are: Charity and her husband Brandon, Chrystal and Christopher and his wife Claudia. They also have four grandchildren.