Former County Commissioner George Hanns will seek his old seat

Palm Coast Observer
News

Former Flagler County Commissioner George Hanns has announced that he will run again for the District 5 Commission seat in 2024.

Hanns served on the commission for 24 years, from 1992 to 2016. Before that, he served on the Palm Coast Service District Advisory Board for two years before Palm Coast was incorporated. He served as County Commission chair in 2009-10 and 2013-14.

Hanns lost his seat to Donald O'Brien in 2016. O'Brien announced he will not seek re-election to the Commission next year in order to run for the open District 19 Florida House of Representatives seat as House Speaker Paul Renner will be finishing his final term.

Hanns, 76, a retired builder, said he has been volunteering, primarily as a tour guide at Princess Place Preserve where the covered bridge on site is named in his honor.

“I have so much energy. I just wanted to throw my hat in the ring again,” he said.

Hanns cites several projects he helped bring to fruition during his years as a commissioner including the Princess Place Preserve, Flagler County’s artificial reefs, the Florida Agricultural Museum, the Flagler County Youth Center and roller rink and the establishment of parks and nature trails.

“I’ve always been mindful of doing positive things that will help the majority of the people,” he said.

Hanns who had been a Democrat throughout his tenure on the Commission, will run as a Republican.

“I've never been active in politics," he said. “I've always voted for Republicans or Democrats, whoever I believe in, and I still do that. I changed parties two years ago. I just couldn't see any connection with my thought process with the Democratic party and all that was going on.”