COVINGTON, Ga. - Don Floyd, retired fire chief of the Covington Fire Department, announced plans to run for Covington City Council East Post 3.

Originally from Porterdale, Floyd found his lifelong home in Newton County.

Floyd graduated from Newton County High School and went on to attend various fire service schools where he earned firefighter certifications. He attended the University of Georgia and obtained a certificate of public management in levels one, two and three. He also attended the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute.

In 1968, Floyd enrolled into the United States Coast Guard as an electronic technician second class. He received an honorable discharge in 1972, and in the same year, he was hired as a full-time fireman for the Covington Fire Department. He continued his career as a fireman, having received multiple promotions over the years, until his retirement in 2012.

Before retirement, Floyd maintained his position as fire chief of the Covington Fire Department for 12 years. During those 12 years, the Covington Fire Department became an internationally accredited fire agency through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, and Floyd became the 13th internationally accredited fire chief in Georgia.

“I am so proud of the fire department because they have continued to meet the accreditation requirements,” Floyd said.

Over the years, Floyd remained an active member of the community:

• Newton County Board of Education, District Five (1995-2006)

• Leadership Newton County, chairman (1989) and advisor (1990-2001)

• Kiwanis Club of Covington, president (1991-1992) and obtained life member status as of May 21, 1996

• American Legion Post 32, commander (1993-1995) and obtained life member status

Floyd said if elected, he will watch expenditures within the city.

“I have a conservative voice that needs to be heard,” Floyd said.

Floyd has seen the city make purchases that should not have been made, such as vehicle purchases for different departments, and believes the council members could have looked at the budget “a little bit closer.”

“I’m not trying to say the people on the council there have not done their job,” Floyd said. “I just think I may have a little bit of insight that I would like to put into the decision-making process.”

Floyd lives in Covington with Marcia, his high school sweetheart and wife of 48 years. He has two kids, both are graduates of Newton County High School, and three grandchildren.