Having spent much of his life in customer service, Tim Pettis said he believes he would be a strong candidate for the position of tax collector in Escambia County.

Pettis has qualified to run as a Republican for the office. Todd White has qualified to run as a Democrat.

Pettis is a Brewton native and graduated from T.R. Miller High School in 1992. He has worked in his family’s restaurant business, Bracken’s Drive-In, since he graduated.

His maternal grandparents, Helen and Myron Bracken, opened the restaurant in 1963, and Pettis and his siblings grew up working their with their parents, LaVenia and LaPrade Pettis.

“I’ve always wanted to be in the political field and enjoyed working with people,” Pettis said. “In the tax collector’s office, I would be working with the public, and that’s what I’ve done for the last 20 years.”

Pettis said he has enjoyed getting to know his customers in the restaurant business.

“A big part of working in a small business is learning people’s names,” he said. “And learning day to day how to treat people. I’ve always treated people the way I want them to treat me.”

Pettis said his experience managing a business would also translate well to the tax collector’s office, where public money is managed.

“It takes hard work, honesty, determination and perseverance to work in the public eye and serve them well,” he said. “Serving Escambia County as tax collector would be an honor and a privilege, much like serving the community from Bracken’s has been, and I would welcome the opportunity to do so.”

Incumbent Joy Wiggins is not running for re-election, and Pettis said he would not have run against her. He has spoken to her about how the office works.

“She has served this county well,” he said. “If elected I will work as hard as I can to continue the work Mrs. Wiggins and others have done before me.”

Pettis said he looks forward to campaigning and getting to know the voters.

“I’m going to do my best to get to know every voter I can,” he said.

Pettis is married to Paula Gerety Pettis, and has two stepdaughters, Sarah Grace and Lauren. He enjoys golfing at Dogwood Hills Municipal Golf Course and is a member of First United Methodist Church of Brewton.