This online news website is owned and operated by Becky Watts. If you enjoy reading Pike County Times, consider buying an advertisement for your business or sending a donation to support the only free online newspaper in Pike County.

Donations can be sent to: The Pike County Times, PO Box 843, Zebulon, Georgia 30295. You can also donate through www.venmo.com/u/pikecountytimes, $pikecountytimes, and PayPal.Me/PikeCountyTimesLLC.

Thanks for supporting Pike County's only free online newspaper!

ZEBULON - In an 8 minute meeting that included an executive session, Pike County Commissioners named James Ellington from Upson County as the finalist for County Manager in Pike County.

It was noted in the meeting that there will be a 14 day waiting period before a final vote will be taken to hire a new county manager.

After the motion to adjourn, Pike County Times was advised that 11 people had put in applications for County Manager and 5 were interviewed for the job position. None of these other names are admissible (available) by open records.

Pike County Times was further advised that since Ellington is a sitting Upson County Commissioner, he is going to resign his position with the Upson County Board of Commissioners as a part of his employment with Pike County.

Employment Application

According to his employment application, Ellington has been on the Upson County Commission since January 1, 2017. He is the sitting commissioner for District 2. His term expires on December 31, 2028 which means that there will be 2 vacant positions on the Upson County Board of Commissioners if Ellington is hired by the Pike County Board of Commissioners. The Chairman seat is vacant at this moment according to the Upson County government website.

He graduated from R.E. Lee and has a certificate in Criminal Justice from Columbus State.

Ellington is also presently working at SunSouth John Deere in Barnesville where he works 50 hours a week.

His employment application advises that he would be available for employment upon working a notice for his current employer.

Resume

Ellington began his Executive Profile by stating that he is a “Senior executive and local government leader with nearly 30 years of progressive management experience and nearly a decade of county governance experience.”

He also noted his “proven success directing multimillion-dollar operations and budgets, leading personnel, managing assets and expenses, improving service delivery, and working with elected officials, department leadership, citizens, and community stakeholders.”

Ellington stated that his experience brings a “distinctive combination of private-sector executive leadership, fiscal discipline, operational management, and firsthand experience governing at the county level.”

His professional experience includes being an Upson County Commissioner from 2017 to the present, Store Manager for SunSouth LLC from 2011 to the present, Regional Manager for Ferrellgas Inc. from 2009 to 2011, Territory Sales Manager for Heavy Machines Inc. from 2007 to 2009, Senior General Manager for RSC Equipment Rentals from 2006 to 2007, Senior General Manager for US Shoring & Equipment / Atlanta Equipment from 2004 to 2006, and Branch Manager for United Rentals from 1997 through 2004. Ellington earned a Criminal Justice Degree from Columbus State University. He also completed a Winning with Relationship Selling Course from Dale Carnegie & Associates in 2023.

Ellington has completed many courses through the University of Georgia, Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Those courses include Georgia Certified County Commissioner in 2017, Specialty Certificate: County Operations & Management in 2019, Specialty Certificate: Revenue & Finance in 2025, Planning & Zoning 101 in 2025, and Planning & Zoning 102 in 2026.

Closing

The 14th day from today’s meeting will be on November 3, 2026.

Look for more information after a Regular Called or possible Special Called Meeting after that date.

Thank you to First Bank of Pike for sponsoring Pike County Times’ Breaking News Alerts! First Bank of Pike has been serving customers in Pike County and the surrounding area since 1901 and offers Personal and Business banking with a personal touch. Services include checking, savings, money market, certificates of deposit, and IRA’s. Mobile Banking and Bill Payment services are also available! Click here for more. Please let First Bank of Pike know that you appreciate their sponsorship of Breaking News Alerts on Pike County's only FREE online newspaper!

INFORMATION ABOUT RECEIVING BREAKING NEWS ALERTS CAN BE FOUND, HERE.

Thanks for reading and supporting Pike County Times.com!