Shaun Bell Seeks Council Post
Shaun Bell is running for Monticello City Council District 2, Post 2.
His interest in elected office grew as he listened to repeated concerns about the lack of financial competency, transparency and leadership among members of the current city council, said Mr. Bell.
He began to think seriously about how he could translate his experiences, skills and achievements into becoming an effective elected official, he said.
Mr. Bell said he was encouraged by family and friends and specifically by his Godmother, Johnnie Mae Goolsby. She stated “this is a natural step for Shaun and I know he will do the right thing for this community. Serving the community with integrity is part of his heritage.”
Mr. Bell was born and raised in Monticello, coming from a long line of dedicated community servants. His great-grandparents, Charlie and Nannie Lee Jordan, owned a café’ in Monticello, donated land to build the Jasper County Training School, worked tireless to help build and sustain St. James A.M.E. Church, and set high expectations for all children in the community.
His mother, Jacqueline Bell-Smith has many years of dedicated community service, serving on the Monticello City Council for over 15 years and was instrumental in community improvement projects, most notably the facilitation of the construction of Funderburg Park.
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Mr. Bell’s platform includes the following:
“1) Transparency in government; he is committed to ensuring that the details surrounding all decisions are shared with the public. He has vowed not be a part of any back room decisions that benefit any one individual or select group of individuals;
“2) Financial accountability, Shaun’s goal is to ensure that citizens know exactly what happens to their tax dollars and what benefits they receive from them.
“3) Equity; currently the financial burden of our city is being carried by those who can least afford it, in the form of extremely high utility bills. This is the result of poor decisions made in the past and the reluctance of elected officials to challenge those decisions and seek better solutions.”
Mr. Bell is a 1996 graduate of Monticello High School, where he participated in varsity basketball for four years and received the honor of MVP in his senior year. After graduation, he attended Georgia Southern University majoring in engineering. He is currently employed by Delta Airlines in the Technical Operations Department.
Additionally, he is a certified coach and mentor. He coaches basketball for 8-13 year olds in the AAU Youth Basketball league. His greatest joy is in being a dedicated father to his four children, Jacoby, Jacxen, Jayce and Journey Bell.
