L. Ellis Carter has proudly served his country, continues to do so in the private sector and now wants to serve his community, seeking election to city council.
Originally from Albany, Carter moved to Warner Robins in 2002, has served 21 years in the Air Force, and has been deployed eight times overseas, retiring in September of this year.
Additionally, Carter received a Bachelor’s in Political Science from the University of Arizona, and is currently studying for his Master’s Degree in History at Liberty University.
Carter was inspired to run for city council after noticing growth in the city, but a lack of resources other major cities tend to have, such as a downtown area and public transportation. Carter said he has many ideas and believes the city has great potential; he would love to work with mayor and council to help bring about more positive change.
“I just want to be able to get in there and see what I can do to kind of expedite things, you know, work with the mayor and council and see what we can do, where the roadblocks are, what can we do to try to move things along. Because, as a resident myself, I’m frustrated, so I’m kind of running out on frustration. I’m tired of waiting. I’m ready to do things here. I shouldn’t have to always hit the road if I want to do family activities or do other things,” Carter said.
As a North Warner Robins resident, he added the north side could also see revitalization.
“The north side of Warner Robins has so much potential and it’s almost like it’s abandoned, so what can we do to bring light back on this side of town as well?” Carter said.
In addition to a downtown area with a variety of businesses, Carter is interested in upgrading infrastructure, bringing more businesses to the overall area, and promoting a work, live and play lifestyle in the city.
“I have a vision of a downtown where we have malls, restaurants, bars, and not just for the residents here in Warner Robins but surrounding counties as well. That they could come and pump money into the community,” Carter said.
According to Carter, much of the process for both downtown and north side would involve promoting upgraded infrastructure and attracting investors to the area who would build new homes and businesses.
“It’d be tremendous for this area. So we let them know we’ve got the infrastructure … where we kind of build everything up and these businesses, they just come in and plug and play. We tell them ‘We’ve got the land. We’ve got sewer, water, infrastructure, we got the fiber, everything’s pretty much set up.’ And all the’ve got to do is make it that new location, permanent location, and then create jobs,” Carter said.
With more growth comes concerns about public safety, and Carter is also committed to making sure the best officers for the job are on the police force, as well as making the city more attractive to visitors by tackling blight.
“I want to make sure the city is safe. If we’re going to have a lot of visitors, we need to make sure we have the police force to do that. I want to make sure we get the best men and women to come in and protect the city … And just overall for the residents here in Warner Robins, just something where they could brag about their hometown, the city that they live in,” Carter said.
Carter said his core campaign values tie back to his military background and they’re of integrity, character and honor, listening to concerns and taking action.
“A lot of people lose trust in politicians or people that run for office. But I want citizens to know I’m a man of character, a man of honor and I’m a man of integrity. My word is my bond so I just want to be given the opportunity so I can show it and hopefully get trust back into citizens and let them know ‘Hey, some of us really do care and listen to your concerns.’” Carter said.
In fact, Carter has already spoken with constituents and wants to bring their concerns to the city immediately and work together with mayor and council to address them.
“I know I’m talking big things but I also want to kind of get down in the trenches and find out what’s going on in the city that I’m not aware of and that I could address, and be that voice for them,” Carter said.
When all is said and done, Carter wants the city to be heard about in a positive way, far and wide.
“I would love for Warner Robins to be a place where we have people coming from all over, not just the state, but the country, and the world to come and visit and bring their culture and we continue to build and grow. So that’s kind of where I see this well known city, because there’s no other Warner Robins in the world,” Carter said.
When Carter is not campaigning, he works as a realtor at American Veteran Properties, a military owned and military focused real estate brokerage. He also describes himself as a family man and a diehard football fan.
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