Shane Gottwals hoping to continue chapter of serving Houston County’s citizens

HOUSTON COUNTY — Shane Gottwals is running for reelection for Post 2 on the Houston County Board of Commissioners and hopes to continue this ongoing chapter of his life. 

Gottwals was born and raised in south Bibb County. He attended and graduated from Central Fellowship Christian Academy (CFCA). He then went to Mercer University and majored in English. 

Gottwals met his wife, Abbey, at Mercer and got married shortly after both graduated college in the summer of 2006. 

A few months later, they decided to open Gottwals Books in 2007 in Warner Robins and have been there ever since. The business now has four locations throughout the county. 

“We have been planted as a family in Houston County,” he said. “We’ve got five kids ages 5 to 14 and they are also all at Central Fellowship Christian Academy like I was.” 

When he’s not working, Gottwals said he volunteers in the realms of art, literature and Christian ministry and spends time with his family as much as she can. 

Gottwals has been on the Board of Commissioners for three years and also serves on various other boards, such as Chairman of the CFCA School Board, board member of the Rabbit Room, a Christian non-profit based out of Nashville, Tennessee, Chairman of We Carry Kevan board which helps those with disabilities as well as serving on the Houston County Authority Board for Emory Hospital. 

Gottwals also owns a venue in Forsyth called Even Tide, a cultural arts center that houses concerts, book events, art shows and movie nights.

As a Commissioner, Gottwals said the main goal is to steward county resources wisely and protect the citizens. 

“A big part of our job is setting the millage rate, and then we decide on how those funds are dispersed,” he said. “The majority of our funds go to payroll and public safety, but we’re also very involved in land usage, so we’re often reviewing land use requests.” 

The Board also approves business licenses, which Gottwals said is special since he has gone through that process first-hand. 

“We get to be a small part in seeing mom and pop businesses be successful, which is what my family business has been,” he said. 

After three years, Gottwals said he was rather surprised by what a County Commissioner does and how much it aligns with being a business owner. 

“It’s a lot of budgeting and accountability to staff and the citizens of the county. It’s a lot of determining the best use of resources, which is what I do every day as a business owner,” he said. “It’s not an easy job, but I do feel very equipped to do it well because of what I have done every single day at Gottwals books for almost 20 years now.”

He believes the Commissioner’s job goes “hand in hand” with his role at Gottwals Books. 

“I feel very comfortable [serving on the Board of Commissioners] and I feel very good about the other four Commissioners and the way that we work together as we’re all very independent minded,” he said. “It is a very unusual thing to have a group of five people on a County Commission Board that are so professional and work so flawlessly together even through our disagreements.” 

Gottwals also pointed out that the county is in a really good spot and said it is set up really well for the future. 

“I think we got the best five people that can keep that momentum going by continuing to steward those county resources wisely,” he said. “We’re all independent thinkers, we’re very sharp and we all have the background that it takes to keep this train running very quickly down the tracks.” 

Being very familiar with the arts, Gottwals is most looking forward to the upcoming Performing Arts Center on Cohen Walker Drive, which is overdue in Houston County, according to Gottwals.  

“The number of students in particular will benefit immensely from being exposed to good art and the other resources the center will provide,” he said. 

Gottwals is also looking forward to the completion of the HEMA Warehouse that broke ground in January. He said the warehouse will be a major advancement in public safety. 

Gottwals is also proud of the Houston County Fire Department being fully staffed. 

Gottwals referenced a book by author Wendell Berry titled “What I Stand For is What I Stand On”. He said this is a philosophy his family lives by. 

“We’re firmly planted here and intend to do everything within my power to make this the best place in the world to live,” he said.  

Shane Gottwals is running unopposed as the Republican candidate for Houston County Commissioner Post 2 in the General Primary Election on May 19. After that, he will go up against Democratic candidate Rutha Jackson, who is also running unopposed in the General Primary.