The DeKalb County Republican Party chose a nominee for the position of First District county commissioner Saturday.

The local GOP held a convention at the courthouse nominating Tom Chandler to be the Republican candidate for county commissioner in the August 4 General Election.

The race will determine who fills the term of Democrat Elmer Ellis, Jr. who recently resigned from the commission. Ellis left two-years remaining on his four-year term. DeKalb Democrats are expected to convene soon to select a candidate of their own.

Chandler told his fellow Republicans that he is a long-time property owner in DeKalb County, and now operates a farm at his home in DeKalb since retiring from the telecommunication field.

"My wife and I live in Caplinger Hollow off Dale Ridge, and we have some property on Dale Ridge," he said. "We have owned property in the county for about 25 years, so we weren't born and raised here, but this is home to us. I say I'm retired, but I have a farm, so I work seven days a week doing something related to the farm. By profession I work in the telecommunications business. I am reasonably well educated. I have four college degrees including a doctorate degree in telecommunications. I am definitely a conservative. I do believe in good schools, roads, and water, but I also believe in low taxes, and that there ought to be some balance between those things," Chandler shared.