The appointment of attorney Rob Bradley to the District 1 county commission seat was a sound decision by Governor Crist.

Bradley applied the first time when former Gov. Bush appointed John Thrasher to the seat. He has maintained his interest in the vacancy from the beginning and has shown he wants to serve his district and the county for the duration of the seat or until a decision is reached in the case of Christy Fiztgerald.

Rob and his wife, Jennifer, have three children they are raising in Clay County. I know Rob to be a lifelong, conservative Republican. With others in the county, Bradley helped start the Victim's Crime Unit. He is currently chairman of the Barco-Newton YMCA and works pro-bono for the Clay County Council on Aging. He served on the Clay County Charter Review Commission where he took a leadership role in examining and discussing the merits of the charter amendments passed in November.

He can keep an open mind at the same time adhering to closely held values. Over the next several months, residents will be able to watch his steady approach to government. While there are big shoes to fill in replacing an experienced statesman like John Thrasher, Bradley will be a stellar performer.