Little seeks District 5 county commission seat

Published 8:58 am Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Scott Little, a businessman, singer and songwriter, is seeking public office.

He officially qualified Monday to seek the District 5 seat on the Baldwin County Board of Commissioners.

The seat is currently held by Baldwin County Commission Chairman Johnny Westmoreland, who also qualified Monday seeking a two-year term under the new staggered system in place for county commissioners.

Little, whose birthday was Monday, said he considered qualifying to seek public office as a birthday gift to himself.

“It’s only been recently that I actually decided to run for the office,” Little said. “This was a decision that me and my wife Julia made together.”

He said he made the decision for two reasons.

“As the father of a daughter named Emma Kate, now 3, I want her to know as her dad I take stock in what I want to see her become,” Little said. “Her mom and I talk all the time about we want to do better than our parents.”

Little said he wants the same thing for every child in Baldwin County.

As a musician, Little has lived in many places around the country, and has performed outside the country.

“But I love Baldwin County because this is where I grew up,” Little said. “My childhood was great here and I want the same thing for my child and all other children here in our county.”

Little said he wants to serve on the county commission because he wants to be part of seeing the county continue to grow.

“I want our county to continue to be an awesome place to raise children,” Little said.

He was asked what he sees as one of the biggest problems facing the county today.

“I would venture to say if you look at the issues right now some are reacting on an emotional side because it’s about what affects them,” Little said.

Little said the controversy surrounding the Baldwin County Regional Airport and airport area residents is one example of where emotions played a role in the county commission’s decision making.

He describes himself as a fiscal conservative. He said when he thinks about what is wrong with Baldwin County, it’s in perhaps a simpler way than some might think.

“I think about it from an infrastructure standpoint,” Little said. 

He said he has heard a lot of residents say they want to see more industry come into the county and provide more jobs.

“But if our infrastructure is struggling to support our residents, how are we going to support an industry,” he asked.

He said he’s seeking the opportunity to make a difference serving in public office.

“I hope the voters will see fit to give me that opportunity,” he said.

Little is known as a touring singer and songwriter.

Along the way, he also invested in rental property, owning and operating The Coventry Limited Properties.

“I do all the work myself,” he said. “Whatever the house needs, I do, whether it’s installing a new HVAC system, roof, windows or doors.”

Little said as a landlord, he feels it is his obligation to do the right thing.

“I feel like I have a responsibility, if I’m going to ask you for money,” he said. “In other words, what am I giving you in return?”

The goal is for it not to just be a house, but for it to be a home to someone.

He said he derived the name of his business from his dad’s clothing store business, which thrived in downtown Milledgeville for many years, The Coventry Shop. His dad was the late Sam Little.

Aside from being a landlord, Little also sings and writes songs.

“I’m a narrative singer/songwriter, and what that is basically I’m a storyteller,” Little said.

It’s something he’s been doing since he was in his teens.

He said if his songs are heard on radio they would be played on country music stations.

Little is a 1995 graduate of Baldwin High School, where music became a way of life for him when turned 16.