Dean Kicklighter
7th District CommissionerDean is married to Tammy Bower Kicklighter and with their combined families, they are the proud parents of four children and five amazing grandchildren.
Dean is a lifelong resident of Chatham County, and more specifically, he is a lifelong long resident of West Chatham County, residing in two cities for his whole life. He grew up in Garden City, GA, living there for the first 30 years of his life before moving to Pooler, GA in the year 2000. Dean has been a proud resident of Pooler ever since. Commissioner Kicklighter is the owner and operator of two family businesses located in the Garden City: Randell & Dean’s and Hardcore 24 and Randell’s 24 Hour Gym.
Dean got his start in public service at the young age of 26 when he was elected by the citizens of Garden City to serve on the City Council, where he was subsequently chosen to serve as Mayor Pro Tem by his peers on the Garden City Council. After volunteering his time and serving one term in the non-paid position(s) as a city councilman / Mayor Pro Tem, Dean ran for the mayoral post and won. His election as mayor at the age of 28 made him one the youngest mayors to ever serve in Georgia, and it signaled the end of the good ol' boy network that had dominated the city’s political scene prior to Kicklighter’s entrance into public service.
After successfully accomplishing all of his campaign promises, which included doubling the size of the city, among many other accomplishments, Dean saw the need for new representation on the county level. So upon Kicklighter’s completion of his term as mayor, Dean ran for and won the seat for 7th District Chatham County Commissioner.
As a commissioner, Dean prides himself on being a true representative for each and every citizen living in the district. He has been honored by the County Commission to serve several terms as Chairman Pro-Tem, and currently serves in that position.
Dean pledges to keep working for the major infrastructure improvements (roads and drainage) that are desperately needed to keep up with the unparalleled development that has already taken place, and the projected growth expected for West Chatham County in the future.