Mayor Carl L. Camon resides in Ray City, Georgia. He is married to Angela Camon, and together they have four children (Carl, Aaron, Camille, and Candace). He is a member of the First Born Church of the Living God, Incorporated. He has served a total of 10½ years in the U.S. Air Force and Air Force Reserves, where he received early promotion and was given positions of notable responsibility.
He has served for two terms as a city councilman and five terms as the first African-American Mayor of Ray City. As mayor, he helped start the first Pre-K program in the State of Georgia operated by a municipality. He founded the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Institute of Ray City, and the Mayor and Council’s Education Initiative Scholarship. He was appointed by the Governor, in 2002, and served a four-year term on the County & Municipal Probation Advisory Council, where he also served as chairman. He has served as Chairman of the Mayor’s Motorcade for the Southern Region of Georgia, Chairman of the Environment & Natural Resources Policy Committee and as a member of the Budget Committee, and Executive Committee for Georgia Municipal Association (GMA), located in Atlanta, Georgia. He was also selected, and served as a member of GMA’s Training Board.
He was instrumental in acquiring a total of over three million dollars in grant funds for the Ray City Pre-K, the Ray City Fire Department, the Ray City Water & Sewer Department, and for downtown development during his tenure as mayor. He declared war against drugs in his community and was awarded a grant for $30,000.00 for surveillance equipment, to help in the fight against drug dealers and drug activity. He was selected as one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s “40 Under 40” Rising Stars in Georgia.
He has an earned Master’s Degree in Special Education, and an Education Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership, both from Valdosta State University. He has fifteen years experience in education, as a Pre-Kindergarten Director, High School Teacher, and Assistant Professor of Education. He has been listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers four times, and was selected as “Teacher of the Month”, and was nominated as “Teacher of the Year”. He has also championed state legislation that protects teachers in the performance of their duties.
He is the author of two books, which are entitled “Poetic Infinity” and “Empowering The Next Generation”. He has participated as a keynote speaker for several organizations on the local, state, and national levels.
Mayor Camon serves as a public servant because he wants to make a difference for our State. He is a firm believer that all things are possible, if you try.
Education
Education specialist Degree (Ed.S)
Educational Leadership
Valdosta State University
Masters Degree (M.Ed.)
Servere Disabilities
Valdosta State University
Bachelor Degree (BS.Ed.)
Mental Retardation
Valdosta State University
Associate Applied In Science (AA.S)
Aircraft Systems Technology
Community College of the Air Force
Associate Degree (A.S.)
General Studies
Georgia Military College
Local, State, and National Experience
City Council Member - Two Terms
Mayor of Ray City - Five Terms
Member of Southeast Georgia Rural
Development Center Board of Directors
Chairman of The State of GA County &
Municipal Probation Advisory Council
Chairman of Georgia Municipal Association
(GMA) Environment & Natural
Resources Committee
Chairman of Southwest GA - GMA
Mayor's Christmas Motorcade For
Patients At State Mental Hospital
Member of GMA Board of Directors
Member of GMA Budget Committee
Member of GMA Executive Committee
Member of GMA Training Board
National League of Cities Congress of
Cities - City Showcase Facilitator - 4 Yrs.
"My service in the military has helped me to approach situations from many different angles, and it has taught me not to give up when the going gets tough."
Service In the Military
I am honored to have served in the United States Air Force and Air Force Reserves for a total of ten and a half years. The military reinforced the discipline that my mother and father taught me to have, and it also ingrained in me the importance of serving others. Growing up in rural South Georgia (Ray City, GA), I felt a sense of security, because bad things seldom happened where I lived. When I made the decision to join the U.S. Armed Forces, it didn’t take me long to figure out that every place in the world wasn’t like Ray City. I learned very quickly why we needed a strong military. It became clear to me that there are countries in our world who do not support the ideals of democracy. This new knowledge empowered me even more, to do my part to help defend America and its interests.
During my tenure in the military, I was fortunate enough to make early promotion, through the “Below The Zone” process and I was selected for a supervisory position at the age of twenty years old. So, the responsibilities of leadership came quickly, and I am very glad that I embraced it. I traveled extensively and have had the opportunity to meet and learn from a lot of wonderful people. My service in the military has helped me to approach situations from many different angles, and it has taught me not to give up when the going gets tough.
My service to our country is something that can’t ever be taken away. It is sort of like a brotherhood and a strong family. I am reminded of my military family, each time I see and hear the planes and helicopters fly over our house, headed toward Moody AFB. I still look up into the sky to see if I can identify what type of airplane it is. My children ask me questions like, daddy have you flown in that plane before? Or, Daddy how do you know what kind of plane that is? I always take pleasure in saying, “Yes I’ve flown in that plane, and I know what kind of plane that is because I served in the Air Force”. There is a special spot in my heart and in my mind that will always be reserved for the fond memories I have of serving my country.
As governor, I will recognize the sacrifices of veterans living in Georgia. It is imperative that the State of Georgia takes the lead in ensuring that our returning military men and women receive the benefits that they deserve. Our dedication to our veterans (National Guard, Reserves, and Active Duty) ought to be enduring and we as a state and as a nation should make certain that their service remain indelible within our minds.
me even more, to do my part to help defend America and its interests.