Cambridge College Lawrence

When County Commissioner Chester Ellis [MEd '96] vocalizes concerns about hardships faced by struggling families, he speaks from personal experience. A Chatham County native, Ellis grew up as the seventh sibling in a family of 10 kids living in a succession of rented homes around Savannah, some of them sharing a detached bathroom with neighbors. A tragedy ironically propelled the Ellis family toward a more secure life. "My younger brother, who was a year and two days younger than I am, got killed by a car, and from that settlement my father built a home in West Savannah," Ellis recalls. "Things became stable for us. We were no longer renters, we were homeowners then, and so that was a proud moment." Now finishing up a term as Chatham County commissioner for District 8, Ellis is hoping to experience another proud moment by winning his bid as the Democratic candidate for Commission chair in the Nov. 3 election.