The day before, school board member Calvin Newton filed for re-election.
Willis, a Laurinburg Democrat, wants an eighth term representing the Stewartsville District seat.
"I would like to continue to serve Scotland County because I have the experience and I have shown I work in the best interest of the citizens of Scotland County," Willis said. "As a board, we have overcome many obstacles. It was believed that our tax rate would be at $1.40 by the year 2010, but because of the hard work of the present board, we have worked to reduce the tax rate."
"Scotland County, during the recession, was able to not increase the tax rate because of the cutbacks that the board made by reducing government spending and staff."
The work of the current commissioners has brought 263 jobs and significant capital investment into the community over the past 18 months, the chairman said, even as the recession closed stores and left many seeking jobs across the nation.
"During next couple of years, Scotland County is going to face tough decisions and it is going to require knowledge and experience to keep the county afloat," Willis said.
One thing the county doesn't need is a commissioner who wants to hike tax rates.
"The job of the commissioners should be to reduce taxes, not increase taxes, and be good stewards of the taxpayer dollars," Willis said. "During my time of serivng on the board, I have done that."
Besides his long tenure among the Scotland County commissioners, Willis spent 10 years as the chairman of the social services board, served as the director of the Laurinburg Jaycees, is both a former director and former board member of the Laurinburg-Scotland County Area Chamber of Commerce and served on the North Carolina State Family Planning Board.
Willis currently chairs both the Scotland County ABC board and the Scotland County Economic Development Board. He serves on the Southeastern Economic Development Board.
Willis currently lives at 806 West Allen Lane with his wife, Marie. They have two daughters: Tameka and Cheavonne.
Willis is the first county commissioner to file for reelection. Commissioner Guy McCook, Stewartsville District, and Vice-Chairman Betty Gholston, Spring Hill District, are also up for reelection.
School Board
Newton filed Thursday to seek a fourth term on the Scotland County Board of Education, joining two fellow school board members in filing.
"I am interested in the curriculum, being uniform in the system and in rigorous and relevant to future needs," Newton said. "I will work to provide our students with safe and secure facilities to learn in and to insure strong and efficient leadership."
Newton lives at 17270 Fairley Ray Road, Wagram with his wife, Beth. They have three daughters: Callie, Jessi and Cori.
Chairman Jimmy Bennett, at-large, and Vice-Chairman Mary Evans, Stewartsville District, have also filed to run. School board member Paul Rush, Stewartsville District, has yet to file.
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