Board of Commissioners

Meet Commissioner, Hal Floyd!

Hal and his family moved to the Fish Creek community of Polk County in 1989. He served as the VP of Operations for Tip Top Poultry, overseeing the building, start up, and managerial duties all the way through retirement in 2004. Floyd's career spanned almost 40 years with Campbell Soup Co., Mountaire Farms, Perdue Farms, and Tip Top Poultry. 

Hal and his wife, Peggy and have 6 children, 12 grandchildren, and 3 great-granddaughters. 

Floyd prides himself on being a Servant Leader. He believes it is of the utmost importance to serve with Integrity, Truthfulness and Transparency. 

Hal says his management style is best described by Philippians 2:3-5, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others more important than yourself. Look out not only for your interests but for the interests of others. In relationship with others, have the mindset of Christ Jesus.”

Hal looks forward to continuing to serve the citizens of Polk County to the best of his God-given abilities. 

Meet, Chuck Thaxton!

Chuck serves as Chairman of the Polk County Board of Commissioners. 

Bio coming soon!

Meet Commissioner Linda Liles!

Proud daughter of a United States Air Force Veteran, Linda was born on MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. It wasn't until 1998 that Liles would find herself relocating to Polk County, when she married her husband, Polk County native, Hubert (Hub) Liles. 

Linda graduated from Douglas County High School before going on to attend Mercer University where she would graduate with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and a Minor in Psychology. Go Bears! 

Liles' career in government work and public service began in the '90s at the local level working for Douglas County; however, Linda's love for serving citizens and helping resolve issues would soon open the door for her to spend 20 years working within the jurisdiction of the federal government, working for both Congressman Phil Gingrey and Congressman Tom Graves. 

Serving the public and working for the citizens of Polk County is not a responsibility that Linda takes lightly. "When I was sworn in, I said that before making any kind of decision or vote, I would be praying about it," recalls Liles. "And that is something I stand by to this very day." 

Liles is a proud member of the Calvary Assembly of God. She's a previous member of the Our House Women's Shelter Board and Polk County Child Literacy Program, as well as an active member of the Cedartown Kiwanis Club. 

Meet Vice Chairman, Michael Gravett!

Born and raised on the East side of the county, Gravett is a lifelong resident of Polk and a 1997 graduate of Rockmart High School. He went on to attend Georgia Northwestern Technical College to further his education, graduating with a degree in Drafting Technologies. Michael and his wife, Amanda, now reside in Cedartown. Amanda is a teacher for the Polk School District where she’s taught faithfully for 20+ years. Michael and Amanda have two teenage daughters, Andrea and Mattie.

While this is Gravett’s first term serving as Commissioner, he undoubtedly comes equipped for the role having 15 years’ experience working with local government. Michael started his career in land surveying, spending 9 years as the Construction Manager for the Paulding County Department of Transportation. As Construction Manager, he was responsible for the construction of capital roadway projects and the supervision of inspectors, ensuring that local developments were constructed to county specifications. When the opportunity presented itself for Michael to work in his hometown, he happily accepted the role of Polk County Public Work Director, overseeing all aspects of the department. Presently, Michael works for Georgia Power Company as a Right-of-Way specialist, supporting the Northwest Georgia area.

Gravett has a heart for the community and a passion to see it flourish, both of which are evident by his involvement in various civic organizations and clubs. He has been a devout member of Victory Baptist Church for the last 28 years and is proud to serve his congregation as a Deacon.

Meet Commissioner John Paschal!

John is a born-and-bred Polk County native who takes great pride in giving back to the community.

Paschal started his career of lifelong service in 1994 as a volunteer firefighter and went on to advance his education with a degree in Fire Studies from Coosa Valley Technical College in 2007. John is still serving the community in this capacity today as an active duty fireman. 

John and his wife, Lori, have been happily married for 26 years and share two children, Haley and Tyler. John and his family are proud members of Victory Baptist Church in Rockmart.

When he isn't hard at work providing lawn care and landscaping services, John enjoys spending time with his grandson. "I'm proud to have the opportunity to serve my hometown in this capacity," says Paschal. "It's a wonderful way for me to give back to the place that's given so much to me. I don't take this responsibility lightly." 

Meet, Commissioner David McElwee!

David McElwee was born and raised in Cedartown, Georgia. He attended Cedartown High School and continued his education at Floyd College before earning a degree from the University of Oklahoma. Following his academic achievements, David dedicated 24 years to serving in the United States Army. As a combat veteran, he was awarded several honors, including the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, and the Bronze Star Medal.

Upon retiring from military service in 2013, David began a new chapter as the Assistant County Manager in Polk County, Georgia, where he served for three years. During his tenure, he played a key role in establishing the Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Taskforce and was instrumental in securing an Automatic Aid Agreement with Bartow County for fire protection, which resulted in reduced insurance premiums for both businesses and homeowners. David also oversaw the modernization of the Public Safety vehicle fleet, upgrading to SUVs that significantly improved emergency response during disasters. Additionally, he coordinated and facilitated Intergovernmental Quarterly Meetings with local municipalities, the Board of Education, the Economic Development Authority, the Hospital Authority, and elected officials, which greatly enhanced interagency communications and working relationships.

In 2017, David transitioned into a federal role with the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Disaster Assistance. In this capacity, he served as the senior disaster field representative for a range of significant events, including Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, Hurricane Ida in New York City, Hurricane Ian in Florida, Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, tornadoes across Kentucky, Mississippi, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee, as well as floods in Kentucky, Minnesota, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. David concluded his career with the SBA Office of Disaster Assistance by retiring in May 2025.

Following his retirement, David was appointed to serve the remainder of Gary Martin’s term as the representative for District 1 on the Polk County Board of Commissioners.