Luke Singletary finds balance as new Lee Commission chair

LEESBURG — When Billy Mathis announced at the end of last year his plans to step down from his position as chairman of the Lee County Commission, there were those who privately feared a potential leadership vacuum.

That, observers — including Mathis himself — say, has not happened.

Luke Singletary, who has had the longest continuous service on the current board, has stepped into the chairman’s role with very little fanfare and even less disruption.

“Obviously, there is going to be a period of adjustment,” Mathis, an Albany attorney, said. “But it really hasn’t been a problem. I think that’s because Luke was the logical choice.”

Singletary, the county’s District 2 representative, has served on the commission for the past 11 years. And while the pharmaceutical sales rep admits there’s a “little heavier lift” sitting in the chairman’s seat, he said the makeup of the five-member board has made the adjustment much easier than it could have been.

“Honestly, I don’t think the chairman alone drives the conversation on our board,” Singletary said. “For the most part, our board has a reputation for being more interested in serving the entire county rather than personal or even district interests.

“If there is a specific need in their districts, of course they’re going to bring it to the board. But there is a feeling of cooperation among the board members, so they all work together to try and always do what’s best for the entire county.”

The new Lee Commission chairman said that while he was content to continue his service as representative of District 2, he felt “a little peer pressure” to offer as Mathis’ replacement.

“Knowing how he feels about the county, I’m sure if we’d asked Billy, he would have continued as chairman,” Singletary said. “But we understood his need to spend more time with his business and his family.

“I understand now a little better the extra responsibility that comes with being chairman. There are several committees I serve on that comes with being in the position. You definitely have to figure out how to juggle your family, work and commission duties.”

Singletary, whose sales job with AstraZeneka includes a good bit of travel time, said he has to make some concessions. And, since his son is a senior on the Lee County High School baseball team, “there are a couple of games that conflict (with the commission’s schedule) that I cannot miss.” In that regard, the new chairman said he’s confident that things will get done.

“I’m lucky,” Singletary said. “I have a great relationship with (commission vice chairman) Chris Guarnieri, and when there’s something I have to miss, he’s willing to pick up and fill in. Like when we had the groundbreaking recently for our broadband project, I had to be out of town. Chris did a great job of filling in.”

For Singletary, his new position as commission chairman is about balance. And that’s something he’s become adept at in his 11 years of service with the board.

Special Photo Courtesy of Luke Singletary