Robert “Wade” Wilkie has entered the race for Cherokee County tax commissioner, joining current Tax Commissioner Sonya Little and candidate Kenny Phelps in the fight for the position in the July 31 Republican primary.

Wilkie is a lifelong resident of Cherokee County and says he is seeking the position to continue the stability of the office.

“Mr. David Fields was an asset to our county during the some 29 or so years he served as tax commissioner; my goal will be a seamless transition from the work done by Mr. Fields, and to identify areas where improvements can be made to best benefit the taxpayer,” Wilkie said in making the announcement.

“We have a tradition of great tax commissioners including Mr. Fields, Mr. Gene Hobgood and my great-great-uncle, Mr. Tarpley Wright. My intention is to continue in the tradition of these fine individuals and serve the citizenry of Cherokee County with the same integrity and dignity displayed by these esteemed predecessors,” Wilkie said.

Wilkie said he considers himself a conservative Republican and will serve in the tax commissioner’s office with fiscally responsible values.

“Nobody likes to pay taxes, but we must, and the Cherokee County Tax Commissioner’s office should try and do everything possible to make the experience as quick and efficient as possible while making certain that the funds are received to run our schools and government. That’s the way I plan to run the office,” Wilkie said in his announcement.

If elected, Wilkie said he will examine all the operations to streamline the procedures as well as concentrate on upgrading customer service. He plans to make “one on one” personal service a top priority of the office.

Wilkie resides in east Cherokee and graduated from Cherokee High School and the University of West Georgia, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a concentration in real estate from the Richards College of Business.

His professional career has focused on real estate and he has been a certified appraiser for 20 years. For the last 12 years, Wilkie has served as the principal and managing partner of the Atlanta North Appraisal Group.

Wilkie is married to Blake Padgett Wilkie. They have a 1-year-old son and are expecting another son in May. The family attends Hightower Baptist Church and is involved with Sonlight Vision Ministry in Tate.