Man makes 25th run for Bartow City Commission

BARTOW (FOX 13) - When Bartow voters go to the polls on Tuesday, there is a good chance they will recognize at least one name, Gerald Cochran. This is the 25th time he has run for Bartow City Commission. He has yet to
win.

“Do you ever get discouraged that you haven’t won?” FOX 13 asked Cochran.

“No. It makes me more energetic,” said the 79 year-old.  “I am going to live until at least 100, I hope. If the Lord is willing.”

“And are you going to keep on running?” we asked.

“As long as I can run, I’m gonna run,” he replied.

Cochran is running on the same platform he has for years: cut the city manager’s salary, and give more than the allotted three minutes for people to talk at public meetings.

Cochran certainly runs unusual campaigns. He doesn’t have a cell phone and has given up on spending his personal money on any marketing materials.

“And I don’t take any donations or nothing because I am not running to be bought,” he told FOX 13.

Cochran is running against the incumbent, James Clements, for Seat One on the commission. But  some Bartow residents we spoke with say it’s time for Cochran to throw in the towel.

“Enough is enough,” said Barbara Barbee.

Not surprisingly, that doesn’t fly with Cochran.

“Why stop now?” he asked.