Mayor Charles L. "Buzzie" Hardy, Jr.

Email: Buzzie Hardy 

A native of Gainesville, Mayor Charles L. "Buzzie" Hardy, Jr. (born September 1, 1941) graduated from Gainesville High School in 1959 and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the University of Georgia in 1965.  He came to Commerce in 1962 to work for The Commerce News, then owned by his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Hardy, beginning as a part-time employee.   He became a full-time staff member in charge of advertising in 1965, was made publisher in 1968 and purchased the newspaper in 1979.  He sold it in June 1987, at which time he formed Commerce Printing and Office Supply, Inc., which he still owns and operates.

He is married to the former Paula Nivens, a retired first grade teacher at Commerce Elementary School . They have three grown children and five grandchildren.

Mayor Hardy is a member and past president of the Commerce Kiwanis Club.  He is retired from the Commerce Fire Department, where he held the rank of captain, and he is a director of the Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce.  He is also a member of the First Baptist Church of Commerce, is an Exhausted Rooster of the Commerce Jaycees, is a former Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 35, Commerce, and serves on the executive board of the Northeast Georgia Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

He was elected mayor in 1989 and has served continuously.

His hobbies include golf, fishing and hunting.

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City of Commerce, Georgia

PO Box 348 - 27 Sycamore Street

Commerce, Georgia 30529

706-335-3164

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Updated 11/21/2008