District 4

Commissioner Jim Goodman returned "home" to St. Marys after many years of service in health care administration.  He is a 1965 graduate of Camden County High School.  He attended Brewton Parker College on a voice and music scholarship and subsequently graduated with an Associate in Arts Degree.  He graduated from Georgia State College and University in Milledgeville with a B.A. in Psychology while working full time at Central State Hospital.  After working in the juvenile court system for a number of years, he transitioned into health care administration.  He graduated from the Charter Medical Corp. Internship Program in Nursing Home Administration and was licensed as a Georgia NHA in 1974.  He later attained NHA and Assisted Living licensure in Tennessee.

Jim has served as administrator and executive director in county-owned, as well as private-sector hospitals where he learned the value of being a fiscal conservative and maintaining a focus on quality outcomes.  He served as a consultant to facilities seeking accreditation by the JCAHO.  He also was retained by the State of Georgia to serve in facilities which had been sanctioned by the state for life-safety and patient-jeopardy violations.

Arising out of his training in fire safety in the health care setting, Jim undertook training as a Mandate 101 Certified Firefighter, as well as EMT Basic Training.  He served as a volunteer fire captain and was a founding member of the Southeast District Fire Station in Ware County.  He served on the Region IX Emergency Medical Services Board, the Savannah Regional Hospital Advisory Board and conducted life-safety training in healthcare facilities throughout Southeast Georgia.  He also served as Deputy Coroner and acting county coroner for a number of years.

As a Special Needs Consultant for the Florida Department of Health, Jim served as a disaster team leader for Disaster Medical Assistance Teams in several hurricane deployments.  He received the "Helping Hands Award" for his role in the response to Hurricane Katrina.  He also served on the Department of Homeland Security Region IV Disaster Mortuary Assistance Team, and the Joint Terrorism Task Force for Central Florida. 

Jim is married to Fran and he has two children by a previous marriage.  His son, Rick is National Accounts Manager for IBM and resides in Bristow, VA.  His daughter, Paige, is Public Affairs and Special Events Director for the Ware County School Board.

Jim invites open and honest dialogue with all citizens and looks forward to working to ensure value received for the taxpayers as the needs of the county are given priority over unnecessary spending.

Mr. Goodman served on the St. Marys City Council from 2019 through 2022. His first term as the District 4 Commissioner began in January 2023.