John Derucki has announced his intention to run for Forsyth County commission in 2012.

The Republican will vie for the District 5 post, which represents much of eastern Forsyth.

Incumbent Jim Boff said Friday that he plans to consider over the holidays whether to seek re-election and announce early next year.

Derucki, who owns the Forsyth-based Derucki Construction Co., said he decided to run because of his desire to serve the community he loves and has lived in for 11 years.

"I feel a sense of duty to roll up my sleeves, get in there and do my best," he said. "This is where my heart’s at, that’s where I’m going."

Derucki has seen some areas in which the county could improve, and said Forsyth could do more to "put people back to work."

One way to encourage that, he said, is to create a more business-friendly environment.

"That doesn’t mean that you just open the flood gates and let anything and everything come into the county all in the name of growth," Derucki said. "I think that we have to become business-friendly, but we need to learn to be tough [and] fair at the same time."

Given the current economic times, he emphasized the importance of continually "reinventing" Forsyth to keep the tax rate as low as possible.

Derucki also would like to address local transportation needs by working closely with the state and making residents better informed about road projects.

Also, he said the county needs to ensure its access to drinking water.

"It is a long-term issue that if we don’t solve it’s going to come back to us in the worst way," Derucki said. "We can’t continue to be solely dependent on the city of Cumming."

Forsyth does not have a permit to withdraw from Lake Lanier and buys its water from Cumming.

Derucki’s election announcement is his second in two years.

In 2009, when District 2 Commissioner Brian Tam considered leaving to run for state legislature, Derucki said he saw a need for someone to step up for the possible opening.

After learning Tam was staying put, Derucki suspended his campaign.

The county recently redrew its commission districts based on the results of the 2010 U.S. Census.

As a result, Derucki’s home shifted into District 5, though he said the switch didn’t make a difference.

"When you sit down and make the decision to run for local government, you’re not doing that based on just your district alone," he said. "You’re saying, ‘Do I think I can step up and bring something to not only my district, but also to the county wide?"

A veteran of the U.S. Army, Derucki received his bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and a master’s in business administration from Keller Graduate School.

Derucki is involved in several local organizations, serving on the board of directors for Leadership Forsyth, the Cumming-Forsyth Chamber of Commerce, Supporting Adoption and Foster Families Together, Keep Forsyth County Beautiful and the Three Chimneys Farm Property Owners Association.

He also founded in Forsyth the Architecture, Construction and Engineering Mentor Program, in which he helps students further their post-educational goals.

Derucki and his wife, Julie, have two children, Sara and Kate, and worship at St. Benedict Catholic Church.