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FRIDAY MIGHT LIGHTS! 11 O 04 ^3* ■'3- O 04 CM GO Vol. 143, No. 29 - Waynesboro, Ga. 30830 Established in 1882 Wednesday, September 6, 2023 - $1.00 City election races shape up for November SHELLIE SMITLEY thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com The General Municipal Election promises to be interesting races in Waynesboro, Sardis and Midville. Qualifying for the Waynesboro mayoral race are incumbent Bill Tinley, Tyrek S. Scott, Brenda Lee Lewis and Vice-mayor James “Chick” Jones. Incumbent C. Britt Herrington is the only qualifying candidate for the Ward 1 Post 1 city council position. The race for Ward 2 Post 2 city council post being va cated by Jones includes former coun- cilwoman Alberta J. Anderson and Bobby Givens. Incumbent Vickey Bates and Portia L. Washington will vie for the Ward 3 Post 3 city council position. Six candidates are competing for three open city council positions in Sardis. They include Vanessa Mutch, incumbent Grady E. Dixon, Wendy A. Sirmons, Debra Widner Kile, in cumbent Leroy Lane and incumbent Arthur Lreeman. No one qualihed to run against Girard Mayor William Cox or the expired City Council members’ seats held by Ricky Vamodore and Greg Moxley. In Midville, Mayor Wallace Lem ons is running unopposed. Patricia Lewis Davis is running for Council woman Norma Thome’s seat. Thome did not qualify for this race. Incum bent Joan Hall will mn against Lred- die Lee Wright for council seat 3. The General Municipal Election is November 7, 2023. The absentee by-mail application period began August 21. The last day to register or change an address is October 10, 2023. Absentee in-person voting begins October 16, 2023 and runs through November 3. Voting hours are Monday through Lriday and includes two Saturdays; October 21 and October 28. Voting hours are 9 a.m.-5p.m. BCHS Principal, Dr. Walter Seabrooks and information was available. Superintendent Dr. Angela Williams informed The annual Homecoming Parade will still be Alumni, parents and the community August 28 held Thursday, September 21st at 5 p.m., Down- that the tailgating part of Homecoming 2023 town Waynesboro. The BC Bears vs. Statesboro has been canceled. football game is scheduled for Friday, Septem- The letter said a number of circumstances her 22nd in the Bear Den at 7:30 p.m. led to the school system’s decision. No further Solicitor says he needs a raise SHELLIE SMITLEY thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com Burke County Solicitor Matt Lranklin attended the county’s Au gust 28 budget work session asking for a raise. Lranklin said in addition to a 5% cost of living increase, he wanted the Board of Commissioners to consider an additional $5,700 increase in his pay. He pointed out to the panel that the number of cases has risen significantly since 2015. This is not the first time Lranklin has asked the board to consider increasing his salary since 2020. He said his salary does not justify the amount of work he is doing. “If you can come up with the $5,700, I will try to continue my job as long as possible until the next work load increases,” he said and added that if he didn’t get more money, he didn’t know how long he could continue to work as solicitor. Lranklin challenged the BOC to find another candidate with his experi ence and education who would be willing to work for his wages. County Manager Merv Waldrop pointed out to the board that the solicitor’s pay is determined locally. Lranklin’s original base salary was approximately $2,800 per month and has been increased throughout the years with county-wide cost of living raises. Lranklin also receives a 5% longevity increase for each term that he completes. Thus far, he has completed two terms. State Court Judge Jackson Cox also approached the panel with a re port on the accountability court. Be sides Atlanta, only four other metro areas besides Richmond and Burke counties have accountability courts. The community service work that is provided through the program is val ued at $17-$26 per hour, he said. The courts will continue to work with county to provide community service that involves cleaning up trash even after Ryland Environmental assumes the responsibility for curbside trash services. “It puts Burke County in rare company because the other courts are in heavily populated counties,” he said. “I want to congratulate you on supporting the idea of account ability court.” The BOC will hold a public hear ing to consider the LY 2024 budget September 13 at 6:30 p.m. Detailed copies of the budget are available online at www.burkecounty-ga.gov. Solicitor Matt Franklin approached the BOC August 28 with a request for a raise. C/) HI HI X Cf) Local candidates weigh in on their bids for office SHELLIE SMITLEY thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com Editor’s Note: This is part 1 on a series of interviews involving candi dates running for local public offices. Alberta Anderson After taking a hiatus from politics to focus on her health, Alberta An derson is running for a Waynesboro City Council seat again. “I ran in 2013 and 2021 is when I stopped,” she said recently. Anderson said she has a desire to make a difference in the community. Since leaving office, she feels a disconnect has developed involving city personnel. She also recognizes the power that comes with holding office. “I just look around my community and I say, ‘what can I do to make it even better and I thought well, if I be come an elected official again, then I can make those calls to Atlanta and they will respond,” she said. Reconnecting with current city leaders entails more than creating policy and procedure; she wants to assist in obtaining grant funds. Although Anderson left office, the concern for issues the community faces, hasn’t left her mind. She feels strongly that dilapidated housing remains an issue that needs to be addressed. Her previous government experi ence taught her to slow down and acquire more patience for change, she said. However, one change she would like to see implemented is geared toward usage of city-owned vehicles. She SEE recently noticed that a vehicle uti- CANDIDATES, lized by a city 6 Alberta Anderson Portia Washington Tyrek Scott