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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2008 BARROW JOURNAL PAGE 3A ELECTION 2008 Three Barrow races contested Tues. — Chief Magistrate Presidential contest brings out over 8,000 early voters BY CHRIS BRIDGES Barrow County voters will decide three local contested races next week as well as voice their opinion in the down-to-wire presidential campaign between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama. Contested races locally include battles for sheriff, a seat on the county commis sion as well as the chief mag istrate's office. If early turnout is any indi cator, the lines at the polls could be long Tuesday. Barrow County Election Supervisor Kristi Royston said Monday that 7,155 people took part in the Early Voting process and another 1,041 cast their ballot Monday during the first day of Advance Voting. Advance voting continues this week at the county annex building. In the race for sheriff, Republican Jud Smith faces Democrat Jim Bonnemer. Online: See a sample ballot online at www.barrowjournal.com Smith won the Republican nomination this summer against Murray Kogod while Bonnemer was unopposed in the Democratic primary. In the District 3 County Commission contest, Republican Steve Worley, who defeated Tom Williamson in the primary, faces Democratic incumbent Bill Healan. Chief Magistrate incum bent, Republican June Davis, will face Democrat Johnny C. Smith. All other Barrow County races are uncontested. There is also a contested race for the State Senate for the 47th District, a dis trict which includes Barrow County. Republican incum bent Ralph Hudgens is being challenged by Democrat Tim Riley. A district race that also includes Barrow will be for the U.S. Congress where Democrat Doug Heckman is challenging Republican John Linder. Also running for Washington for a U.S. Senate seat are incumbent Republican Saxby Chambliss and Democrat Jim Martin. Three Georgia Constitutional Amendments are also on the ballot along with a judicial race for the Court of Appeals. The race that is generating the most overall interest is the one for President between McCain and Obama. McCain and Obama signs dot the land scape in and around Barrow County. Georgia resident Bob Barr, a former Republican, is also on the presidential ballot as the Libertarian Party’s nomi nee. SCHOOL BOARD Lack of sewer holding up new school BY CHRIS BRIDGES With no county sewer line in the works, a proposed new middle school in Barrow County remains on hold. The Barrow County Board of Education continued to dis cuss the project at its meeting Tuesday night, but took no action. The proposed middle school is slated to be built on Mulberry Road on land donated by the Russell fam ily. School officials hope the new school can open in the fall of 2010 and are now considering the installation of a private sewer system to accommodate the facility. Assistant superintendent of facilities Jake Grant told BOE members Tuesday night that he has meetings set up with businesses that could install a private sewer system. Grant said a private sewer system would cost an estimated $400,000. “The Russell family gave us this land in good faith expect ing sewer would be installed for the area, not just the prop erty,” board member Mark Still said. “I think we need to continue to explore this with the county.” Grant said he thought the BOE should wait until January, when a new board of commissioners chairman takes office along with several new BOC members. “Tell me again why we are discussing this now,” BOE member Lyn Stevens said. “Is the only hold-up the sewer deal on the part of the coun ty?” Grant said it was his under standing that public sewer would be available at the site, but a deal had not yet been reached with the county on the matter. “I am confident a private system would work,” Grant said. BOE member Connie Wehunt asked if the county would allow another type of sewerage system. “It is a ‘suped up’ system,” Grant said. “Of course, they might not allow it.” The EPD will have to approve the plans for a private sewer system. Grant said. Grant also recommend ed the BOE not withdraw its application for the new school. If it did, the earli est construction could begin on a new facility would be July 2009. If the application is not pulled, construction could begin at any time. ACCIDENT Winder man killed Tuesday in motorcycle crash BY SHARON HOGAN A 41-year-old Winder man was killed Tuesday afternoon in a motorcycle accident. The accident occurred around 2 p.m. on Georgia Highway 8 (Atlanta Highway) near the Bankhead Highway crossing, according to a report from the Athens post of the Georgia State Patrol. The man was heading east on a 1985 Honda motorcycle when a 2001 GMC pick-up driven by Harvey Bragg, 72, Winder, headed west turned in front of the motorcycle. The man was ejected from the motorcycle and struck a 1999 Ford Contour driven by Kathy Cannon, 20, Auburn, traveling west behind the pickup truck. A female passenger on the motorcycle was critically injured and flown by helicopter to Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta. The GSP Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team is investigating the acci dent. Patrol investigators shut down the high way for several hours on Tuesday afternoon to investigate. The patrol did not release the man’s name pending the notification of family members. Occupation: Law Describe your back ground: I have spent 28 years in service to the citizens of Barrow County. I retired from the Winder Police Department after 20 years of service to seek the office of Chief Magistrate. I have been the Chief Magistrate for the past eight years. I have an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice Technology from Gwinnett Technical College. I have received Judicial Training through the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education at the University of Georgia, the National Judicial College and the Council of Magistrate Court Judges. The Magistrate’s bud- June Davis get remains tight for the next fiscal year. What steps will you take to stay at or under budget in 2009?: I will continue to conserve the tax dollars of the citizens of BarrowCounty as I have in the past and will try to stay at or under budget. The Magistrate’s case load continues to increase, yet there are limited funds to hire a part time judge to assist the Chief Magistrate. What do you feel is the most effective way to address this issue?: The case load has continued to grow and has made many demands upon the resources of the Court. DAVIS I pledge that the magistrate court will meet the demands for service. I will at all times serve the peo ple of Barrow County. All citizens will receive fair and just treatment in this Court. Why do you feel you would be a better Chief Magistrate than your opponent?: I have dedicated myself to the office of Chief Magistrate. I have the experience and knowledge to get the job done. I attend training to stay abreast of any changes in the law due to legislative actions and court- decisions. Johnny C. Smith Occupation: Retired U.S Army CW-2; retired superin tendent of Public Lands and Buildings, Gainesville, Ga.; and retired Barrow County Board of Commissioners, District 1. Describe your back ground: Bachelor’s degree of arts in history and gov ernment, Columbia College, Columbia, Mo.; 12 years on the Barrow County Board of Commissioners; Chief Warrant Officer United States Army, retired; Vietnam veter an; deacon at Christ the King Baptist Church, Dacula; past member of Public Safety and Courts National Association of Counties; and worked with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division on several local and area cases. The Magistrate’s budget remains tight for the next fiscal year. What steps will you take to stay at or under budget in 2009?: 1. (Remove any unnecessary items from the budget. 2) Have personnel work different hours based on the work load. 3) trained personnel to work in other assigned positions. The Magistrate’s case load continues to increase, yet there are limited funds to hire a part time judge to assist the Chief Magistrate. What do you feel is the most effective way to address this issue?: Present the Barrow County Board of Commissioners with justification and facts to verify the need for a part-time job. Why do you feel you would be a better Chief Magistrate than your opponent?: I believe I am the best administrator and have the best qualifications. SMITH Barrow may seek suit on Bear Creek BY MARK BEARDSLEY Barrow County’s top elect ed official served notice last week that Barrow not only opposes Jackson County’s lawsuit over Bear Creek, but will seek damages should Jackson County prevail. Doug Garrison, chairman of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners, sent a three-page letter to Jackson County Chairman Pat Bell voicing strong opposition to Jackson County’s suit over Jackson County’s share of the water from the regional reservoir. Jackson County owns 25 percent of the reservoir and is entitled to 25 percent of its water. However, the county has sued the Upper Oconee Basin Water Authority com prising Jackson, Barrow, Oconee and Clarke counties over what that 25 percent means. The official “yield" of the reservoir has been placed at 58 million gallons per day (mgd). Jackson County believes that calculation is flawed and has data from a consultant claiming that the yield is 24 mgd. If Jackson’s figures are cor rect, all parties’ stakes in the 505-acre lake are cut by more than 50 percent and that, at current usage, other member counties are infringing upon Jackson County's entitle ment. Garrison calculated that if Jackson County’s figures are used, Barrow County will lose over $211 million ($400 million when adjusted for inflation) in income over a time he did not specify. “Barrow County intends to pursue collection of all such lost revenue from Jackson County,” he fumed, adding that the figures are “not spec ulative lost profits as they are based upon current commit ted contracts and will be cal culated based upon prevailing inflationary adjusters and will be easily recoverable pursu ant to a counterclaim that Barrow County will bring against Jackson County." 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