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PAGE 10A
BARROW NEWS-JOURNAL
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2016
Candidates answer the questions
DWIGHT ACEY
Age: 65
Immediate family: I have
been married for 22 years to
my wife Yoshiko Tagami-Ac-
ey. We have been blessed
with three children and five
grand-children.
Occupation: Law enforce
ment, retired
Residence: I have lived
in unincorporated Barrow
County (District 2) for 9 years
Education/special train
ing: I have a bachelor's
degree from New Jersey City
University and I have done
graduate work at Rutgers
University’s Graduate School
of Business Administration. I
have completed law enforce
ment Peace Officers Standard
Training (P.O.S.T.) training
and certified.
Why are you seeking elec
tion to the county commis
sion and what makes you
the most qualified candi
date for the seat?
The residents of my district
pay for and deserve honest
and dedicated representation
on the Board of Commis
sioners. They expect a good
shepherd of their hard earned
money.
I believe they should get a
dollars’ worth of service for
every dollar spent.
This is a binary race
between myself, a fiscal con
servative, and someone who
has a history of reckless use
of taxpayers dollars. Learn
more at http://www.dwighta-
cey.com.
What is the single most
important issue in this elec
tion?
Both credibility and integri
ty. I have seen problems left
unaddressed by the “buddy
buddy system” on the Com
mission. There is waste and
DWIGHT ACEY
BOC, DISTRICT 2
a lack of foresight. Resi
dents deserve better. We need
new vision and respect for the
wishes of the people in the
district. Albert Einstein, was
credited with saying, “We
cannot solve the problems of
today with the same level of
thinking that created them.”
District 2 residents need a
good steward for their resourc
es and one who respects their
needs and wishes.
What are the biggest
challenges and opportuni
ties facing Barrow County
over the next four years?
As one transverses Barrow
County it becomes imme
diately apparent that we are
poised for enormous growth.
Vacant subdivisions are fill
ing in at a record pace as
hundreds of homes are being
erected. We see the business
districts expanding almost
before our eyes.
If you stop to dialogue with
people as I have, throughout
the district, one thing they
tell you is the population in
Barrow County has grown
significantly in the last five
years.
Managing and creating the
infrastructure to sustain that
growth requires new ideas.
How can Barrow County
best manage the project
ed continuous population
growth over the next several
years in the county?
We need to provide the
necessary framework and ser
vices to support the safety,
healthcare, roads, and a top
notch education system for
the 21st century. I am anxious
to get busy helping in every
way I can.
Traffic around much
of the county, particular
ly downtown Winder and
the immediate surrounding
area, continues to be a con
cern. What can be done by
the county to address the
issue?
Regarding traffic there is
nothing I hear more than,
“When will the West Wind
er Bypass be completed?” I
will work with board mem
bers and other authorities to
address the transportation
congestion in Barrow County.
What role should the
county play in promoting
economic growth in Bar-
row?
The current Board has refi
nanced the $2.1 million in
debt service at a lower inter
est rate. Most importantly we
must avoid incurring more
debt.
We need to encourage busi
ness growth. It is the eco
nomic engine for our econ
omy. At the same time we
must keep residential taxes
within reasonable limits.
Our goal should be to
provide businesses with the
incentives to locate and to
stay here (such as tax abate
ments, fee waivers, and land
set asides). The infrastructure
must keep up with the needs
of residents - no more and no
less. The Commission has to
continue to foster and retain a
highly trained workforce.
We are fortunate to have
Lanier Tech, Sims Academy
in our county and to be close
to UGA and Georgia Tech
nearby.
They will help us produce,
attract, and retain highly
skilled and well paying jobs.
BRITTANY
MAYWEATHER
Age: 25
Immediate family:
Son, Jayden
Occupation: Certified
Medical Assistant
Residence: Native of
Barrow County
Special training: My
first job in the medical
field was in a pediatric
setting, which is where
my love for helping chil
dren was born.
Why are you seeking
election to the Board
of Education and what
makes you the most
qualified candidate for
the seat?
I am seeking election
for the Barrow Coun
ty Board of Education
because I would like to be
a part of great change here
in Barrow.
We should be open
to positive change and
growth for the betterment
of our students.
My goal is to get par
ents more involved, build
long-term relationships,
and help our students uti
lize their resources so that
their performance is at its
highest.
What is the single
most important issue in
this election?
The single most import
ant issue in this election is
“ how can we as a commu
nity come together to help
our children get the best
education possible.’ “Are
we doing all that we can to
give them the best?”
What are the biggest
challenges and opportu
nities facing the school
system over the next
four years?
The biggest challenges
and opportunities facing
the school system over the
next four years would be:
BRITTANY
MAYWEATHER
BOE, DISTRICT 6
increasing student perfor
mance as a whole, com
municating with teachers
so that we can better serve
them, promoting parental
engagement, promoting
mentorship, and engaging
students in tutoring pro
grams.
Our test scores and grad
uation rates can increase:
we must first increase our
thinking. All of our stu
dents are unique so this
means each approach to
help them excel will be
special but effective.
With the population of
Barrow County expected
to continue to increase,
it’s likely the student
population will as well.
What should the school
system be doing to pre
pare for and address this
growth?
To prepare for increased
student growth we should
be strategizing on monies
available for new schools,
land available, educators
available, rezoning and so
on for new developments.
Can we afford a new
high school? Do we have
appropriate funds avail
able. How can we expand
responsibly?
What is your assess
ment of the amount of
standards and standard
ized testing placed on
students and teachers?
Are there any tests or
standards in particu
lar that you believe are
effective or ineffective?
I have had the pleasure
of speaking with teach
ers and students on this
subject.
I do believe that there
should be curriculum in
place to assess what our
students have learned and
what our educators have
taught.
I have also taken into
consideration that some
students are horrible test
takers but do extreme
ly well on assignments
throughout the year.
The standardized tests
should promote real life
traits and skills so that
our youth will exceed the
standards of our growing
work force/economy.
What is your position
on the proposed consti
tutional amendment on
this year’s ballot that
would allow the state to
take over schools that
are deemed “failing” for
three consecutive years?
Does this jeopardize
local control over edu
cation?
Gov. Deal’s Amend
ment 1 has no place in the
Constitution. Yes, this will
completely jeopardize
local control over educa
tion!
Without local our coun
ty school board, teachers,
community leaders, and
parents, will not be able to
make important decisions
regarding academics, how
the school system oper
ates, staffing, improve
ment. or leadership on
behalf of our students.
These are people who
have invested in our chil
dren. who know them
personally and care about
their achievements.
We owe them the right
to be able to take a stand
on behalf of the success of
our children.
We must say no to more
government intervention.
BILL BROWN
Age: 72
Immediate family:
Wife, two children, three
grandchildren
Occupation: Retired
Residence: Winder for
11 years, Barrow County
for more than 40 years
Education: Certified
county commissioner
through the University
of Georgia’s Carl Vinson
Institute of Government.
Why are you seeking
a return to the county
commission and what
makes you the most
qualified candidate for
the seat?
Having the privilege to
serve as District 2 com
missioner on three dif
ferent boards, we were
able to work together in
taking unified actions to
provide for quality of life
and economic opportuni
ties for our citizens.
Some of these actions
were as follows:
•new senior citizens
center
•new leisure services
building and recreation
areas
•3 new fire stations
and 911 communications
center
•new courthouse and
detention center
•acreage for com
mercial and industrial
growth; some of which
is being graded now as
Park 53 on Ga. 316 and
Ga. 53.
•Barrow Crossing
shopping center which
is providing hundreds
BILL BROWN
BOC, DISTRICT 2
of new job opportunities
and tax revenue for our
county.
I am looking forward
to continue working with
the board to provide for
the needs of our citizens.
What is the single
most important issue in
this election?
Traffic congestion.
What are the biggest
challenges and oppor
tunities facing Barrow
County over the next
four years?
Providing necessary
infrastructure for antici
pated economic growth
and working with our
state and federal govern
ments to secure funding
to help us alleviate our
traffic problems.
How can Barrow
County best manage its
projected continuous
population growth over
the next several years?
I have experienced
growth challenges
throughout my time in
office.
When I am elected
commissioner. I will
continue to work to solve
these challenges as we
have in the past.
We need to be aware
of our ever-increasing
needs of traffic flow, the
placement of our new
growth, both residential
and commercial.
The comprehensive
land use plan that our
county has adopted will
be a great tool to guide
our development.
Traffic around much
of the county, particu
larly downtown Wind
er and the immediate
surrounding area, con
tinue to be a concern.
What can be done by
the county to address
this issue?
We must work hand-
in-hand with the City of
Winder and all munici
palities in securing our
bypass.
What role should the
county play in promot
ing economic develop
ment in Barrow?
The county should be
the leader in promoting
economic growth in Bar-
row County.
We need to work very
closely with our eco
nomic director, indus
trial authority, chamber
of commerce and all
municipalities pursuing
industry that are look
ing to locate their new
facilities, enlarging their
existing plants in our
county.
We need to pursue all
avenues to make things
happen that would bring
new jobs and tax revenue
to our county treasury.
MICHAEL POPE
Immediate family:
Wife, Lauren; four chil
dren: Michelle, SeQueena,
Tamecha and Terence.
Occupation: Pastor
Residence: Winder
Education/special
training: Business Com
munity College, Gwinnett
Technical College and
Beulah Bible College.
Currently working toward
master’s and doctoral
degrees.
Why are you seeking
election to the county
commission and what
makes you the most qual
ified candidate for the
seat?
I’m seeking election to
bring change in our com
munity so we will have
a safer place to live and
focus on the problems at
hand for our youth, adults,
seniors, etc. Our world is
full of madness and too
much division.
MICHAEL POPE
BOC, DISTRICT 3
What is the single most
important issue in this
election?
We must learn to respect
each other's role in office
and do what’s best for the
people. Also, the budget.
What are the biggest
challenges and oppor
tunities facing Barrow
County over the next four
years?
Education for our youth,
traffic and racial tension.
How can Barrow
County best manage the
projected continuous
population growth over
the next several years in
the county?
All communities come
together and focus on the
issues at hand by creating
better outlets.
Traffic around much of
the county, particularly
downtown Winder and
the immediate surround
ing area, continues to be
a concern. What can be
done by the county to
address the issue?
We must focus on ways
to expand the downtown
streets into two lane roads,
under passes, over passes,
etc. If not this town will be
left behind.
What role should the
county play in promot
ing economic growth in
Barrow?
By bringing more jobs
to the area, creating more
businesses and getting the
communities to be more
industrious.
Aldridge receives GHRAC council award
Chancellor Henry M. Huckaby and
Georgia Historical Records Advisory
Council (GHRAC) Chair P. Toby Gra
ham presented Dan A. Aldridge. Jr. with
the GHRAC Award for Excellence in
Documenting Georgia's History during
the fourteenth annual GHRAC Archives
Awards ceremony at the Georgia Archives
on Oct. 26. The GHRAC Awards recog
nize outstanding efforts in archives and
records work in Georgia.
The story of the first airplane flight in
Georgia has not been told correctly in
more than one hundred years. The year
given for this flight, 1907, is not correct,
the plane identified as the first to fly never
got off the ground, and Ben T. Epps,
Sr. is incorrectly credited, solely, with
achieving this feat. To Lasso the Clouds:
The Beginning of Aviation in Georgia
(Mercer University Press, 2015) sets the
historical record straight and brings to
light the complete, incredible story of two
young men from Athens. Georgia who
achieved their dream of flight.
Epps and Zumpt A. Huff were
described by one newspaper after that
first flight as a “second pair of Wright
brothers.” On their journey to build a
machine capable of sustained, controlled
flight, this unlikely pair crossed paths
with some of the world’s greatest icons.
Most surprising of all, this book reveals
their flight was the first flight of a mono
plane in the United States, a record of
which even they were not aware.
GHRAC works to promote the edu
cational use of Georgia’s documentary
heritage and to support efforts to improve
the condition of records statewide. The
Board is charged with advising the
Chancellor and the Georgia Archives on
records and policy issues. For more
information, please visit www.Geor-
giaArchives.org and click on Partners,
then click on Georgia Historical Records
Advisory Council (GHRAC).
The Georgia Archives is a unit of the
Board of Regents of the University Sys
tem of Georgia and identifies, collects,
manages, preserves, provides access to,
and publicizes records and information
of Georgia and its people and assists
state and local government agencies with
their records management. This work is
done within the framework of the USG's
mission to create a more highly educated
Georgia.