Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 6A
BARROW NEWS-JOURNAL
WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2018
Primary 2018: Candidate questionnaires
Barrow County Board of Commissioners — District 4
Age: 71
Immediate family:
Wife, Margie Berry; chil
dren, Hiawatha, Lynn,
Dabarie, Marquis
Occupation: Retired
educator.
Hometown: Sarasota,
Fla. I have lived in Bar-
row County for 44 years.
Member of White Oak
Spring Missionary Baptist
Church.
Education/special
training: Dual B.S.
degree in mathematics
and electronic technology,
advanced certification in
county government from
the ACCG, 13.5 years as a
county commissioner.
BNJ: Why have you
decided to run for elec
tion or re-election? What
has been the board’s big
gest success while you
have been in office?
Berry: My desire to seek
re-election is the same as
when I initially sought the
office. After living here
for 30 years, my heart and
love for the citizens of
this county grew, which
increased my desire to
serve the district in which I
live. By seeking the office
of county commissioner,
I felt that I could help the
citizens by listening and
following up on their con
cerns, by helping them to
understand the policies of
the county, and then pre
senting the concerns of the
citizens to the commission.
BNJ: What do you con
sider to be the three big
gest issues Barrow Coun
ty is facing, and how
would you address them
as a county commissioner
over the next four years?
Berry: ‘Service delivery
strategy. I would propose
ISAIAH BERRY
REPUBLICAN
INCUMBENT
that the municipalities and
the county come togeth
er quarterly to discuss the
issues that would better
meet the needs of all of
Barrow County.
•Transportation — Over
the years our county’s traf
fic has become increasing
ly congested: however it
is our hope that the West
Winder Bypass will allevi
ate some of the problems
that we are having, espe
cially those created by big
trucks.
•Economic development
— I believe that we should
partner with the chamber
to start a campaign that
will make our county more
attractive to large business
es.
BNJ: There has been
much discussion recent
ly about the amount
of money the county is
spending on overtime
wages, particularly to
pay law enforcement and
emergency workers as
those departments face
several staffing vacan
cies. What can be done
to raise the level of pay to
keep these departments
competitive with the sur
rounding market, but
also maintain a balanced
county budget without
significant tax increases?
Berry: A proposal has
been presented to the
Board of Commissions, by
the county manager, that
will allow for the hiring of
new positions and increase
the wages/salary of our
existing public servants. It
is our hope that this will
decrease the amount of
overtime being used or
accumulated.
BNJ: What should the
county be doing to foster
more economic growth in
the area?
Berry: I believe that we
should brainstorm different
strategies to attract more
productive businesses that
will provide more econom
ic growth for our county.
BNJ: County voters are
being asked this month
to approve a referendum
for up to $100,000 to be
spent studying consolida
tion of county and some
municipal governments
within Barrow. Do you
support such a study?
Berry: I personal
ly do not favor spending
$100,000 on the study, but
I do believe that the citi
zens have a right to vote on
this issue.
BNJ: The City of Wind
er’s application with the
state for a separate EMS
service from the county
has been the subject of
litigation between the
city and county. Do you
support the county sta
tioning an ambulance in
the city limits, or would
you be in favor of the
city starting its own EMS
department?
Berry: I believe that the
county should provide an
ambulance service in the
City of Winder, for the
City of Winder.
Age: 40
Immediate family:
Wife. Melissa (school
teacher), Addison (age 5),
Austin (age 2)
Occupation: Construc
tion safety management.
Hometown: I finished
school in Paulding Coun
ty and have lived in Bar-
row County since 2004
when I got married.
Education/special
training; Bachelor
degree in safety manage
ment from Columbia Southern Univer
sity. Technical degree in plumbing from
the Mechanical Trades Institute, I am a
Master Licensed Plumber in Georgia, I
am also a certified flight instructor for
multi-engine and single engine aircraft.
BNJ: Why have you decided to run
for election to this office? What makes
you better suited to the office than the
incumbent?
Cox: I am running for office to help
shape the place that my children will
grow up. I want to ensure that Barrow
County remains a great place to live and
thrive. There is much work that needs
to be done to improve the county as we
move forward. We need better paying
jobs, better traffic conditions and better
housing. Coach Berry is a phenomenal
man that has spent his life serving the
community. I respect that. I feel that it is
time for new ideas and new perspective
in Barrow County.
BNJ: What do you consider to be the
three biggest issues Barrow County is
facing, and how would you address
them as a county commissioner over
the next four years?
Cox: Traffic is one problem that all
of us face in this county. By controlling
housing density this will help with traf
fic. Also improving roads in the area to
help with alternate routing will address
some of the problems. Housing needs
to be addressed. We need QUALITY
housing. For years, we have been a
pass-through county due to the limit
ed availability of mid-level and high
er-priced housing. Limiting the lot size
to half an acre or even 1 acre will help
in addition to increasing
the required minimum
square footage. Lastly,
we need job growth. We
have the ability to attract
companies that pay higher
wages in the manufactur
ing industry as well as
other industries. We have
great resources here and
need to utilize them in
attracting companies.
BNJ: There has been
much discussion recently
about the amount of money the county
is spending on overtime wages, par
ticularly to pay law enforcement and
emergency workers as those depart
ments face several staffing vacancies.
What can be done to raise the level of
pay to keep these departments compet
itive with the surrounding market, but
also maintain a balanced county bud
get without significant tax increases?
Cox: At the forum the pay for the
sheriff’s deputies was brought up. We
also have to pay for the courthouse and
jail facility. Paying overtime works in
some instances. Paying overtime for 40
hours will nearly cover the cost hiring
a new deputy. There are other factors
to consider when figuring this though
such as the benefits package and cost of
employment. We have to have a balanced
budget. As a conservative, I believe in
paying for what we have and not pushing
that debt to our children. As a county, we
have to decide what we want — more
parks, better policing, more EMS ser
vice, better roads or lower taxes. Nothing
comes for free.
BNJ: What should the county be
doing to foster more economic growth
in the area?
Cox: I believe that if you look at suc
cessful counties and model after them,
you will gain the same success. Many
of the counties that are attracting busi
nesses are going to the capital to get state
money, they have better access to the
facilities, and they have a government
with the same vision. It is important that
the commissioners work together to find
solutions and provide ideas.
See Cox on Page 7A
DEREK COX
REPUBLICAN
CHALLENGER
Barrow County Board of Commissioners — District 5
Age: 69
Immediate family:
Wife, Diane (Tina) Parks,
married for 50 years; two
adult children (Michael and
Angel).
Occupation: Retired,
U.S. Postal Service (35
years in Auburn)
Hometown: Lifelong
resident of Auburn and
Barrow County
Education and spe
cial training: Graduated
from Winder-Barrow High
School in 1966. Veteran
of U.S. Army. Certified
county commissioner with
ACCG. Former mayor of
Auburn. Volunteered as
fireman/first responder.
Served on several boards in
Barrow County.
BNJ: Why have you
decided to run for re-elec
tion? What has been the
board’s biggest success
while you have been in
office?
Parks: I enjoy serving
my community. I have
the time to invest in the
position that allows me to
help the residents of Dis
trict 5. The biggest suc
cess has been moving the
county government to the
county manager form of
government where a pro
fessional manager oversees
the day-to-day operation of
the county.
BNJ: What do you
consider to be the three
biggest issues Barrow
County is facing, and how
would you address them
as a county commissioner
over the next four years?
Parks: One of the biggest
challenges facing Barrow
County is traffic conges
tion. In order to relieve
congestion, the county is
BILLY PARKS
REPUBLICAN
INCUMBENT
continuing to build the
West Winder Bypass. Con
struction bids should be let
this year. The BOC con
tinues to seek grants from
the state Department of
Transportation to improve
our county roads. The
BOC is committing $1 mil
lion yearly for our county
roads. The opening of the
Ed Hogan Railroad Cross
ing is an effort to improve
traffic around Winder. In
the next four years, discus
sions will begin on an East
Winder Bypass.
Another challenge is
public safety. The BOC
has increased the salary for
public safety employees in
all areas to attract the best
individuals available. We
provide updated equipment
and try to improve their
work conditions.
A third area of challenge
is economic development.
The BOC continues to seek
large companies to locate
in the county. Park 53 on
Highway 316 is classified
as a site-ready location for
new companies. The BOC
is making plans to improve
infrastructure to help bring
jobs to Barrow County.
BNJ: There has been
much discussion recent
ly about the amount
of money the county is
spending on overtime
wages, particularly to
pay law enforcement and
emergency workers as
those departments face
several staffing vacan
cies. What can be done
to raise the level of pay to
keep these departments
competitive with the sur
rounding market, but
also maintain a balanced
county budget without
significant tax increases?
Parks: Overtime has a
major impact on the county
budget. Several department
have vacancies that need to
be filled. The BOC had pay
studies by the Carl Vinson
Institute of Government
and has implemented those
salaries in order to fill those
vacancies. The current bud
get being prepared is with
salary increases for the
sheriffs department to fill
vacancies there and lower
overtime hours.
BNJ: What should the
county be doing to foster
more economic growth in
the area?
Parks: In order to have
economic growth, the
county must continue to
improve infrastructure as
I have already stated. Our
county roads along with
state highways need to
be improved. The state
is improving intersec
tions along Highway 316,
roundabouts on highways
211 and 124. The coun
ty is implementing a new
road management system
that will allow better mon
itoring of our road condi
tions and resurface/repairs
records. The widening of
county roads will be con
sidered when resurfacing is
scheduled.
See Parks on Page 12A
Age: 61
Immediate family:
Husband, Randy (almost
38 years); daughter,
Sarah, who is married
to Hans; granddaughter,
Emme (3); mother, Shir
ley Snow, of Lawrencev-
ille.
Occupation: I worked
as a teacher in the
DeKalb and Gwinnett
County school systems
in the 1970s and 1980s.
I am now a full-time
homemaker.
Hometown: I moved to Georgia when
I was 13 and grew up in DeKalb County.
Randy and I lived in Gwinnett County
until we moved to Barrow County in
2007.
Education/special training: Degree
in early childhood development from the
University of Georgia.
BNJ: Why have you decided to run
for election to this office? What makes
you better suited to the office than the
incumbent?
Reid: I have been active in the Barrow
County Republican Party for the last
three years and worked on Tim Walker’s
campaign for sheriff in 2016. I really
enjoyed the campaign and the party and
decided that I wanted to work for the
wider community. I would never say that
I am better suited for the office than Mr.
Parks. Everyone has their own strengths
and talents. I just would like the chance
to help our citizens in any way that I’m
able.
BNJ: What do you consider to be the
three biggest issues Barrow County is
facing, and how would you address
them as a county commissioner over
the next four years?
Reid: I think that growth that enhances
the Barrow County way and quality of
life, which includes construction and
building of infrastructure, is a major con
cern. Because I want to ensure that long
term residents do not have their lives
upended by the “new.” I want to encour
age dialogue with residents affected by
new construction and road building. This
would include letters and/or emails to
motivate attendance at
planning and commission
meetings as well as sur
veys or comment sheets
for residents.
I also want to encourage
the building of mid-level
homes to encourage cit
izens who have moved
into higher-paying jobs to
stay in Barrow County.
There is a dearth of these
homes available in the
market, and we are losing
population, tax revenue
and positive role models to surrounding
communities. Along with the mid-lev-
el homes, we should also be trying to
bring senior citizen communities to Bar-
row. These neighborhoods are a win-win
for any community and they should be
actively courted.
Jobs for high-skilled workers is the
third issue that I would address as a com
missioner. This concern dovetails with
my second answer. As new workers are
encouraged to move to Barrow County,
there is a need for the housing to support
that population. To promote the need
for workers, I want to continue and sup
port business/education partnerships and
all the initiatives of Barrow economic
development. I also believe in no or very
limited taxes for businesses. All taxes are
paid by people, not business!
BNJ: There has been much discus
sion recently about the amount of
money the county is spending on over
time wages, particularly to pay law
enforcement and emergency work
ers as those departments face several
staffing vacancies. What can be done
to raise the level of pay to keep these
departments competitive with the sur
rounding market, but also maintain a
balanced county budget without sig
nificant tax increases?
Reid: Because the No. 1 responsibility
of a government is to protect its people,
all first responders are necessary, import
ant and to be supported. They need to be
well-paid for their training, dedication
and selflessness. However, as in any part
of life, waste is not to be tolerated. We
See Reid on Page 12A
DEBBIE REID
REPUBLICAN
CHALLENGER