Newspaper Page Text
Thursday, October 14, 2021
UPSON BEACON
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Page 1B
City of Thomaston Mayor Pro Tern
CANDIDATE FORUM
Doug Head, Incumbent Sharon King, Challenger Loraine “Lori” Lindsey, Challenger
Early Voting &
Election Day
Absentee Ballot
Example
Oath Envelope
Sample
Your Questions
Their Answers
1. Do you support SPLOST?
Doug Head, Incumbent
Yes, I support SPLOST. The SPLOST collects a penny per dol
lar for all goods and services purchased in Upson County. It
will not be a new tax, simply a continuation of the SPLOST
we currently have in place. It is a great way to help pay for our
new Judicial Center and other capital expenditures such as
water and sewer improvements. Best of all, it collects a penny
per dollar from people who live outside Upson County and
spend their dollars in our local businesses. This allows those
people to help pay for our improvements.
Sharon King, Challenger
I absolutely support SPLOST. This is a great way for the city
to fund local projects i.e.., roads, schools, building and etc. If
elected, I would definitely push for SPLOST initiatives for cap
ital improvements based on the citizens’ vote on different im
provement projects. This could lower our property taxes.
Loraine “Lori” Lindsey, Challenger
The SPLOST is a more fair and equitable way to capture tax
dollars for specific projects.
2. If elected today, what is the most important
issue that you would address?
Doug Head, Incumbent
I think the most important issue today is public safety; in par
ticular, how we can compete with other cities and counties to
keep a full, well trained staff in our Police and Fire Depart
ment. Competing with salaries and benefits in an effort to
maintain a full staff is difficult. Public safety is my top priority
because we are dealing with a rise in crime. The council is
working to address this by adding a 4-man crime suppression
unit.
Sharon King, Challenger
If elected today, the most important issue I would address
would be growth and development in Thomaston. We have
not been at 10,000+ residents since the 1980s and we need
to be growing with our state. Georgia is the #1 state for busi
ness and it’s growing every day. We must make Thomaston a
destination place. I definitely think that we can capitalize on
commercial, residential, and industrial growth.
Loraine “Lori” Lindsey, Challenger
This is a tough question because there is so much I want to
accomplish. In addition to the homeless and the elderly is
sues, I would tackle our infrastructure problems and put in my
best efforts to work with our Economic Development Coordi
nator and the DDA on the downtown Master Plan. All of
these things together will make Thomaston more appealing
to outside businesses and people looking to move to our city.
3. Do you support package liquor stores opening
in Thomaston? And how would you handle it?
Doug Head, Incumbent
I definitely support package liquor stores in Thomaston.
When people in our community need to purchase distilled
spirits, they must leave this county, and we are losing the
benefit of the taxes on these sales. This should not happen.
Our people need this service and shouldn’t have to spend the
money to drive 20 or more miles to get something. I would
probably limit the number to 2 stores and select by lottery of
qualified applicants.
Sharon King, Challenger
I do support package liquor stores opening in the city. Open
ing these stores can be profitable to the city. Adding a refer
endum to the ballot on bringing a package store to
Thomaston, would definitely bring more business and as
stated an increase in revenue. The Georgia General Assembly
gave city and county municipals this privilege in SB145, and I
think this could be beneficial. It will be discussed with citizens
and city council on how many package stores and licenses are
approved each year. This decision would need to be made as
a unified team.
Continued on page 2B
NOTICE
Early/Advanced voting for the November 2, 2021 Municipal Gen
eral & Special Elections will begin on Tuesday, October 12, 2021
at 8:30 am at the Thomaston Upson Civic Center located at 101
Civic Center Drive. Early/Advanced voting will be held daily through
Friday, October 29, 2021 ending at 5 pm daily. Two mandatory Sat
urday voting days October 16 th & October 23 rd from 9am - 4pm.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 2, 2021 all voting precincts will
be open from 7:00 am - 7pm.
Attached you will find the Composite Ballot for the November 2,
2021 Election. Voters wishing to vote by mail may begin requesting
a ballot by application now. If you have already submitted a ballot
request, the Elections Office will begin mailing out ballots on Tues
day, October 12, 2021.
****Please note: the absentee ballot drop box is now located
INSIDE the Elections Office. Voters will have to bring their bal
lot inside the building & place inside the ballot box.*********
For questions please contact the Elections Office at 706-647-6259.
UPSON COUNTY
OFFICIAL ABSENTEE/PROVISIONAL/EMERGENCY BALLOT
SPECIAL ELECTION
OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA
NOVEMBER 2, 2021
INSTRUCTIONS:
ToVote
Waminq
1. Use black or blue ink to mark the ballot
Do NOT use red ink or felt tip pen to mark ballot
2. Completely fill in the empty oval to the left of the candidate name or choice ih
Do NOT circle, underline or mark through choices
all races you wish to vote
Do NOT use check marks or X to mark ballot
3. if voting for a Write-In candidate, completely fill in the empty oval to the ieft of
Do NOT mark more choices per race than allowed
the Write-In selection, then write the name of the write-in candidate in the space
provided
Do NOT sign, cut, tear or damage the ballot
If you make a mistake or change your mind on a selection:
A. Do not attempt to mark through the selection or attempt to erase. Write “Spoiled" across the ballot and across the return envelope
B. Marl or return the spoiled ballot and envelope to your county board of registrars; a new official absentee ballot will be mailed to you
If you decide to vote in-person: Surrender the ballot to the poil manager of an eariy voting site within your county or the precinct to
which you are assigned. You will then be permitted to vote a regular ballot
’! understand that the offer or acceptance of money or any other object of value to vole for any particular candidate, list of candidates, issue, or list ofissues included in this
election constitutes an act of voter fraud and is a felony under Georgia law."(O.C.GA 21-2-265(h} and21-2-383{a)j
SPECIAL ELECTION
UPSON COUNTY
2022 Upson County SPLOST Referendum
(Vote for One)
"Shall a special one percent safes and use tax be reimposed in the special
district of Upson County for a period of time not to exceed 6 years or 24
quarters and for raising an estimated amount of $23,400,000 for the
purpose of (1) funding the fofiowing projects for Upson County. (A)
acquiring, constructing and improving County facilities, including judicial,
administrative, civic, recreational, airport, and jail facilities, (B) roads,
streets and bridges, <C) vehicle procurement and replacement, including
Sheriffs department, (D) machinery and heavy equipment for repairs and
maintenance of roads, streets and bridges, and other government facilities,
(E) machinery and heavy equipment for repairs and maintenance of water
and sewer facilities, and (F) office equipment, IT and telecommunications
upgrades; (2) funding the following projects for the City of Thomaston; (A)
acquisition of rights of way for roads, streets and bridges, and expansion,
modernization, maintenance, construction and improvement of roads,
streets, and bridges, (B) water and sewer expansion, modernization or
improvements, (C) electrical system expansion, modernization or
improvements, and (D) acquisition, construction, modernization and
improvement of municipal-owned facilities, parks, vehicles and equipment;
and (3) funding the following projects for the City of Yatesville: (A) water
system upgrades, (B) repaving and resurfacing of roads and bridges, and
(C) recreational facilities improvements, including bail parks arid pavilions?”
O Yes
O No
CITY OK YATESVttE
For City Councilmember
(Vote for Three)
O Wanda Dozier
(Incumbent)
O Ronnie Riggins
(Incumbent)
SPECIAL ELECTION
CITY OF THOMASTON
Authorization of the City of
Thomaston to Issue Licenses
for Package Sale of Distilled
Spirits
(Vote for One)
"Shall Ihe Issuance of licenses for
the package sate of distilled spirits
be approved?"
O Yes
CITY OF THOMASTON
For Mayor Pro Tem
(Vote for One)
O Doug Head
(Incumbent)
O Sharon King
O Loraine Lindsey
O
Write-In -
Far Council Member
District 3
(Vote for One)
O Ryan 8, Tucker
(Incumbent)
o