About Lake Oconee news. (Greensboro, GA) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 13, 2017)
Friday, October 13,2017 Lake Oconee News Page A3 Lanier Continued from A1 on the Board of Visitors of Emory University and was involved with the Georgia College Foundation, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and many other civic organizations. While in DeKalb, Lanier successfully managed a multi-million dollar devel opment business for over 25 years while also owning Traditional Realty Company for 45 years. From 1964 to 2010, until the economic downturn took its toll, he constructed hundreds of projects to include new apart ments, banks, churches, homes, shopping centers, and retail and industrial offices. Lanier also was responsible for the development of large numbers of residential build ing lots and shopping center sites along with office and industrial sites. Upon his return to Madison, the may- oral candidate restored and rebuilt his personal home, the historic Female College of Georgia and the adjoining historic home for their guest house. Since 1981, Lanier had owned, restored and rebuilt Shoulderbone Plantation that was sold in 2013. Mr. Lanier, please tell us about your experience of living in Madison. I have lived in Madison for the past 16 years. I bought my home at 472 S. Main St. in early 2001, with the assistance and urging of Roy and Chris Lambert, my very dear friends. Our friendship over the prior 20 years had resulted in my serving on the MMCC Board, where I was first introduced to some of Madison’s great people which enticed me to consider purchasing a home here. Roy was Madison’s last and most dynamic cheerleader, urging everyone in Atlanta and across Georgia to come see and visit his great town. My purchase of the home which was the Female College of Georgia in the mid-19th century and all its furnishings has been one of the greatest joys of my life. Dena and I are very fortu nate, blessed and humbled to enjoy this beautiful home every day in our chosen hometown. We are very proud to live in Madison and are deeply grateful for the privilegetoliveinthemidstof one of Georgia’s oldest, most cultured and truly historic towns. Please tell us about your involvement in local government and your business interests since leaving elective office. My first experience in government service was in my early 20ss as a DeKalb County police officer for about 10 years. Eight of those years were as a homi cide detective during the 60swhich were many of DeKalb’s growth years. In early 1975, a group of several business andpolitical leaders, including George Warren,who livesinMadison today, requested that I run for and seek a vacated seat on the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners. I ran for and was elected,out of a field of nine candidates who qual ified for the open District 3 seat. I received 48 percent of the vote in the election and 74 percent in the resulting run off. After serving that term I was re-elected to a second term in District 3. After servingthe second term, I ran for an at-large, county wide seat against an incumbent member of the board and was again elected by a large margin. At the end of that term I ran again unopposed for my fourth and final term, 151/2yearsinacountyofover 500,000 people. I served as presiding officer/chairman of that board for several years during those last two terms. After leaving public office, I immersed myself in my real estate management and development businesses. These businesses flourished and were very successful for over thirty years until the economic depression of 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. My seven companies and myself personally were dev astated by the poor man agement of our federal government during that time. As evidence, during that time over 300 banks were closed in the United States by the FDIC. Due to perseverance and greatly the patience and support of my wife Dena, we have substantially recovered from this financial disaster. Not any of my seven com panies or myself personally, ever filed for or chose to bankrupt. We continue to own all seven companies. We certainly don’t have the financial resources we once enjoyed but we continue to enjoy good character and strong Christian ethics. Over my years of business involvement, I served on four Georgia regulated and FDIC regulated Bank Boards of directors. Voters in Madison have their own ideas about why current candidates are running for office. What are your reasons? My reason for seeking the position of mayor of Madison, is to bring effec tive, responsive, respectful, transparent leadership and change to the otherwise weak, caretaker mayor and council government which serves the voters and citizens of Madison today. There are numerous otherissues which are important to the citizens of Madison, which have basically been ignored by the mayor and council until the recent political campaigns which began very unexpect edly on Aug. 25,2017, the last day of qualifying. I will be if, elected, a strong pro-business mayorwiththe leadership ability to bring clean, high tech industry and growth to Madison. Good high paying jobs, enhanced tax base from industries who do not require much in way ofservicesbutdohelp reduce the taxes on residential homeowner taxes. I do not desire to change the small town, rural atmo sphere ofMadison. I strongly support new residential development on the many acres of zoned residential land in the city and I commit to protect the integrity of the Madison National Register Historic District. In myyears of building and development I totally restored six declin ing Georgia houses and cabins, three of which are nowon theNational Register. Recent statistics show that Madison is not growing like its surrounding sister cities. It is actually going backwards. Good quality businesses are being discour aged by city staff. The city management and staff will kick, scream and deny this, but it is true. What are the greatest challenges for the city of Madison? To elect strong pro-busi ness candidates to mayor and city council, to bring effective leadership and change. What do you see for the future of Madison and Morgan County as well? Madison is at a fork in the road. Take the right fork and see good, sensible growth with new jobs, the conten tious feeling of many citizens addressed and Madison be promoted as a great place to live, work, play, learn, wor ship and raise a family. Through leadership and mutual co-operation with the Morgan County Commissioners, I will work hand and hand to move Madison - Morgan County forward to abright successful and prosperous future. Take the wrong fork and continue down the same road to vacant stores, no real growth, unhappy, dis gruntled citizens who will continue to be contentious duetonorealleadershipfrom the elected government What might the residents of Madison not know about you or your candidacy? I have the business and management experience to provide strong leadership to the city c ouncil and staff, and the understanding of our constitutional government of democratically elected representatives. I have the governmental experience of nearly 16 years serving in public office and leading good peopleto be even better. Also, I am a native of DeKalb County. My mother was born in Morgan County at McHugh’s Mill near Rutledge in 1904. Their land was condemned by the U.S. Government in 1931 to become Hard Labor Creek State Park. My father was born on the Greene- Hancock County line, at what is now Shoulderbone Plantation in 1909. My father’s parents were originally from south Oconee County near the Greene - Morgan County line. I sincerely ask for the good taxpaying citizens and voters to vote for and support my effort to serve the people of Madison. Editor’s Note: With three contested city of Madison races, a heavier than usual turnout of voters for the Tuesday, Nov. 7th, election is expected. Early voting starts on Oct. 16 and ends on Nov. 3. Voting takes place at the Morgan County Board of Elections and Registration Office, 434 Hancock Street, with the office open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. HA MAN© RECYCLING & TRANSPORT NOW BUYING PECANS And paying TOP PRICES on all recyclable metal materials. 127 Lower Harmony Road | Eatonton (706) 485-8106 it w l j ELECT ★★★★★★★★★★★★★ LANIER MAYOR For ALL the People of Madison S Practical Business Experience S Proven Governmental Credentials S Local, Regional & Statewide Relationships If Elected I Will Be A Strong Pro-business Mayor: ★ With The Leadership Ability and ^ Talent To Attract Good Clean Industry to ★ Lead City Council To Support Real Growth which will ★ Produce Positive Growth In The Tax Base that will ★ Reduce Homeowner Taxes and ★ Create Good Quality, High Paying Jobs No Other Candidate Has This EXPERIENCE Early Voting starts 10/16/17 Election Day is 11/7/17 For more information Call 404.310.0412 to make a donation or find out more go to www.lanierformayor.com
