Newspaper Page Text
October 22, 2008
^Reporter
PAGE 6A
Debate
continued from the front page
attorney James Vaughn.
Carlisle touted his experi
ence as a commissioner
and involvement on many
state-wide and regional
boards, adding, "I am not a
lawyer."
Here are his responses to
some of the questions:
Administrator: Carlisle
said he supports moving to
a county
administrator/manager
form of government.
Animal shelter: Carlisle
said when 500 people sign
a petition against a shelter
at the rec department, he
listens and he no longer
supports it going there.
Consolidation: Carlisle
said he's proud of the
city/county building
department and would like
to see similar combined
efforts in other places. For
instance, Carlisle said it's
foolish that the city, county
and school board each have
their own shops.
Water authority:
Carlisle said he supports
the creation of a county
water authority, but said
they need to create it joint
ly with the city to make it
effective. He admitted the
Plant Camellia water plant
has not been the boon he
thought it was when the
development authority
bought it in 2005, and said
he'd sell it unless he learns
of a cost-effective way to
make it operational. He
said the development
authority attorney
(Vaughn) turned in the
plant's EPD permit to take
water out of the Ocmulgee
River.
Taxes: Carlisle said he's
proud that Monroe County
has the 10th lowest taxes
in the state, noting com
missioners had voted earli
er in the night to roll back
property taxes to offset
increases in values. He
said people need to under
stand they can appeal
their tax assessment each
year.
Accomplishments:
Carlisle said he's proud
that Monroe County is the
22nd fastest growing coun
ty in the U.S. and that
they've done it under con
trol. "We learned from
Henry County," said
Carlisle. "We didn't let
them bring in anything
and everything." And he
said he's proud that for the
first time in years the
county hasn't had to bor
row money to make ends
meet, and that voters
approved the sales tax
(SPLOST) last year.
Dissension: Carlisle said
he's not sure whether the
board's famous retreat
helped them resolve differ
ences because not all the
commissioners laid every
thing out on the table. But
he denied columnist Don
Daniel's characterization
that they're "dysfunction
al," saying they've gotten a
lot done. He said politi
cians are egotistical and
that it'll be hard for any
one to fix it. "I defy James
Vaughn or General Patton
to straighten it out," said
Carlisle, adding that they
have to learn that when a
vote is over, it's over.
Forsyth attorney and
farmer James Vaughn said
as a former assistant coun
ty attorney and develop
ment authority attorney he
has the experince to be
chairman.
Here are some highlights
of his comments:
Administrator: Vaughn
said he thinks the county
needs a county administra
tor to set budgets more
than it needs a county
manager, which would
supervise department
heads.
Consolidation: Vaughn
said the county and city
should concentrate on con
solidating services for
small departments first,
things that are doable,
before moving to bigger
ideas.
Taxes: Vaughn said the
firm hired by the county
made serious errors in
reevaluating county prop
erty, but said appeals will
solve some of that.
Time: Vaughn said he's
been asked a lot whether a
farmer and lawyer can
devote as much time to the
office as his opponent, a
retiree. Vaughn said he's a
busy man but said he man
ages his time well. He said
his sons are helping him
farm and his law partners
help his case load. "I do
have the time and I'll do a
good job of it," said
Vaughn.
Dissension: Vaughn said
as a lawyer since 1981, he
knows how to deal with
controversy and people's
emotions. He said the
leader sets the tone for the
board and that he can
replace the current poor
communication by setting
a professional tone.
In the race for District 1,
Republican contractor Bill
Myers made his case for
election to the board of
commissioners. His oppo
nent, Democrat incumbent
Larry Evans, did not
attend.
Myers said he would
bring a new sense of pro
fessionalism and respect to
the board, by behaving
with a certain decorum.
Here are his responses to
other questions:
Administrator: Myers
said he supports creating a
county administrator type
of government, saying it
would streamline chain of
command to have someone
assume responsibility for
day to day operations.
Consolidation: Myers
said the EMS might be a
good thing to consolidate.
Passion: Myers admitted
he's run a shoestring cam
paign because he has no
donors and no campaign
staff. "I'm a one-man oper
ation," said Myers. But he
said just as he takes his
current job on the city's
planning commission seri
ously, so he will take being
a county commissioner
seriously.
In the race for District 2,
long-time Democrat com
missioner Jim Ham shared
his views. His challenger,
Republican Charles
Hampton, was unable to
attend due to his mother's
death.
After the public outcry,
Ham said he would not
vote to put the animal
shelter at the rec depart
ment. Other answers:
Administrator: Ham
said he's willing to consid
er creating a county
administrator/manager
position, noting former
clerk Gail King largely
filled that role.
Consolidation: Ham
said he's offered not to run
for office if they would just
combine city and county
governments to save
money. He said that's not
going to happen, but he
said the fire departments
would be a good place to
start combining.
Water: Ham said he
favors creation of a joint
city-county water authority
to expand water service.
Taxes: Ham said he
opposed using the company
that did the county-wide
revaluation of property
because you had to be a
turtle on a fence post not
to know real estate values
were coming down. He said
the company used bad data
as well.
Administrative build
ing: Asked if the county
had selected a site for their
new administrative build
ing, Ham quipped: "We
may not even have a site
for the animal shelter."
Dissension: Ham said
when he and former com
mission chairman Tommy
Wilson were on the board
they could have fistfights
and holler and scream,
then reach an agreement
and go have dinner. Now,
said Ham, it's gone too far.
He said it's the worst
board he's seen in 20 years
and that it won't get better
until the makeup of the
board changes.
Trees on the square:
Ham said people have dif
ferent opinions about the
courthouse trees being cut
down but said historian
Jane Newton supported it,
saying that those trees
weren't as old as some peo
ple think.
Jobs: Ham said everyone
has a duty to be on their
best behavior to make the
county attractive to new
businesses, including the
Reporter, though he said
he could do a better job
representing the county.
Public decisions:
Candidates were asked if
they'd pledge to make sure
their decisions are open to
the public, to which Ham
assured the audience: "We
won't make any more deci
sions about a dog pound
(without the public)."
See the wrap up of the
other races in the debate
in next week’s Reporter.
Welloms
continued from the front page
there.
Mrs. Welloms cannot hear very well any
more, but is still in pretty good health and
communicates well. During the special
birthday party, relatives and neighbors
enjoyed cake and ice cream and shared
fond memories of growing up in Culloden
with her. Her grandchildren and many of
the neighborhood kids enjoyed playing in
her yard and visiting. They all said she
was always very sweet and spoiled many
of them as children.
"She was like a mother to me," said her
nephew Charles Pennamon. "It's a bless
ing to be able to see her get to 103 years
old."
Pennamon checks on Mrs. Welloms regu
larly and says it's her faith in God and
living right that keeps her going so long.
Many friends shared memories of when
Mrs. Welloms was young and active.
"She used to make beautiful quilts," said
long time friend Annie Maude Jordan.
"She taught me how to make quilts."
Mrs. Welloms is the oldest citizen of
Culloden, but she's not the only one living
long. Culloden boasts several active resi
dents in their 80s and 90s.
"It must be something in our water,"
says Culloden resident Bob King. "We can
keep them young here."
Mrs. Welloms misses being Monroe
County's oldest citizen by only three
weeks. Mrs. Willie Jackson of Forsyth
turned 103 on Sept. 26.
Re-Elect
Tammy Fletcher
Monroe County
Board of Education
District 6
Thank you for your support.
Vote
MARK
GOOLSBY
Monroe County
Chief Magistrate
I will serve all the citizens of Monroe County with the utmost
respect and dignity.
I served on the Monroe County School Board for 10 1/2 years.
I served as Constable/Bailiff for the Magistrate Court in 1995-1996.
I am a 1976 Graduate of Mary Persons High School.
I am a 1996 Graduate of Gupton-College of Mortuary Science.
Thank You for your support in this race for Chief Magistrate of Monroe County.
I will be fair, show compassion and have an open door policy.
Thank You
MCCAIN
PALIN
ARE IN!
Monroe County GOP Campaign HI] Open!
199 E Main St.
^ Right behind old Piggly Wiggly on RR tracks. ^
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 5-8 pm.
Refreshments served.
Questions? Call 478-994-4206.
RICHARD
★ 'k for DISTRICT ATTORNEY ★ ★
The man we know,
The experience we need,
** VOTE NOVEMBER 4**
to Re-Elect
Richard Milam, District Attorney
"The sign is simple, but the job is not. Serving you, the People, involves
pursuing truth and justice while protecting the innocent, and preventing crime
through vigorous prosecution of those who violate the law. Over the last nine
years we have prosecuted criminals the way you want—firm, fair and
according to the law. We have worked hard on our caseload and there are no
backlogs. I have operated my office within budget every year while utilizing
federal grants to save local taxpayers' money. We have provided protection and
services to hundreds of crime victims. Help me continue this important work
by re-electing me November 4." Richard Milam, District Attorney
Please show your support by displaying a campaign yard sign.
If you need a sign, call (770) 775-5753.
Paid for by the Committee to Re-Elect Richard Milam, DA