Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 12B
4 Reporter
Monroe County Commission Chairman
October 29, 2008
Harold Carlisle
<R) g''
Name: Harold Carlisle
Age: 77
Family: Wife of 52
years, Betty, Daughter
Julie Busbee, 50, and son-
in-law Keith Busbee of
Monroe County.
Education: Public
schools of Bibb County,
U.S. Army Command and
General Staff College and
Industrial College of the
Armed Forces.
Work Experience: Self
employed in partnership
with late brother in two
separate businesses
simultaneously for over 40
years.
Church or Civic affili
ations: Member Ingleside
Baptist Church and
Brotherhood Sunday
School Class, Member
Exchange Club of Macon,
Member of Forsyth-
Monroe County Kiwanis
Club, 32nd degree Mason,
Past Master, Past
Potentate of Shrine.
How long in Monroe
County? 32 years.
Native of: Macon
Why are you running?
My Country, my State and
my County have been very
good to me and I feel I
should give something
back by serving the people
of this County. I know the
people I have met at the
local, State and National
level can be a great asset
to Monroe County and I
plan to continue to use my
influence with these State
and National leaders to
help my County.
Why should people
vote for you? I have suc
cessful business experi
ence, successful military
leadership experience and
successful political leader
ship experience. I serve on
the RDC Board of
Directors, Chairman of
Middle Georgia Clean Air
Commission and Board
member of the Middle
Georgia Work Force
Consortium. I served for
three years as Chairman
of the Public Safety and
the Courts Policy
Committee for Association
County Commissioners
Georgia. I also served on
the Interlocal Resources
Management Association
for ACCG. I served 35
years plus in National
Guard, retiring as a
Federally recognized Full
Colonel and a State
Brigiadier General. I am a
former Company
Commander and Tank
Battalion Commander, the
Inspector General for
Georgia, past President of
the National Guard
Association of Georgia,
Founder and emeritus
Board member of the
National Guard Insurance
Trust and a founder of the
Georgia Guard Credit
Union.I am a Board mem
ber of Georgia
Environmental
Facilities Authority and
I am trained in virtually
every aspect of County
government. I am a certi
fied Commissioner and a
graduate of the advanced
course for County
Commissioners and a
graduate of the
Commissioners
Leadership Academy.
Every Commissioner is
told when he goes to man
dated training that he will
not be effective for two
years and I have found
this to be true. I continue
to take courses to keep
myself up to date as new
information comes avail
able. Economically speak
ing, it makes sense to not
spend money training
someone who is not cur
rent about how a County
operates. Total cost for my
training so far exceeds
$12,000. Additionally, I
declined to accept the
health Insurance offered
by the County, saving the
County over $6,000 a year.
The County has done well
since I have served as
Chairman. The Board,
and I emphasize the
Board, has accomplished
more
in the
last
four
years
than
in any
four year period in my
memory of 32 years in
Monroe County.
What qualities and
experience do you
bring to the office of
Commission Chairman?
See paragraph above and
add the fact I have never
sought any office I was
not fully qualified to fill.
What is your vision
for Monroe County and
what would top priori
ties be for County gov
ernment? My vision for
the County is to have a
balance of industry and
residental properties so
our children can make a
decent wage here instead
of moving elsewhere. Our
schools are top notch but
other communities are
getting the advantage of
our childrens' excellent
education. My top prior-
ites are a new administra
tive building with suffi
cient meeting space, a
County administrator,
forming a water authority
and combining City and
County services where
feasible and cost saving
and better relations with
the City of Forsyth.
What promises do you
make to the people of
Monroe County if you're
elected? I promise to con
tinue to do my best for all
citizens of the County and
to continue to put in the
time required to represent
Monroe County. Being
retired, I have the time to
go wherever and whenev
er I am needed. Anything
done in the County is
decided by a majority of
the five Commissioners,
therefore I cannot promise
other than what I just
said.
ipT James Vaughn (D)
Name: James Vaughn
Age: 52
Family: Married to Beth
Metts for 30 years; four
children Jennifer (28),
Matthew (26), Benjamin
(23), Jordan (20)
Education: Stratford
Academy (1974); Emory
University, B.A. History
(1978); University of
Georgia Law School, J.D.
(1981); Emory University
School of Law, Master of
Laws (1988)
Work experience:
Attorney at Bouhan,
Williams & Levy in
Savannah (1981-82); Vice-
President at Vaughn
Lumber Company in
Forsyth (1983-1986); Self-
employed farmer and
attorney in Forsyth (1987-
present
Church or civic affili
ations: Member of
Forsyth Presbyterian
Church and attends St.
James Episcopal Church.
Civic affiliations include
Monroe County Bank,
Board Member; Macon
State College Foundation,
Board Member; Monroe
County, Past Assistant
County Attorney; Monroe
County Chamber of
Commerce, Past Chair;
Development Authority of
Monroe County, Past
Chair/Attorney; Middle
Georgia Regional
Development Center, Past
Chair; Georgia
Cattlemen’s Association,
Member; Monroe County
Cattlemen’s Association,
Member; Georgia Agri-
Leaders Forum, Member;
Georgia Forestry
Association, Member
Native of: Lifelong resi
dent of Monroe County
Why are you running
for the board of com
missioners?
I am running for Chair
of the Board of
Commissioners because
Monroe County stands at
a crossroads, and we need
the strong leadership I
can provide. In recent
years county leadership
has been too divided. I
want to end the divisive
politics in our county. It’s
time to pull together.
Government can’t solve
everything, but it should
be solution-oriented, for
ward-thinking and repre
sent all the citizens
throughout the county.
Why should people
vote for you?
I’ve been a Monroe
County leader for more
than 25 years, serving on
many community boards
and providing legal advice
to business leaders and
county government. I offer
voters experienced profes
sional leadership. I will
work with other commis
sioners to unify the county
so that we can solve the
problems that face our
community. Together we
can operate the county
efficiently and work to
keep property taxes low. I
will promote smart
growth. I will be accessi
ble, responsive and
accountable, and I will do
my best to run the com
mission meetings in a pro
fessional manner.
What qualities and
experience do you
bring to the office?
My education, work
experience and many
years of community
involvement have pre
pared me well to lead
Monroe County. I have
gained extensive knowl
edge and understanding of
public policy and problem
solving from my more
than 25 years of practic
ing law. I especially know
Monroe County govern
ment, having served as
Assistant County Attorney
for many years. My expe
riences leading the
Chamber of Commerce,
Development Authority,
Regional Development
Center and several agri
cultural groups have
taught me how to build
strong coalitions from
diverse groups in order to
get things done. I’m a
problem-solver by nature,
and I have good, common
sense. I will bring honesty
and integrity to the office.
What is your vision
for Monroe County and
what would be your
priorities if elected?
I envision a unified
Monroe County that
embraces its history and
values while at the same
time positions itself for
success and prosperity in
the 21st century. My key
priorities to bring good
government to Monroe
County include: Unifying
the Commission and
Community; Keeping
Property Taxes Low;
Promoting Quality
Growth; Adopting
Fiscally-Responsible
Budgets; Maintaining an
Open, Honest and
Professional Commission;
and Protecting Natural
Resources.
What promises do you
make to the people of
Monroe County if
you’re elected?
I will make sure that
county government meets
the important challenges
in our community. I will
also make certain that all
citizens from every part of
Monroe County are repre
sented properly and with
respect. I will conduct
commission meetings in a
professional manner. My
votes on the commission
will always put the inter
ests of the people first. I
will work hard for my con
stituents - listening close
ly to your comments and
taking effective action to
address your concerns. I
also pledge to end the
divisive politics in county
government, to work to
unite commissioners and
our community and to rep
resent Monroe County in
a manner that will make
you proud.
Monroe County Commission District 2
Jim Ham (D)
Name: Jim Ham
Age: 47
Family: Wife, Lydia Ham,
son John Holland (Anna),
grandchildren Alana, Haley
and Katie, parents Elsie
and Benson Ham (Ruth),
grandparents Belle and
J.W. Ham (Nancy) and
Emily and Vernon Sanders
Education: Mary Persons
High School, Gordon Junior
College, attended the
University of Georgia, grad
uated certified County
Commission training and
graduated University of
Georgia Leadership
Academy. Also graduated
from the Institute for
Georgia Environmental
Leadership
Work experience: I
worked in a service station
while in high school and
also worked in my grandfa
ther's store. After college I
formed a partnership with
my brother to operate a
dairy farm. After selling the
dairy farm I formed a part
nership with my brother
and father to operate a beef
cattle business. All deci
sions in the beef cattle busi
ness are made by me and
my brother. I am on the
Board of Directors of the
Georgia Farm Bureau
Federation where we make
decisions involving millions
of dollars.
Church or civic affilia
tions: Past President of
County Commissioners
Association of Georgia, past
President of Georgia
Association of Conservation
Districts, appointed by
Sonny Perdue to Governors
Transportation Task Force,
past President of Monroe
County Junior Chamber of
Commerce, past President
of Mary Persons Touchdown
Club, past President of
Towaliga Soil and Water
District, President of
Monroe County Farm
Bureau. Member of Mt.
Zion United Methodist
Church and native of
Monroe County.
Why are you running
for the board of commis
sioners? To serve the citi
zens of Monroe County
Why should people vote
for you?
Because I do a good job for
the citizens. I have worked
to improve the infrastruc
ture in the county and to
improve recreational oppor
tunities. I know how to
work with other individuals
for the common good. I
never voted to raise the tax
mill age rate.
What qualities and
experience do you bring
to the office? I know how
to keep the business of the
County on the subject and
to act as mediator among
the commissioners. I visit
individuals in District 2 and
get their opinions on issues
coming before the County
Commission. I know how to
use the local option sales
tax to pay for capital expen
ditures.
What is your vision for
Monroe County and
what would be your pri
orities if elected?
My top priority is to pro
vide the funds, equipment
and supplies to provide pro
tection to the citizens and
their property. I will contin
ue to work to upgrade and
provide the infrastructure
to serve the citizens of
Monroe County. I will con
tinue to work to bring new
jobs to Monroe County.
Zoning must be used to pro
tect the property values of
citizens already living in
Monroe County.
What promises do you
make to the people of
Monroe County if you're
elected?
I will not vote to increase
the tax millage rate on
property in the county. I
will continue to visit you for
Charles Hampton (R)
Name: Charles Hampton
Age: 70
Family: Wife, Jane. Two grown
children, two grandchildren and one
great grandchild.
Education: degree from John
Hopkins University.
Work experience: 20 years with
Department of Army; owner and
operator of medical business for 18
years.
Church or chuch civic affilia
tions: First Baptist Church of
Forsyth; Forsyth-Monroe County
Rotary Club; Mason.
Why are you running? We need
a change in county government.
Their lack of willingness to organ
ize.
Why should people vote for
you? Because I think I can do a bet
ter than the people there, though
that's not saying a lot. The county
lacks organization — department
heads tell me they feel like they
have five bosses out there. And
when everybody's in charge,
nobody's in charge. As a result
there's poor organization and a
waste of taxpayers dollars.
What qualities and experience
do you bring to the office?
Business experience as far as organ
izing. County government is one of
the biggest businesses in the county.
You need to organize and manage
resources and people.
What is your vision for Monreo
County and what would your priori
ties be: It's a gorwing county and
one of first priorities I would have is
to hire a county manager. I would
want to create a water authority. I
want to bring jobs to the county and
do a better job of industrial devel
opment. I feel we're trying to grow
through residenrial development
and that will never work.
What promises do you make
to the people of Monroe County
is you're elected? I will work on
the above issues. I'm not gonna
make a lot of promises other than I
will do a good job and work hard at
it. I will work to make it a good
county and to develop those issues.