Newspaper Page Text
Page 6A
May 2, 2018
IN LOVING
Jane Newton Ivey
February 7,1929 - April 25, 2018
Jane Newton Ivey, of Forsyth, passed away Wednes
day, April 25,2018. Graveside services were held Sun
day, April 29 at Monroe Hills Memorial Gardens. Rev.
Eugene Barlow and Michael Murray officiated.
Mrs. Ivey, the daughter of the late Charles Leo New
ton and Jewell Bryant Newton, was born Feb. 7,1929,
in Forsyth. Her husband, Gordon Lee Ivey, and her
daughter, Rebecca Murray, preceded her in death. She
was a graduate of Mary Persons High School, a home
maker and a member of Paran Baptist Church.
Mrs. Ivey is survived by her children, Kathy Lynn Ivey
Owen (David) of Dallas, Ga. and Mike Edmond Ivey
(Kathy) of Lorsyth; sisters, Louise Maddox and Dottie
Newton of Lorsyth; brother, Raymond Newton (Gwin)
of Lorsyth; son-in-law, Michael Murray (Carol) of For
syth; six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to the
Carousel House, 173 South Lee Street, Lorsyth, GA
31029.
The family may be contacted at the residence 729
Gregory Road, Forsyth, GA 31029.
Please visit www.monroecountymemorialchapel.com
to express tributes.
Monroe County Memorial Chapel has charge of ar
rangements.
Fleta Price Purvis
Fleta Price Purvis, 89, went to be with
her Lord and Savior, Thursday, April
26,2018. A celebration of her life was
held Monday, April 30,2018 at River
side United Methodist Church with
Rev. Chip Strickland and Rev. Steve
Waldorf officiating. Burial followed in
Macon Memorial Park Cemetery. The
family requests no flowers, but that
donations be made to Riverside United
Methodist Church, 735 Pierce Avenue,
Macon, 31204.
Pleta was born in Moultrie to the late Homer and
Pearlie Ashmore Price, and was preceded in death
by her son, Jim Purvis, III in 1971 and a sister. She
attended Miller High School and was a graduate of
Moultrie High School. Fleta was also a graduate of the
Macon Hospital School of Nursing. She was an Operat
ing Room Supervisor, having retired from the Monroe
County Hospital. Fleta was a member of Riverside
United Methodist Church and the Roundtable Sunday
School Class. She was also a former member and Past
President of Macon Jr. Womens Club and a member of
the Macon Service League.
Survivors include her husband, James A. Purvis, Jr. of
Juliette; son, Michael W. Purvis of Juliette; granddaugh
ter, Michelle Nicole O’Dillon of Macon; a great grand
daughter; and brother, Billy Ray Price of Tullahoma,
Tennessee.
Visit www.maconmp.com to express condolences.
Macon Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery
have charge of arrangements.
PURVIS
RHODES
Gordon Edward Rhodes
March 11.1970 - April 26. 2018
Gordon Edward Rhodes, formerly
of Lorsyth, passed away April 26,
2018 after a lengthy illness. He was
preceded in death by his grandpar
ents, Dennis and Molly Radford
of England and Uncle Buddy and
Mama Doris Rhodes of Forsyth.
He is survived by his son Jordan
Scott Rhodes of Forsyth, his parents,
Joe and Chris Rhodes of Columbia,
SC, his brother, James and Amy Rhodes of Sumter, S.C.
and a niece, Cheyenne Young of Sumter, S.C. He is also
survived by several uncles, aunts and cousins, both
in the U.S. and England. He also leaves behind close
friends, Jodi Maiden and her husband, Guy of Virginia
Beach, VA.
Gordon served 20 years in the U.S. Navy and was
currently employed by TransTecs of Virginia Beach,
VA. A memorial service will be announced at a later
date. The family may be contacted at the home of his
parents, Joe and Chris Rhodes, 840 Sparkleberry Lane,
Apt 707, Columbia, S.C. 29229
Gene Arthur Watkins
November 28,1947 - April 20, 2018
Juliette - Luneral services for Mr. Gene Arthur “Bo
Bo” Watkins will be Wednesday, April 25,1 p.m. in
the Freeman Funeral Home Chapel, Forsyth. Burial
will be at Saint Peter Rock Church Cemetery, Juliette.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Grier; siblings Ma
rie Watkins, Corine (Rufus) Laster, ILA (Joe) Jackson,
Christine (Greg) Battle, Freddie (Jacqueline) Watkins
and a host of relatives and friends.
The family can be contacted at 311 Old Brent Road,
Forsyth. Freeman Funeral Home of Forsyth was in
charge of arrangements.
Call your local Monroe County representative
Scott Harrell
478-256-3586
or toll free: 800-551-1102
^^^^250 Vinevill£Ave ;i Macon L G^^1208^^^^
^Reporter
House candidates spar
By Richard Dumas
forsyth@mymcrnet
Four Republican candidates
seeking to replace longtime state
House District 141 representa
tive Allen Peake tangled in front
of a crowd of more than 100 at
Alderman Hall in Forsyth on
Monday night in a mostly civil,
hour-long debate hosted by The
Reporter.
Macon-Bibb County com
missioner Gary Bechtel, health
care executive Shane Mobley,
financial planner Todd Tolbert
and Jones County real estate
agent Dale Washburn faced a
wide array of questions ranging
from Georgias religious free
dom bill to the Bibb-Monroe
line dispute.
In his opening statement,
Bechtel said he has been a proud
resident of Macon-Bibb County
for his entire 58 years. He said
his district in Macon-Bibb
continues to grow residential^,
commercially and socially and
said he would bring his experi
ence working in local govern
ment, first as a Bibb County
Board of Education member
and then as a commissioner, to
the state level. Bechtel said one
of his primary goals is to ensure
the state continues to provide
full funding for local school sys
tems through its Quality Basic
Education (QBE) program.
Mobley, who said he’s a
property taxpayer in both Bibb
and Monroe counties, owns
and operates Sleep Med, which
he said is the largest provider to
Georgia critical access hospitals
as well as a Veterans Affairs
(VA) and Medicare provider.
Mobley, who also supports
expanded broadband internet
coverage, said “99.9 percent”
of his campaign is self-funded,
which he said shows his com
mitment not to cater to special
interest groups.
Tolbert, who grew up in
Juliette and formerly served in
the U.S. Air National Guard,
noted his business is based in
Bibb County. Tolbert, who
serves as the chairman of the
Hospital Authority of Monroe
County, said he worked along
side Monroe County citizens to
save Monroe County Hospital
(MCH) last year, citing over 100
jobs that were preserved. Tolbert
also said he previously served
as an assistant treasurer for
the Georgia Republican Party
but would be willing to reach
across the aisle and work with
Democrats.
Washburn told the audi
ence he is a father, grandfather,
businessman and a conservative
Republican, who is pro-life,
pro-second amendment and
pro-business. Washburn said he
believes in small government
and less taxation and said he
would base his legislative deci
sions on two primary questions:
1.) Is it good for Georgias fami
lies? 2.) Is it good for Georgias
businesses?
Moderator Will Davis asked
the candidates their thoughts
on Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal’s
veto of a proposed religious
liberty law that would protect
Georgia businesses who choose
to exclude a group based on
religious beliefs.
Washburn replied that
marriage should be between a
man and a woman and said his
wife, who is a church organist,
should have the right to refuse
to play at a gay wedding if asked.
Washburn said politicians
shouldn’t have to compromise
their deeply held principles
in order to appease outside
forces. Tolbert said the Georgia
constitution prevents religious
freedom discrimination but said
if business owners need their
religious freedom protected
even more, he would be willing
to sign a separate law to protect
them. Tolbert said he was disap
pointed in Deal’s decision to
veto the proposed bill but said
he knew pressures from outside
contracts and businesses caused
his decision. Mobley said he
disagreed with Deal’s veto and
said he doesn’t think lawmakers
should be telling small busi
ness owners how to run their
companies. He said outside
companies’ culture should not
dictate the conservative, Chris
tian views of many Georgia
business owners. Bechtel said
opponents to religious freedom
should respect individual busi
ness owners’ choices. Bechtel
added that lawmakers should
provide protection for business
owners unwilling to do business
with people who offend them
spiritually.
Davis next asked the lawmak
ers how they would handle
the Bibb-Monroe line dispute,
including whether they agreed
with state representative Robert
Dickey’s proposal last year that
property tax revenue in the dis
puted territory be put in escrow
until the dispute is settled.
Bechtel said he opposed
Dickey’s escrow plan, saying it
wouldn’t help the matter. He
said, as a Bibb County com
missioner, he probably knows
more about the issue than
anyone else in the room and
said Georgia Secretary of State
Brian Kemp needs to rule on
the line. Bechtel said the two
sides combined have spent $4
million on legal fees related to
the line and deemed it a waste of
taxpayer money. Mobley said he
too thinks Kemp should settle
the line and said he has a vested
interest due to being the only
candidate who is a property tax
payer in both counties. Tolbert
said the secretary of state needs
to set the line and said he initally
supported Dickey’s proposal to
put the money in escrow. How
ever, Tolbert said he changed
his mind when he realized the
move could hurt Macon-Bibb’s
job creation. Washburn said
a decision needs to be made
sooner rather than later and said
lawyers are getting rich because
of it.
Davis next asked Mobley
whether he was using previous
donations for his campaign for
state insurance commissioner
for his legislative campaign.
Mobley said he did accept some
donations for his intended run
for insurance commissioner but
said he was not using them for
his current campaign. Instead,
he said those funds were frozen
in a separate account.
Davis then asked Tolbert
about claims he called Mobley
an “idiot” on social media while
adding that Mobley “has evil in
his heart.” Tolbert admitted he
did say unflattering things about
Mobley, saying he felt Mobley
was trying to do anything he
could to get elected, including
attacking Monroe County Hos
pital in order to hurt Tolbert’s
chances. Mobley said he never
tried to shut down MCH and
said he was only concerned
about the hospital’s $10 million
debt and how it affects taxpay
ers.
Mobley said, “I’ve been saving
hospitals for 20 years.”
Mobley also said he was the
lone candidate who stated on
13WMAZ’s “Close Up” pro
gram in March that he would
not support any tax increase and
said Tolbert misrepresented his
comments to his supporters.
Davis then turned his at
tention to Bechtel, asking the
Macon-Bibb commissioner
about recent 13WMAZ claims
that Bechtel had failed to pay
thousands of dollars in state
ethics commission fines related
to failure to disclose campaign
finance contributions. Bechtel
said he recently paid his fines
in full but said his case’s status
would not be resolved online
until June. Tolbert vouched for
Bechtel, saying his opponent
had fully resolved the matter.
Davis next asked the
candidates their opinions on
federal and state tax credits for
low-income housing, such as a
proposed low-income apart
ment complex slated for South
Monroe County. Washburn
said he supports tax incentives
but said he doesn’t think it’s a
good idea to direct tax credits
for low-income housing to
high-income neighborhoods.
Washburn said growth could be
hurt by the proposed apartment
complex and said it’s important
that counties have effective zon
ing boards to prevent issues like
that. Bechtel said the process is
called LIHTC, named for Low-
Income Housing Tax Credit,
and said designated locations
are determined by the Georgia
Department of Community
Affairs (DCA). Bechtel said he
doesn’t think DCA seeks out
high-income areas but said
the tax credit locations are not
restricted. He said the proposed
South Monroe County apart
ments are not in keeping with
land use maps in that portion of
either Monroe or Bibb counties.
Tolbert said he agreed with
Washburn and Bechtel about
the potential harm created by
the low-income housing irrita
tive and said he would support
repealing legislation that allows
for the tax credits. Mobley said
he too opposed the low-income
tax credits and said he feared
increased crime as a result of the
proposed apartment complex.
Davis then asked Bechtel
about his role on the Bibb
County school board when
former school superintendent
Romain Dallemand, who
subsequently pled guilty to filing
a false tax return in 2012, was
hired. He also asked Bechtel
about the ongoing money woes
of the Macon-Bibb County
combined government.
Bechtel responded that he was
one of three board members
who voted against Dallemand’s
initial hiring. Bechtel, who sued
Dallemand in June 2012, stated
he is a prosecution witness in
the ongoing federal corrup
tion case against Macon-Bibb
County Industrial Authority
chairman Clifford Whitby (a
Monroe County resident), who
is accused of conspiracy to
pay hundreds of thousands of
dollars in bribes to Dallemand
in exchange for the school
superintendent’s support for a
software contract and the Prom
ise Neighborhood program.
Bechtel also defended his work
on the Macon-Bibb County
commission, saying three Bibb
County pension plans and a
self-funded health care plan cre
ated the shortfall that will likely
lead to higher taxes. Bechtel
said city taxes were eliminated
during the first two budget years
of the consolidated government
in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
Bechtel said the tax cut of about
$20 million has also contributed
to the county’s financial woes.
“No excuses,” Bechtel said of
Macon-Bibb’s cashfall shortage.
“Some decisions were made that
shouldn’t have been made, but
the legacy costs are things that
have to be dealt with. And this
commission is not dealing with
them. And I’m beating my head
against the wall, but I lost on
some of that.”
Tolbert said he has faith in
the citizens of Macon-Bibb
County that they will overcome
the governmental concerns. He
said he showed his confidence
in Macon-Bibb recently when
he signed a lease for new office
space that would nearly triple
his current setup. Mobley said
many of Macon-Bibb County’s
financial problems stem from
residents leaving Macon-Bibb
for surrounding counties, such
as Houston. Mobley said had
like to see Macon-Bibb grow
more on its north end to go
along with the growth that the
south end of Bibb County has
experienced.
Davis then asked the can
didates whether they support
the upcoming Transportation
Special Purpose Local Option
Sales Tax (TSPLOST) on the
May 22 ballot in which a penny
tax would be designated for
regional transportation needs.
Washburn never stated specifi
cally whether he would vote for
or against the measure but said
he’s typically resistant to any tax
However, Washburn noted that
roads are critical for continued
industry growth in the state, as
well as education and the con
tinued success of the Georgia
coastal ports. Tolbert said he
supports the TSPLOST because
there are projects included that
will benefit Monroe County. He
also noted that any interstate
work helps Monroe County
because two rock quarries, who
provide much of the aggregate
mix for the asphalt, operate in
Monroe County. Mobley said he
will vote against the TSPLOST,
saying he will consider what is
best for both Bibb and Monroe
counties. Mobley said he doesn’t
like that 40 percent of citizens
pay 100 percent of taxes for road
infrastructure and said he sup
port a Fair Tax, or consumption
tax, that would better equalize
taxation. Bechtel said he would
support the TSPLOST, saying
there are beneficial projects for
both Bibb and Monroe coun
ties, including $50 million in
proposed improvements to Bass
Road. Bechtel also said Middle
Georgia would stand to bring in
about $650 to $700 million in
total funding over the next 10
years due to the tax
Davis then opened up the
floor for audience questions.
The most controversial ques
tion came from South Monroe
County resident John Ricketson,
who asked Washburn whether
he intended to reimburse the
Macon-Bibb Public Works and
the Georgia Department of
Transportation (DOT) for man
hours spent removing Wash
burn’s campaign signs allegedly
on right-of-ways. Washburn
categorically denied Ricket-
son’s accusation, and when
Ricketson called him “a liar” to
his face, Washburn got up and
repeatedly pointed his finger at
Ricketson.
“I called and got permis
sion for every sign we put up,”
Washburn said firmly. “We do
not put them in the right-of-
way. We do not put them in the
right-of-way. And who gave
you (Ricketson) the right to go
around and police everybody in
the country anyhow? If I catch
you removing my signs, I’m go
ing to have you arrested.”
The candidates then gave their
closing statements. Washburn
apologized for losing his temper
with Ricketson but said he was
tired of Ricketson’s “self-ap
pointed vigilantism” in remov
ing political signs. Washburn
told voters he would be “hon
ored to represent you in Atlanta”
and pledged to “study the issues
and do the very best I can to do
the right thing.” Tolbert said he
loves living in Middle Georgia
and doesn’t take voters’ support
for granted. Tolbert, who said
he has been endorsed by the
Police Benevolent Association,
said he will make law enforce
ment a priority. He also added
that he strongly supports the use
of medical cannabis oil for sick
patients, an issue championed
by Peake, who intends to retire
at year’s end after 12 years in the
legislature. Mobley said citizens
need someone in office who
is neutral and not beholden to
special interests. He said he too
supports law enforcement offi
cers and said it would be a “great
honor” to represent House Dis
trict 141. Bechtel said his local
government experience makes
him “uniquely qualified” for the
position. He said he will commit
to improving Monroe County
and said Forsyth and Monroe
County will only continue to get
better with help from the state
government
Early voting began Monday
for the House District 141
Republican primary with Elec
tion Day fast approaching on
Tuesday, May 22.
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