Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2008
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
PACE 5A
— Campaign 2008: General Primary Election July 15 —
DA candiates continue to stress credentials
Sheriff’s race to be decided in primary
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
The three Republican candi
dates for District Attorney of the
Piedmont Judicial Circuit continued
their three-county tour last Friday
as they once again spoke to Banks
County voters.
Rick Bridgeman, Donna Sikes and
Brad Smith addressed a group of
local voters in hopes of gaining their
support in the upcoming July 15 pri
mary during a forum hosted by the
Banks County Republican Party at
the Parks and Recreation Office.
It was the third forum in as many
nights for the DA candidates in the
Banks, Barrow and Jackson County
area.
BRIDGEMAN
The incumbent, who was appoint
ed to the seat by Governor Sonny
Perdue last fall, said it has been his
goal to bring a “culture of excel
lence” to the DA's office.
Bridgeman stressed an increase
in conviction rate from 54 percent
to 84 percent in the circuit since he
took office.
In Banks County, there were 400
Banks County Family Connection
is accepting applications for those
families needing assistance for
school supplies.
Families will need to apply at
the Family Connection office on
Evans Street located next to the
department of family and children
services.
Families must be in the income
brackets listed below in order to
receive the free supplies. Family
of two, $1,484; family of three,
$1,861; family of four, $2,238;
family of five, $2,615; and family
of six, $2,992.
Applications must be received
by July 10 in order for students to
receive school supplies and book
bag. Kindergarteners through sixth
unprosecuted cases when Bridgeman
was appointed DA although that
backlog is now gone.
SIKES
A native of Jackson County, Sikes
said the increase in crime in the
three-county area goes directly with
the increase in growth.
Sikes said she would like to have a
drug court which has proven 80 per
cent more effective and 80 percent
less expensive in counties which use
it including Hall, Athens-Clarke and
Gwinnett.
SMITH
With 12 years as a prosecutor,
Smith said he has gained the respect
of a number lawyers and judges.
He said he has tried more murder
cases than anyone else in the district
attorney's office during his tenure.
In light of the saga involving for
mer Piedmont Judicial Circuit DA
Tim Madison, each candidate was
asked at the Banks County forum
how they would insure the public of
honesty within the office.
Bridgeman said he is not doing the
job for the money noting any lawyer
graders will receive book ba).
Applications received after July
10 will receive school items that
are available.
The annual event will be held
from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday,
July 17, in the park downtown
Homer.
School supplies will be provided
to students who are enrolled in
Banks County schools.
In addition to providing school
supplies, there will also be free
hot dogs and drinks. A variety of
games and entertainment has been
planned for the families.
Help is needed in collecting
school supply items or monetary
donations. Anyone interested in
helping is asked to contact the
could go into private practice and
make three times as much.
“All finances are now han
dled through the local Board of
Commissioners,” Bridgeman said.
“When I came into office there was
still a cash slush fund. That has been
eliminated. I release a statement
every quarter on everything we do
financially in the DA’s office.”
Sikes said she has never worked in
the DA’s office and pointed out she
has experience operating her own
law practice.
“We have to make sure we elect
trustworthy leaders,” she said. “The
office will always be open where
you can come in and talk anytime
you want. You can ask any question
you want to.”
Smith said it is about trust.
“You have to keep everything in
the open,” Smith said. “We are not
a business, it is our job to prosecute
and find justice.”
Smith said it is key that citizens
are having a choice in naming the
new DA noting there has not been a
choice in many years.
office for a list of supplies.
For more information, contact
Robin Trotter at 706-677-1303.
Donations may also be mailed to
Banks County Family Connection,
R O. Box 452, Homer, Ga.,
30547.
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
Banks County sheriff Charles
Chapman will look to fend off chal
lenger Carlton Speed in this month’s
Republican primary.
With no Democratic candidate in
the race, the winner of the July
15 Republican primary will serve
as sheriff for the next four years.
Chapman and Speed addressed
Banks County voters at a forum
hosted by the county's Republican
Party Friday night.
Chapman, who has been sheriff
since 1996, said his desire is to
continue to bring the services to the
Pugh named to
power board
Randall Pugh of Jefferson has been
elected to the Oglethorpe Power
Coperation Board of Directors. He
was named to the board at a recent
meeting in Atlanta.
Pugh is president and CEO of
Jefferson, Ga.-basedJacksonElectric
Membership Corporation (EMC),
one of 38 EMCs in Georgia that
own and are served by Oglethorpe
Power.
He also serves on the board of
Georgia Systems Operations
Corporation, one of Oglethorpe
Power’s sister companies, where he
is secretary-treasurer and chairman
of the audit committee.
people in the most effective manner
possible.
The sheriff explained how the
office operates noting it is the duty
of the sheriff to enforce the laws
fairly and to serve the courts and be
keeper of the jail.
Speed told those in attendance he
has been in law enforcement for 15
years beginning as a jailer. He cur
rently works for the Hall County
Sheriff’s Office.
“I believe I can lead this depart
ment,” Speed said. “I believe the
office needs to grow with the com
munity.”
The Maysville City Council will
hold a called meeting at 6 p.m.
on Thursday, July 3, at the public
library.
Speed also said the sheriff’s office
needs to be involved actively with
the community.
He said the DARE program is
pushed but said it has been shown
not to work and it is time to go in a
different direction.
If elected, Speed said he would
first have a complete audit of the
entire sheriff's office to see where it
stands personnel-wise, equipment-
wise and budget-wise.
“I have worked with many of the
officers there and that is important
because the sheriff needs their sup
port,” Speed said.
Scheduled items on the agenda
will include naming a library man
ager and proposed amendments to
the budget.
(/■
Fareha Rahim, MD
Internal Medicine
We are now located at our new office at
613 Hospital Road
Commerce, Georgia 30529
Commerce Medical Center'
706-335-9411
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The Banks County News
THE CITY OF MAYSVILLE
Will hold a called meeting on Thursday,
July 3, 2008, 6:00 P.M. at the Maysville
Library to fill the position of Library
Manager and make amendments to the
budget.
Family Connections accepting school supplies
Maysville to meet Thursday
Jttfy 15, 2008
fM RnunpgP
If elected Sheriff I will...
1) Seek end procure all Federal and State Grant money available.
2) Explore the possibilities of becoming a state accredited agency.
This will bring the Banks County Sheriff's office to a new Level.
A) Greater accountability within the agency.
B) To control Liability Insurance cost.
C) Stronger defense against civil lawsuits.
0) Increased Community Advocacy
3) Seek to implement a Community advisory board to stay in touch with the needs and concerns
of citizens of Banks County whom / will be serving.
There is no greater treasure in a man's life than his family. Allow me the opportunity to serve
your family with the professionalism they deserve.
ELECT CARLTON SPEED Sheriff July 15th.
Your vole end support will he great/p appreciated.
Paid for by the candidate.