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THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2008
No opposition for Banks County judges
Two of the three Superior Court judges who represent
Banks County will serve another term after they were
the only candidates to qualify.
Superior Court judges David Motes and Joe Booth
will serve another term. Long-time Superior Court
judge Robert Adamson is not seeking re-election. Currie
Mingledorff is was the only one to qualify for Adamson's
seat.
“I am excited and eager to begin doing the important
work this office requires,” Mingledorff said. “I believe
entering this position without an opponent is a clear
statement that residents approved of my qualifica
tions. Now it's time to get busy and get to work for
them.”
A former county attorney for Barrow, Mingledorff
has over 21 years of legal experience. He has
also worked with organizations such as the Boy
Scouts of America and The Tree House - a non
profit organization supporting families and serving
abused children in the Piedmont Judicial Circuit.
Mingledorff and his wife of 26 years, ViAnn, have many
long-time connections with Jackson County through
ViAnn's family.
Her father, the late Doyle Johnson, operated a dairy
farm on Hwy. 334 during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The Mingledorffs have been married for 26 years.
BCES investigation ... continued from page 1A
Chairman candidates discuss priorities
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
With the primary election rapidly
approaching, Banks County Board
of Commissioner Chairman candi
dates Gene Hart and Milton Dalton
had the opportunity to once again
address voters during a forum last
Friday.
The forum, sponsored by the
Banks County Republication Party,
was held at the Banks County Parks
and Recreation Department.
Hart, the incumbent, said being
chairman the last three and a half
years has been ‘‘a challenge.”
The current chairman said when
he took office that tax notices were
not going out on time but that they
are now.
“We have had three budgets
approved during my time as chair
man and not had one tax increase,”
Hart said.
In looking ahead, Hart said the
county needs jobs to make sure local
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
The two challengers in the District
50 State Senate Republican Primary
stumped for votes in Banks County
Friday night.
Jim Butterworth and Terry Rogers,
both of Habersham County, took
part in a forum hosted by the Banks
County Republican Party. The event
was held at the Banks County Parks
and Recreation Department.
Incumbent Nancy Schaefer, who
has held the office for two terms,
was not at the event last Friday
night.
Butterworth first asked those in
residents “have something to look
forward to.”
The current commissioners are
also committed to expansion of the
county water system, Hart said, not
ing they are getting prepared for
growth not just in housing but in
industry.
Hart also noted a $5 million grant
for water products the county has
secured recently with the help of
several people.
Challenger Dalton said he has 20
years of experience as a business
owner as well as time working for
the Banks County Sheriff's Office
and 21 years as county probate
judge.
Dalton said he would have an
“open door” policy as chairman and
would develop an advisory commit
tee of 6-8 citizens from all areas of
the county which would meet every
two to three months.
“Water is one of our most pre
attendance to pray for him and said
his campaign was based on “faith,
vision and values.”
Butterworth said he will work to
lower taxes and to improve water
infrastructure.
The key issues in the race,
Butterworth said, were education,
water and tax reform.
Rogers said he is a conserva
tive Christian, pro-life, pro-second
amendment, pro-family and for less
government.
“I am a Ronald Reagan conserva
tive,” Rogers said. “The scariest
thing you can hear is ‘I'm from the
cious commodities,” Dalton said.
“We need new industry so our chil
dren will not have to look elsewhere
for work.”
Both candidates were asked if the
budget could not be met if they
would raise taxes or cut down on the
county workforce.
Hart said he would look at every
avenue to cut back where he could
although he noted the county work
force was not that big.
“Salary cuts do not make that big
of a difference,” Hart said. “We
would have to cut back on services
if we couldn’t raise taxes.”
Dalton said he hoped a budget
could always be met saying there
were always some areas that could
be downsized.
“Most offices are working with
a minimum number of people so
it would be tough,” Dalton said.
“I guess there is always room for
improvement.”
government and I’m here to help.’”
Education, water, health care and
job opportunities were key issues in
the campaign for the district, Rogers
said.
“Politics as usual is not working,”
he said. “I have 30 years of busi
ness experience and believe that can
make a difference.”
Rogers also stressed the importance
of protecting the borders against
illegal aliens. It is also important to
make it easier for employers to be
able to check potential works to see
if they are in this country legally, the
candidate said.
“We are certain we will have ques
tions,” Caudell said. “We are hope
ful someone will have answers.”
Michael Daniel, representing
Rylee in the ongoing investigation,
said the results clear the veteran
educator and the test results should
“put this to bed.”
While Daniel said no action has
taken place concerning Rylee’s
reinstatement he hoped something
would happen soon.
“We need to get everyone back to
educating students,” Daniel said.
Banks County superintendent
Chris Erwin was out of town this
week but said last Thursday that he
expected action on Rylee’s status by
late this month.
Several parents of fifth grade
male students at BCES have asked
that Rylee be terminated from her
position within the school system.
Several teachers at BCES have
expressed their support for the assis
tant principal.
The parents contend after Rylee
made the students drink from the
water fountain she told them not to
talk of the incident and threatened
them with contact of law enforce
ment and Department of Family and
Children Services.
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State senate challengers address local voters
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