Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 2A —THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. AUGUST 13. 2009
Coley announces run for 47 th state senate district
Shane Coley, Winder, has
announced his candidacy for the
47 h District state senate seat.
The 47 th state senate district
includes Barrow, Madison and
Oglethorpe counties, and portions of
Clarke, Elbert and Jackson counties.
State Sen. Ralph Hudgens is not a
candidate for re-election.
Coley is a conservative
Republican.
“Georgia needs bold leaders who
understand the source of the prob
lems facing our state," Coley said in
a statement. “We need fewer rules,
less taxes, smaller government and
more liberty.”
Coley says he has a passion for
Georgia and the United States,
which has driven him to study their
history and social systems for well
over a decade.
“Leaders in various roles waste
their time working on symptoms
and ignoring root causes," he said.
“I am committed to offering my
fellow Georgians the opportunity to
vote for a Senator who understands
what is required to restore liberty
and prosperity in Georgia."
Coley, 43, attended Abraham
Baldwin Agricultural College in
Tifton, and studied agricultural engi
neering at the University of Georgia.
He was raised in the cattle business.
“My years of agricultural expe
rience and an agricultural family
heritage equip me to serve the essen
tial agricultural interests of the 47th
District, as well as the families who
depend upon farming, cattle produc
tion, poultry production and other
ag-related industries," Coley said.
In 1991, at the age of 25, Coley
founded MSC Enterprises, a tech
nology business headquartered in
Winder. He also works closely with
1ST Management Services, a tech
nology and services firm.
Coley said he plans to do all he
can to advance conservative values
like shrinking government, protect
ing the second amendment, sup
porting the Human Life amendment
to the Georgia constitution and pre
serving marriage as defined between
one woman and one man.
Coley has two adult children with
his wife Leesa of 22 years. The
Coleys reside in Winder, where he
is a deacon at First Baptist Church
Statham and sits on the board of
directors for a local pro-life center
called Come Alive Ministries.
Assessment appeal
period ends Monday
Madison Countians unsatisfied with how their property is
valued have until Monday, Aug. 17, to appeal their assess
ments.
Tax assessment notices were mailed July 2 to all property
owners, who have 45 days to appeal their values.
County leaders are hoping that appeals will be filed on
fewer than three per of all county properties. The state won't
accept the county’s digest — overall property value — with
more than three percent of properties under appeal.
The chief appraiser recently said he expects tax 2009 bills
can be mailed this year if the county doesn't cross the three
percent threshold.
Kelley Gary announces run for State Senate
Republican Kelley Gary,
Hoschton, has announced
his candidacy for the Senate
District 47 seat being vacated by
Senator Ralph Hudgens, who has
announced his bid for the State
Insurance Commissioner in 2010.
“I am running because we don’t
need any more professional politi
cians in Atlanta who offer nothing
but a lot of talk," said Gary. "We
need a leader with the courage to
deliver - to deliver on property
tax reform, to deliver lower taxes,
to attract jobs and most impor
tantly, someone with the courage
to stand up for our conservative
values. I promise to stand up for
you - against all odds.”
Gary said he led the petition
effort to fight the Hoschton City
Council's decision to institute a
property tax on city homeowners,
collecting over 400 signatures to
stop the tax increase.
"When they say you can’t fight
city hall - you can, I have and
I’ve won," he said. “That's just
an example of how I will fight for
you and our values in the State
Senate."
Gary is the owner of Premier
Storage in Braselton. He was
formerly a consultant for Marsh
and McClennan, a professional
services company for providing
insight and solutions in risk, strat
egy and human resources.
Gary is also a member of the
Jackson County Republican
Party and the president of the
Village at Hoschton Homeowners
Association. He attended Georgia
Fkiblic Schools and the University
of Georgia, where he earned a
bachelor's in business administra
tion degree from the University
of Georgia, Terry College
of Business. He also earned a
Master's in economics and com
pleted class work for a PhD in
economics from Washington
University.
Gary, 37, is married to the for
mer Lora Porter of Jefferson, a
public school teacher. The Garys
are active members of New
Community Church in Hoschton.
“I understand what it’s like to
be an average, everyday Georgian
who is trying to work hard and
make ends meet,” he said. "I have
seen firsthand how government,
all too often, works against us
instead of for us, and I promise to
stop that as your State Senator. I
look forward to earning your trust
and your vote."
Occ. tax .cont’dfrom 1A
purchasing department where checks for 50 per
cent of their OTC cost are cut and mailed to the
business owner.”
Madison County commissioners agreed this
summer to give businesses 60 days to file for
a refund for their occupation tax. However, the
commissioners decided that they would only
refund 50 percent of the tax, since businesses that
paid the tax had the benefit of having a business
license in 2009.
But some business owners say they didn't see
any benefit in having the license. They simply
paid for it because it was required by the govern
ment. Meanwhile, businesses that ignored the
county's temporary occupation tax were never
penalized. And those who followed the mles are
now only getting half their money back.
"Personally, I don’t think it was right that they
(the county government) kept 50 percent," said
Wayne Crider, owner of Colbert Ace Hardware.
“We (businesses that paid the tax) should have
gotten it all back."
Darold Booth, who mns Colbert Oak Furniture
and Gifts with his wife Judy, said contractors
who work outside of the county may have gotten
some benefit from the occupation tax. But he said
Colbert Oak didn’t gain anything by paying the
tax, which he said cost the store $84. The busi
ness is now entitled to a $42 refund. He doesn’t
understand how anything but a full refund is
appropriate.
"It's not about the $42," he said. “It’s the
principle of the matter. The people who were
trying to do what was right, we're the ones being
penalized.”
So far, a majority of Madison County busi
nesses who paid the tax haven't filed for the
50 percent refund. Madison County collected
approximately $12,000 for the tax this year.
'To date 13 of the 190 businesses which pur
chased an OTC have requested refunds, which
total $418,” said Pritchett Monday.
Industrial authority
to meet Monday
The Madison County Industrial Development and Building
Authority will meet at 6 p.m., Monday, Aug. 17, in the his
toric county courthouse in the center of Danielsville.
Agenda items include:
•Financial report.
•Water requests: a. Rodney Rogers - water quality, b.
Spratlin Pond - group.
•Utility director report: a. billing report, b. 2008 water sys
tem expansion update, c. Harrison water system update.
•Other IDA-related issues: a. Hull/Sanford sewer project
update, b. water supply agreement with city of Royston and
Franklin County, c. Contract - Alien-Smith Consultants -
ARC Grant for Cooper Road and Russell Drive.
Republicans to meet Aug. 15
Madison County Republicans will meet Saturday, Aug.
15, 8:30 a.m. at the Madison County Library. All Madison
County registered voters are welcome to attend.
Doors will open at 8:15 a.m. with breakfast served before
the meeting. The guest speaker for this meeting will be
Senator Eric Johnson, (R) candidate for Governor. This will
be the fourth gubernatorial candidate the party has brought to
Madison County.
The Madison County
Journal is your source
for local news. Call
706-795-2567 to subscribe.
ox. or 72 mourns wmim
ttJfUBLM CLUNKER 7R O&tN!
2009 Aveo LT
Stk. #6828
Price $15,637
Cash For Clunker $4,500
Net Price $11,137 plus lag. lax & title
0%@72 Mths.,
$158/mth
'With eligible Clunker trade-in & approved credit
(with Approved Credit)
2009 Silverado
Reg. Cab 2WD
Stk. #7797
Supplier Price $21,004
Cash For Clunker $4,500
Net Price $16,504 plus lap, tax St lille
0%@72 Mths.,
$232/mth + tax*
*With eligible Clunker trade-in & approved credit
Price $27,308
Cash For Clunker $4,500
Net Price $22,808 plus fog. tax St tide
0%@72 Mths.,
$320/mth + tax*
'With eligible Clunker trade-in & approved credit
2009 Impala LT
Luxury Edition
2008 Malibu
Gray, S239/Month, 6.99%@75 Mo.*
2008 Silverado 4X2
Crew Cab, S322/Month, 6.99% @75 Mo.
2008 Silverado 4X2
Ext. Cab, S358/Month. 6.99% @75 Mo.*
2008 Silverado 4X4
Reg.Cab, $288/Month, 6.99%@75 Mo.
2007 Tahoe
2007 Cadillac STS
321,184*,
3349/Month, 6.99%@75 Mo.
2009 Toyota Camry
3274/Month. 6.99%@75 Mo.
2001 $-10 4WD
3252/Month. 9.24% @36 Mo.
2008 HHR
2007 Ford Fusion
Black, 3233/Month, 6.99%@60 Mo.
2008 Hyundai Sonata
Black, 3252/Month, 6.99%@60 Mo.
2006 Nissan Altima
Gray, 3259/Month, 6.99% @60 Mo.’
2008 Pontiac G6
Silver, 3240/Month. 6.99%@60 Mo.
2005 EZ-GO GOLF CART
Leather, S497/Month, 6.99%@63 Mo.*
3231/Month, 6.99%@75 Mo.*
Tan. 32,195
Dealer retains all rebates. All payments plus tax, tag and title.
All interest rates are with approved credit.
GUARANTEED CREDIT APPROVAL PROGRAM AVAILABLE