Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 2A — THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. JULY 9. 2015
Kip Thomas to seek
re-election as sheriff
Stanley Thomas announces
bid for BOC chairman’s seat
Kip Thomas announced
this week that he will seek
re-election as Madison
County’s Sheriff in 2016.
“Since taking office in
2009,1 have sought to bring
new ideas and dependabili
ty to this office in order to
provide our county’s citi
zens with an effective, effi
cient and safe level of pro
tection while also being a
resource to those in need of
assistance,” wrote Thomas.
“I am proud of what we
have accomplished thus far,
and ask for your support
in continuing to move for
ward in this positive direc
tion. With my service in the
United States Marine Corps
and 17-plus years of law
enforcement experience, I
feel that I am capable and
qualified to continue lead
ing the Madison County
Sheriff’s Office. My wife,
Tara, and I have grown up
in Madison County and are
invested in the future of this
county. Tara has worked in
our school system for 16
Vi years, currently at Hull-
Sanford Elementary. Our
children, Cade and Blake,
are rising sixth and third
graders in the school sys
tem. We are like many of
you, running from one
child’s activity or practice
to the other, but we love
every minute of it!”
Thomas said he is most
proud of the programs
he’s implemented to help
Madison County youth.
“The school resource
officers at MCHS and
MCMS, the C.H.A.M.P.S
program for our fifth grad
ers, the Explorers program
for teens, and the Junior
Deputy Academy for rising
sixth through eighth graders
have been huge successes
for my office and this coun
ty,” wrote Thomas. “These
programs have allowed
deputies to interact with
our youth in a positive way
while also looking out for
situations that may need
their intervention. It is my
hope that these programs
have shown kids that law
enforcement officers are not
people to fear; but that they
are people they can turn to
when they need help, while
also understanding that
there are consequences for
poor choices. These pre
ventative programs are how
we do our part in showing
the children and teens of
Madison County the posi
tive, healthy road for their
future. This includes stay
ing away from drugs. This
county, state, and national
problem is a constant battle
that takes all of us working
together to show our youth
that there is a better way.
My office will continue to
track down drag dealers and
those that are putting our
citizens in danger due to
their drug abuse.”
Thomas said the level
of training for the sheriff’s
office staff “has increased
two fold” over the past six-
and-a-half years.
“Our training room has
provided and continues to
provide a local and free
resource to our staff via
a federal grant that was
secured during my first
term,” said Thomas. “This
keeps from paying for staff
to travel to other places, thus
saving money, for training
that we are able to do here at
the office. This has provided
countless hours of learning
to the Madison County
Sheriff’s Office staff. As of
now, we also have five staff
that have obtained certifica
tion as instructors, including
myself, which are able to
lead various trainings and
educational opportunities
for our deputies, jailers,
investigators, and support
staff. I am proud of the
staff that I have put together
for our county. They are a
group of great people that
put their fife on the line day
in and day out.
KIP THOMAS
Thomas said he will
“continue to work towards
providing my staff with
what they need to do their
jobs effectively and with the
utmost safety.”
“Each night when I lay
my head down on my pil
low, I have to be able to
sleep knowing that my
deputies, jailers, and other
staff have what they need
to do their job safely and
efficiently,” said Thomas.
“There are no shortcuts
to this, and I vow that my
intent will always be for the
safety of my employees and
the citizens of our county.”
Thomas noted that the
sheriff’s office budget was
approximately $3.1 million
in 2008. For this year, the
office’s budget is approxi
mately 2.7 million.
“We have cut approx
imately $400,000 while I
have been in office,” said
Thomas. “I am supportive
of doing our fair share of
cutting, but at some point,
there is no fat left to cut in
the budget. Many may not
realize, but of the five coun
ties in our judicial circuit
of Elbert, Franklin, Hart,
Madison, and Oglethorpe,
our county has the fourth
lowest budget (only higher
than Oglethorpe County).
On the flip side of that,
Madison County ranks first
in population and first in
the number of emergency
calls answered by depu
ties. Those statistics do not
complement one another,
and I look forward to con
tinuing to work with the
county commissioners to
find a balance in meeting
the needs of our county in
the most fiscally efficient
way. We must find a way to
do this without jeopardiz
ing the resources and safety
of the citizens of Madison
County or the employees
of the sheriff’s office. I am
eager to discuss this more
in the coming months and
welcome feedback from
the citizens. My office has
completed successful audits
each year that I have been
in office, and transparen
cy with the public is very
important to me.”
Thomas concluded:
“While the May Republican
Primary is still 10 months
away, I ask for your support
and vote. Even this far in
advance, it is important for
me to let the citizens know
that their current Sheriff
wants to continue serving
the citizens of Madison
County. I look forward to
speaking with you person
ally in the months ahead
and welcome your ques
tions and concerns. I can be
reached at 706-788-9729,
by email (sheriffkipthom-
as2016@gmail.com) or on
Facebook at Sheriff Kip
Thomas. Thank you for
your prayers and support
for my office and my fam
ily.”
Stanley Thomas has
announced his bid for chair
man of the Madison County
Board of Commissioners.
Thomas is a lifelong citi
zen of Madison County. After
graduating from Madison
County High School, he
attended Gainesville Junior
College. He began working
for the United States Postal
Service in 1973 and retired
in 2003, with over 30 years
service. Thomas owned and
operated the Strike Zone
Batting Cages in Danielsville
from 1990-2000 with his
father. He is currently serv
ing his third term as District
1 commissioner in Madison
County and is employed with
Coldwell Banker Upchurch
Realty.
"During my time on the
Madison County Board of
Commissioners, I have met
with officials at the state capi
tal to help save Seagraves Mill
l^ake, Watson Mill State Park,
and help to get the approval
of a traffic light that will be
installed in front of Ingles,”
said Thomas in his announce
ment. "I have worked with
the chairman to help keep the
forestry truck in the county
when the state moved our
forestry office. I worked on
and secured over $216,000 in
grant money for sheriff’s cars,
ambulances, and upgrades to
our voting polls. During my
time as District 1 commis
sioner, there have also been
upgrades in the road depart
ment equipment and sheriff’s
department vehicles. I have
worked to find and negotiate
for a new facility for Fine
Finish, and this office building
is also used for WIC and the
district attorney’s office.”
Thomas said that during his
10 years of service in District
&, rH
1
, 'll
i
STANLEY
THOMAS
1, the county has made major
improvements to the Madison
County Library, senior center
and recreation department.
“There have also been
needed upgrades done at the
911 Center and EMS sta
tions,” he said. "This has been
done without raising proper
ty taxes. There has been no
millage rate increase since
2006. When I was elected,
our budget had a $2.3 million
deficit, and now we have a $4
million surplus. We currently
meet the state standard for
budget. I have served as direc
tor of the finance committee. I
was also elected by my fellow
commissioners to serve six
years as vice-chairman on the
board.”
Thomas has earned distinc
tion as a “certified county com
missioner” and an “advanced
county commissioner.” In
2012, he received the “Silver
Standard of Excellence in
Government Award" from
The University of Georgia
Institute of Government and
the Association of County
Commissioners in Georgia.
In 2014, he received “The
Gold Standard of Excellence
in Government Award.” There
are over 800 county commis
sioners, and only three "Gold
Standard” awards presented
in 2014. This award is pre
sented upon completion of
over 160 hours of training and
legislative meetings. There
are two legislative training
sessions each year and other
trainings throughout the year.
The subjects covered include,
but are not limited to, finance,
government law, economic
development, public safety
and regional partnerships.
“As a leader in our com
munity, I believe training is
important in order to be pre
pared to meet the challenges
we face as a county," said
Thomas. ‘Training sessions
also allow us to work with
commissioners from other
counties to collaborate and
find new ideas and solutions.
With budget cuts and new
laws on the national and state
level, experience and trained
leadership is needed.”
Thomas and his wife,
Judy, live in the Sanford
Community in Hull. They
have four children and five
grandchildren. They attend
Gordon Chapel UMC.
“If elected as chairman, my
goal is to provide the best ser
vice to our citizens and keep
our finances out of the red,”
said Thomas. ‘We must work
to get jobs in our county, and
economic development will
be a priority. Proven experi
ence, training, and the ability
to work with other officials
are vital for this position to
meet future challenges. I feel
I have prepared myself for
this challenge, and I want to
be your voice in local gov
ernment. I am running for the
position of chairman, but this
position is the people’s voice
and seat, and I will not forget
that if elected. Your support,
prayers, and vote are greatly
appreciated."
Homebuyer Rule
No. 19
A HOME
WITHOUT PROPER
INSULATION
IS LIKE A CAR
WITHOUT
TIRES
Shopping for a new home is hard. The smallest
details count. When you buy a Right Choice™
home, you will be getting things you may have
overlooked — guaranteed savings, guaranteed
comfort.
-
Rjgnt Choice
Energy Efficient Homes. Guaranteed.
KNOW THE DIFFERENCE:
jacksonemc.com/rightchoice