Newspaper Page Text
Wed., Oct. 28, 1998, Houston Times-lourimi
Page 6A
Thomson, Williams seek commission seat 2
By CHARLOTTE PERKINS
Times-Joobnai. Staff
Houston County voters will choose
between Republican Larry Thomson
of Perry and Democrat George
Williams of Kathleen for Post 2 on the
Houston County Board of
Commissioners. The position is part
time and pays $5,400 a year with
fringe benefits including health insur
ance and a pension plan.
Background:
Larry Thomson is a Perry High
School graduate, who attended the
University of Georgia and Mercer
University, majoring in business
administration. He is self-employed in
real estate development.
His experience includes seven
years on the Houston County Board of
Elections, representing middle
Georgia on the Board of Trustees lor
Baptist Village, serving as a member
of the Board of Directors of Bank
South, and also serving on the
Houston County Planning and Zoning
Board.
George Williams is a graduate of
Richmond Academy High School in
Augusta and attended Augusta
Collgegc He holds a Juris Doctorate
degree from the University of
Alabama School of Law.
Starting out in a family-owned
meat business in Augusta, Williams
worked in several grocery store meat
departments and became a federal
meat inspector, attaining a GS-7 level.
He then entered law school, and has
practiced law since 1970.
He has served as a public defender
for Houston County, as a municipal
court judge for Warner Robins and
Centerville, as well as serving on the
Board of Trustees of the Houston
Speech and Hearing School.
Questions:
The Ttmes-Joumal asked the can
didates:.tn submit written answers to
the following questions.
1) If federal and stale agencies do
not approve funding for increasing the
height of the new Houston Lake dam
in order to raise the level of the lake,
and if no other option for covering the
cost is available, would you suppon
having this work done at county
expense?
Thomson: I would pursue all
avenues to see who is liable and fol
low up on taking necessary action to
have them pay. I will not support any
County tax money being used to raise
the dam.
W'illiams: No! It is my understand
ing that when the county commission
ers initially participated in contracting
for the construction of the new dam,
the decision was made not to expend
county funds If it is determined that
any of those concerns who partiepated
in the construction are responsible for
its present deficiencies, I would be
very receptive to the county undertak
ing litigation lor the purpose of recov
ering the funds necessary to improve
the dam Those arc the funds which
should be used.
2) The Houston County Extension
Service has been frequently mentioned
as one of the agencies which will be
&leet
LARRY THOMSON
HOUSTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER, POST 2
(Hi a ratter • integrity • JCard TOork
jpNi
' 5
Larry Thomson,
Republican Candidate
for Houston County
Commission
located in the old courthouse building
in downtown Pern after the new cour
thouse is built. Which other agencies
do you think you think should be locat
ed in the old courthouse building ?
Thomson: I would first check to
see if county satellite offices from such
agencies as the Sheriff’s Department,
DFACS, Magistrate Court and others
would be needed. State agencies
should be considered, and also private
companies should be given an oppor
tunity for space in such a grand old
building.
Williams: Considerations should
be given to housing any of the non
court county social services in the pre
sent courthouse. Consideration could
be given to housing such state social
services for whom the county is oblig
ated to provide space in die present
courthouse. Top priority should be
given to making that space in the pre
sent courthouse available for use by
the Sheriff’s Department in order to
ensure that the south end of the county
has adequate law enforcement protec
tion.
3) If elected, what are some of the
items you will promote to improve the
quality of life for Houston County res
idents?
Thomson: I will fight against any
new taxes so we can all have more
money for our families 1 would work
to have the three percent local sales tax
on food removed. I would like to study
the Corps of Engineers’ report to see
how we can improve our shed water
out falls to help relieve flooding in
neighborhoods. I will use everything
in my power to be a "squeaky wheel”
concerning the widening of Houston
Lake Road.
W'illiams: I will not be a single
issue commissioner and these are
issues that presently hold my attention:
Fighting crime in our county partic
* KEEP +
Lauren “Bubba”
McDonald
Georgia Public Service Commission
■ ■■ fr
Nonpartisan Special Election Nov. 3
BidfcrkyMttrat!trHC MeTonmi Tx b, IffiM. Mom (A IKE
A Traditional Georgia Conservative
V Member of Houston County Board of Elections, 1991-
1998; Chairman, 92, 97; Director of all phases of voting
in the County.
V Mid-Ca. Representative to the Board of lYustees,
Georgia Ba'ptist Village - SSO million facilities in
Waycross, Lake Park and Macon, furnishing all phases of
Senior Care.
V My wife, Chris, has taught 2nd and 3rd Grade Sunday
School at First Baptist of Perry for 15 years; I have been
a worker, teacher for her class for 14 years.
V Member, Board of Directors, Bank South, 1991-96.
V Certified Georgia Police Officer, Active 1975-76.
V Secretary, Houston County Planning & Zoning Board,
1983-89.
V On call list at Dept, of Family & Children Services to
assist in emergency funds for our foster children.
V Married to my wife, Chris, 23 years. We have two sons,
Larry, Jr., 20, and Jacob, 16.
V I have a heart and interest for all our citizens.
PoM for by tha Lorry Thom ion Campaign Fund
ularly drug offenses is a top priority.
Law enforcement and the court sys
tems need to be adequately supported
by the commission. The commission
should motivate law enforcement to
seek out and prosecute the big dope
dealers.
Rapid road improvement is neces
sary to (a) ensure that our citizens can
safely and adequately go to and from
work within a reasonable amount of
time; (b) adequately and safely trans
port children to and from school and
(c) it is an essential element of the
county continuing to support Robins
Air Force Base
We need to protect the tax dollars
we have and fight any increases in tax
ation, especially were the incidence of
taxation falls on the senior citizens.
Beautification in our county will be
a top priority of mine, as will promot
ing recreation throughout the county,
including the outlying areas.
4) Despite Team Houston and other
efforts to improve county units', there
remains some contention between the
various parts of Houston County. How
will you address that issue to further
unify Houston County ?
Thomson: The state is continually
sending down stronger laws requiring
municipalities to consolidate services
I pledge to work with all officials so
that all citizens will benefit.
Williams: My approach to this
concern will be to listen closely to the
concerns and needs expressed by
members of the various municipal
governing bodies in the county I also
recognize that there area a lot of peo
ple in the outlying, non-mumpal areas
who have concerns. For example, fire
protection After listening to each of
such groups. I will undertake to fully
educate myself and act in a decisive
manner that is open to the view of all
the people
With 20 years of service to Georgians
in the House of Representatives,
McDonald was appointed to the
Georgia Public Service Commission
in kine by Gov. Zell Miller to fill an
unexpired term. Now he is seeking
election in the Nov. 3rd Nonpartisan
Special Election to continue fighting
for consumers on the Public Service
Commission.
House
beyond HOPE grants) to attract
college students into the field of
education. We also need to begin
treating educators as profession
als on a par with doctors, lawyers
and others. I believe that duly
given respect will carry over into
the classrooms.
We need to rethink the role of
federal government in education.
We are not getting our money’s
worth out of the federal depart
ment of education. Those tax dol
lars are better spent at the stale
and county level by people who
arc concerned with fixing
Georgia’s, not California’s, edu
cation process.
Walker: We need to give our
teachers the authority and tools to
Remember
to vote
Nov. 3
Tommy Irvin I Protect i rig i Jepfgra C(>nsumers I
(.onimissionci of Agriculture l ighting for (icorgia Farmers
_ u * jp ,Jte '*Jji .oLtw * . / -
BI _ w&
SAXBY
CHAMBLISS
U S. CONGRESS
Re-elect
SAX BY
CHAMBLISS
Congress
November 3
(912) 750-9696
3113 Vineville Avenue
Macon, GA 31204
Paid tor by Chambliss for Congress
discipline students, and to pro
vide additional funds for alterna
tive schools for students who will
not behave in the regular class
ON NOV. 3 RE-ELECT
*“Pi
BAKER
Serving All Georgians
Paid tor by Citizens For Baker Brooks Baker Treasurer PO Box 38177.
Atlanta GA 30334 (770) 638 3826
Chairman, Georgia Public Service Commission
As Commissioner of Agriculture, Tommy Irvin has:
• Helped make agriculture Georgia's leading industry
Under Tommy Irvin's leadership, agricultural exports have
more than doubled from $569 million in 1991 to $1.2
billion in 1997.
• Made food safety c top priority
When unsafe food products have entered our state, Tommy
lrvtn has moved swiftly to keep them out of the marketplace
• Helped drought stricken farmers
Tommy Irvin fought to obtain federal disaster assistance for
Georgia farmers.
• Strengthened consumer protection
Strict regulations on pest control companies and gasoline
stations make sure you get what you pay for.
Let's Re-Elect Tommy Irvin
Commissioner of Agriculture
I'ard tor by the Committee to Re-elect Tommy Irvin
J.fc Sutherland, treasurer, PC) Box 4324, Atlanta, GA 30302 u,f
(Continued from page 5A>
rooms. There needs to be more
emphasis on the basics, especial
ly on reading. Finally, we need to
simply funding formulas.
As Chairman oftheGteorgiaPtijiic
Servk Commission, Bobby Bator
is wortdngtoserveal Georgians.
■Expanding tolMree catting
■Lowering utility rates
\ public safety
) lighting consumer fraud
Bobby