A look at who is on the Madison County municpal ballots Tuesday
While 2009 is considered an “off” election year for most major political races, voters will get to have their say in four local municipal races on the ballot Tuesday, including the mayor’s seats in Danielsville and Comer.
Meet the Candidates
DANIELSVILLE
Glenn Cross
Glenn Cross has served as mayor of Danielsville for the past 12 years and is a longtime resident, having lived in the town since 1971.
He and his wife, Joan, have three grown children and eight grandchildren.
Cross is proud of Danielsville’s progress over the last decade – particularly that the town has not raised its tax rate.
“That was part of the platform I ran on in 1997,” Cross said. “I wanted to build up Danielsville with a few businesses, while keeping the small-town charm.”
“I think I’ve helped achieve that,” he added.
He says he feels Danielsville is a progressive town, which holds on to its small-town feel.
“We want to continue to keep taxes down, welcome businesses, and offer services such as water and garbage pickup as efficiently as possible without an additional tax burden on our citizens,” he said.
Cross noted that there are a lot of senior citizens on fixed incomes and that unemployment is high, another reason to strive to keep costs down.
“I’ve been a working mayor all these 12 years,” he said, adding that he tries to call back anyone who calls him with a problem and work to get it settled as quickly as possible, as well as helping with things such as limb pick-up after a storm and checking on senior citizens.
Philip Croya
Philip Croya is relatively new to political office, having just won a seat at Danielsville’s council table in March, but feels he’s ready to make a run for mayor.
“I want to move (the city) forward from last year,” Croya said, referring to the arrest of former long-time city clerk Michelle Dills, who pled guilty last September to felony theft.
“I’m ready to step up to the plate and help that happen,” he said, adding that he wants to see the city prosper.
Croya and his wife, Janet, have one son, 6-year old Keegan. Croya is the assistant transportation director for Madison County Schools.
“I like (living in) Danielsville because I know everyone and everyone knows me,” he said. “The citizens of Danielsville are great people.”
COMER
Billy Burroughs
Billy Burroughs has served as Comer’s mayor for the past eight years and is a lifelong resident of the small town.
He is married to Lori Burroughs and has two children. Burroughs says he can identify with those who are struggling in a tough economy because he was recently laid off from his maintenance job.
Burroughs said since he is around Comer more during the day now, he tries to help out by spending more time with city workers.
Burroughs said he is proud to have been mayor during the city’s downtown project, and hopes to continue to serve as mayor as Comer works on the next phase – the travel museum.
He says he’d also like oversee more improvements on the town’s infrastructure.
“We have improved water quality over the last four years, but there are sewer and water lines that still need fixing up,” he said.
“I just enjoy helping people out,” Burroughs added.
David McMickle
David McMickle is a newcomer to political office and a relative newcomer to Comer, having lived in the town for the past two years.
McMickle and his wife, Beth, have three children between them. The two are still newlyweds, having married in May of this year.
While he has never held an elected office, McMickle does feel he brings some experience in dealing with government, having served as chairman of the Royal Oaks Homeowners’ Organization.
“That sparked an interest (in politics),” he said.
McMickle, who served in the Army for 20 years, said he made the decision to retire and move to the area in order to be close to his sons, who live nearby in Hull.
He said he did a lot of research on the area before deciding to settle in Comer.
“I saw changes that could be made in Comer,” he said of his decision to seek the office of mayor. “I’d like for government to listen to the people of Comer, not just to friends.”
“(The mayor) has to represent the people of Comer,” McMickle added. “We’ve got to get rid of personal agendas and get back to doing what’s best for Comer.”
McMickle teaches a junior ROTC program at Clarke Central High School.
“I just want to do a good job,” McMickle said. “I’m not trying to change Comer, I just want to make it better.”
HULL
Paige Phillips
Paige Phillips has lived in Hull for the past 14 years and works for the Watkinsville Post Office. This is her first run for a political office. She says Mayor Paul Elkins, who is her neighbor, had asked her about running several years ago, but at the time she felt she was too busy with children and work to take on the responsibility.
Phillips and her husband Nathan, have two children, Ben, 20, who’s in college and Katie Jane, 14. With the kids a little older now, Phillips said she’s ready to offer her services as a council member.
“I just think it would be good to get a different opinion in there – I see Hull continuing to grow,” she said. “I’m not moving, Hull is home to me and my family.”
Phillips said she’s known for a while that Hull has had a hard time filling vacant council seats and she feels it’s time for her to do her part.
“I want to help work to make Hull a better place,” she said.
Paul Cook
Current council member Paul Cook could not be reached for input for this article.
COLBERT
Ellyn Trinrud
This is Ellyn Trinrud’s second attempt for a seat at Colbert’s council table. She ran and lost her bid for a vacated council seat in March.
She and husband Carl moved to Colbert 11 years ago.
“For almost 11 years I have attended council meetings and become a known supporter of those who care for and oversee our city,” she said. “They have always known they can ask for help and I am ready to pitch in. I’m ready to sit on the other side of the council table and work hard for Colbert.”
“As we lose our mayor of 40 years, it will take the work of many to cover all that he took on himself,” she added. “I am very aware of this and believe my enthusiasm will set us in forward motion.”
Trinrud said she intends to seek out resources that promote economic opportunities for Colbert.
“I believe to really honor Colbert’s past, we need to plan and protect its future,” she said.
Tim Wyatt
Tim Wyatt has lived in Colbert for the past nine years. He and wife, Cheri, have two kids, Samantha, 16, and Michael, 11.
Wyatt works as a driver for McLane Southeast and also serves as fire chief for Colbert Volunteer Fire Department.
Wyatt said he’s never sought political office, but has had several people ask him to run for city council in the past, and he decided the time was right to do it.
“I really love Colbert, so I figure I can do more to help out in my community,” Wyatt said.
Reginald Hunter
Reginald Hunter has never sought political office before either, but says he decided to run for city council because he likes helping people and he likes Colbert, which has been his home for the past 25 years.
Hunter is a minister and also works for the Athens – Clarke county fire marshal’s office. He and wife, Veronica, have four children and five grandchildren.
Hunter says he doesn’t want to change the city’s rich heritage and atmosphere, but that he feels there are things that can be done to improve the city as a whole, such as implementing a sewer system.
“I like the community here and have always felt safe,” Hunter said. “Colbert is a great place to raise a family.”
No photo was available for Hunter.
Glenn Cross
Glenn Cross has served as mayor of Danielsville for the past 12 years and is a longtime resident, having lived in the town since 1971.
He and his wife, Joan, have three grown children and eight grandchildren.
Cross is proud of Danielsville’s progress over the last decade – particularly that the town has not raised its tax rate.
“That was part of the platform I ran on in 1997,” Cross said. “I wanted to build up Danielsville with a few businesses, while keeping the small-town charm.”
“I think I’ve helped achieve that,” he added.
He says he feels Danielsville is a progressive town, which holds on to its small-town feel.
“We want to continue to keep taxes down, welcome businesses, and offer services such as water and garbage pickup as efficiently as possible without an additional tax burden on our citizens,” he said.
Cross noted that there are a lot of senior citizens on fixed incomes and that unemployment is high, another reason to strive to keep costs down.
“I’ve been a working mayor all these 12 years,” he said, adding that he tries to call back anyone who calls him with a problem and work to get it settled as quickly as possible, as well as helping with things such as limb pick-up after a storm and checking on senior citizens.
Philip Croya
Philip Croya is relatively new to political office, having just won a seat at Danielsville’s council table in March, but feels he’s ready to make a run for mayor.
“I want to move (the city) forward from last year,” Croya said, referring to the arrest of former long-time city clerk Michelle Dills, who pled guilty last September to felony theft.
“I’m ready to step up to the plate and help that happen,” he said, adding that he wants to see the city prosper.
Croya and his wife, Janet, have one son, 6-year old Keegan. Croya is the assistant transportation director for Madison County Schools.
“I like (living in) Danielsville because I know everyone and everyone knows me,” he said. “The citizens of Danielsville are great people.”
COMER
Billy Burroughs
Billy Burroughs has served as Comer’s mayor for the past eight years and is a lifelong resident of the small town.
He is married to Lori Burroughs and has two children. Burroughs says he can identify with those who are struggling in a tough economy because he was recently laid off from his maintenance job.
Burroughs said since he is around Comer more during the day now, he tries to help out by spending more time with city workers.
Burroughs said he is proud to have been mayor during the city’s downtown project, and hopes to continue to serve as mayor as Comer works on the next phase – the travel museum.
He says he’d also like oversee more improvements on the town’s infrastructure.
“We have improved water quality over the last four years, but there are sewer and water lines that still need fixing up,” he said.
“I just enjoy helping people out,” Burroughs added.
David McMickle
David McMickle is a newcomer to political office and a relative newcomer to Comer, having lived in the town for the past two years.
McMickle and his wife, Beth, have three children between them. The two are still newlyweds, having married in May of this year.
While he has never held an elected office, McMickle does feel he brings some experience in dealing with government, having served as chairman of the Royal Oaks Homeowners’ Organization.
“That sparked an interest (in politics),” he said.
McMickle, who served in the Army for 20 years, said he made the decision to retire and move to the area in order to be close to his sons, who live nearby in Hull.
He said he did a lot of research on the area before deciding to settle in Comer.
“I saw changes that could be made in Comer,” he said of his decision to seek the office of mayor. “I’d like for government to listen to the people of Comer, not just to friends.”
“(The mayor) has to represent the people of Comer,” McMickle added. “We’ve got to get rid of personal agendas and get back to doing what’s best for Comer.”
McMickle teaches a junior ROTC program at Clarke Central High School.
“I just want to do a good job,” McMickle said. “I’m not trying to change Comer, I just want to make it better.”
HULL
Paige Phillips
Paige Phillips has lived in Hull for the past 14 years and works for the Watkinsville Post Office. This is her first run for a political office. She says Mayor Paul Elkins, who is her neighbor, had asked her about running several years ago, but at the time she felt she was too busy with children and work to take on the responsibility.
Phillips and her husband Nathan, have two children, Ben, 20, who’s in college and Katie Jane, 14. With the kids a little older now, Phillips said she’s ready to offer her services as a council member.
“I just think it would be good to get a different opinion in there – I see Hull continuing to grow,” she said. “I’m not moving, Hull is home to me and my family.”
Phillips said she’s known for a while that Hull has had a hard time filling vacant council seats and she feels it’s time for her to do her part.
“I want to help work to make Hull a better place,” she said.
Paul Cook
Current council member Paul Cook could not be reached for input for this article.
COLBERT
Ellyn Trinrud
This is Ellyn Trinrud’s second attempt for a seat at Colbert’s council table. She ran and lost her bid for a vacated council seat in March.
She and husband Carl moved to Colbert 11 years ago.
“For almost 11 years I have attended council meetings and become a known supporter of those who care for and oversee our city,” she said. “They have always known they can ask for help and I am ready to pitch in. I’m ready to sit on the other side of the council table and work hard for Colbert.”
“As we lose our mayor of 40 years, it will take the work of many to cover all that he took on himself,” she added. “I am very aware of this and believe my enthusiasm will set us in forward motion.”
Trinrud said she intends to seek out resources that promote economic opportunities for Colbert.
“I believe to really honor Colbert’s past, we need to plan and protect its future,” she said.
Tim Wyatt
Tim Wyatt has lived in Colbert for the past nine years. He and wife, Cheri, have two kids, Samantha, 16, and Michael, 11.
Wyatt works as a driver for McLane Southeast and also serves as fire chief for Colbert Volunteer Fire Department.
Wyatt said he’s never sought political office, but has had several people ask him to run for city council in the past, and he decided the time was right to do it.
“I really love Colbert, so I figure I can do more to help out in my community,” Wyatt said.
Reginald Hunter
Reginald Hunter has never sought political office before either, but says he decided to run for city council because he likes helping people and he likes Colbert, which has been his home for the past 25 years.
Hunter is a minister and also works for the Athens – Clarke county fire marshal’s office. He and wife, Veronica, have four children and five grandchildren.
Hunter says he doesn’t want to change the city’s rich heritage and atmosphere, but that he feels there are things that can be done to improve the city as a whole, such as implementing a sewer system.
“I like the community here and have always felt safe,” Hunter said. “Colbert is a great place to raise a family.”
No photo was available for Hunter.
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“We have improved water quality over the last four years, but there are sewer and water lines that still need fixing up,”
This is NOT true!!! Our water is completely muddy everytime we turn it on. We have tried to call city hall and complain, but all that happend in the Clerk comes out and it does NO GOOD!!! Maybe we just need a new Mayor!