Moderator Terry Chandler stands at the podium during the Madison County Farm Bureau and Chamber of Commerce candidates’ forum Tuesday night in the high school theater.
Local candidates offer final words before big day
Madison County residents filled the high school theater Tuesday evening to hear local candidates give a final pitch on why citizens should touch their name on the voter screen.
The Madison County Farm Bureau and Chamber of Commerce hosted the event, with all but two local candidates in contested elections taking the podium on the high school stage.
U.S. Congressional District 10 Representative Paul Broun was not in attendance, neither was Cathy Livesay, the Democratic challenger for the District 5 seat.
But 14 local candidates addressed the large crowd, with a variety of offices and issues in the mix.
There were candidates for U.S. Congress, state senate, probate judge, tax commissioner, sheriff, the county commission and the county school board.
US CONGRESS
U.S. Congressional Democratic challenger Bobby Saxon opened the forum, informing the crowd that his opponent, Paul Broun, has missed seven out of eight forums in the 10th District race. Saxon spoke of his military service and his commitment to bipartisanship. The candidate said he would have supported the controversial government bailout of Wall Street, which Broun opposed.
“If we did not do it, it could have destroyed the financial structure of the country,” said Saxon, adding that many economists insisted that the action was necessary.
Saxon fielded a question about his feelings about the presidential candidates, saying that he is dismayed with people demonizing candidates.
“When I was growing up, we looked at the president as an American,” said Saxon. “Now, we look at the president as a demon before 50 percent of the country. We spend a year and a half trying to tear each other down and talk about how that person will literally end the world as we know it if they get elected. I’ve been hearing that same old story for most of my adult life and this country has not fallen apart. … When I get to Congress, I can promise you that I will work in a bipartisan way.”
STATE SENATE
Incumbent Republican State Senator Ralph Hudgens said he is a Christian, a family man, a businessman and a Republican.
“I believe in less government, lower taxes, personal responsibility, greater individual freedom and stronger families,” said Hudgens. “And I have used that criteria for 12 years in Atlanta when I have been called on to make a decision.”
Democratic challenger Tim Riley said he has worked as a therapist and with the state mental health system.
“I have constantly worked to serve people that no one else was really standing up for,” said Riley. “That’s what I want to do in the state senate.”
Riley said his experience as a therapist would help with the “debacle we’re facing in our state government.”
Hudgens said the state must prioritize its budget, cutting programs such as “Go Fish Georgia.” He said No Child Left Behind is an unfunded mandate imposed on the state by the federal government. Hudgens said the state government has provided adequate funding for schools. And he noted the increase in school funding over the past five years from $6.3 to $8.6 billion.
Riley said Hudgens and other legislators have put the state in a bad economic spot and have not done enough to provide for children’s education.
“The fact that Ralph Hudgens and his friends in Atlanta have driven us into a $2.5 billion ditch is simply unforgivable,” said Riley. “… Most of us realize that we can’t sacrifice vital local funding for someone else’s unnecessary spending.”
SHERIFF
Clayton Lowe, the Democratic incumbent who is seeking his fourth term as Madison County sheriff, spoke of his department’s accomplishments in his 12 years on the job. Lowe noted that the department had 27 employees when he was elected in 1996 and 72 now. He said the department has made 1,790 arrests this year, an average of 5.5 a day. He said the department has averaged 250 drug arrests annually over the past four years and he noted the establishment of a Special Response Team (SRT) to deal with especially dangerous criminal situations.
Kip Thomas, the Republican challenger, said one of his main goals is improve communications between the sheriff’s department and various groups in the county, such as the board of commissioners, board of education, fire departments and EMS. He also wants to increase educational programs and address the county’s drug problems.
“Those are three big ones that I feel really strongly about,” said Thomas, who worked for Lowe at the sheriff’s department for nine years.
Thomas said his experience in the military and in law enforcement qualifies him for the job as sheriff.
“I feel like I know the problems in the county and can deal with them,” he said.
Lowe said the county is growing and will at some point need to beef up the existing in-house drug unit. He said his force works hard to combat illegal drugs, but he pointed out that prescription drugs are a real problem these days, too, with many people abusing painkillers or other medicines and then taking the wheel. He said this is something that requires law enforcement attention as well.
Lowe also said he is working with other county leaders on establishing a state court to help deal with the backlog of cases in Superior Court. A state court could handle misdemeanor cases, leaving the Superior Court to deal with more serious crimes.
Thomas said he feels the sheriff’s department needs some restructuring and he proposed one possible personnel change.
“You have one lieutenant and one sergeant per shift and you have four patrol shifts, giving you four lieutenants and four sergeants,” said Thomas. “I think two of the lieutenants can be done away with and then you have two lieutenants, one per two shifts. And then you take those two lieutenant positions and put them back on shift as deputies.”
PROBATE JUDGE
Probate Judge candidate Joley Barber said she and her family are active in the community. She said she is now working as a paralegal in Athens.
“The one thing is miss is working with the public; I miss being a servant of the public,” said Barber, who worked in the Clarke County Probate Court for 13 years.
Barber said she worked with the budget in the probate court in Athens and was the court’s bookkeeper.
“So I would count the receipts that came in on a weekly basis and make deposits,” said Barber.
She said she worked in a wide variety of probate cases.
“Cases would go from guardianship of minors and incapacitated adults to dealing with probate and estate cases, marriage licenses and firearms licenses,” said Barber. “I just believe my experience in dealing with that qualifies me for this job.”
Probate Judge candidate Cody Cross said he feels his 16 years of experience with the sheriff’s department as a jailer, patrol officer and investigator have given him a good background for the probate judge’s position.
“I feel I’m uniquely qualified for several reasons,” said Cross. “First and foremost, for the past 10 or so years, my career has revolved around applying Georgia laws and making decisions based on those laws that affect people’s lives.”
He said his time as a traffic patrol officer provided him with knowledge of Georgia’s traffic laws.
“That’s a tremendous responsibility associated with this position,” said Cross. “I’m also very well versed and ready to go with laws regarding probate statutes and election laws.”
Regarding elections, Cross said he feels the county should put the elections superintendent’s responsibilities in the hands of unelected officials, such as an appointed elections board. He said the current arrangement opens the door for conflicts of interest. Barber also said she favors the establishment of an elections board.
TAX COMMISSIONER
Republican challenger Kathy Stamps said she is a lifelong resident of Madison County and was employed in the tax commissioner’s office for six and a half years. She now works at McLane Southeast as an administrative assistant.
“My decision to run as tax commissioner was based on many prayers and the need to see some changes in the tax office,” said Stamps.
The challenger said she would work closely with all the members of the BOC and other offices of the government. Stamps said she would attend as many BOC meetings as possible and provide regular reports on the taxes collected and what is needed in the tag office. She said she would like to see the office open some on Saturdays or stay open later occasionally during the week to accommodate the public.
Democratic incumbent Louise Watson has served as tax commissioner for the past 20 years.
“Many of you have known me through the years because I worked at the tax office for 13 years prior to being elected,” said Watson.
She said she feels she has proven herself over time.
“In my 30 years, I’ve learned what it takes to run the office efficiently and in a conservative manner,” said Watson. “… I am and always have been hands on when it comes to safeguarding funds and the citizens’ trust.”
She said she has strived at all times to maintain open lines of communication with other offices in the county and with citizens in the county.
“You can come to my office at any time and discuss any concerns you might have,” said Watson.
BOE DISTRICT 3
School board district 3 challenger Gary Cromer had his two children, who attend county middle school, stand up Tuesday, saying that they are the reason he seeks office. He said his 30 years of experience as a high school teacher in Athens would give him a good perspective as a school board member. He said he can speak to teachers and know exactly what they face.
“I feel I can bring a little different perspective because of my past experience,” said Cromer.
Cromer said that as a school board member he will always consider, “how will this impact the kids?”
Cromer said the role of the school board is to set policy, while the superintendent carries out the day-to-day operations. He said 85 percent of the school system budget goes toward personnel and that there’s “not a lot of fat, not a lot of easy answers” when it comes to budget cuts.
BOE district 3 incumbent Leslie Neal said he is part of a board that has earned recognition from the Georgia School Boards Association as a “School Board of Distinction,” a group that includes fewer than 30 percent of boards in Georgia.” He asked that voters help keep the distinguished board together.
“I personally and other board members maintain the current high standards by following guidelines to ensure successful service,” said Neal.
Neal said he is a good listener and that he takes the time to sift through rumor and misinformed opinions to get to the truth of matters. He said he works hard to build good relationships, that he refers complaints through proper channels, that he doesn’t interfere with administrative decisions, that he doesn’t make decisions without hearing both sides of an issue and that he puts children as his number one priority.
BOC DISTRICT 4
Republican Dewitt “Pete” Bond II said he will always try to be “truthful, impartial and helpful to the great citizens of this county.”
Bond said the county should follow its comprehensive land use plan and concentrate growth around its six cities, while leaving as much land for farming as possible. He said he took a trip to Missouri last week and realized that Madison County should appreciate its cattle industry.
“There’s more cows in Madison County than I saw in Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee,” said Bond. “One thing we do have is an awful lot of cows. They have an awful lot of land out there that they farm and plant, but I didn’t see any cows…thank you.”
Bond spoke of his ability to work with the current board, noting that he and several other commissioners set up a tent and spent time together at the recent Danielsville festival without any fussing.
Bond said he knows the BOC has a contract with the industrial authority to handle water operations, adding that he wasn’t sure how many years that contract is good for, but he said the county may need to establish a water department.
“It may cost a little money, but it (water) is probably the most important issue we have,” said Bond.
Democrat Melvin Drake noted his service on the BOC early this decade and said he would be pleased to have the opportunity to try and help the county again.
He said he will plan for smart growth as a commissioner.
“Madison County is going to grow, but we can take the steps to make sure that we grow in the right direction,” said Drake.
He said the county should follow its comprehensive land use plan, putting businesses where they should be and protecting farmland.
Drake said he notices that a lot of subdivisions are empty.
“This is taking up a lot of our green space,” said Drake. “The economy has come to the point where people don’t have a lot of money. Perhaps we should fill some of these empty buildings before we move on to something else.”
Drake said he believes the IDA has done a good job handling the county’s water services.
“Where water goes should be left up to the IDA,” said Drake.
BOC DISTRICT 5
Republican Bruce Scogin, who has served as District 5 commissioner for nine years, said he would like the opportunity to work with newly elected BOC chairman Anthony Dove.
Scogin said he feels he has some valuable experience from serving on the board for nearly a decade and that he has learned the value of compromising and working closely with others to achieve common goals.
“I think I can help him (Dove) with my experience,” said Scogin.
The incumbent said he believes Madison County’s growth should be concentrated, not scattered.
“I think the residential growth should be directed into and around the six towns in Madison County,” said Scogin. “That would lower the cost of providing infrastructure and attract commercial and retail businesses, with the sales taxes helping lower our property taxes.”
Scogin said the county may need to consider implementing developmental impact fees. He said the industrial authority has done an adequate job handling water services for the county, adding the Madison County will only have water if mother nature provides it. He said the county needs water sources other than underground wells.
Scogin thanked the audience and other candidates for attending and thanked the voters for participating in the election.
U.S. Congressional District 10 Representative Paul Broun was not in attendance, neither was Cathy Livesay, the Democratic challenger for the District 5 seat.
But 14 local candidates addressed the large crowd, with a variety of offices and issues in the mix.
There were candidates for U.S. Congress, state senate, probate judge, tax commissioner, sheriff, the county commission and the county school board.
US CONGRESS
U.S. Congressional Democratic challenger Bobby Saxon opened the forum, informing the crowd that his opponent, Paul Broun, has missed seven out of eight forums in the 10th District race. Saxon spoke of his military service and his commitment to bipartisanship. The candidate said he would have supported the controversial government bailout of Wall Street, which Broun opposed.
“If we did not do it, it could have destroyed the financial structure of the country,” said Saxon, adding that many economists insisted that the action was necessary.
Saxon fielded a question about his feelings about the presidential candidates, saying that he is dismayed with people demonizing candidates.
“When I was growing up, we looked at the president as an American,” said Saxon. “Now, we look at the president as a demon before 50 percent of the country. We spend a year and a half trying to tear each other down and talk about how that person will literally end the world as we know it if they get elected. I’ve been hearing that same old story for most of my adult life and this country has not fallen apart. … When I get to Congress, I can promise you that I will work in a bipartisan way.”
STATE SENATE
Incumbent Republican State Senator Ralph Hudgens said he is a Christian, a family man, a businessman and a Republican.
“I believe in less government, lower taxes, personal responsibility, greater individual freedom and stronger families,” said Hudgens. “And I have used that criteria for 12 years in Atlanta when I have been called on to make a decision.”
Democratic challenger Tim Riley said he has worked as a therapist and with the state mental health system.
“I have constantly worked to serve people that no one else was really standing up for,” said Riley. “That’s what I want to do in the state senate.”
Riley said his experience as a therapist would help with the “debacle we’re facing in our state government.”
Hudgens said the state must prioritize its budget, cutting programs such as “Go Fish Georgia.” He said No Child Left Behind is an unfunded mandate imposed on the state by the federal government. Hudgens said the state government has provided adequate funding for schools. And he noted the increase in school funding over the past five years from $6.3 to $8.6 billion.
Riley said Hudgens and other legislators have put the state in a bad economic spot and have not done enough to provide for children’s education.
“The fact that Ralph Hudgens and his friends in Atlanta have driven us into a $2.5 billion ditch is simply unforgivable,” said Riley. “… Most of us realize that we can’t sacrifice vital local funding for someone else’s unnecessary spending.”
SHERIFF
Clayton Lowe, the Democratic incumbent who is seeking his fourth term as Madison County sheriff, spoke of his department’s accomplishments in his 12 years on the job. Lowe noted that the department had 27 employees when he was elected in 1996 and 72 now. He said the department has made 1,790 arrests this year, an average of 5.5 a day. He said the department has averaged 250 drug arrests annually over the past four years and he noted the establishment of a Special Response Team (SRT) to deal with especially dangerous criminal situations.
Kip Thomas, the Republican challenger, said one of his main goals is improve communications between the sheriff’s department and various groups in the county, such as the board of commissioners, board of education, fire departments and EMS. He also wants to increase educational programs and address the county’s drug problems.
“Those are three big ones that I feel really strongly about,” said Thomas, who worked for Lowe at the sheriff’s department for nine years.
Thomas said his experience in the military and in law enforcement qualifies him for the job as sheriff.
“I feel like I know the problems in the county and can deal with them,” he said.
Lowe said the county is growing and will at some point need to beef up the existing in-house drug unit. He said his force works hard to combat illegal drugs, but he pointed out that prescription drugs are a real problem these days, too, with many people abusing painkillers or other medicines and then taking the wheel. He said this is something that requires law enforcement attention as well.
Lowe also said he is working with other county leaders on establishing a state court to help deal with the backlog of cases in Superior Court. A state court could handle misdemeanor cases, leaving the Superior Court to deal with more serious crimes.
Thomas said he feels the sheriff’s department needs some restructuring and he proposed one possible personnel change.
“You have one lieutenant and one sergeant per shift and you have four patrol shifts, giving you four lieutenants and four sergeants,” said Thomas. “I think two of the lieutenants can be done away with and then you have two lieutenants, one per two shifts. And then you take those two lieutenant positions and put them back on shift as deputies.”
PROBATE JUDGE
Probate Judge candidate Joley Barber said she and her family are active in the community. She said she is now working as a paralegal in Athens.
“The one thing is miss is working with the public; I miss being a servant of the public,” said Barber, who worked in the Clarke County Probate Court for 13 years.
Barber said she worked with the budget in the probate court in Athens and was the court’s bookkeeper.
“So I would count the receipts that came in on a weekly basis and make deposits,” said Barber.
She said she worked in a wide variety of probate cases.
“Cases would go from guardianship of minors and incapacitated adults to dealing with probate and estate cases, marriage licenses and firearms licenses,” said Barber. “I just believe my experience in dealing with that qualifies me for this job.”
Probate Judge candidate Cody Cross said he feels his 16 years of experience with the sheriff’s department as a jailer, patrol officer and investigator have given him a good background for the probate judge’s position.
“I feel I’m uniquely qualified for several reasons,” said Cross. “First and foremost, for the past 10 or so years, my career has revolved around applying Georgia laws and making decisions based on those laws that affect people’s lives.”
He said his time as a traffic patrol officer provided him with knowledge of Georgia’s traffic laws.
“That’s a tremendous responsibility associated with this position,” said Cross. “I’m also very well versed and ready to go with laws regarding probate statutes and election laws.”
Regarding elections, Cross said he feels the county should put the elections superintendent’s responsibilities in the hands of unelected officials, such as an appointed elections board. He said the current arrangement opens the door for conflicts of interest. Barber also said she favors the establishment of an elections board.
TAX COMMISSIONER
Republican challenger Kathy Stamps said she is a lifelong resident of Madison County and was employed in the tax commissioner’s office for six and a half years. She now works at McLane Southeast as an administrative assistant.
“My decision to run as tax commissioner was based on many prayers and the need to see some changes in the tax office,” said Stamps.
The challenger said she would work closely with all the members of the BOC and other offices of the government. Stamps said she would attend as many BOC meetings as possible and provide regular reports on the taxes collected and what is needed in the tag office. She said she would like to see the office open some on Saturdays or stay open later occasionally during the week to accommodate the public.
Democratic incumbent Louise Watson has served as tax commissioner for the past 20 years.
“Many of you have known me through the years because I worked at the tax office for 13 years prior to being elected,” said Watson.
She said she feels she has proven herself over time.
“In my 30 years, I’ve learned what it takes to run the office efficiently and in a conservative manner,” said Watson. “… I am and always have been hands on when it comes to safeguarding funds and the citizens’ trust.”
She said she has strived at all times to maintain open lines of communication with other offices in the county and with citizens in the county.
“You can come to my office at any time and discuss any concerns you might have,” said Watson.
BOE DISTRICT 3
School board district 3 challenger Gary Cromer had his two children, who attend county middle school, stand up Tuesday, saying that they are the reason he seeks office. He said his 30 years of experience as a high school teacher in Athens would give him a good perspective as a school board member. He said he can speak to teachers and know exactly what they face.
“I feel I can bring a little different perspective because of my past experience,” said Cromer.
Cromer said that as a school board member he will always consider, “how will this impact the kids?”
Cromer said the role of the school board is to set policy, while the superintendent carries out the day-to-day operations. He said 85 percent of the school system budget goes toward personnel and that there’s “not a lot of fat, not a lot of easy answers” when it comes to budget cuts.
BOE district 3 incumbent Leslie Neal said he is part of a board that has earned recognition from the Georgia School Boards Association as a “School Board of Distinction,” a group that includes fewer than 30 percent of boards in Georgia.” He asked that voters help keep the distinguished board together.
“I personally and other board members maintain the current high standards by following guidelines to ensure successful service,” said Neal.
Neal said he is a good listener and that he takes the time to sift through rumor and misinformed opinions to get to the truth of matters. He said he works hard to build good relationships, that he refers complaints through proper channels, that he doesn’t interfere with administrative decisions, that he doesn’t make decisions without hearing both sides of an issue and that he puts children as his number one priority.
BOC DISTRICT 4
Republican Dewitt “Pete” Bond II said he will always try to be “truthful, impartial and helpful to the great citizens of this county.”
Bond said the county should follow its comprehensive land use plan and concentrate growth around its six cities, while leaving as much land for farming as possible. He said he took a trip to Missouri last week and realized that Madison County should appreciate its cattle industry.
“There’s more cows in Madison County than I saw in Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee,” said Bond. “One thing we do have is an awful lot of cows. They have an awful lot of land out there that they farm and plant, but I didn’t see any cows…thank you.”
Bond spoke of his ability to work with the current board, noting that he and several other commissioners set up a tent and spent time together at the recent Danielsville festival without any fussing.
Bond said he knows the BOC has a contract with the industrial authority to handle water operations, adding that he wasn’t sure how many years that contract is good for, but he said the county may need to establish a water department.
“It may cost a little money, but it (water) is probably the most important issue we have,” said Bond.
Democrat Melvin Drake noted his service on the BOC early this decade and said he would be pleased to have the opportunity to try and help the county again.
He said he will plan for smart growth as a commissioner.
“Madison County is going to grow, but we can take the steps to make sure that we grow in the right direction,” said Drake.
He said the county should follow its comprehensive land use plan, putting businesses where they should be and protecting farmland.
Drake said he notices that a lot of subdivisions are empty.
“This is taking up a lot of our green space,” said Drake. “The economy has come to the point where people don’t have a lot of money. Perhaps we should fill some of these empty buildings before we move on to something else.”
Drake said he believes the IDA has done a good job handling the county’s water services.
“Where water goes should be left up to the IDA,” said Drake.
BOC DISTRICT 5
Republican Bruce Scogin, who has served as District 5 commissioner for nine years, said he would like the opportunity to work with newly elected BOC chairman Anthony Dove.
Scogin said he feels he has some valuable experience from serving on the board for nearly a decade and that he has learned the value of compromising and working closely with others to achieve common goals.
“I think I can help him (Dove) with my experience,” said Scogin.
The incumbent said he believes Madison County’s growth should be concentrated, not scattered.
“I think the residential growth should be directed into and around the six towns in Madison County,” said Scogin. “That would lower the cost of providing infrastructure and attract commercial and retail businesses, with the sales taxes helping lower our property taxes.”
Scogin said the county may need to consider implementing developmental impact fees. He said the industrial authority has done an adequate job handling water services for the county, adding the Madison County will only have water if mother nature provides it. He said the county needs water sources other than underground wells.
Scogin thanked the audience and other candidates for attending and thanked the voters for participating in the election.
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My husband and I attended this event, just as we attend many political events in the county during election time. We have always been pleased to see that the reporting on the events we attend is so clear and concise, reporting exactly what happened and was said at the particular event.
I mention this because my husband and I would like to attend county board meetings, but are unable to do so on a regular basis. This means we rely on you guys to bring us the story. It is such a relief to know we can trust your reporting.
THANKS so much for doing such a GREAT job!!!