Campaign season gets under way

Last week, candidates for the two new seats on the Banks County Board of Commission spoke at the AARP luncheon Thursday in the park in Homer. That night, the BOC candidates, as well as candidates for town elections in Homer, Lula and Baldwin, spoke at a “Meet the Candidates” event hosted by the Banks County Chamber of Commerce at the recreation center in Homer.

Two more county-wide events are planned before the election. The chamber will host a political forum at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29, at the annex building in Homer. A citizen’s group has also planned a political forum for Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the high school auditorium in Homer.

AARP LUNCH

The seven candidates for the two BOC seats on the Nov. 3 ballot were invited to the AARP lunch Thursday in Homer. Those attending were given a brief opportunity to speak. Those present and some of their comments include:

•Ray Holcomb, Post 2: “I currently serve on the Baldwin City Council … I would like Banks County to remain as rural as possible but we also need industry. We need to continue to develop the industrial parks at I-85 … I’m a strong believer in land-owner rights.”

•Neal Pulliam, Post 2: “I have the time and concern for the county to work for the people of the county … I think taxes are a big thing in the county. People don’t have jobs. We have to adjust to this. … I would like for all of our departments in government to work together with the commissioners and the board of education and the planning commission. We need to sit down together.”

•Ernest Rogers, Post 2: “My concern is our tax base with the current economy. We need to tighten our belts. We need to operate on what we’ve got. I don’t believe in a tax increase. … Our commercial, residential and agriculture needs to be a balance. I’d like the county to remain rural.”

•Jerry Loftice, Post 4: “I’ve decided after 33 years in public education that this is my calling. I want to serve Banks County in the best way that I can for all of the people … leadership with a purpose to serve all the citizens of Banks County.”

•Robin Trotter, Post 4: “I have had the opportunity to serve the families and children of Banks County for the past nine years. I love the families here in my county. I want to serve the entire county as a whole. I want to be able to serve by being a voice for the citizens here in county government. I want to preserve our country way of life but I also want to bring in the job opportunities that we need here for our families … The economic situation has touched many areas of our lives. It has touched our county budget. We will need strong leadership.”

Fred Wendt, Post 2, and Charles Turk, Post 4, did not attend the AARP lunch.
CHAMBER EVENT

All seven BOC candidates attended the chamber event, as well as Homer mayor candidates Doug Cheek and Sandra Garrison, Lula mayor candidates Milton Turner and Paul Cox and Baldwin mayor candidate Mike Kelley. Kelley’s opposition, Jerry Neace, did not attend.

All candidates were given two minutes to introduce themselves. After that, those in attendance could visit with the candidates at their tables to get further information. To see comments from the candidates at the chamber function, see this week's issue of The Banks County News.