Sunday, Jul. 06, 2008

Laurens voters have choice of political parties in primary

It's normally a no-brainer in Laurens County to vote in the Democratic primary for local elections, but this year there is a distinct Republican influence.

Although the county typically leans Republican in presidential elections, historically almost all local candidates run as Democrats.

But this year, two of the four clerk of courts candidates are Republicans, and two of three candidates for a County Commission post are Republican.

That will leave voters to make a choice at the polls as to which primary has the races they consider most important.

Still, with all three candidates in the sheriff's race running as Democrats, even Republican candidates aren't expecting heavy numbers in their primary.

"Most people in our county are going to vote Democratic," said Emily Stinson, who is running against Anna Dora Loyd for the Republican nomination for clerk of courts. "Our race could be 100 to 175 (votes)."

The winner of that race will in November face the winner of the Democratic primary election, where Johnson County Administrator Doug Eaves is opposing Jackie Dalton, the chief deputy in the Laurens County Clerk of Courts office.

In County Commission District 3, Linc Jones and Buddy Adams are running as Republicans to fill the seat that had been held by long-time commissioner Tal Fuqua, who died in February. The position is currently held by Cliff Crews, who was appointed to fill the term but is not running. The winner of that race will face Democrat Yates Ware in November.

SHERIFF'S RACE

First-term Sheriff Bill Harrell is opposed by two candidates in his first try at re-election -Tom McCain, who left his job as chief deputy in Johnson County to run for Laurens sheriff, and Tim Lewis, a grading contractor with no law enforcement experience.

Harrell was a Laurens County deputy for 18 years before becoming sheriff. "I care about the job we do for the citizens and the community," he said. "We've been very thrifty with a dollar."

The sheriff said he has brought more drug and tracking dogs into the department, and he cited the creation of the Sheriff's Response Team, which acts as a SWAT team for the county. The team has also done work in neighboring counties in serving high-risk warrants.

Lewis is owner of Lewis Grading Pipeline. He says his lack of law enforcement experience should not deter voters from electing him sheriff.

"Some of the greatest sheriffs in this county and neighboring counties didn't work in law enforcement when they were elected," he said. "I don't think that matters that much."

Lewis said his primary focus would be on getting drugs off the street.

"They don't really push it," he said of current law enforcement officials. "It's like no one really cares."

Lewis promised to be accessible and to treat people fairly. He said his leadership skills in running a business make him qualified to be sheriff.

McCain has 14 years in law enforcement, including seven as chief deputy in Johnson County. He retired after 20 years in the Air Force, where he worked in the security police, as a drill instructor and in administration.

"I just see need for change in Laurens County," McCain said of his reason for running. "I want to reduce spending and increase revenues coming in."

He said he would like to increase patrol on Interstate 16, establish zones for deputies to patrol and establish substations where citizens can meet with deputies. He said he would like to return to leasing out bed space in the jail to federal agencies as a way to generate revenue.

Harrell said he would like to do that too, but note there is little extra room at the jail.

CLERK OF COURTS

Both candidates in the Democratic primary for Clerk of Courts claim to be the most experienced.

Jackie Dalton has worked in the clerk's office for 22 years, and is currently chief deputy clerk.

"I'm the one with the most experience," she said. "My goals are to maintain an office that runs smooth and an office that offers good customer service."

She said she would strive to "effectively implement any new changes the legislature passes down, and just be on top of things."

Eaves also claimed to be more experienced, citing the importance of his roles in leadership positions. County administrator in Johnson County, he formerly was executive director of the Laurens County Commission on Children, Youth and Families. He claims 30 years of professional management experience.

"The office is such a critical constitutional office," Eaves said of the court clerk's position. "It deserves a professional manager."

Emily Holland and Anna Dora Loyd are trying to become the first Republican elected to a countywide office in Laurens County - or at least no one asked about it could remember a Republican holding a county-wide office. Both are also making their first attempt at elective office.

Holland is a part-time clerk in the clerk of courts office, a job she has held for eight years. She said she has 28 years management experience, including 24 years at the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center in Dublin.

"I have a type-A personality," she said. "I like to see things done well."

She said she would work to make sure backlogs do not occur.

Loyd is co-owner of Jack's in downtown Dublin, a tiny hamburger joint founded by her father in 1939. She said it's the oldest restaurant in Dublin.

She has 20 years experience working in the court system as a legal assistant, she said, including in the district attorney's office.

"I love the court system and wanted to do the clerk of courts job," she said. "I worked around the clerk of courts office, that was very much a part of my job."

COUNTY COMMISSION

DISTRICT 3

Political newcomer Linc Jones is running against retired businessman Buddy Adams for the Republican nomination to fill the District 3 County Commission seat.

Adams served three terms on the Dublin City Council and was chairman of the Laurens County Republican Party for six years. He said a Republican has never served on the board of commissioners.

"I had a lot of people ask me to run because of being involved in the Republican Party and being involved in state government," he said.

Adams has owned three small businesses in Dublin and worked for many years in the food industry.

He said his top priority on the commission would be to work to recruit industry. He currently serves on Dublin's planning and zoning board and is director of the Hospitality House at the VA hospital, where veterans and their family can stay at no charge while receiving medical care.

Jones is owner of Suncoast Acceptance in Dublin, a finance company that offers small consumer loans and tax preparation services. He formerly served as vice president of the Bank of Dudley.

"I just felt like we needed some younger people on the board," he said. "Everybody on there except Cliff Crews, who is not running, is retired."

Jones said promoting economic development would be his priority.

"Georgia is one of the fastest-growing states in the country, and I want to make sure we capitalize on that in Laurens County," he said. "I think the county could work closely with the development authority, improving infrastructure, embracing new technologies."

The winner in the Republican primary will face Yates Ware, the only Democrat running, in November. Ware is a former Laurens County deputy and was mayor of Dudley when he stepped aside to run for commissioner.

COUNTY COMMISSION

DISTRICT 2

Longtime commissioner D.M. Mullis is facing opposition from first-time political candidate Kenneth Snider.

Mullis has been on the board for 16 years, in two stints. He was out for four years after being defeated, but he won the seat back in the following election.

He said he is most proud of the special purpose local option sales tax that passed and the money that it provides to pave dirt roads.

"We've got all these dirt roads, and the state is nonexistent when it comes to money for roads," he said.

He said he would be in favor of renewing the sales tax when it expires in 2012.

"Sales tax is always the way to go," said Mullis, a farmer and retired civilian worker at Robins Air Force Base. "I always try to keep property taxes low."

Snider is retired from 29 years in the Army, where he served in Vietnam. He worked at the post office for 12 years and started two businesses that he has sold. He currently works as a gunsmith.

"I thought it was time for some changes," he said. "I wanted more response to the needs of the people in the district I am running in."

Snider said it's time for some new blood on the board.

"The fellow I'm running against is a pretty good guy but he's been there so long," he said. "It's time for some new ideas."

To contact writer Wayne Crenshaw, call 923-6199, extension 235.