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Friday, Jul. 31, 2009

Ocilla man to head area DOT district

A retired Ocilla road builder will represent Middle Georgia and the rest of the state’s 8th Congressional District on the State Transportation Board, the decision-making body that helps direct billions in public funding to specific roads projects.

Sidney Ross won election to the body easily Thursday, and will replace former state Rep. Larry Walker. Walker announced his retirement from the board last month, in a surprise move.

Ross owned a construction company, Ross of Georgia, until 2007, according to a DOT news release. He’ll fill the remaining three years of Walker’s term.

“I’m not much of a speaker, I’m really a doer,” Ross said in the DOT release. “There is much to be accomplished at the Department of Transportation to ensure the agency serves the needs of all citizens.”

An attempt to reach Ross directly Thursday was not successful. But area legislators spoke well of him, though some in Macon had hoped a more local candidate would get the job.

“I’m disappointed we didn’t get somebody from Macon,” state Rep. Allen Peake, R-Macon, said. “But I’ve had conversations with Mr. Ross and he seems to be committed to addressing the issues — the big issues — that we face up here, particularly (the interchange at) I-75 / I-16.”

State Rep. Bubber Epps, D-Dry Branch, said he knows Ross from his own years in the road construction business. Epps Brothers Construction, now run by Epps’ son, was a subcontractor for Ross on various projects, he said.

“He’s just a man of integrity,” Epps said.

“He’s a man that knows transportation ... and I think he’ll bring a common-sense approach.”

Ross easily bested three other candidates: former Macon-area state Rep. David Graves, former Bibb County Commissioner Clader Clay and former U.S. Rep. Mac Collins. Ross was the choice of House Transportation Committee Chairman Jay Roberts, who is also from Ocilla, and Roberts “worked hard” to pull votes Ross’ way.

The DOT board has 13 members, one from each of the state’s congressional districts. Legislators from those districts elect members by secret ballot, and the board sets policy for the department and the agenda for road building.

That role is shifting though. Gov. Sonny Perdue and legislative leaders passed legislation this year stripping the board of some of its power.

To contact writer Travis Fain, call 744-4213.