Taxes, alcohol and leadership choices dominate midstate ballots

While the presidential battle had drawn much of the political attention this year, Middle Georgia voters have plenty of other decisions to make farther down their ballots, from local leadership and sales tax questions to alcohol-related proposals.

The big pitch comes for Macon-Bibb County voters, who will decide if they want to keep paying a 1-cent sales tax on the dollar for public projects. Collection would start in 2018, and it would last until it raises $280 million. If passed, the special purpose local option sales tax — or SPLOST — would fund projects from sewer works to parks to a courthouse expansion.

Pulaski County will also vote on a 1-cent sales tax proposal. It’s a continuation of a sales tax that people already pay in the county, which is set to expire at the end of October, Pulaski County Commissioner M.A. “Butch” Hall said. If approved, collection would start in April 2017. Over six years, it’ll raise about $6 million, he said, to be spent on public safety, City Hall, recreation, roads and bridges.

Putnam County residents will vote on a “freeport exemption” — a tax break on the inventory sitting in distribution centers that’s waiting for delivery to customers. The point is to try to woo those kinds of warehouses to the county and create jobs, Commission Chairman Stephen Hersey said. He said the budget impact will be very little, probably less than $50,000.

The city of Roberta and Crawford County will vote on whether to close City Hall and merge the two governments into Roberta-Crawford County under an elected county commission. A consolidation would mean the county sheriff would police the entire area, including the part that’s now Roberta. It needs approval from voters in both Roberta and in unincorporated Crawford County.

It will likely be a close vote, said state Rep. Robert Dickey, R-Musella, who sponsored the bill that put the question on ballots.

He says it’s a way to cut red tape, taxes and thus help attract businesses to the area. But opponents are not convinced that the plan will pay for itself.

A couple of cities, Dublin and Sandersville, are asking voters if Sundays should be a little wetter. Residents in each city will vote on Sunday sales of alcohol by the drink. Cochran residents also will decide whether to allow licenses for alcohol sales on the premises.

In the state House, both Democrats and Republicans are looking to pick up a seat that neither party now holds. The Legislature’s sole independent, Milledgeville’s Rusty Kidd, has announced he’s not running again for House District 145, which covers all of Baldwin and part of Putnam counties. So, either Democrat Floyd Griffin or Republican Ricky A. Williams will stake out new turf for his party.

In the House District 144 race, Republican James “Bubber” Epps is seeking re-election against Democrat Joyce Denson. In the Senate District 13 race, Greg Kirk is seeking re-election against Democrat Ruenett Melton.

Overall, voters will have a choice for only a small number of county offices. Most local offices in the midstate — from tax commissioners to sheriffs — are uncontested in the general election. They were either settled in the primary, or only one person ran at all.

Here’s a look at all the contested local elections and referendum questions:

(State legislative districts may cover only part of a county)

BALDWIN COUNTY

State House District 145: Floyd Griffin, Democrat; Ricky A. Williams, Republican

BIBB COUNTY

State House District 144: Bubber Epps (I), Republican; Joyce Denson, Democrat

County referendum on 1 percent special purpose local option sales tax

BLECKLEY COUNTY

State House District 144: Bubber Epps (I), Republican; Joyce Denson, Democrat

Sheriff: Johnny Blash, Democrat; Kris Coody, Republican

Sole County Commissioner: Bob Brockman (I), Republican; Derek Watford, independent

City of Cochran referendum on alcohol by the drink proposal at restaurants.

CRAWFORD COUNTY

County Commissioner District 2: Bobby Blasingame (I), Democrat; James L. Bond, Republican

Coroner: Sheldon T. Mattox, Republican; Arnold Walden, Democrat

Tax Commissioner: Teresa L. Hortman, Democrat; Patrice Walker, Republican

County and city referendum on reorganizing and unifying the governments of the city of Roberta and Crawford County into a single government.

DODGE COUNTY

State Senate District 13: Greg Kirk (I), Republican; Ruenett Melton, Democrat

County Commission Chair: Dan McCranie (I), Democrat; George A. Thompson Jr., Republican

County Commission District 1: Charles Dennis, Republican; William “Jr” Howell (I), Democrat

DOOLY COUNTY

State Senate District 13: Greg Kirk (I), Republican; Ruenett Melton, Democrat

HOUSTON COUNTY

State House District 144: Bubber Epps (I), Republican; Joyce Denson, Democrat

County Commission Post 5: Gordon Hicks, Democrat; Tom McMichael (I), Republican

JONES COUNTY

State House District 144: Bubber Epps (I), Republican; Joyce Denson, Democrat

County Commission District 2: Jonathan Pitts (I), Democrat; M. John Wood, Republican

County Commission District 4: Daylon Martin (I), Democrat; Alton West, Republican

LAMAR COUNTY

Sheriff: Brad White (I), Republican; Frank Usher III, Democrat

LAURENS COUNTY

Sheriff: Larry Howard Dean, Republican; W.A. “Bill” Harrell, (I), Democrat;

City of Dublin referendum on Sunday sales of alcoholic beverages by the drink.

MONROE COUNTY

City of Culloden mayor (nonpartisan): Melvin James (I); Lynn Miller

PEACH COUNTY

County Commission At-large: Kattie Kendrick, Democrat; Wade Yoder, Republican

County Commission Post 3: Billy Crump, Republican; Betty Hill (I), Democrat

School Board Post 1: Ben McDaniel (I), Republican; Shalunda Williams, Democrat

PULASKI COUNTY

Countywide referendum on 1 percent special purpose local option sales tax

PUTNAM COUNTY

State House District 145: Floyd Griffin, Democrat; Ricky A. Williams, Republican

County Commission District 1: Kelvin Irvin, Republican; Frederick Ward (I), Democrat

County Commission District 2: Daniel Brown, Republican; Janie Reed (I), Democrat

County referendum on a freeport tax exemption

TWIGGS COUNTY

County Commission District 1: Lonnie Ford, Democrat; Mary Christine Spires, independent

County Commission District 3: William M. Bond (I), Democrat; James “Paul” White, Republican

County Commission District 4: Donald Watson (I), Republican; Steve Birdsong, Democrat

School Board District 2: Teresa Dupree Blackshear (I), Democrat; Sharon Radebaugh, Republican

WASHINGTON COUNTY

City of Sandersville referendum on Sunday sales of alcoholic beverages by the drink

WILCOX COUNTY

State Senate District 13: Greg Kirk (I), Republican; Ruenett Melton, Democrat

County Commission District 2: David M. Brown (I), Republican, Alfonza Hall, Democrat

Sheriff: Robert Rogers, Republican; Carl E. Thompson, Democrat

WILKINSON COUNTY

State House District 144: Bubber Epps (I), Republican; Joyce Denson, Democrat

City of Gordon Council (nonpartisan): Bruce Daniel, Michael Rice

This story was originally published October 29, 2016 at 8:28 PM with the headline "Taxes, alcohol and leadership choices dominate midstate ballots."