Centerville council candidates share visions for the city

CENTERVILLE -- Two candidates are seeking City Council's Post 4 seat: the incumbent and one challenger.

Voters will decide between incumbent Jon Nichols, a 51-year-old regional sales manager for The Bug House Pest Control, and Edward Armijo, 58, who works at Robins Air Force Base as chief of Equipment Allowance Flight.

Originally from Hutchinson, Kansas, Armijo grew up in an Air Force family, living in Nebraska, North Dakota, California and Spain. He said he built a house and moved to Centerville in 2000 after retiring from the Air Force.

Armijo said he should be elected because he cares about all Centerville residents, is approachable and willing to listen to concerns, and has served as a first sergeant and learned the importance of people.

"I believe bringing back the provision for a board of ethics will be one of my primary goals," Armijo said. "Our city would be better served with an impartial board of regular citizens than having an employee of the city decide cases when questions of unethical behavior arise.

"We have a great group of citizens who must have the assurance that their City Council representatives have their best interest at heart. I will adhere to the sunshine laws of Georgia and will not have any hidden agenda."

Armijo said the greatest challenge facing Centerville is "changing the point of view of our residents to believe in their governing body once again -- showing them their leaders have Centerville's best interest at heart."

He said he would pay close attention to fiscal responsibility because residents deserve to know that their tax dollars are being used responsibly. He said in his view, there have been abuses in the past -- including the city recently purchasing 13 Tahoe police vehicles that he said will cost residents more than $500,000.

Armijo said his vision for Centerville is to see a robust community that families and businesses are attracted to and want to be part of.

He said he is involved in a variety of community organizations and volunteer activities, including serving as vice president of the Eagle Springs Home Owners Association, a member of Eagle Springs Neighborhood Watch, a board member for Connections by the Parkway, a member of the Knights of Columbus and a Catholic youth minister. He is also chairman of the 638 Supply Chain Management Wing All Employee Committee, treasurer of the Retired Enlisted Association Chapter 94 and part of the 448th Robins Employee Committee.

THE INCUMBENT

Jon Nichols is a native of Centerville and grew up living in both Centerville and Warner Robins. He is a 1982 graduate of Northside High School and has lived in Centerville since 2009.

Nichols said his accomplishments while on council include being part of the building of the new Police Department facility on Church Street and refurbishing the old library building to become the city's Municipal Court.

He also pointed to the recent purchase of eight acres by the city to build a downtown center and park area.

"It was a step in the right direction toward growing a downtown and putting a new face on Centerville," Nichols said. "That will improve the quality of life and be a blessing to people here, but will also -- and people don't always realize this -- it will also serve to attract more business and industry that will help move Centerville's tax burden off residents to businesses and industry. That is our goal. We want to lower taxes for citizen taxpayers and bring business that can carry that burden."

Nichols also spoke of accomplishments such as more sidewalks, more paved streets and saving the city $254,000 over six years through the purchase of police vehicles rather than leasing them, as has been past policy.

He said it has been his dream since the fifth grade to serve his community, and he still considers it an honor.

"This community means the world to me," he said. "It's my home. I'm not going anywhere."

He said his vision for Centerville can be accomplished through it becoming a true "live, work and play" community with the tax base shifting from residential to commercial while making sure things are "done the right way."

Nichols' community activities include his role as president of Northside High's School Council, a member and two-year president of the Northside Booster Club, project chairman with the International City Optimist Club, and deacon at First Baptist Church of Centerville, where he has been a longtime Sunday School teacher working with youths and young married couples.

He is a member of the Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce, where he serves on the governmental affairs and business affairs boards.

Nichols was a member of the chamber's Leadership Robins Region Class of 2014 and helped spearhead the group's $50,000 fundraising and improvement effort benefitting the Warner Robins Salvation Army Safe House for women and children victimized by domestic violence.

Centerville City Council Post 4

Jon Nichols

Age: 51

Occupation: Regional sales manager, The Bug House Pest Control

Political experience: Four years on City Council

Top issue: Unity

Edward Armijo

Age: 58

Occupation: Chief, Equipment Allowance Flight, Robins Air Force Base

Political experience: No previous office held

Top issue: Fiscal responsibility

This story was originally published October 26, 2015 at 10:08 PM with the headline "Centerville council candidates share visions for the city ."