Candidates discuss hot topics at forum

  • The 11 candidates who participated in the candidate forum stand at the conclusion of the event at the Historic Crawford Depot on April 18. About 100 people attended the event. (ABBY PEACOCK/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)
    The 11 candidates who participated in the candidate forum stand at the conclusion of the event at the Historic Crawford Depot on April 18. About 100 people attended the event. (ABBY PEACOCK/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)
  • Commission chair Jay Paul presents a graph that describes property tax rates for Oglethorpe County residents compared to adjacent counties, with Oglethorpe County the lowest at the far left. Paul was one of the candidates who attended the forum on April 18. (ABBY PEACOCK/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)
    Commission chair Jay Paul presents a graph that describes property tax rates for Oglethorpe County residents compared to adjacent counties, with Oglethorpe County the lowest at the far left. Paul was one of the candidates who attended the forum on April 18. (ABBY PEACOCK/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)
  • District 2 candidate Williamson Sintyl speaks with a resident during the meet and greet portion of the evening. He’s running against current county commissioner Andy Saxon in the general primary. (ABBY PEACOCK/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)
    District 2 candidate Williamson Sintyl speaks with a resident during the meet and greet portion of the evening. He’s running against current county commissioner Andy Saxon in the general primary. (ABBY PEACOCK/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Questions about the jail, school zone cameras, taxes and dog ordinances were plentiful during a candidate forum at the Historic Crawford Depot on April 18.

 

Eleven candidates across several races answered questions from the public, which were submitted ahead of time and screened. Approximately 100 residents attended the event, which was moderated by Dink NeSmith, chairman of The Oglethorpe Echo Legacy Inc.

 

“This is a part of the process to decide who should hold public office,” NeSmith said. 

 

The forum allowed voters to gauge the candidates’ positions on critical issues with just a month before the general primary, which is scheduled for May 21.

 

Incumbents and challengers in five races participated in the forum. They included:

 

  • Commission chair incumbent Jay Paul and challenger Jerry Wayne Loggans.
  • Sheriff incumbent David Gabriel and challenger James Jackson.
  • District 2 commissioner incumbent Andy Saxon and challengers Williamson Sintyl and Jacqueline Bosby.
  • Tax commissioner candidates Teresa Jo Campbell and Dawn Johnson Scarborough.
  • Northern Judicial Circuit district attorney incumbent Parks White and challenger David Jordan.

 

“I hope that all the candidates get to speak honestly and tell exactly the way they are going to run things,” said Karen Sanders Wade, a resident of the Watson Mill area, before the forum began.

 

Each candidate was given one minute for opening statements. Then, they were allotted two minutes each to respond to questions. Candidates also delivered a one-minute closing statement. 

 

Jackson and Gabriel shared their thoughts about reopening the jail. 

 

Gabriel said closing the jail allowed the county to raise jailer salaries from $17,000 to $38,000. He said it came down to price and practicality to provide the best value for residents’ tax money. 

 

Jackson said the jail’s closure was not practical since it still has an allotted budget. He said he intends to solve this, if elected, through reorganization and simplification of the Sheriff's Office. 

 

Animal control was a repeated topic with candidates.

 

Gabriel said it was not incumbent upon the sheriff to hire staff specifically for controlling dogs. 

 

He pointed to the nuisance animal ordinance passed by the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners in 2021 as the extent of county action. This ordinance states that any animal that attacks a person, their property or their animals is a nuisance animal, and its owner is in violation of county law.

 

Jackson said it may not be a requirement to hire personnel to handle it, but if elected, he would like to do something to alleviate recent animal issues.

 

Paul said he listens to the county attorney and everything the board is doing concerning animal control is legal.

 

Loggans agreed with Paul and said everything they are doing is right.

 

On the topic of drug offenses, White and Jordan agreed they plan to enforce existing laws. Jordan, however, said there needs to be more timely prosecution of the cases.

 

Campbell and Scarborough agreed timely communication is the best strategy to collect past due taxes. 

 

Candidates for the position of commission chairman were asked what they believe needed to change in the county moving forward. 

 

Loggans expressed his desire to lower taxes and facilitate more businesses that align with county needs. Paul echoed this desire to provide businesses a healthy opportunity to thrive, but said he does not want to commit public money to encouraging business.

 

Candidates for the District 2 commission seat offered varied visions for the county’s future. 

 

Bosby said the board needs diversity, and that if elected, she would bring research and solutions to the table. 

 

Sintyl said while he has a lot to learn, he hopes to bring a new perspective to the position to advocate for policies that will benefit residents. 

 

Saxon said he is happy with his work on the board and hopes to continue serving District 2 as well as encourage business growth that is suitable for the county. 

 

A candidate meet and greet is scheduled to be held from 6-8 p.m. Monday, April 29 at the Farm Bureau.

 

“I’m new to the community and just learning how the debates go,” said Brent Howsman, who lives in Lexington. “I wanted to learn about my fellow citizens and the candidates.”