Eight county residents run for offices

Eight Republican candidates have qualified for Oglethorpe County offices to be decided in the general primary election on May 24.

 

The Board of Commissioner Districts 1, 3 and 5 are up for re-election, and the Board of Education Districts 3 and 5 are open this year. District 2 and 4 and chairman seats of the Board of Commissioners, and Districts 1, 2 and 4 of the Board of Education were last voted on in 2020. Another election will take place in 2024.

 

Voters must be registered by the April 25 deadline to vote in the general primary. To check registration status, visit the My Voter Page website: mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do

 

Here are the candidates for the Board of Commissioners and Board of Education seats.

 

DISTRICT 1 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Lewis “Phil” Sanders

Phil Sanders, who is running for re-election for the District 1 county commissioner seat, has held the position for more than a decade.

 

After growing up in Oglethorpe County, Sanders said he wanted to serve the community that he knows well.

 

“I’ve always tried to do what I thought was right,” he said. “I’m not going to do anything that I know is illegal or un-Christianlike. I’m not in it for any personal gain.”

 

Sanders hopes to maintain the rural status in the county and retain growth from overtaking Oglethorpe. He said he wants to keep the county “the way people voted to have it.”

 

Darrius Tompkins

Tompkins is also running for the District 1 commissioner seat. He said he is running after attending several meetings over the past few years and noticing too much unpreparedness on issues within the county.

 

He is a volunteer firefighter and volunteer coach in the Oglethorpe County School System.

 

Tompkins said he would bring a new set of eyes to the position since didn’t grow up in Oglethorpe County. He hopes to make changes to citizen involvement and infrastructure.

 

“On topics that are going to be issues for residents of the county, I think we need to offer more time for citizens to weigh in on it before we vote on it,” Tompkins said. “I want to, as a commissioner, work on some infrastructure items. We need growth in the county.”

 

Howard Sanders

Sanders resigned from the county coroner position on March 9 to run for the District 1 county commissioner seat. 

 

“I had several people that actually came to my residence asking me if I would consider running for one of the county commissioner seats because they weren't happy with the way some of the things in the county were being handled,” Sanders said.

 

He wants to retain employees within the county and make pay more comparable with neighboring counties. He hopes to see Oglethorpe County retain its rural aspect, while also bringing in a few businesses.

 

“If I’m elected as a county commissioner, I will bring to the office honesty, integrity and an open line of communication,” Sanders said. “Not just in my district, but in the whole county.”

 

DISTRICT 3 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

David Clark

Clark is running for the District 3 county commissioner seat he currently holds.

 

Clark did not respond to a request to speak by presstime.

 

Debbie Furbish

Furbish is also running for the District 3 county commissioner seat. She said she is familiar with county government, but would bring a fresh face to District 3.

 

“I think I bring that much-needed energy, and I bring that much-needed experience to this position,” Furbish said.

 

She was appointed as the chair of the Board of Health by opponent David Clark, and also previously was a regional director. Through her work experience, she said she gained knowledge about finance and government.

 

Furbish said she appreciates Oglethorpe’s rural nature, but also wants to add infrastructure to develop the county.

 

“We can keep (the county) rural, but I believe that we should also add the infrastructure that we need for people to maintain businesses, the internet, broadband, satellite, whatever that would be,” Furbish said.

 

DISTRICT 5 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Tracy Norman

Norman has held the District 5 county commissioner seat since January 2019 and is running for re-election for the position.

 

Norman is running unopposed and, if elected, he will continue his position until the next election in 2026.

 

He emphasized the Board’s work to get all Code of Ordinances online, which has been a work in progress for three years. He hopes to keep Oglethorpe residents involved in meetings going forward.

 

“A lot of what I’m looking for is getting more visibility into how government works and what we’re actually doing,” Norman said. “I’d like to see us continue to use, whether it's MS Teams or Zoom, to make it easier for people to see meetings.”

 

Norman has worked for Fortune 500 companies in his professional career, giving him experience in numbers, budgets and costs.

 

“I think that gives me a unique perspective in looking at the way government functions because I do understand the numbers,” Norman said.

 

DISTRICT 3 BOARD OF EDUCATION

Susan Robinson

Robinson was a teacher in Oglethorpe County schools for 30 years before retiring, and is running unopposed for the District 3 Board of Education seat.

 

“Dr. Hawkins has done a marvelous job on the board, and I felt the need to continue the work he started and the board has started,” Robinson said. “They have some really great things going on, and I would like to see them come to completion.”

 

Robinson said her experience in a classroom gives her an extra perspective to serve on the board, but she also recognizes that all wishes can’t be granted.

 

She said she hopes to see the new school built, and to assist in the district’s strategic plan for the next five years. Robinson also wants to attract more people to work in the school district.

 

DISTRICT 5 BOARD OF EDUCATION

Becky Soto

Soto, who holds the District 5 Board of Education seat, is running unopposed. She said her No. 1 goal for the county is to develop student success, which looks different for each child.

 

“I think one thing we do really well in Oglethorpe County is making sure students are not pushed into one standard-size pathway,” Soto said. “I think we do an excellent job of finding opportunities and uncovering new ways to give our students opportunities to reach their goals and be their best self.”

 

Soto outlined the many opportunities in the school district for students to develop skills before graduation, including a welding program at Athens Technical College, Georgian Heating & Air summer internships and pathways to earn a CNA or EMT license.

 

“I want people to know that I am a passionate advocate,” Soto said. “I want to make sure that every student and every family has the best opportunity and feels great about their education and where they’ve chosen to live.”