Republicans hold ‘meet and greet’ for candidates
The Republican Party of Banks County hosted a political forum recently for candidates who will be on the ballot this year.
The “meet and greet” was combined with a fundraising barbeque for the Republican Party. Each candidate was given four minutes to introduce themselves and speak to those gathered. An estimated 50 people were present to meet the candidates.
According to Robin Trotter, head of the county’s Republican Party, the forum was open to both parties, but with very few Democrats seeking positions, there were none present.
POST 1, BOC
Candidates for Post 1 on the Banks County Board of Commissioners present were incumbent Rickey Cain and challengers Sam Moon and Danny Maxwell.
During his remarks, Cain said, “This is my eighth year that I have served in office and I love Banks County. We, as a county, have had a hard time getting money from the state. But Joe [Barefoot] and I have worked for the past two years to bring in a business. Business brings in revenue. We are looking at business that is about 90 percent sure of coming here. It is a $300 million business that I want to see come here. It will create about 200 jobs to operate and 350 jobs to construct it. I’d love to see this happen for Banks County.”
During his remarks, Moon said, “I think the shortfall of this county is very simple, eight administrations have yet to produce a county plan. A five-year, a ten-year a dream, if there is one out there I have yet to see it. I have built my life on plans. All I want to do is to take care of the money that the hard working people of this county send in and to make sure if we spend a dollar we get a dollars worth. Not 55 cents, or a quarter, the whole buck. Without a plan, we plan to fail.”
During his remarks, Maxwell said, “Major concerns for people are taxes, roads and our recreation department. I want to be able to get involved in that and see if we can’t do something to better our county and our people. A big goal of mine is to get the BOC to work with the Chamber of Commerce and the CVB so we can all incorporate ideas and recruit. We have empty stores at the Tanger Outlet Center and it wouldn’t cost us anything to have people get in those stores to help fill out our tax base. I’m interested in doing a lot of things for our people and our county.”
POST 3, BOC
Running for the board of commissioners Post 3 are Sammy Reece and Keith Segars.
Reece said, “I’m not a politician. I speak from the heart and I work from the heart. … It’s really not what I want to do for this county it’s what you want to do for this county. I want to be your representative for this county and I want you to call me and tell me your views on everything.”
Segars said, “We want to bring income into the county. … If we can get industry with a sustainable income for our people, our kids will have a place to work and our tax base will be supported by strong sustainable industry. That is what we are looking for. I’m also looking at ways of lessening the tax burden for everyone. … I want to change the perception of our county employees and boost that back up. They are working hard for us and we need to support them in everything we do.”
BOE, POST 3
Running for Board of Education Post 3 are Michael Boyle, who was present, and Bradley Ledford, who was not present.
Boyle said, “I have seen how business partners can help our local school systems to develop and pull in other income sources to help us out. I think the Banks County School System is a fantastic school system and overall the system is very good. I want to take us from good to great. There is no reason Banks County shouldn’t lead the state in SAT scores and graduation rates and I want to make those changes for us.”
BOE, POST 5
Running for Board of Education Post 5 are Shane Roberts, who was present, and Jason Hensley, who was not present.
“I’m running for basically four primary reasons,” Roberts said. “I want the best education for my kids and for your kids also. We need to continue to focus on our test scores and to keep setting the bar a little higher. The third thing is that we need to make sure every dime is used as effectively as possible. The fourth thing we have to look at the safety of our school system and the safety of our kids. We need to have the plans and are prepared for a safe school system.”
According to Robin Trotter, head of the county’s Republican Party, the forum was open to both parties, but with very few Democrats seeking positions, there were none present.
POST 1, BOC
Candidates for Post 1 on the Banks County Board of Commissioners present were incumbent Rickey Cain and challengers Sam Moon and Danny Maxwell.
During his remarks, Cain said, “This is my eighth year that I have served in office and I love Banks County. We, as a county, have had a hard time getting money from the state. But Joe [Barefoot] and I have worked for the past two years to bring in a business. Business brings in revenue. We are looking at business that is about 90 percent sure of coming here. It is a $300 million business that I want to see come here. It will create about 200 jobs to operate and 350 jobs to construct it. I’d love to see this happen for Banks County.”
During his remarks, Moon said, “I think the shortfall of this county is very simple, eight administrations have yet to produce a county plan. A five-year, a ten-year a dream, if there is one out there I have yet to see it. I have built my life on plans. All I want to do is to take care of the money that the hard working people of this county send in and to make sure if we spend a dollar we get a dollars worth. Not 55 cents, or a quarter, the whole buck. Without a plan, we plan to fail.”
During his remarks, Maxwell said, “Major concerns for people are taxes, roads and our recreation department. I want to be able to get involved in that and see if we can’t do something to better our county and our people. A big goal of mine is to get the BOC to work with the Chamber of Commerce and the CVB so we can all incorporate ideas and recruit. We have empty stores at the Tanger Outlet Center and it wouldn’t cost us anything to have people get in those stores to help fill out our tax base. I’m interested in doing a lot of things for our people and our county.”
POST 3, BOC
Running for the board of commissioners Post 3 are Sammy Reece and Keith Segars.
Reece said, “I’m not a politician. I speak from the heart and I work from the heart. … It’s really not what I want to do for this county it’s what you want to do for this county. I want to be your representative for this county and I want you to call me and tell me your views on everything.”
Segars said, “We want to bring income into the county. … If we can get industry with a sustainable income for our people, our kids will have a place to work and our tax base will be supported by strong sustainable industry. That is what we are looking for. I’m also looking at ways of lessening the tax burden for everyone. … I want to change the perception of our county employees and boost that back up. They are working hard for us and we need to support them in everything we do.”
BOE, POST 3
Running for Board of Education Post 3 are Michael Boyle, who was present, and Bradley Ledford, who was not present.
Boyle said, “I have seen how business partners can help our local school systems to develop and pull in other income sources to help us out. I think the Banks County School System is a fantastic school system and overall the system is very good. I want to take us from good to great. There is no reason Banks County shouldn’t lead the state in SAT scores and graduation rates and I want to make those changes for us.”
BOE, POST 5
Running for Board of Education Post 5 are Shane Roberts, who was present, and Jason Hensley, who was not present.
“I’m running for basically four primary reasons,” Roberts said. “I want the best education for my kids and for your kids also. We need to continue to focus on our test scores and to keep setting the bar a little higher. The third thing is that we need to make sure every dime is used as effectively as possible. The fourth thing we have to look at the safety of our school system and the safety of our kids. We need to have the plans and are prepared for a safe school system.”
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Moon said, “I think the shortfall of this county is very simple, eight administrations have yet to produce a county plan. i say, do you expect anything different? I say, Live here long enough and you'll find the only thing accomplished is a pinto bean supper!!
Segars said, “We want to bring income into the county. …
If we can get industry with a sustainable income for our
people, our kids will have a place to work and our tax
base will be supported by strong sustainable industry. I say
shut the he77 up, 35 years ago politicians in Banks County were spewing crap about the need for jobs! DO WE HAVE ANY?? SHUT UP ABOUT JOBS!
I would love to hear your ideas to better our county? Please post them hear and show us all the way to a better Banks County. I'm sure that's why your so angry, you have all the answers and no one has approached you for the devine knowledge you posses.
Oh and one other thing, Why aren't you spewing sarcasim at the BOE? That budget is more than twice what the BOC budget is?
Have a blessed day.
Please see article on home page of Banks County News.
Candidates who will be on the ballot in the July 20 election are invited to attend. Each candidate is asked to contact the Banks County Chamber in advance to confirm their attendance.
Those who attend are asked to bring a list of questions for the candidates.
The chamber is also planning a Political Forum for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 15, at the Banks County Annex Building in Homer.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and more importantly I appreciate your candor and involvement in the political process of our County. It is truly your right to display or not display any signage you deem responsible on your property.
Unfortunately I don’t read this blog very often so someone had to enlighten me to your comments. I make a promise to you Neal; I will make this blog a more common stop in order to catch messages from you or anyone who can’t seem to get satisfaction from the other methods of contacting me.
I’m not sure who you spoke with when you contacted “them” but I can guarantee, you were not spoken to in a disrespectful manner from anyone in my family. My phone number is posted on all my flyers, on my website and as anonymous wrote; my address is no secret. The phone number listed is a direct line to my cell phone so if you called that number you would have only spoken to me.
As for the “teenage goons” you speak of, I do not know who they are or if they exist. I will say this; I have had hundreds of signs to go missing, yes you heard correctly, hundreds. Who took them I have no clue? Speculations, I have none. The only thing I know for a fact, the signs were taken. I have received hundreds of emails from various supporters informing me their signs were taken and they would like replacements.
If you will post your full name and phone number or address on this blog I will make it a priority to remove the sign from your yard. I will be more than happy to also remove any and all signs from any of your relatives as well. Please have them contact me via this blog or any other method you/they can.
I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you. That said, if you will provide a documented phone bill showing when and what number you called to receive this kind of treatment I will gladly compensate you for your troubles.
Thank You
Keith Segars
keith@votesegars.com
www.votesegars.com
706-352-4217