Candidates to face off in County Commission District 2 election

The three-way race for the Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners is well underway as Matthew Cootware, Jeramy Nye and incumbent Bobby Mayfield are all vying for the District 2 seat.
This week The Nugget caught up with each candidate for a round of election-related questions. This is the first in a series of Q&A’s featuring all the candidates in contested local races, leading up to early voting which will begin on Monday, April 29.

The Nugget: What is the greatest need for Lumpkin County right now? How would you, as a commissioner, help fulfill it?

Cootware:
Our greatest need is to lower TAXES for all County Residents! One way I would help and try to fulfill that would be to propose a minimum time served/lived in Lumpkin County in order to receive that over 65 property tax relief. We have County Residents that have earned that, and others that have moved in and abused it. I would try to enact an amendment to the current over 65 property tax relief, to reduce the abuse of others coming in for short periods of time to flip houses or just take advantage of its current form.

Mayfield:
I believe it is time for us to refocus our efforts onto the quality of life issues which make people want to live here and to raise a family here. We have done a lot with traffic problems out in the county with multiple roundabouts and planned GDOT projects at the end of 400, so now I would like to begin looking at Parks & Rec. Our new Pine Tree Rec Center opens this year with a very nice swimming area and two basketball courts, but we also need more playing fields. We have done a good job working with the school system to utilize their facilities as well, but everything is at capacity. The old Blackburn Park area is one potential location where we can accomplish this at minimal cost since we own the property.

Nye:
The greatest need of Lumpkin County is to reduce the burden of government on the people. The need for a reduction of taxation and the encroachment of commercial entities into residential areas has changed the inherent nature of our rural community. The county government should not be a burden upon the people and must always strive to place its people's needs at the forefront of all its decisions. A multi-pronged approach to ensuring the general welfare of the people begins with finding ways to reduce the budgetary impact and constricting infrastructure upgrades that allow for larger commercial development aiding in the prevention of commercial expansion. The Cam (Character Area Map) has multiple categories for the same relative designations, allowing for loopholes in development types within the same consensual area.

The Nugget: Growth has arrived in Lumpkin County. How would you suggest directing this growth?

Cootware:
I would suggest directing this growth towards the 400 corridor. This area is the best option for the County to keep its small town feel towards town, but also allow the availability of other County residents to spend their money in Lumpkin County. The 400 Corridor borders close to Hall, White and Dawson counties and they could spend their money here instead of our residents spending there. Let us manipulate that area to take full advantage of its traffic flow and ascertain all economic growth to this one area, so it doesn't come into town.

Mayfield:
Managing this coming growth is not a new idea for me. Soon after I first got elected, we crafted the Gateway Corridor regulations to make sure our growth on Highway 400 does not look like the growth to the south of us. Stone and wood facades, dark skies compliant lighting, and lots of vegetation are just a few of the requirements. Along with this, we have installed significant infrastructure on 400 for water, sewer, internet, gas and electricity. We prepared that area and that is our intent to keep the majority of the growth on that road. Along with that initiative, we have modified our Land Use Regulations so that words like “suggested,” “encouraged,” and “recommended” no longer open the door for unregulated development across the county and we continue to work on those regulations to make them serve the needs of the people.

Nye:
Infrastructure restrictions will slow the expansion of commercial developments, and CAM revision and solidification will protect residential areas. We must prioritize Lumpkin citizens' needs over commercial entities outside of Lumpkin. In Lumpkin there is a misplaced thought that adherent property ownership means unlimited development of said property regardless of residency or representation, this makes the Lumpkin County government, a government of all, that diminishes elected representation for people who live within Lumpkin. The proper role of local government is to provide overall quality of life for the people who reside in their communities and ensure the general welfare displayed by protecting the inherent nature of the county and protecting Lumpkin residents' property. Non-origin growth can be further constricted by implementing special taxation and strengthening large-scale commercial performance zoning restrictions.

The Nugget: The County and City are currently embroiled in a lawsuit. What’s your stance on this suit? Do you support going forward with it or finding a way to end it?

Cootware:
My stance on this lawsuit is simple, I'm not for it, but I also believe that the County is in the right. My reason for not being for the lawsuit is the taxpayers' money being spent on both sides of the lawsuit and it doesn't appear that cooler heads are prevailing. It also looks like there's a little tit-for-tat from the City on this issue from the previous court issue with LOST (Local Option Sales Tax) split lawsuit. Leaders need to step up and make things happen and create those talks and meetings and resolve these issues.

Mayfield:
I hate all of these legal shenanigans and would end it today if I could. This back and forth predates me and goes all the way back to the building of our very first fire station in town. Unfortunately, for everyone concerned, that group of leaders left some un-dotted “i’s” and some uncrossed “t’s,” so to speak, and many years later some poor judge has to try to figure out what they intended. I propose that the Board of Commissioners select two of their own and the City Council select two of their own, let them sit down and negotiate as regular people with no attorneys present, create a legally binding agreement which can then be codified by both bodies. Put it to rest already!

Nye:
Turmoil within government is always at the expense of the people who pay for it with taxation. The fact that civil dialog between the city and county cannot be effectively conducted to broker a deal without legal arbitration constitutes a government leadership failure. The only parties that pay for this folly are the people. The particulars of this case are inconsequential, the government wants more money for its means. What makes the government think it can take without limit from its people? The people have placed trust in their elected officials to resolve disputes for the betterment of their intention, legal adjudication of this matter creates a semblance of distrust from the citizens to the representation, that two parties of mutual concern cannot broker an agreement for the betterment of their people. It is a shame and should not happen.

The Nugget: What personal qualities make you the most qualified candidate for this position?

Cootware:
I have a lot of personal qualities that make me qualified for this position, but the two most important are Leadership and Communication. I'm a retired Military Veteran offering 20 years of proven Leadership experience leading diverse teams during military combat operations and managing multiple training and leadership development programs. Communication is key as well and sets the precedence for all future endeavors and helps us build relationships, which I would love to do with more residents within the County limits and as your next District 2 Commissioner.

Mayfield:
This question reminds me of something the late Dr. David Miller said to me when we got elected together. I was concerned about the Land Use task in front of us and the seemingly infinite details involved. He said that the people did not elect us for our expertise in a particular area, but they elected us for our judgement. And I have found that to be true. I have encountered many topics about which I was initially ill informed, but I have been able to draw upon my many experiences as a leader and the depth of relationships with many in the community to exercise good judgement for the benefit of my friends and neighbors. Just this week I voted NO on a revision because I felt that it needed to be refined. Do the right thing and help the people—words which I live by every day.

Nye:
I have 20 years of experience in leadership in the US Army Rangers, I am near completion of a dual major in political science and constitutional law, and I am a working man with a large family on a semi-fixed income who understands the burdens of taxation and working with a budget. Most importantly I am not behest to anyone other than the people. I do not have excessive governmental ties and am free to be the people's voice as their elected representative. I will strive to preserve why many of us moved here and continue living within this wonderful county. I chose to make Lumpkin County my home so my children have a safe rural community to grow and learn.  I am running for County Commissioner to make sure it stays that way.