Connie Hale I continue
to be concerned about the impact of growth in the
county, and the impact the governor's education
reform act will have on our school system.
Our
focus must continue to be providing a quality
education for our students. Our children deserve
the very best and I'm confident with the
outstanding teachers we have in our classrooms,
and the administrative staff we have in this
system, we will stay the course. The challenges
will be many, but working together, we will
prevail.
During
the few forums we have had during the last few
weeks, I have mentioned that this school system
is a work in progress. The
outstanding reputation we have in this state
didn't happen because of programs that were
implemented last year or the year before, but
hard work over the years. At the end of this
term, I will have eight years experience on the
board and have developed an understanding of how
things work.
I
am committed to excellence in education and have
the courage of my convictions to vote in the best
interests of the students, parents and teachers,
administrators and taxpayers of Fayette County: a
vote for me is a vote for quality education.
A.G. VanLandingham
As
a candidate for county commissioner, allow me to
share a few of the major concerns that I have for
the future.
First, our economic
needs. Got your new tax assessment yet? I have
and there was another tax increase. I read an
article that explained what a neighboring county
is doing to stop this back door tax, they simply
will increase the homestead exemption to offset
the assessment.
This is a great
idea and I support this effort whole-heartedly.
Building a stronger tax base will eliminate most
of this also. Smart Growth will allow a stronger
tax base and not at the expense of the homeowner.
Secondly, the need
to protect our environment is greater than ever
before. It is imperative that we look at our
total environment and not just a portion. One
part is as vital as the other and abuse to one
effects the other.
With our current
drought we should learn a lesson: water in
quantity and quality is needed to balance our
future. Clear cutting land for development is
injurious to all aspects of the environment. We
lose to erosion, sediment in our streams, the
loss in the ability for trees to scrub our air.
Higher density nor
rapid transit will aid in the protection of our
environment; rather, the end result will create
further damage.
Thirdly, our
community services will continue to exist at the
level of our county employees' experience and
dedication. We must find the necessary means to
retain the experienced and productive county
employees to insure a high level of service to
the community.
This includes all
departments as they all serve our community in
some way. Space would not permit coverage in a
more complete manner, if there are further
questions please contact me at 770-461-5681 or
e-mail agvanl@mindspring.com.
Carl Davis
Thank you to everyone who
supported and voted for me July 18.
We accomplished a
great deal and I mean we as you are the people
responsible for my being in the runoff. I thank
you in advance for your continued support and
vote.
Our message of
managed, balanced growth to maintain our quality
of life while keeping our individual tax rate low
is important to achieve. We will only achieve
this if we have leaders capable of evaluating
complex issues and capable of communicating with
everyone. The best solutions come from open
communications with everyone contributing to the
solution and coming together to reach consensus.
We need honest,
trustworthy, independent elected officials who
will work to protect our future. We need
consensus builders who can work with the many
individuals and entities affecting our county.
I know I have the
characteristics and skills necessary to fight for
what we believe in. These have been developed
over 19-plus years with Delta from experience in
front line to management positions.
I believe in
Fayette County. I believe in our way of life. I
believe we have a great community and we must
work together to protect it. I pledge to work
every day to deserve the trust you will be
placing in me.
I ask each of you
to consider all of these factors plus the issues
posted on my web site, www.carldavis.org, when making your decision
and then mark your ballot for Carl Davis for
County Commission Aug. 8.
Kim Gatlin
I'd like to thank every
voter who participated in the recent primary and
ask you to again take the time to vote Tuesday,
Aug. 8.
Since beginning
this campaign for school board in April, I have
focused on the following three issues:
Addressing
the inconsistency among schools throughout the
county with regard to academic opportunities
available, extra-curricular activities sponsored,
and learning facilities provided.
Enhancing
communication between the board and the
community, thus striving to rebuild trust in the
board's decision-making ability.
Supporting a
responsibly configured SPLOST - with spending
limited to land acquisition and new classroom
construction to relieve overcrowding.
If elected, I would
bring a unique perspective on education to the
board. Although I have never been a teacher
myself, my husband is a veteran teacher in a
neighboring system, my mother teaches art in a
Fayette elementary school, and my sister is a
former middle school teacher. My work experience
has been on a part-time level in a corporate
environment allowing me time to
participate in my children's education and also
to understand the expectations for our future
work force.
In summary,
regaining the trust of our citizens will require
a fiscally responsible board. I believe all of
our children should be afforded the tools and
facilities necessary for an excellent education.
However, common sense should dictate how we spend
our tax dollars, and we should always maintain a
strong academic focus as our top priority.
Marion Key
My vision for the Fayette
County School System is for better communications
between the school board and the public.
This
does not mean I will please everyone, but I will
be fair and open to all. I want to improve long
range planning in all areas of school operations.
Local government officials and the school system
must work together to prevent surprises in the
form of unprojected growth.
An
idea which I have discussed with Rep. Kathy Cox
is to increase the size of the school board to
seven members.
There
are several issues looming. The biggest issue is
the need to relieve crowded schools and
classrooms, and to meet Gov. Roy Barnes' unfunded
mandate to lower pupil-teacher ratios, which will
also require additional classroom space. I
advocate using committees of school personnel,
parents and community leaders to make
recommendations to the school board on how best
to create additional classrooms. These
recommendations may include, but are not limited
to:
Maximizing the use of
existing facilities;
SPLOST;
Bonds;
Asking large scale
developers for donations of property, materials,
labor or cash;
Double sessions;
Reorganizing the school
year.
Another
issue is the hiring and retention of quality
teachers. If the board of education and the
community are supportive of their educators, the
working conditions are favorable, and the
benefits are adequate, teachers will stay.
I
will support Superintendent John DeCotis in all
efforts to improve education in Fayette County.
In
conclusion, I feel that with my academic
background and my involvement in the schools and
the community, I am best qualified to serve in
Post 3, Fayette County Board of Education.
Rick Price
I'd like to thank the Citizen Newspaper for this
opportunity to speak directly to the voters of
the 28th state
Senate District.
I'd
also like to say thank-you to the voters of the
district for their support and confidence when
they first elected me to this office in 1996 and
again this year in the General Primary Election.
This
election is about who has vision and experience
and a record to prove it. I have asked the
citizens of the 28th Senate District to look
at my record. It's a record of solid conservative
values.
I've
asked the voters to look at my new ideas.
Recently, I announced my support for a property
tax freeze to provide tax relief to homeowners.
Homeowners shouldn't have to automatically pay
higher taxes just because the value of their home
goes up during the year.
Also,
we are releasing several proposals on education.
The first addresses the debates on
para-professionals, language labs, fine arts,
teacher planning periods, physical education and
other issues. These should be local choices. If
the governor is going to hold schools responsible
for their results, then the schools must have the
freedom to determine the best way to achieve
results based on local needs.
I
am proposing to change state education funding to
block grants instead of being
designated for specific purposes by education
bureaucrats from Atlanta. I've also proposed a
School Transportation Safety Act because our
children who ride a school bus should not have to
put up with violent and unruly behavior. I'm also
proposing a Student Internet Protection Act to
protect children from the inappropriate and
harmful material that is available over the
internet.
Thanks
again, I would be proud and honored to continue
to represent you in the state Senate for another
two years.
Mitch Seabaugh
On Tuesday, Aug, 8 you will
select the person you will pay to represent your
interests and principles in the state senate.
Please
don't be fooled by slick marketing and political
rhetoric. There is a very distinct difference of
my philosophy and my opponent's.
First,
as your state senator I will serve you as a
public servant, putting you first and my personal
interests last.
I
will return every phone call, every fax and
e-mail. Nothing, not lobbyists, PAC money, not
colleagues or the governor, will have more
influence than you will. My allegiance will be to
you.
Second,
I have demonstrated for you the type of
leadership I will provide by presenting to you an
agenda of what I will work to accomplish next
year.
Please
review those items on my web site, www.Mitch2k.com or call me at 770-304-0652.
My
agenda came from listening to the people of this
district and working with them to develop a
positive plan that will help solve their
problems. I will work for you and will be
accessible to you, because you will be my boss.
Third,
I will consistently vote for less government and
lower taxes I will not in any way support larger
government or vote for more taxes.
I
will defend the unborn and our gun ownership.
So
you have a choice. If you want leadership,
quality public service and consistent support of
conservative principles, then Switch to
Mitch and vote for me.
Terri Smith
I have a commitment to public education in
Fayette County. I am proud of our schools.
Certainly, there is always room for improvement.
I
know from my experience as a teacher and as a
parent of children in the system that teachers
and administrators are working everyday to
improve instruction.
Students
and teachers need, at the very least, a suitable
classroom space in which to work. Creating an
enriching and challenging environment in a book
room or trailer is extremely difficult. Our
school system needs a representative who
understands what teachers need to do their jobs
more effectively and efficiently. I want to serve
this school system in a positive and constructive
manner, not a manner that criticizes teachers and
tries to manage the classroom.
To
demonstrate my commitment to serving our schools,
I promise to donate my board salary back to the
schools. I promise to support students, parents
and teachers. I promise to be fiscally
conservative. I promise to continue to cultivate
a positive working relationship with the
superintendent and his staff.
A
well-balanced board should have a representative
who understands the needs of teachers and parents
as well as current issues in education. While the
board sets policy, not curriculum, it does vote
on curricular issues such as textbook adoption,
character education programs, promotion policies,
graduation requirements and changes in course
offerings. Our board needs an educator.
Vote
for Terri Smith Aug. 8.
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