Candidates for Gilmer County’s next Post 2 Commissioner and Board of Education members shared how they want to approach a few current issues in the county at a candidate forum presented by the Gilmer Chamber Monday evening.
Questions for the forum at the Piedmont Community Center were drawn at random by moderator Steve Purvis, Huff’s Drug Store owner. Candidates were advised to keep their responses to two minutes or less. They also talked with attendees during a meet and greet session held before and after the event.
Questions posed to commissioner candidates Gary Engel, John Marshall and Tom Whatley involved such topics as how growth and housing issues should be handled.
Engel, a retired U.S. Army colonel and owner of Engelheim Vineyards, said commissioners need to listen to people, including local residents and builders, and “stay ahead” of the growth that’s going on.
“Planning is the key at all levels, (and) the tough part,” Engel said. “(We should) see if we can do this in a small way so we maintain some greenspace. We have to protect the natural resources while we do smart growth.”
Marshall, a Gilmer County native and retired insurance agent, said he’s involved with Gilmer County’s recent participation in the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing. Through the program, panels of representatives in five Georgia communities will develop plans for addressing housing needs in their counties.
“There are ways and resources out there that will not affect the pocketbooks of Gilmer County,” Marshall said. “We have to find a balance in everything. We can’t allow every tree to be cut. Neither can we infringe on people’s economic right to use their property as they would like.”
Whatley, a retired Florida detective who specialized in fraud cases, said he believes government needs to stay out of housing, which is a private industry. The county does need better policies for large subdivisions, he noted.
“I don’t think any developer should be able to come in and start bulldozing 200 acres,” Whatley said. “Growth is going to happen, but it needs to be managed. You’ve got to manage it and slow it down.”
Responding to a question that asked whether they would support altering or capping the county’s over-65 school tax exemption, district 5 school board candidates Jacob Callihan and Sam Snider both said they would not change the tax break.
“I don’t think 65 is the time to start adding taxes or go back to taxes for those folks,” said Snider, a longtime local educator who currently teaches at North Georgia Christian Academy.
“Our school system has healthy reserves. We vote in ESPLOST every time. We’re in a good position,” said Callihan, an owner of Cherry Log’s Pink Pig Restaurant.
Michele Penland was the lone district 4 school board candidate to speak at the forum. Purvis said incumbent candidate Michael Bramlett had to be at a Board of Education meeting that same evening.
Penland, a former Gilmer County educator and part of the Penland Apple House family, answered one question, which asked about critical race theory and sex education in the school system.
“That is very much a hot topic today. Currently our Gilmer board does not do CRT. If you would like to continue that, speak to your legislators because they are the ones making those policies the local agencies have to abide by,” she said.
Charlie Paris, who’s running unopposed in the race for county commission chairman, also addressed the forum crowd. Paris said those currently vying for Post 2 are one of the best groups of candidates the county has had in a long time.
“I can honestly say I could work very well with any one of them,” he added.
Paris said inflation is one of the biggest challenges the commissioners will face over the next four years.
“We’re already seeing it. It’s playing havoc with the budget, so we’re going to have some challenging times,” he added.
2022 Statewide election dates
May 24: Primary
June 21: Primary runoff
Nov. 8: General election
Dec. 6: General runoff