• Why are you running?

“Because I think that it is important that if someone can make a difference, that they do something about it. I came here 8 years ago and 4 years ago, bought the pottery shop. When I first came, the town appeared to be dying. There was about a 60% vacancy rates for the storefronts and we were in economic depression. I’ve always believed it was important to contribute to the quality of the environment around you. I’ve watched things get better. I was a founding member of the Downtown Development Authority and seen it help things get better. I’ve seen that in order for the town to grow, there must be flexibility in the way ordinances are interpreted. I don’t currently see a vision for the community. I want Ellijay to keep its small-town, friendly, fun flavor. There is a big difference between Blue Ridge and Ellijay. Ellijay is not a “Commericial Town”. It is a town where people live and play. I think some of the buildings need to be improved and some facades be replaced and renovated. I would like to hire a grant writer because there are thousands of grants out there. There’s no need to raise taxes when there are many grants out there. I am someone who can look at alternative resources”

• What are your qualifications? Any other posts in Local government?

“I am an attorney, I am not licensed in Georgia however. I handle appeals to criminal convictions based on constitutional issues in federal courts. My experience is in US district and federal courts. I was a US magistrate judge in South Florida during the Mariel boat-lift and the cocaine wars with a 0.1 skip rate on bonds. I moved to Montana and was a court of record judge for 9 years there. I took the court from disaster to one of the top courts in Montana. Went from 1 part-time employee to 6 employees. I have restored several houses and know how restoration can be used for positive growth without destroying ambiance of town.”

• What is one thing you hope to accomplish if (re)-elected

“I would like to be apart of the creation of a long-term vision that includes reasonable growth, encourage development and new businesses to grow. It would also include downtown living with an active night-live, which involves people living and working downtown. It isn’t centered around the bars, it is centered around the businesses. My vision involves having evening concerts and “Art Walks” as well as craft shows and things with the high school kids. We have a large latin population and by and large, they are not represented and aren’t in the community except to work. At the high school there are many bright students that are going to be this city in 5 years and be business owners and running for office and should be involved. The vision also includes change some of the travel routes for large trucks and more involvement for senior adults. The town has a voice of more than businesses but of children and senior adults.”

• What services, If any, would you take away or add to the city of ellijay?/Would you increase spending with any line item?

“I’m concerned about water usage. I would review ordinances to see what needs to be changed. If we can’t grow, let’s see if there is a way to grow. Let’s look at the whole picture and see if we can come up with the solution. I would also like to see electrical lines underground.”

• With added services, there comes a need to balance the budget, what would you do to balance the budget?

“I would review how revenue is being spent. I dealt with budgets when I was on the bench. I would take apart any budget and examine it. I think it would be a good idea to use a resort tax to bring in revenue. The more events in Ellijay, the more people that come, the more revenue collected. I also think parking meters in parking lots and on the street is a good idea, even if they are honor parking meters. “

• What sort of program(s) or policy(s) would you institute to encourage growth in Ellijay?

“The best thing to encourage growth is to make facilities and services available that will enable people to come in and build and expand businesses. We need to draw people to North and South Main Streets by various means be it benches, additional plainting, additional lighting, etc.”

• What sort of policies do you support dealing with the amount and type of liquor that can be dispensed in the city limits and

“I don’t have any personal feeling one way or the other on amount of type. I don’t want to see Ellijay turn in to a bar town. The key is balance between having every day businesses like grocery stores and dry cleaners and alcohol. I approve of the current restrictions at the state and local level.”

• Do you want only certain ways to dispense alcohol within the city limits?

“I think that bar-owners and servers should be the ones responsible for determining when someone has had too much. That is a concern when there are Bring Your Own Bottle policies.”

• Do you Support Sunday Liquor sales?

“I don’t support it or reject it. I am very neutral on Sunday Liquor sales. It is a benefit for the restaurants and with tourists, but not for locals. If you shut down liquor sales are shut down on Sunday, then town will be closed on Sunday.”

• Are you for any limitations as to where alcohol is sold?

“You have to look at it on a case by case basis. You can’t stroke it with a broad brush. You must listen to everyone that will be impacted by the liquor sales, but certainly not near schools.”