Ellijay City Council: Scott McBride

• Why are you running?

 

“Now that I’ve retired I’ve become a professional volunteer. I want to help set a change in town. We’re moving in the right direction, but it’s time for some new ideas.”

 

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

“ I have no political experience, but I have served the community by serving on Walnut Mountain Property Association Board. I was also a founding member of Coosawatte Watershed Alliance and have served as vice-president on Gilmer Arts and Heritage Association’s board. I have also served as a trustee on Ellijay First United Methodist Church Trustee Board.”

 

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

“I hope to see more residential housing in Downtown Ellijay within walking distance of downtown. As we age, we can still enjoy events downtown without having to drive a long way. This will also increase the variety of businesses that come to downtown (grocery stores, residential services). My plan is for the economic impact to go beyond residential, but will reach out to businesses as well.”

 

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

 

“I think all services need to be reviewed. We need to look at the budget to see if things are feasible. We should also make sure services aren’t redundant.”

 

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

“Reducing a service to increase a service, so taxes don’t increase or a service is not eliminated. Increased residential housing will increase revenues and increase of business will draw services, so that is another way to add revenue. I don’t intend to add services that would increase taxes.”

 

 

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

“We need to decide on Ellijay’s identity and we need to think about industry when building our tax base. We need to focus on tourism and need to train the children in our school system in the hospitality industry. We should focus our education system on training our children to work in the tourism industry.”

 

 

 

• 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 favor increasing the area of where the liquor can be served. It will increase the tax base and increase the amount of businesses coming into the downtown area.”

 

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

“I think liquor should be served by the drink. I also have no problems with liquor stores within the community.”

 

 

• Do you Support Sunday Liquor sales?

“Yes”

 

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

“Within the limitations of the state regulations; Our city regulations are more stringent than our state limitations. We should revisit the city’s regulations and take a look at them. I do support expanded sales of alcohol.”