Ellijay Mayor Candidates Interviews

FYN Reports Recently sat down with all candidates running for public office in the City of Ellijay

Canidates For Mayor

Al Hoyle-Did Not Respond
-Did Not Respond

Jerry Davis

• -Why are you running?

“I’m running to make a difference. I’m at a point in my life, where I can give back now and that’s what I want to do.”

 

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

“I’m on the Board of Tax Assessors. I’ve coached youth sports for many years. I’m also a business owner.”

 

 

• What is one thing you hope to accomplish if elected?

I’ve got a plan. Ellijay has no identity. We have the greatest natural resources over any county in North Georgia, because we have 3 rivers that come right through our city limits. I want to bring the citizens of Ellijay together for the common good. The rivers are a great natural resource, which we are doing nothing to take advantage of them. We should do a paved, lit, multi-use Riverwalk from Harrison Park to River Street and North of Harrison Park as well, which will probably take 5 to 10 years, but it something to shoot for. We can accomplish it in segments and get around 80% of it paid by grants and other funds. We don’t want to take people’s land, but give folks tax benefits in exchange for land. People want to help out. I commend the current city council and mayor Al Hoyle, but its time for a change. Just look at how many people are running for Mayor and council. Jasper and Blue Ridge both have a plan. It may take a while, but we can make this work. I want to become known as a “man with plan.”

 

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

“I support the Fire and Police department. Extra taxes have benefitted ISO ratings because of the extra fire and police protection. Use a Retired police force for events, which offers service to new folks in the city and long-time residents too.”

 

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

“You can’t just go look at figures that the city currently has. If and when new businesses come to downtown and as we begin to redevelop downtown, it will take care of itself.”

 

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

 

“I would have a developer to come into Ellijay to do a feasibility study and let them come up with a plan for the development and growth of Ellijay. Once this plan is in place, every citizen in Ellijay can look at it. This will help us to decide what path to go on. We should form an Ellijay Chamber of Commerce to work in conjunction with our county chamber and the City of East Ellijay. I want to help bring the local people back into events held on the square.”

 

 

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

“Everything needs to be handled on an individual basis.”

 

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

“By the drink and there’s no reason why we can’t have a package store here.”

 

 

• Do you Support Sunday Liquor sales?

“Everyone has a choice on what they want to do. It doesn’t bother me, but it detracts from what Sunday is supposed to be. If Sunday liquors sales were abolished, it wouldn’t hurt my feelings, but we are living in the day and time that you could get it somewhere else, so might as well put that revenue to good use.”

 

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

 

“No. Really any place you are going to have to disapprove of it, is the churches and schools, which I can respect and see why they have objections because they don’t children to be exposed to those elements.”