Gilmer County Election Results for Post 2 Commissioner Run-Off – FINAL
Election June 21, 2022
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Gilmer County’s election polls have closed and results are being tallied in the Probate Court Office of the Gilmer Courthouse. Polls closed at 7:00 p.m. and results are currently being tallied with Gilmer focused on the runoff for its Post 2 Commissioner position.
With only one local race remaining on the ballot. Citizens spent last week on early voting and today at the precinct locations. FYN will be updating this article as the night progresses and new results are collected. When concluded, the article will be updated with “FINAL” in the title.
Until then, county officials are continuing to work to complete the election night proceedings. Judge Scott Chastain has announced the results of early voting in-person and no precincts. Current results are as follows:
Post 2 Commissioner – 4,559 total votes
John Marshall – 3,028 votes / 66 %
Tom Whatley – 1,531 votes / 33 %
Whatley has offered his congratulations to Marshall in the Gilmer County Post 2 Commissioner election. He offered a statement saying, “It was hard fought and I think this county is now awake with regard to what they want for housing. I think the county is awake and going to pay more attention to Planning and Zoning meetings as well as Board of Commissioner meetings. I hope my supporters stay active and engaged. I hope every thing goes well.”
Post 2 Commissioner Elect John Marshall also offered a statement at the end of the night saying, “I am humbled at the outcome and highly grateful to everyone who supported us. Everyone has worked hard and been kind. I look forward to being able to serve the citizens of Gilmer County in the next four years.”
Post 2 candidates speak on runoff election in Gilmer
Election May 27, 2022
GILMER COUNTY, Ga. – Two candidates remain in Gilmer’s Post 2 Commissioner Election that will be once again asking for votes in the June. Candidates John Marshall and Tom Whatley remain on the campaign trail and took a moment to speak with FYN about Tuesday’s results and the coming month.
All three candidates have been thanking their supporters since Tuesday. Continuing to field calls and meet with citizens, it has been a busy week in the Gilmer’s local election cycle. Both remaining candidates have said they are looking ahead and were prepared for the possibility.
Candidate Tom Whatley said that it is a tall order not only to encourage people to vote for him, but even to get citizens to return to the polls on June 21, 2022. This sentiment was echoed by Candidate John Marshall who said that it is very important to get new supporters and to get those who did vote for him back out for the runoff election.
Many of those new supporters could be coming from the 1,346 votes for third candidate Gary Engel who will not be in the runoff election.
Whatley said he is working hard to show his values and to reach out to citizens who voted for Engel saying, “Gary and I were not that far apart in our ideals as far the administration of this county.”
Historically, runoff elections do no get as many voters in the runoff election, especially when only a single office remains on the ballot.
Marshall, too, is pushing to reach voters as he said he wanted any and all voters to come to the polls. Marshall said, “We’re going to convince as many people as we can that we’re the right choice for this seat.”
Even Gary Engel is urging citizens to return to the polls in June as he said the citizens need to informed about the candidates and to definitely vote again in June. Engel declined to endorse either of the remaining candidates but stressed the importance of citizens to exercise their vote as they select the next Post 2 Commissioner.
Engel stated, “The folks that voted for me are quite capable of making the determination of which one they want to vote for based on the positions of those two candidates. I don’t think I have that much influence.”
Engel offered his thanks to all his voters as he asked them to continue being informed and be engaged in the process.
The next step for the two remaining candidates doesn’t have a set debate or major event before June as of now. However, both candidates are strongly pushing in their own campaigns and said they weren’t going to be shifting their efforts or methods into the last leg of the primary election.
When asked about the runoff, Marshall stated, “We’re very excited about it. We’re not coming from behind. We’re focusing on getting our voters to return to the polls on June 21. Hopefully, we’ll be able to garner some of the votes of our opponents.”
When asked about the runoff, Whatley stated, “I’m going to stand by Keeping Gilmer Rural. I don’t want to shut down all of the growth but we need to get control of the growth.”
With no democrat having qualified, June 21 is likely to be the deciding election for Gilmer County in the Post 2 Commissioner race. The difference between the two candidates was 581 votes with John Marshall at 3,419 votes and Tom Whatley at 2,838 votes.
Election Results for Gilmer’s County Offices – May 24 Primary
Election, News May 24, 2022
GILMER COUNTY, Ga. – FINAL RESULTS: With election night completed, Gilmer will be going into a June runoff for the County Post 2 Commissioner position.
With 39.49 percent of Gilmer’s registered voters voting in the primary, the Gilmer Probate office issued the unofficial results of the 8,743 ballots cast.
County Offices
BOC Chairman
Charlie Paris – 6,664 votes – 100%
BOC Post 2 Commissioner
Gary Engel – 1,346 votes – 17.70%
John Marshall – 3,419 votes – 44.97%
Tom Whatley – 2,838 votes -37.33%
BOE Post 4
Michael Bramlett (I) – 4,089 votes – 50.82%
Michele Penland – 3,957 votes – 49.18%
BOE Post 5
Jacob Callihan – 4,728 votes – 59.83%
Sam Snider – 3,174 votes – 40.17%
An introductory interview with Post 2 Candidate Gary Engel
Election April 3, 2022
A 12-year resident of Gilmer County, Retired Army Colonel Gary Engel looks to his experiences, expertise, and the community for the Board of Commissioners and his campaign towards that office. That concept of that campaign is planning.
A graduate of the University of South Alabama and the ROTC program there, he later got a Master’s Degree from the United States Naval War College with a focus in National Security and Strategic Studies. He served as a Chief Operating Officer for all logistical operations while in Iraq and also served three years on the Army Science Board. In total, Engel served for 28 years in the Army.
After the Army, Engel joined Anteon and became Vice President before it was bought out by General Dynamics. Continuing work under the new company. In 2007, he bought the land to start Engelheim Vineyards. In 2014, they opened their tasting room after spending the initial time growing the grapes and making the wine. Now, Engel says his vineyard has grown to the largest vineyard in the county and one of the larger vineyards in the state of Georgia. Winning numerous awards and recognitions for the wines made their, the vineyard won Winery of the Year in 2018.
Gary also has recently served on the Board of Directors for the Florida-Georgia District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the Gilmer County Board of Tax Assessors, Gilmer Chamber Board of Directors, President of Georgia Wine Producers, and Chairman of the Georgia Wine and Grape Commodity Commission.
Stepping out from these other boards and looking ahead, Engel said it is through these experiences that he has garnered the qualifications to help guide the planning for Gilmer’s future. Getting ahead of the issues through proper planning and preparations will allow for a better path forward. Engel stated, “Most people don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan.”
Even with the strategies in place, Engel says that his plans have to incorporate contingencies and flexibility into them. Executing is far easier with the strategy set and room for response rather than going in blind. He speaks on defining success at the beginning of an issue or a project. What is the goal? What is the definition of that which the county wants to accomplish?
He spoke of housing and industry in the county. To achieve the goal of workforce housing, the county’s plan should include what that means because some people have a different definition of affordable in their budgets. With these defined goals and the support of the community for ideas and input, the county can achieve what the community needs.
Operating alongside the board, Engel says he hopes to protect the historic beauty of the county and respect those that have lived here all their lives while supporting all of the citizens’ needs.
Engel said that in office, he is there to serve and take care of the community. Just as his vineyard when he states, “It’s not my vineyard, it’s God’s vineyard. I get to take care of it for a while.”
He spoke about listening to God, the vines, and nature in caring for the vineyard. He made this comparison to be listening to the community in service to the board stating, “I don’t always have the greatest idea.” Engel explained that having many voices to listen to would be how he could gather the best ideas to plan for the county’s future, listening to the people and to God.
Engel stated, “Success has nothing to do with me. Success has to do with the people’s lives that I can touch.”
Supporting a community means improving the community. Engel specifically states “we” need to serve. He recalled a sort of mantra in his military service, “Always improve your position.” Bringing that forward, Engel asserted that we should always be improving the position of the county. Encouraging and incentivizing the youth to grow the community, building and attracting new businesses for jobs for the citizens, and providing a hand up to people will provide a cycle of improvement from the students to the workforce to industry to housing for students and workforce.
He acknowledged the major issue in Gilmer right now saying, “Some people say we need affordable housing. I say we need reasonable housing for our workforce.”
The county has improved greatly in recent years according to Engel. That success is being seen by those in other counties. As businesses grow, and major wear on the county’s infrastructure increases, one idea Engel said he wants to explore could be business impact fees with relation to the county’s resources, be they roads or other resources. Engaging with builders, businesses, owners, and people will allow for better planning and support from them. Working together is how we find new ways to address challenges.
Engel said that the county needs to look for these new ways to overcome challenges because, in the face of more financial needs, “we can’t tax the people in Gilmer County any more. They are taxed enough already.”
Growth can pose one of the greatest threats to the county without proper planning as Engel says developing the vision to guide the county into maintaining our quality of life. This could go so far as to include reserves for another potential market correction in real estate. When asked about the possibility, he said that the county could carefully maintain through that with new revenues supporting reserves and careful cognizance of spending.
However, these plans and strategies are one part of the whole as Engel said communication is key to a board like this. Not only internally but externally. Coming to a consensus and fully explaining and exploring situations on the BOC can also be supported through better communication with not only the other government entities but the businesses and community as well. Combining these ideas like new revenues, supporting reasonable housing, and better planning are further strengthened through the continued communication from all parts of the county, even on major issues like subdivisions and zoning. Some subdivisions, Engel stated, have been done well. Looking at the successes and communicating on how they were done can provide better plans to mitigate impact on the county’s resources and infrastructure.
Some long-term goals that Engel hopes to explore includes the idea of incorporating more community expertise through panels or meetings to better provide the information, details, and specifications on projects the county undertakes. Another concept would incorporate a county manager for Gilmer separate from the Board of Commissioners. Something he said he would look at later and possibly incorporating towards the end of term, he could see the board as a more policy and guidance entity with the County Manager reporting to them on day to day operations. The board could also have direct oversight over the position should a need arise for replacement instead of citizens waiting for elections to vote someone out.
While not a singular project or idea, Engel took a moment to stress the importance of Public Safety as well including first responders, law enforcement, and fire response. Maintaining these departments is important to the county as one of the largest in the state. Especially considering services needed for a growing population and for one of the best places in Georgia to retire.
Engel said, “I’d like everybody to understand that something that is important to me is honor.” Engel said it would not only be an honor to serve, but he hopes to bring honor and integrity to his service if elected to the Board of Commissioners.
An introductory interview with Post 2 Candidate Tom Whatley
Election April 3, 2022
A 22-year veteran of law enforcement and retired Police Detective in 2006, Tom Whatley was an experienced investigator in real estate and mortgage fraud. He said that during this time, “my weapon was a calculator.”
With his experience and community involvement, Whatley served on as Vice Chair on the Budget Advisory Board for seven years for his county in Florida. During those years, Whatley became well-versed in both the budgetary process, departmental line item requests, and financial investigation for the purpose of lowering budget costs. In seven years, this culminated in a $900 million reduction to excessive spending. With a four-year degree in legal studies, specific training in government financing, and the time to dedicate, Whatley said the commissioner position would be a full-time job that he hopes to wholly dedicate himself to.
After finally relocating to Gilmer County, a place he visited constantly as a child with his family, Whatley said that even when younger, he had thoughts that someday, he would come back to live here. Yet, old habits of community involvement followed him and he soon found himself back in government meetings like the cities of Ellijay and East Ellijay, county meetings, and Planning and Zoning. This time, he wasn’t on the boards, but a citizen listening, even to city councils that he couldn’t vote for.
Whatley said this was the early stages, when he spoke in meetings it would lead to others recognizing him in town. From there, it turned into full conversations and meetings with citizens, and that lead to the formation of Keep Gilmer Rural. Pushing for protections to agriculture and the rurality of the county, this became a place that he said he wanted to offer for the discourse and planning to pursue that.
As the organization has grown, Whatley said that some have gotten the idea that he is opposed to affordable housing. Whatley said he isn’t, adding that if a builder can build an affordable house, then go for it. He offered up a quick number estimation with a price per square footage anywhere from $130 to $150 per square foot, saying that would make it affordable. But the developers and builders “are not in the charity business.” Building that profit from one project funds the capital for the next project. In addition, the government can’t step in to deny certain people from purchasing homes just because they don’t live in county. He also voiced opinions against mandated Section 8 housing.
Whatley said, “Anytime the government gets involved in housing, it never turns out well. It is never utopic.”
With zoning however, he said he wants to avoid the policies of big cities and small lots or “zero lot lines” that encourage massive density. A lot of these issues come down to location and impact to your neighbors, with an idea that there are spaces for a lot of what people want. But there major exceptions to the rule like 300 houses on 200 acres, the density causes effects on neighbors, the land, the resources, and the infrastructure.
Whatley stated about the county, “I want to keep its old town charm, keep it the way it is. Slow the growth, you can’t stop the growth.” He added that as a commissioner, he wouldn’t want to alter the current residential zonings from where they are now between R1 and R5.
It’s a nationwide issue that Whatley said is highlighted right now in Gilmer. The growth, housing, zoning, and rural nature of Gilmer is the biggest issues facing that county according to Whatley. But it isn’t the only things he is looking at as he said he believes the county is likely to see another bubble pop like in 2010. Looking ahead at decreasing property values and decreasing property taxes, the quick sales and recessionary type economy, an excessive abundance in the inventory could be a possible outcome. Every county gets affected by property values. Whatley said now is the time to beef up.
That beefing up comes with squaring away certain departments. The county has been building the road department, public safety, and other areas with great needs. That is necessary, and saving reserves is necessary. Whatley noted that if the county has extra money, it doesn’t have to spend it all. The county has built reserves in recent years, something Whatley is encouraging and pushing to have in preparations for leaner years. Whatley points to his years in budgetary finances and investigations as experience in the area saying that he wants to be a stickler about financing and providing for the needs and building the county where necessary and beneficial, but also looking to be a part of the county’s efforts to prepare and budget wisely to provide for the future.
Boards are not just about one man’s experience and expertise, though, as Whatley said he sees teamwork at work in the board already. He noted the recent moratorium on housing developments. He recalled how the limit on number of houses was not originally agreed upon but the board discussed and negotiated. Whatley said that this is a simple example but shows how a board works together for better results and how important communications, negotiations, and discourse are to their operations as well as supporting the board’s final decision.
Whatley also used this example as a basis for another idea to a change in land use. He said that the massive citizen opposition to the mega developers has met a response that not every development has to even come before a board. Whatley said he would support an ordinance to have any planned development over a certain number of homes having to come before Planning and Zoning for approval.
Whatley spoke about increasing civilian committees in the county to support the board’s decisions. Whatley said, “Sometimes the county commissioners have great ideas in their head. If you look out and there is 50, 60, 100 people out there in that audience, a lot of them have some great ideas and they don’t get to express them. I would love to hear great ideas from the community on how to run this county. And that could be through different assignments, different committees, on different projects.”
Another major change he would like to see down the road is the incorporation and separation of a county manager from the Board of Commissioners. Whatley said that with the current chairman’s announcement that this would be a final term, he has done great work in what has been accomplished. Whatley said he could see the board working towards a county manager as the term concludes so that the transition could occur simultaneously with the next election. Establishing the board as the guiding force while having the manager report back to them the same as department heads currently do. Whatley said that he would want to pursue this later in the term as he has his vision set forward and hopes to see the county’s future continue improving similar to what it has seen.
If elected, Whatley said he still has a lot of people he wants to talk to about the ideas of the county both that he has thought about and that they have in mind. Continuing to attend county meetings, he said he has learned a lot in all the meetings he has attended, but has a lot more to learn about so that, if elected, he could transition into office easily and ready to hit the ground running without delay. He is excited for an opportunity to affect the county in a positive way.
Whatley said that major issues in the county are key points in his campaign for office, such as keeping Gilmer as rural as possible, protecting the 2nd Amendment Sanctuary status, and guiding “smart growth” in the coming years.
An introductory interview with Post 2 Candidate John Marshall
Election April 3, 2022
After attending Georgia State University in Risk Management, John Marshall went further in his education to become a Charted Property and Casualty Underwriter. He also has served on numerous boards and appointments in the county including time spent on the Gilmer Chamber Board of Directors where he also served as Chairman at one point and on the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission Council as House Speaker David Ralston’s Appointee.
Marshall said he has been attending the county’s meetings for the last five years and found the county’s proceedings very interesting. With a wealth of knowledge from his time served in several different facets of the county, he felt this is the next step to consolidate all of that experience and information to serve the county and the community in guiding its path moving forward. He added that his goal is to keep that forward motion a positive motion while protecting the county’s natural resources.
Marshall said he never had a singular moment or event that pushed him into running for Post 2 Commissioner. Instead, through his continued service to the county in several different capacities, he is simply continuing along that path with this next opportunity.
The county has been very blessed with visitors in the tourism industry. Marshall said that this is no mistake as the county has worked hard to accomplish the goal and market itself. With that success has come attention and needs. With that, one of the needs the county currently faces is housing for working people. With his current job being the operation of rental property, Marshall said he has seen, first hand, the increasing need. He noted he has about 150 calls every month from people looking for a decent, clean place to live. Marshall went on to say that multi-family housing like duplexes, triplexes, and even apartments are a need the community faces as a whole. Not just one government entity, city limit, or county limit.
Programs like the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing aid communities with information and insight on what provisions and investors are available for specific housing needs. Marshall said taking opportunities to garner information and assets is one way for the county to further explore solutions for that need.
The need reaches further as Marshall said without sufficient housing, it hinders solutions to other problems like staffing in the county. When it comes to fully staffing operations like public safety, emergency response, law enforcement, or even teachers, Marshall said, “There are people who would come here, but they can’t because there is no place here to live.”
Through other issues like pay and infrastructure, Marshall said the debt provides other challenges. Tackling challenges like this is part of the job for commissioners. Marshall said that the current board has done “an extraordinary job of managing the budgets and taking all of the requests and fulfilling them as best they can.”
Having attended all the budget sessions last year and several over the past few years, Marshall has gained some insight into that process and the work the board has done. He complimented that work and said he looks to continue that hard work if elected. He stated, “We need to continue seeking revenues that don’t directly affect the pocketbooks of Gilmer County citizens.”
Through business experience and government entities experience, Marshall has specific comprehension of budgets and the need for economic development in the county while never taking eyes off of expenditures, but also revenues.
Operating throughout the pandemic, Marshall notes that Gilmer has benefitted economically and continues to take steps to constantly improve that. Increasing the hotel/motel tax is one of those steps that will open new doors and opportunities such as tourism product development. Because of his Chamber involvement, Marshall said that he has seen the potential for what this can accomplish while still supporting the involved entities.
And those projects can also vary and benefit locals in addition to tourists through projects like recreational facilities. This is a specific area that Marshall said is another need he sees in the county for its citizens. Improved and new facilities can increase the community’s quality of life. With the transient lodging tax, an example is provided and Marshall spoke of revenues from outside of Gilmer’s citizens through targeting visitors and tourists. Expanding these revenue streams will help to diversify the economic development of the county as well.
Attracting industry and supporting projects like agritourism, agricultural development, small businesses, and industry development with projects like CORE (Collaboration at River’s Edge) become key points in that hope to diversify and expand.
Marshall stated, “Our identity as a rural area is protected in large part because roughly 75 percent of the county is either owned by the federal government, the state government, or those lands are already in conservation use, meaning they are not going to be developed immediately.”
Marshall also spoke to the topic of subdivisions saying that new developments take a very long time to develop and fill up. He noted that Walnut Mountain and Coosawattee River Resort, both developed decades ago, are still only “half full” in terms on houses built on lots. In terms of government involvement, Marshall noted that the Board of Commissioners has directed the Planning and Zoning Board to review all of the land use ordinances and to recommend any changes that may be needed. He stated, “That needs to be a very broad and deliberate and slow process to get it all because it affects, virtually, everyone in the county.”
Working together with the other board members is another key part to the county’s operations. Marshall noted that his ideas are not always the best and so he hopes to listen to the community for guidance. Marshal stated, “I want to be that commissioner that listens to everyone and treats everyone with utmost respect and kindness.”
The community involves the citizens, but also the other entities as Marhsall said it is important for all facets of the county’s governments to seek solutions together instead of in “individual silos.” He also asserted that this stretches across all general topics whether they be recreation, economy, or other.
In the community of citizens, Marshall said he hopes to build consensus and coalition among disparate groups. Through training and discourse he hopes to be the commissioner who listens in order to sees the unintended consequences that each county decision could have and understanding the impact. In serving the citizens, he says he is very much looking forward to making the business of government as efficient and effective as possible.
Maintaining the relationships from his previous service in the county and the region and stepping into county office, it will not simply bring his experience but a history of collaboration to the position.
Working on behalf of the community means balancing the tourism and development for economic drivers with non-tourism agriculture, citizens, and the future of the county. Tourism serves the county economically and the citizens support that tourism in business and service. Marshall said, “I am a fiscal conservative and have always been. I am going to be that commissioner who is constantly looking at using the taxpayer’s money wisely and prudently. I want to be that commissioner who is constantly seeking answers to the problems we have by looking at how other communities have handled similar issues.”
Post 2 Commissioner Karleen Ferguson says no plans to run again
Election, Featured Stories, News December 12, 2021
GILMER COUNTY, Ga. – With questions and considerations coming for next year’s elections in Gilmer, the question falls to those on the Board deciding if they will run for re-election or not. Post 2 Commissioner Karleen Ferguson has spoken out on the subject saying, “At this time I do not plan on running for Post 2 Commissioner.”
Gilmer has seen changes since Ferguson first came to office including the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, changes to the Land Use Ordinance, implementing the county’s River Ordinance, and increases in developments and residential discussions of zonings.
With the opportunity to run and continue her service, Ferguson commented on her current position to stay out of the race saying, “When I first came into office I had much more flexibility in my career. At the time I was a rep for a nutrition company for 20 years that allowed me very flexible hours allowing me to start Stay Active Ellijay and still have time for my Commissioner responsibilities.”
Post 2 Commissioner Karleen Ferguson
As that company restructured and the outbreak brought changes including the closing of Stay Active Ellijay, Ferguson has seen many changes in her personal life as well.
Ferguson indicated these life changes have also changed her ability to serve and find time. She still has a child in college and has also had her family increase with new grandchildren. As such, she stated an increasing desire to also find more time with them, her farm, and her marriage. She stated, “It has been challenging for Robert, my husband, and for my children to endure me serving. Anywhere I go around town residents come up to me with concerns and many voice their opinions on social media and of course the negative ones are very hurtful to those that love me. I signed up to serve in this way, but they didn’t.”
Transitioning out of the county position will still take all of 2022 as her final year, but she has already looked to the future taking a position with Talona Ridge RV Resort team. She stated, “After meeting the Talona Ridge RV Resort team and understanding their vision and desire to be part of our community I knew I would be a good fit and they offered me the job as their Events & Activities Coordinator. They completely understood my responsibilities to serve as Post 2 Commissioner was my first priority after my family and they have been incredibly flexible with all the “special called meetings” etc. that are part of being a Commissioner in this county. Even though they have been incredibly flexible it’s a lot to have a full time job and serve as a Commissioner in this county.”
Ferguson also serves on the Board of Directors for the Fannin/Gilmer Habitat for Humanity. She said, “I look forward to bringing awareness to Gilmer County of this incredible organization.”
Additionally, she said she wants to continue support for Georgia Mountain Trail Partnership, “which is a local non-profit that supports and advocates for all of our trail systems including hiking, biking, equestrian, water etc. God has given us these beautiful mountains and rivers and I’ll always be passionate about protecting them.”
Yet, all of 2022 stands between now and the county’s next potential Post 2 Commissioner. In her final year, Ferguson still has projects she wants to see completed before she steps down. From the pool and continued improvements for River Park to affordable housing, she said she still has ideas for the county. She noted concepts like a stage at the park saying, “I can see concerts down there for families and a place for the baseball players to gather after their parade… I’m very excited that our community businesses want to help in this endeavor.”
A part of the housing team that applied for grants, Ferguson said that housing and the GICH Grant are also tasks she hopes to tackle moving forward.
While her statement only offered her feelings at this time, Gilmer’s Post 2 Commissioner is already set to continue on in Gilmer County in 2022 and onward, even if not in a county commissioner’s seat.