Four seek to lead Franklin County Board of Commissioners

The Franklin County Citizen Leader submitted a list of questions for candidates qualified to run in the May 21 primary. The answers to those questions were used to write a profile of the candidate. The questions were: 

1. What experience (professional, personal or service) do you feel best qualifies you and will serve you best in the position you seek?

2. Growth has been a big topic in Franklin County of late. What are your feelings on how to manage residential, commercial and industrial growth in our county?

3. Other than growth, what is the number one challenge facing Franklin County? What is the best way to deal with that challenge?

4. What will be your top short-term goal to get accomplished within the first year of your term? How will you get it done?

5. Give four longer-term goals that you would like to see the county accomplish by the end of your term.

6. If elected, you will chair a board of commissioners with little experience – the most experience on the board will be two years, what will you do to be prepared for that challenge and what will you do to lead the board in this time of change and big challenges?

7. If you had a chance to speak one-on-one with each registered voter in the county, what would you say to secure his or her vote?Candidates were also asked to provide information about background, education, past service in government or with community organizations, church and family.

 

Courtney Long

By Shane Scoggins

Publisher

 

CARNESVILLE – Courtney Long said she has put in the work to lead the Franklin County Board of Commissioners as chairman and is the most qualified person for the job because of that effort.

“In recent years, I have been deeply involved in community service, serving on several committees like the UDC reform committee and the parental advisory council for our school system,” Long said. “I am the current Planning and Zoning Commissioner for District 3. This diverse experience has allowed me to understand many of the challenges we are facing and I’m already working on solutions. With respect to the other candidates, I have the most experience.”

Long said that experience will be very important since the board of commissioners in January will have a new chairman, two newly elected commissioners and the two most senior commissioners will have just two years of experience.

“We cannot afford to elect a chair who is not familiar with the way our government works,” she said. “This is not a time for on-the-job training. I know the UDC inside and out. I know our county zoning map like the back of my hand. Can the other candidates say that? No. It’s something they will eventually learn if they are elected and I have worked with these documents for years. This is not the time for a chair who will learn as they go. Of course, there will be a learning curve but I am more prepared than the others to lead this board. If you watch the recent forum video, you will plainly see who has worked for this position and who hasn’t.  My background in agriculture, business, and finance comes from running my own business for 17 years, along with the coursework I completed for my ag degree at Athens Technical College. These things, along with my actual experience with this type of work, make me the ideal candidate.”

Long is a native and lifelong resident of Franklin County, graduating Franklin County High School in 2005.

She is the oldest daughter of Mark and Donna Ledford and has been married to high school sweetheart Jeremy Long for 17 years. The couple has two children, Nathan and Sydney.

Long is a graduate of Athens Technical College with a degree in applied science in agriculture, which also required management, leadership and financial courses. She has a specialty in animal science and a partial degree in biotechnology. 

The family attends Cedar Grove Baptist Church where Long is a singer on the praise and worship team. 

“I firmly believe much of my life has prepared me to lead our next board of commissioners as the chair,” she said. “I have lived in Franklin County all of my life. There is nowhere else I’d rather live and this passion I have fuels my desire to protect and lead our home in the years to come. I graduated from Franklin County High School in 2005 before attending Athens Tech College. My degree is in applied science in agriculture. This education has helped my husband and me run our small business and is crucial in understanding the economics of our primarily agriculture county.”

Long said that balancing economic development with the preservation of Franklin County’s distinct character and natural assets requires a careful approach. 

“Implementing comprehensive zoning laws will effectively designate specific areas for growth while maintaining control,” she said. “For instance, limiting industrial expansion along the I-85 corridor to a half-mile boundary until demand makes it necessary to reevaluate. Similarly, restricting multifamily developments to municipalities helps concentrate growth while preserving rural landscapes. Also, we must be very careful in selecting industries to ensure they align with our county’s capacity and values. By leveraging existing resources wisely, we can manage growth responsibly without overburdening our infrastructure or taxpayers. As a board, our decisions should never impose undue financial strain on residents.”

Infrastructure is the greatest challenge for the county outside of growth, she said.

“As growth along the I-85 corridor intensifies and industrial demands increase, our current infrastructure will struggle to keep pace,” Long said. “The looming issue of water scarcity is particularly pressing, with our reliance on external sources highlighting the urgency of sourcing from Lake Hartwell.” 

The need for water impacts the county’s sewer capacity, “exacerbating challenges in managing wastewater effectively,” she said.

“Also, our emergency services are under-equipped to handle the demands of large-scale developments,” Long said. “The absence of essential resources such as ladder trucks and full-time firefighters leaves us vulnerable in addressing fire incidents when it comes to large structures. As your chair, I will lead the board is developing plans to address these issues.”

Long’s long-term goals center around planning, financial stability, revising the Unified Development Code and those water needs.

The candidate said she wants the board of commissioners to establish short-term and long-term goals using current trends and potential future scenarios.

“We can increase our understanding and planning, adapting our goals based on evolving statistics and current observation,” she said. “By envisioning the county’s trajectory over the next five, 10, 20 years we can effectively anticipate emerging needs and opportunities. We need to develop rules and regulations that serve as proactive safeguards, ensuring that we are equipped to address future contingencies to protect us in the future.”

Long said the county is currently feeling the fallout of poor planning in the past decades. 

“We cannot do the same to those who come after us,” she said. “We should not be scrambling to develop a plan. We need to think of the big picture and long-term implications. I will lead our board to do that. We will finish solving the problems leftover from the past and begin to be proactive toward our future. We will not only think about how our decisions affect us today, we will think about how they affect our children tomorrow. Anticipation is the name of the game. As a county, we have been unprepared and faced problem after problem as a result. I will lead our board to be ready and waiting, solving problems before they arrive not after they have come and gone.”

Achieving a level of financial stability will allow the county to provide competitive salaries for its employees, she said.

“Despite the cost of living adjustments, we remain among the counties offering some of the lowest salaries,” Long said. “There are many ways this can be addressed and I will explore ideas with our board.”

The county “must remain dedicated” to refining the UDC to address existing and potential issues in the law, she said.

“While the UDC is designed as a ‘living document,’ continually evolving alongside the county’s changes, there are pressing matters that demand immediate attention,” Long said. “These adjustments could mark the distinction between preserving our identity and veering off course. The document was originally written as a generic framework and requires ongoing customization to reflect the unique needs of Franklin County. Despite previous modifications, made by involved citizens to whom we are grateful, there’s still work to be done to ensure coherence and effectiveness. Our focus lies in eliminating loopholes, resolving contradictions and streamlining regulations to prevent unnecessary burdens on citizens in terms of time and finances.”

Long said she wants to start the preliminary steps to draw water for the county’s needs out of Lake Hartwell, saying it will reduce “our county’s reliance on external water providers. Presently, we rely on purchases from Toccoa and Lavonia to supplement, emphasizing the urgency of addressing this critical infrastructure requirement.”

Improving collaboration and trust between all of the boards in Franklin County will be Long’s primary short-term goal, she said.

“Recognizing that the actions of one board can impact others, it’s essential for us to maintain awareness of each other’s activities and consider the ripple effects of our decisions,” she said. “Alignment on what is best for the county as a whole is key, emphasizing our shared responsibility as stewards of Franklin County. As chair, I am committed to remaining informed about the needs and objectives of other boards and ensuring transparent communication to keep everyone aware of potential challenges and opportunities we may encounter.”

Long said she is the most prepared candidate to lead the board through its current challenge.

“I am committed to maintaining a high level of knowledge and staying up to date on the latest developments in the county as well as the state level,” she said. “This, along with my current experience, will allow me to lead our board.  I intend to pursue certifications and actively seek educational opportunities to enhance my understanding. By continuously expanding my knowledge in as many areas as possible, I aim to better support and assist my fellow members, ensuring informed decision-making and effective governance.”

Long said she would tell voters that a vote for her on May 21 is a vote to ensure that their voices are heard and that Franklin County’s community will thrive while maintaining “the small town feel we all love.”

“Growing up in Franklin County, I have been deeply rooted in this community,” she said. “I grew up on a small farm in the Plainview community. For the past 17 years I’ve owned and operated Long Farms, all while actively participating in community service and committees like the UDC reform committee and the school system’s parent advisory council. Currently serving as the District 3 Planning and Zoning Commissioner, I’ve dedicated myself to our county’s well-being, always seeking opportunities to learn and grow. Franklin County is more than just a place – it’s home, where my family’s roots run deep. I’m committed to preserving our county’s unique identity while fostering prosperity and innovation. With your support, I’m eager to continue serving and leading Franklin County towards a bright future that honors our heritage and values. I’ve had a chance to talk to many of you about your vision for our home and I am grateful for your support. If you want to talk to me but haven’t, I’d love to meet and earn your vote in person.”

 

Colt Hart

SANDY CROSS – Colt Hart said his is running for chairman of the Franklin County Board of Commissioners to keep the county moving in the right direction.

“The main purpose I seek this position is to keep Franklin County moving in the right direction for the current tax paying citizens, for my children, your children, and the future generations,” he said in an announcement posted on Facebook. “I want to ensure that our children have the opportunities and resources available to them that you and I have been fortunate enough to have and more. Franklin County is our home and it is important we do our part to maintain, improve, and protect it.”

A lifelong resident of Franklin County and Sandy Cross, Hart is the son of Mark and Tammy Hart.

He and wife LeAnna have five children and own and operate a chicken and beef cattle farm. The family also operates the Flat Creek Rodeo. 

The family are active members of Danielsville Evangelical Church. 

“I am a Bible believing Christian, husband, father, volunteer fireman, and farmer,” he said. “Agriculture has been my passion since I was young.”

Hart has served on the Georgia Farm Bureau Board as the state’s Young Farmer and Rancher Chair. 

“As a generational resident of Franklin County, I have seen growth and change, both good and bad. In this day and time we live in I believe growth is inevitable,” he said. “However, it is important new growth occurs in areas suitable to withstand the need, and particularly best serve the community as a whole.  My decision to seek election as Board of Commission Chair was not made lightly for me. I would appreciate your support and humbly ask for your vote May 21, 2024.”

 

Joe Greene

By Shane Scoggins

Publisher

 

RED HILL – Business experience, previous service on the Franklin County Board of Education and leadership of the Franklin County’s firefighters all make Joe Greene the best candidate to chair the county commissioners, the candidate said.

“I am no stranger to big challenges,” Greene said. “As a Franklin County BOE member for three terms and board chair for nine-plus years, I am convinced that I possess the experience and knowledge required to lead a board with less experience. I was part of the BOE that successfully struggled through the recession and budget crisis of 2007-10. During my current term as president of the Franklin County Firefighters’ Association, our leadership committee was able to work closely with the county commissioners to complete a state-of-the-art fire training facility in Franklin County. This facility is now the envy of northeast Georgia.”

Greene, a native of Doraville, has lived in Red Hill since 1985 and has a small cattle operation.

He attended the University of Georgia, majoring in business finance and economics and is retired from the refuse equipment industry. 

Greene served 12 years as a member of the Franklin County Board of Education, including nine as chairman.

He is a past president of the Franklin County FFA Alumni, as well as past president of the Georgia FFA Alumni Association. 

He currently serves as chief of the Red Hill Volunteer Fire Department and is president of the Franklin County Firefighters’ Association.

Greene and wife Melissa attend Allens Methodist Church, where he serves as church council chair. The Greenes have two grown children, Patrick and Emily, and four grandchildren.

“I possess extensive professional business experience, having managed both large and small enterprises in both the automotive and heavy equipment industries,” he said. “I have overseen employee staffs numbering from five employees up to 25, while staying within budget requirements and meeting, and exceeding, revenue projections.”

Greene said he is certain his 12 years on the board of education, including nine years as chair, will translate well to the job of commission chair.

“The Franklin County BOE is the largest employer in our county, with a budget much larger than the current county budget,” he said. “During the economic downturn of 2006-10, our school system went through some very difficult times. Facing many difficult decisions, the board was able to lead the system forward and continue to provide an excellent education to our students. During my time on the BOE, we completed three new school buildings, under budget. I was honored to help lead a wonderful team of school board members to accomplish difficult goals.”

Greene said that the county must manage the growth that is coming.

“The key word in this question is very well asked, how do we ‘manage’?” he said. “That is the key to the growth that is surely coming to us in Franklin County. We must manage this growth; we cannot let the growth manage us. We must look to the areas north and south of Franklin County and learn from their mistakes, as well as their successes. That said, Franklin County is not the same as its surrounding counties. We must tailor our efforts to manage this growth to match the wants and needs of our current residents.” 

Planning is important for the county, he said.

“Besides growth, I believe that the number one challenge facing the county is the lack of a real, substantial comprehensive plan for both the short-term and long-term objectives of Franklin County,” Greene said. “I keep hearing of the 2019 Comprehensive Plan but have not heard it referenced in any meeting that I have attended. We cannot get to where we want to be without knowing what our goals are and how we are to reach those goals. Dealing with this challenge will be my number one goal in my first year.”

The county can’t effectively deal with growth without a “well thought out and vetted” comprehensive plan, Greene said.

“Oftentimes, different groups have different goals,” he said. “What may seem like a success to one group could be a detriment to another. We all have to be on the same page, looking toward the same goal in order that Franklin County will be successful.

My top short-term goal is to have all the stakeholders within the county: the county commission, the IBA, the chambers of commerce, city and county leaders and interested citizens to sit down together, regularly. By doing this, we can be certain that each active group within the county is striving toward a common, comprehensive goal.”

Greene said he is interested in seeing the results of a resident survey being conducted by the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission. 

“These survey results will be instrumental in preparing a comprehensive plan to going forward in the future of Franklin County,” he said. “The combination of the GMRC survey, along with the input of the county stakeholders will bring great strides towards managing the oncoming growth into the county, while maintaining the Franklin County way of life that we all love.”

Greene said his longer-term goals are to review the county commission’s relationship with all other county boards and authorities, to expand the tax revenue base at each exit on I-85, to implement the county’s new radio system for emergency services and to renovate, expand or replace the county jail.

“My vast experience notwithstanding, my first steps as commission chair will be to begin the process of team building, working to build a board that can work well together,” he said of his plans to lead what will be an inexperienced board of commissioners. “There will always be differences, and those differences are welcomed. Differences lead to conversation. Conversations lead to understanding. Understanding leads to progress. I am not so naive to suppose that I will know everything about the commission chair position on the first day, but I am certain that no one will be more prepared for the new job than I.”

To convince voters to cast ballots for him, Greene points to his experience and availablilty to serve.

“With my years of business and governmental training and experience, I am confident that I am the right person at the right time to lead the Franklin County Board of Commissioners,” he said. “I do not come seeking this position with any prearranged agenda or purposes. My sole reason for running for this office is my firm belief that I, with input from all factions of the Franklin population, can help lead this county through the challenges that lie ahead and come successfully into a bright future. As a retired person, I am able to be a “full time” commissioner, available most any time where the commission chair will be needed. Further, I hope to be able to establish regular office hours to be available to the citizens of Franklin County. They say that growth is coming, like it or not. I do believe that growth is coming. When that growth is successfully managed, Franklin County will see not simply growth, but we will have progress. Progress that will also keep Franklin County the home that we love.”

 

Nic McFarlin

By Shane Scoggins

Publisher

 

CARNESVILLE – Nic McFarlin said his well-rounded, diverse background will allow him to do the job of chairman of the Franklin County Board of Commissioners well.

“My faith, work experience and generational devotion to our county will be to your service and, most importantly, to the service of those who will come after,” he said.

McFarlin grew up in the Mize community, attended Carnesville Elementary School and graduated from Stephens County High School. 

After working in a family business early in life, he worked in the construction industry and has worked in truck dealerships for the last 19 years, during which he rose from service advisor to management to sales to his current position as a fleet account representative.

McFarlin and his wife Gabbie bought a home in Carnesville in 2016 and opened Mama Mac’s in downtown Carnesville in 2023 after renovating a vacant building.

“Before anything else, I must mention my devotion to my savior Jesus,” McFarlin said. “I am a follower of Christ and all of my decisions and personal relationships are grounded in my desire to follow Him, live like Him and treat others in the way He calls. There is not a decision I will make as your chair that would not first be considered in prayer and in my understanding of God’s direction. I think leaders can only meet their full potential when they are in Christ.”

McFarlin’s diverse employment experience began as a working man.

“Through hard work I advanced to management and oversaw the tripling in size of my department, continually surpassing our profit goals,” he said. “I have led a team to success while maintaining a budget and building relationships. I will do the same for our county.

McFarlin said he and his wife’s work to establish Mama Mac’s in Carnesville turned a vacant downtown building into a thriving business. 

“I’d like to think my family has played a special role in the rejuvenation of Carnesville,” he said. “This experience gave me the opportunity to succeed while operating on a very small budget, learn local regulations and work with our elected officials.”

 Improving communication will be McFarlin’s first goal as chairman, he said.

The candidate said he wants to build an open line of communication with regional and state officials “to ensure we are recognized for potential opportunities in agritourism, small business, industry, lake accessibility and are receiving proper resources to complement our county’s vision of smart growth. I want to make it very clear to external forces not only the things we don’t want but the things we do. We cannot, and should not say no to every idea for growth but you, the people, will have the final word. I will make your voice heard as far and wide as possible.”

Longer-term, McFarlin’s goals are to achieve a common vision and action plan with other government entities and enact an action plan via the Unified Development Code and Comprehensive Plan; to provide added resources for police, fire, EMS and First Responders; to provide resources to revitalize the county courthouse and downtown areas; and to work to enhance and strengthen agriculture and conservation footprint through planning and zoning while aiding small business sustainment and development.

Planning is important when dealing with growth, he said.

“We need to work diligently and proactively in planning to discourage developments in the rural areas of the county,” McFarlin said. “Residential developments will be a strain on the tax digest, county taxpayers and countywide infrastructure. Surrounding counties have experienced the negative effects and are taking action, sadly too late. Fortunately, we have the ability to act before we are overrun and become a highly taxed bedroom community.”

The county needs to be “very selective” with industrial and commercial growth, he said.

“I would encourage the IBA to pursue appropriate industry and to negotiate more effectively on behalf of the taxpayer,” he said. “I would recommend striving to attract small business rather than larger corporate interests. I believe the best businesses for Franklin County don’t need to come from Atlanta, California, Korea or China. They should come from right here at home, from our own neighbors. We have the talent, skill and capability here in Franklin County. Let’s use taxpayer dollars to incentivize our own citizens instead of looking halfway across the globe.”

McFarlin said he is concerned about employment opportunities.

“I have children – and now my first grandchild – and I wonder what kind of local jobs will be available to them,” he said. “Many of our residents must travel outside Franklin County to find the kind of employment needed to raise a family. I want to work with our local board to fix that. It can’t be done overnight, not even in a single term but we can work together to develop growth that will increase job options. As I said in my previous answer, we can encourage the growth of small businesses and avoid paving over our precious landscape with warehouses and other outside companies that offer very few jobs, minimum wage pay or both.”

If elected, McFarlin said he will begin immediately to prepare for the role of chairman.

“I plan to use the remaining time this year to work with the current commissioners to acclimate to the position, while building a network of resources and relationships,” he said. “As an elected official, I believe in servant leadership and applying good stewardship philosophies to make decisions on behalf of the citizens. I will listen to the two commissioners on the board who have experience and encourage the development of the two newly elected commissioners.”

McFarlin said he would love the chance to speak one-on-one with every citizen who would like to talk to him and invites voters to reach out to him to discuss their concerns and visions for the county.

“Generally, I’d encourage everyone to get involved and be engaged,” he said. “If you are reading this then that means you care and are invested. It’s time for you to be heard, not just with the county government, but at the state and federal levels as well. Our world is in desperate need of engaged citizens influencing officials, and it starts here in our backyard.”