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Elizabeth Martin Busby
As part of its coverage of the 2022 elections, the Franklin County Citizen Leader submitted the same list of questions to each candidate running for a seat on the Franklin County Board of Commissioners.
The questions were:
1. Please provide information about your background, education, past service in government or with community organizations, church and family.
2. What qualities and/or qualifications do you feel will serve you best in the position you seek?
3. What are your plans if you are elected to the position?
4. Growth has been a big topic in Franklin County of late. What criteria will you use in deciding requests for rezoning, conditional use permits and other applications from developers?
5. If you had a chance to speak one-on-one with each registered voter in Franklin County, what would say to secure his or her vote?
The answers submitted by the candidates were used to write the story below.
By Shane Scoggins
Publisher
If elected as the next Franklin County Commissioner from District 3, Elizabeth Martin Busby said she will be sure to be informed herself and to keep citizens informed.
“I will attend any training recommended to make sure that I am as prepared as possible as a commissioner,” she said. “I am dependable and love the people of this county. During the opposition I helped lead against the rendering plant, I helped organize community meetings to inform people. I believe in an involved an informed citizenry and I will put forth the work to help accomplish that. I have already been studying information on Carl Vinson Institute of Government, [Association County Commissioners of Georgia] and [Georgia Mountain Regional Commission] to learn as much as I can,” she said.
Busby said that her ability to research information will be beneficial to the county.
“I am also good at listening to people and can empathize and understand their concerns,” she said. “My willingness to be a voice for the people will serve the citizens of this county well.”
A lifelong resident of Franklin County, Busby is the daughter of Bobby and Marie Martin of Carnesville and is a 2003 graduate of Franklin County High School.
She and husband Michael own B&R Vans in Royston, a tire and wheel wholesaler and retailer that employs two other people, and also have a small cattle farm.
“We have made hard decisions that have allowed us to grow in some tough markets,” Busby said. “My husband and I speak regularly to ensure we are on budget and on track to accomplish our goals. We always think long term in any decision we make. I will bring these same business strategies with me to the BOC.”
Previously, Busby worked at First Franklin Financial and Athens First Bank (now Synovus) in Lavonia.
“These jobs offered me not only the opportunity to meet many people but also insight into the financial struggles that many face,” she said. “I gained and enhanced many skills in my time in these positions including people skills, decision making, collections/addressing difficult issues respectfully, leadership and management skills. I was tasked with keeping many records with both positions. I assisted customers with respect and did all I could to help them. I believe each of these skills will serve the county well if I am elected commissioner.”
Busby and her husband have three children, twins Grayson and Lilli, 10, and Briggs, 6, and live in Carnesville. She said her “most treasured and favorite title is mother.”
She serves on the Parental Advisory Committee for the Franklin County School System.
“I believe my relationship with school administrators will help me build a more firm bridge between the BOC and BOE,” she said. “I have also developed a reputation as an advocate for children with learning disabilities and regularly help parents navigate their options. Last year I had the privilege of serving as a mentor through the mentor program. I look forward to serving again in the upcoming school year but scheduling conflicts prevented me from serving this year.”
Last year, Busby helped lead opposition to a proposed Pilgrim’s Pride rendering plant and started the Facebook group “Stop the Rendering,” which is now known as “Advance Franklin County.”
“I am proud of the way the site serves to remind citizens of upcoming meetings and events in the county and it also serves as an idea launching pad and a place for discussion,” she said. “I feel my interactions with the group have always been professional, researched, heartfelt and honest. I will bring those same qualities if elected commissioner. For over a year I have attended every BOC and Planning and Zoning meeting that my schedule would allow. I believe this provides me with a better understanding of the role of BOC, Planning and Zoning and the process of proposed developments. I am a researcher at heart and promise to inform myself as it relates to every decision I make as commissioner.”
Busby’s family is no stranger to county politics. Her father, Bobby, has served as Franklin County tax commissioner for 22 years.
More unity in decisions made for the county and better communication between county departments, board and citizens are atop the list of things Busby wants to accomplish, she said.
“I feel like I keep discussing unity and the value of it and that really is my number one agenda,” Busby said. “I also want to explore ways to have a more informed citizenry. I have heard the complaint that people wish they could find out information without having to contact the commissioners. I believe when people know the facts and understand the process we can all be more unified in our approach so I will look for ways to accomplish that.”
The candidate said she would work with other commissioners and the county administration to “optimize the budget.”
The county’s poverty rate of 16.3 percent is unacceptable, Busby said.
“We need a long-term plan to help citizens of our county,” she said. “I believe in offering a hand up to help those in need. We need to work to end generational poverty in this county through educational courses and many other ways. I will research available grants and various ways to help our citizens.”
In dealing with growth, Busby said there are two factors that are important: balancing industrial, commercial and retail growth with residential growth and protecting farm land and the county’s small-town feel.
“Based on previously approved residential development, it is clear that the county needs industrial/commercial/retail growth,” she said. “I will use the comprehensive plan and [Unified Development Code] to determine if new growth keeps in line with the plan Franklin County leaders set in place. I will listen to all citizens of the county so I can represent them well. I will consult emergency services to see if they are prepared for such growth and what I can do to help. I will do my best to keep industry inside our industrial parks or inside pre-zoned areas. I will try to ensure residential growth is around our municipalities to prevent urban sprawl from rendering farm land unusable. Growth is headed our direction North and South down I-85 and I will do my best to help manage it with the best interest of our county and its citizens at heart.”
Busby said that according to Harvard Business News, food demand is expected to increase 59-98 percent by 2050.
“I think one thing we can all agree on is that the ability to eat is essential so protecting existing ag land is of the utmost importance to me,” she said.
Busby said she would tell voters that she doesn’t have all the answers.
“I wish I did, but none of us do,” she said. “However, I believe that for every question, someone has the answer. I vow to find those ‘someones’ and get the answers we need. I will consult experts or people on the ground for each decision I make. When the answer isn’t black and white, I will listen to the desires of the citizens of this county. I will weigh options, I will think not just in terms of short term results but also long term consequences.”
She said she will work to protect senior citizens, many of whom are on fixed incomes.
“I am a firm believer that a lot of problems in this world can be solved by a good sit down talk,” Busby said.
She said she wants to bring commissioners, the school board, members of the Industrial Building Authority, city councils, planning commission members, the water department, farmers and representatives from emergency services and small businesses together “so we can discuss issues and plan a vision for Franklin County.”
Busby said she believes in open and transparent government, holding people accountable and keeping taxes as low as possible while providing quality services citizens can rely on.
“I also believe in being good stewards of money and being wise in balancing budgets,” she said. “Finally, I believe that morals should always lead the way. I believe there is nothing that God can’t accomplish if we only ask.”
Busby vowed to be accessible to citizens.
“I will represent you and I will try my best to help you,” she said. “I will provide as much information to members of the county as I am able. There will never be a time when everyone agrees with all the decisions made by the BOC but I will be able to talk to you about the reasons I made the decision. My decisions will be based on community concerns, research, thought and most importantly prayers. It would be my honor to serve every citizen of this county as your commissioner. I appreciate your vote, support and prayers from the bottom of my heart.”