Stan Stalnaker

TIFTON — There are four candidates in the running for Tift County Board of Commissioners, District 4.

With all four running as Republican, the result of the May 22 primary election will determine who will hold the seat, barring a write-in candidate in November’s general election.

The four candidates are:

Jonathan Cassell

Jonathan Cassell, an Army veteran, runs STS Trucking and Farms with his wife.

“My wife and I, we run a successful business,” said Cassell. “I’m an average working guy. I’ve run a business, been responsible for a budget.“

His decision to run is based in part on criticisms he has for the county and wanting to be a good example to his daughter.

“I can’t sit and gripe and have a disagreement with the county if I’m not willing to step up to the plate,” said Cassell.

“And I’m not being a good father [if I don’t run]. That’s teaching my daughter that you can talk about something without doing something about it. I want to make sure she’s a role model when she leaves to go to college. If I do the right things, hopefully she’ll do that.”

If elected, public safety personnel would be a focus for Cassell.

He points to recent pay raises approved by the county for the sheriff’s department and other county employees.

“There’s only one reason he [Tift County Sheriff Gene Scarbrough] got it this year, because it’s an election year,” said Cassell. “Why’d it take so long?

“If I’m elected, it won’t take another three years for him to get his money. I’d be an advocate for him and his department. And the fire department, the fire chief.”

Cassell would like to see increased salaries for fire, police and EMS personnel.

“And I don’t think we should spend all our money there, but those guys are out there protecting our lives and property.”

Cassell’s against tax increases, citing worries that increased taxes would lead to residents leaving the county.

“We’ve got people moving to Berrien County,” said Cassell. “If we continue down the road we’re going, we’re going to end up just like Turner County.”

Cassell notes SPLOST is an exception.

“SPLOST is a tax increase at the end of the day, but everybody shares it. Everybody who comes through here shares it.”

He’d like to see more industry come in.

“Restaurants are great, they’re fine,” said Cassell. “But what are they making? We need some good paying jobs, like Heatcraft.”

He’s also calling for more joint cooperation between the city and county.

“The city and the county need to start working together,” said Cassell. “Maybe not as one unit…but if we can’t agree on if the county is going to pave a 500-foot section of road or the city is going to do it, that’s going to be a problem.

“You can’t run a successful business that way. That’s not how this country was designed.”

And on election day, he hopes to see higher turnout than in recent non-presidential elections.

“Everybody should vote, whether it be for me or whoever you think the right person is. People underestimate it.”

Jamie Cater

Along with serving as mayor of Tifton for eight years, Jamie Cater has spent time as a city commissioner (before it was switched to a council) and on the zoning board.

Currently, he works in the railroad industry, running CaterParrott Railnet, a regional rail carrier that operates four rail lines in 10 Georgia counties, with business partner Chris Parrott.

He also owns property throughout the city and county, he said.

If elected, there are a few areas Cater would like to focus on, the first being the county and city fire departments and the possibility of joining them back together.

“I didn’t agree with splitting the fire department,” said Cater. “I would like an opportunity to see how we can work together again. All the fire department employees are excellent, city and county. They need to be kept in mind as we establish working towards a joint fire department again.”

Secondly, he’d like to see more cooperation between the city and county.

“Stop the bickering between governments,” he said. “New businesses and industry look at every community — their education, their hospital, their work force, etc. And when they see governments threatening lawsuits and fussing, they go elsewhere.”

He’d like to see more economic development.

“We need to stay on top of the game of economic development in our community,” said Cater. “Not growth just to get big but to bring good jobs and net income. I’d like our community to grow so that after a good education, our children and grandchildren have an option to find jobs here.”

He adds that the county needs “to consider growth that doesn’t hurt established neighborhoods.”

He’d also like to take a look at the county’s financial reserves.

Economic advisors and auditors regularly advise counties and cities to keep enough money on reserve to fund six months of operations.

“All your local government needs [is] a $100,000 contingency fund,” said Cater. “If they have that much money lying around, then they need to consider a rebate.”

Ronald Norman

Retired from the UPS, Ronald Norman now runs J&R Lawn Care with his son, John.

He also farms Black Angus cattle and has been a longtime ambassador for the Tifton Tift County Chamber of Commerce.

Norman would like to see the county and City of Tifton return to one joint fire department.

“I don’t really see a need to have two fire departments in Tift County,” said Norman. “That involves two fire chiefs. It looks to me like it doubles up on a lot of things…I’d focus on getting us back to one fire department, one city and county fire department.”

Norman is calling for more joint city/county meetings.

“I would like to see them get along better,” said Norman. “All elected officials are working for the people of Tift County. There should be better communication between city and county officials.

“I’d also like to see the county commissioners be more visible in the community, going to groundbreakings, more business openings.”

New businesses, both big and small, are a focus for Norman.

“Having spent some time on the board with the chamber, I know how hard it is to get new businesses to come to town,” said Norman. “I think we should support them every way possible.

“Any business is important to the county. A new business comes to town, that’s new taxes paid into the county coffers. We need to welcome any new business that comes to town.

“The one lady that opens a dress shop on Main Street, she feels like she’s just as important as the corporate people in the industrial park.”

If elected, he’d like to take a look at how the county spends its money.

“You can’t say exactly what you would change until you get in there,” said Norman. “You have to study the issues and be a good judge of where to spend the money.”

Like many candidates this election season, he is calling on the community to head to the polls.

“We need people to vote, one way or another,” said Norman. “If you’re not going to vote for me, vote for somebody.”

Stan Stalnaker

Coming off his first term, incumbent Stan Stalnaker is running for re-election.

“I think it’s gone well,” said Stalnaker. “We’ve done a lot of good things in Tift County. I feel my service to Tift County Board of Commissioners has been a benefit to this community and will continue to provide benefit.”

Stalnaker has been in law enforcement for 23 years, now with Georgia State Patrol.

As such, it’s no surprise to hear he wants to focus on public safety if reelected.

“Public safety is one of my main concerns,” said Stalnaker. “We’ve enhanced fire and EMS services in the county, reduced the ISO rating from 9 to 4 for majority of the county.”

Stalnaker also points to recent pay raises approved for county employees, including the sheriff’s office.

“I think that’s paying dividends,” said Stalnaker. “The sheriff just swore in several new deputies and a new jailer…I want to continue to enhance and improve public safety agencies.

On the economic side of things, Stalnaker points to recent business expansions, we well as new restaurants and hotels and recent rezoning that has started new residential building projects.

He’s also proud of Tift County’s financial reserves.

“Tift County is in great financial shape and that doesn’t happen by accident.”

He’d like for the county to put together a roadway infrastructure plan, dedicating a certain percentage of the budget each year to paving, resurfacing and road maintenance.

“Sometimes it’s a moving target…but If you aim at nothing, you’re probably gonna hit it,” said Stalnaker.

He also wants to help constituents on a one-on-one level

“On local level, you can really have an impact on people’s lives,” said Stalnaker. “You can have face-to-face interaction with them.”

He points to one recent example, a resident in District 4 who lives on a dirt road.

After bad rains a few weeks ago, he called Stalnaker, asking about problem areas in the road.

A county crew went out and put crushed asphalt in those areas.

The man later called Stalnaker to thank him.

“It’s things like that that motivate me to run for a second term,” said Stalnaker. “It’s very satisfying to know you can help someone on a personal level like that.”