fails, officials elected in Haralson

The much-debated Haralson County special purpose local option sales tax was defeated during Tuesday’s election, 70.07 percent to 29.93 percent - 1,475 “no” votes to 630 “yes” votes.

The referendum would have created a 1-cent increase on sales tax resulting a $21 million bond. Of that $21 million, $13 million would have been designated for a new jail facility.

A $200 homestead exemption for senior citizens, however, passed 123 to 19 votes. The $200 tax break will go into affect for 2007 taxes. Citizens who are 65 as of Jan. 1 and own property will receive the break.

However, even though the SPLOST was declined, it can still be readdressed next year.

“This gives us plenty of time to sit down at a round table and discuss how it will be beneficial for everyone,” Tallapoosa Mayor William “Pete” Bridges said.

Bridges and Bremen Mayor Sharon Sewell had strongly opposed the SPLOST referendum as it was written. They both felt too much money was being taken away from city municipalities. Last week, during the fourth and final SPLOST Town Hall meetings, Sewell and Bremen City Council Member Chris Coats both asked that the ballot be recalled and brought up again at a later date.

Commissioner Sammy Robinson said he was disappointed at the lack of voter turnout, with only 15 percent of the county voting.

“It is a shame only 15 percent of the county determines how the county government is run,” he said.

Robinson also said that when the SPLOST is brought up again, he doesn’t feel any changes will be made.

“As far as I am concerned, there will be no changes; we worked very hard to come up with this referendum,” he said. “It was right now and I think it will be right then.”

One of the major issues of the SPLOST was the proposed jail size, and if in fact that jail was even a necessity.

The original jail was built to house 56 inmates but has an average of 85 each day.

The federal government had not called for a new jail, but in a recent assessment, Sherriff Eddie Mixon was told he had “One foot on a banana peel, and the other in federal court.” The jail was also in violation of 16 jail standard violations in the new facility, including the positioning of the intake location and the number of showers per inmate. The building also does not meet the American’s with Disability Acts standards.

During the Waco Town Hall meeting, Mixon said that he has never demanded a new jail from the people of Haralson County.

“I am not demanding one now, I am going to run whatever jail you give me,” he said.

More than 730 Bremen residents voted for City Council elections. Incumbent Sonny Parish won reelection against Marcy Collins Sanders by 38 votes, with a final count of 387 to 349. Council member Danny Robinson vacated his seat to Jane Wilson.

“I am really humbled,” Parrish said.

Parrish, who has served four years, says that there is still much to be accomplished in Bremen.

“The city has a lot of needs and the people have a lot of needs. We need to search out and see if we can fulfill those needs,” he said.

He also wants to help improve communication among city officials. He said he was very proud of how far Bremen has come, he is also proud of the people in the community.

“Bremen is not defined by one individual. Bremen is defined by all the citizens in Bremen, and by the employees,” he said.

Buchanan has two new council members: Patricia Cook won with 84 votes, and Benny Westmoreland won by 74. They were among five candidates vying for two seats.

Earlier this year, Buchanan changed its city charter. In previous years, under the old charter, candidates would run against each other for a post seat; this year, all the candidates ran against each other for an at-large seat.

Incumbent Allen Ayers received 42 votes, and Robert Farmer was awarded 54 votes. Buchanan candidate Frank McIntire received 11. Uncontested Mayoral Candidate Benjamin Biggers received 101 votes.

This will be the first time both Cook and Westmoreland have held public office.

“I am excited. I hope I can do the best for the city and work hard. I want to be honest and fair,” Cook said.

Cook says she had an idea she might be elected, but was still shocked by the outcome.

“I think I am a little surprised, but I am ready to get in there and see what I can do,” she said.

Westmoreland has been a minister, state trooper and businessesman in Buchanan. He feels that the city government needs to be run like a business.

“I have a lot of new ideas. Buchanan is going to be a new place,” he said.

He hopes to make the police department more efficient and improve sewage and water in the city.

“Everything needs to be updated. I think we can do it,” he said.

Both Cook and Westmoreland will attend a mandatory training session at the University of Georgia in February. The Newly Elected Officials Institute is a series of classes that teach state and local government officials about various procedures and laws on dealing with government.

All newly elected officials will be sworn in in January.