INSIDER: Candidates for Chattooga County Sole Commissioner

Each candidate in the race was provided an identical questionnaire with the same deadline and sent at the same time. (Questionnaires were emailed to the email address listed on the qualifying paperwork) Candidates were told their answers would be blank if they did not respond. Answers were not edited in any way.

The Primary Election is May 21st.

Early voting begins April 29th – May 17th.

All early voting for Chattooga County will take place at the Registrar’s Office, 10017 Commerce Street, Summerville.

Andy Allen and Incumbent Blake Elsberry are seeking the Republican nomination for Sole Commissioner of Chattooga County. There was no Democrat to qualify. 

Please provide a brief bio: 

ALLEN: I was born and raised in our beautiful county and have resided here for 46 years. In 2001, I married my wife Whitney at Lyerly First Baptist Church. Five years later, our twins, Jackson and Karsyn, were born. We reside on North Little Sand Mountain in the southeast corner of our county on the farm where I was raised. We are members of Little Sand Mountain Baptist Church. 

In 1996, I graduated from Chattooga High School and went to Georgia Northwestern Technical College, earning degrees in business, metal fabrication, and blueprinting. Since I was 20 years old, I have been an independent business owner. In 2000, I incorporated Double A Timber Co. We served many corporate and private landowners across North Georgia, Alabama, and Southern Tennessee. We employed 20 full-time employees at full staff, including truck drivers, mechanics, machine operators, and timber buyers. My family and I currently manage and operate Jackar Cattle Company LLC, where we raise beef and replacement heifers sold all over the Southeast. 

As Commissioner, I plan on using that same knowledge and experience to help me run our county’s daily operations efficiently. I also currently sit on the Gore Fire Department Board and the Georgia Workforce Development Board and am a Trustee at our church. 

ELSBERRY: I am the oldest of 5 children raised by a single mother. I have been married to my wife, Lauren, for 17 years. God has Blessed us with 2 little miracles we never thought we would have. My son, Will, turns 7 in June, and my daughter, Sarah Kate is 15 months old. We are members of Son Rise Community Church and are raising our family with a firm Christian Faith.

I graduated from Chattooga Highschool, and then GNTC with a degree in invasive cardiovascular technology.

I am an Eagle Scout and a recent alumnus of Leadership Georgia. My professional background is in healthcare, department of corrections, and public works.

What was your opinion of the Chattooga County Republican Party’s Candidate Qualifying Committee and Procedure?

ALLEN: My opinion of the CCRP’s Candidate qualifying committee and procedure is that it should not have been required. We have primary elections to decide what candidate is best suited for the party for the general election. It’s hard to imagine the 12 people who voted to implement that change would think they speak for the thousands of republican voters in this county. I feel this is a violation of voters rights and sets an extremely dangerous precedent going forward.

ELSBERRY: In my opinion it is a legal issue and it will be interesting to see how this plays out in court. As elected officials we are a direct representation of the communities we serve and as such I answer questions from the people I represent all the time, so I have no problem answering questions from the party I represent.

What are three strengths of which our county can be proud? Why do you see these as strengths?

ALLEN: We have a lot to be proud of as Chattooga County. First, the people of this county are kind people who care for their neighbors. Most of our stores and restaurants are locally owned and are not chains so when you go in, they usually know you by name.

Second, our school systems are full of great teachers and programs that offer kids the opportunities to get started in life. Sending your kids to a school with teachers like we have, gives parents peace of mind their kids are getting a quality education in a safe environment.

Thirdly, Chattooga County is an escape from city life. Our rural areas and beautiful landscapes are second to none. As cities grow bigger and bigger around us people look more toward a nearby escape from that busy lifestyle and we need to take advantage of this.

ELSBERRY: I believe we have many strengths we can be proud of, but I actually have four that come to mind first. I think resiliency would be one. We proved how resilient we are after the flood in 2022. Everyone came together and really showed the true meaning of the second commandment from Mathew 22:39, “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

I think our farming community is a strength. Not only is it the number one business in Georgia, but agriculture is also vital to our state and national security. We have supported our farmers during my time in office through our local farm grants, and our Home-Grown Chattooga Program.

I also believe are local churches are a strength that we can be proud of. During times of need or crisis our churches always step up to help, volunteer, and donate to help those in need.

I believe our local law enforcement departments, fire, EMS, and CERT are some of the best in the state. Their commitment and service to our communities is second to none. After 10 years in the cardiac cath lab and being on call for life threatening emergencies, I know how vital our first responders are to the well being and safety of all of us. I appreciate their dedication and their sacrifice.

What are three needs that must be priorities for Chattooga County to address?

ALLEN: Right now, I believe the most concerning needs for our county are:

Public services to our citizens (roads, ditches, tiles and water lines) need to be properly maintained and expanded.

Our tax digest needs to be reviewed, so that we are fairly taxing everyone.

And ensuring our Fire departments and EMS are supported so they will be able to keep us safe now and in the future.

ELSBERRY: Access to high-speed internet. We need to continue to expand our access to high-speed internet. (We are currently working on this by expanding fiber internet to around 3,000 households through a grant and partnership with Windstream.)

Shortage of housing. (We are currently addressing this issue. The county applied for and was accepted as a GICH Community. (Georgia Initiative for Community Housing) this program provides training, resources, and grant opportunities to local governments in addressing the housing needs of their communities.)

We need to finally handle our jail issue. In 2020, my position was the county could not afford a new jail yet, but that did not mean we couldn’t pursue any and all possible avenues and that is exactly what I have carried out. In 2021, we acquired the old 9,500 square feet Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab and 7 acres from the state of Georgia for $10. This acquisition of property saves the county roughly $2 million dollars on a future jail project. The cutoff for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) low interest loan and grant program is 20,000 in census. Chattooga County’s reported census population is over 24,000 making us ineligible. Last year, I was able to negotiate with the USDA to allow for Chattooga County to apply using the census tract from around the project location. Currently, a financial feasibility study on the potential of the jail project is being conducted. American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds were utilized for the study and it will provide solid data on what the county can afford.
My goal for the next four years is to bring this issue to a close, especially since we are seeing an increase in costs for housing inmates in other counties. While still being fiscally responsible, I want our local tax dollars funding our own jail and not another county’s.

If (re-)elected, what would you hope would be key accomplishments during your years of service?

ALLEN: I would like to grow our industrial parks to bring in some quality jobs, to update the website so that the citizens of Chattooga County can see where their tax dollars are being spent at the touch of a button, and to better support our public works and water department by working on the basic infrastructure of the county that has been neglected for years.

ELSBERRY: We have been discussing for the past two years with some of our local community groups partnering to build a small park area at the Taylor’s Ridge overlook once the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) finishes their current planned project at that location.

I am also working toward a physical, satellite location in partnership with the University System of Georgia and/or the Technical College System of Georgia in order to have a strong post-secondary educational imprint in our county. This will provide the opportunity for more of our youth to stay closer to home to continue their education and create more local jobs.

I would also like to see a continued advancement in healthcare services provided within the county. The Free-Standing ER was a great milestone for Chattooga County and for rural healthcare in the state of Georgia, and I believe we can expand on that innovative approach to provide for more services in the county. (I have recently issued letters of support for the expansion of outpatient services at the ER, and other services within the county.)
Resolve the jail issue, and do it in a way that provides for any future jail needs.

Continue to slowly phase out the use of tax anticipation notes (TAN), (we have decreased the amount used by $2.5 million dollars over the past 4 years).

What are your views on the county’s current budget and spending practices? Do any departments need additional appropriations to serve the citizens better?

ALLEN: I feel like we spend money on unnecessary things before supporting required services. Some of these departments seem to be over budgeted and have a surplus of tax dollars, while some others seem to be underfunded. I believe we need to have a five-year plan to be working toward in each of these departments to allow time to allocate funds properly.

ELSBERRY: Currently counties state wide are seeing a 6% or more budgetary increase due to inflation. We have been able to keep our budgetary increase this year at only a 2.9% inflationary increase. We have been able to accomplish this while lowering the amount of TAN the county borrows by $2.5 million, taking in $250,000 less in property taxes, setting the lowest millage rate in 13 years, and providing raises to our 911, law enforcement, public works, water department, and additional funds to our volunteer fire departments. So, I believe we are making great positive strides compared to where we were 4 years ago. Our county employees are the backbone of our departments. We have some of the best employees and department heads of any county government, and we have built a great working environment since I have taken office. Currently, county employees receive longevity raises and increases in pay with more responsibilities and/or training.

Local government salaries can be challenging compared to private businesses because our revenue is based on taxes and not profits. It is a constant balancing act between taking care of our employees and keeping our citizens’ tax millage rate low.

We must also consider the county is not immune to the impact inflation has had on operating local government. We are all feeling effects in our personal finances, county employees included. My goal over the next 4 years is to see our county employees receive cost of living increases, and/or performance review increases when financially realistic. As we slowly phase out the use of tax anticipation notes (TAN), (we have decreased the amount used by $2.5 million dollars over the past 4 years), I want the savings to positively effect our employees via raises in pay.

Are county taxes too high, about right, or pleasantly low?

ALLEN: I feel that the residents of this county were over-taxed this year while the commercial side of the digest got a huge tax break.

ELSBERRY: The candidate skipped this question.

What is your opinion of the Chattooga County Tax Assessors Board’s performance?

ALLEN: I feel our Board of Assessors failed to maintain accountability for a bad digest as indicated by the number of appeals generated by the assessments.

ELSBERRY: All counties in Georgia have seen dramatic increases in property values this year. No commissioner or board of commissioners control property values, however, we do set the millage rate. As a tax payer with two small children, I understand the impact that increases in property taxes can have on the family budget. That’s why I have executed a complete millage tax rate rollback every year in office since 2021. Currently, the county has the lowest millage tax rate in 13 years and county government is physically taking in around $250,000 less in property tax revenue. Even as a local government entity, we are vulnerable to the inflationary costs affecting everyone nationwide, but my goal is to continue to keep millage rates low while keeping our local government functioning efficiently. I also drafted local legislation that would allow for those that qualify for homestead exemptions to freeze their assessed value and that will help tax payers from seeing assessment value increases on their property taxes. (This will be on the ballot in May.)
Through the unprecedented amount of appeals this year while tackling the consent order from 2020, I believe opportunities for improvement have presented themselves. I will do everything within the scope of my authority to help the board work to improve their internal processes and procedures. While the assessor’s office is an independent office from the Tax Commissioner and the Commissioner, it is important that we work with them to resolve the lingering challenges and any improvements that need to be made.

I think it is important to remember that all of our county employees and elected officials are tax payers too, and all of us have the same concerns as our citizens do.

Let us know your opinion about the current Land Development Ordinance (Subdivision Ordinance).

ALLEN: I believe the people of this county deserve to be able to vote on anything that has so much control over their property. I have spoken out against the land ordinance and still feel that the current one is way more than what is needed currently in our county. It doesn’t control nor protect citizens in the way it has been portrayed. After taking office I would work to throw out the existing ordinance, install a new simplified version using public input that I personally would take, and then allow the people to vote if they would like to keep it on the next county wide election.

ELSBERRY: The subdivision ordinance (SO) ensures every property owner is protected regardless of income or status in this county. The single-family home owner deserves to know what is happening in their neighborhood the same as the large land owner. The SO ensures developments are established correctly, implemented with consideration for the communities for which they impact, and guarantees citizen and community driven development.

The SO is designed for public input, public control, and public notification when a development is proposed. It does not hinder or promote development nor does it impact farming or inherited property. I believe it is an important tool to ensure developments are constructed correctly in the unincorporated areas of Chattooga County and are appropriate for the communities in which they are proposed.

Describe how you see a county commissioner’s role in the daily operations of the county government and what kind of oversight a commissioner should have over county employees.

ALLEN: I see the role of County Commissioner as head of all the departments under my supervision. The buck stops at the County Commissioner. I would be responsible for the business, the way the county conducts itself, and the work that is done by each department. I will represent our county and the people every day putting our county first and foremost. I will hold county employees to a higher standard and hold accountability for each of the positions I oversee equally.

ELSBERRY: The county commissioner works in partnership with and does not have authority over other elected officials. The commissioner serves as an advocate for the county and its citizens. In our case, as sole commissioner, the responsibility includes developing and maintaining strong relationships with our legislators and state leadership (which I have done). Another responsibility includes partnering with the chamber of commerce and the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission (where I serve as Secretary) for economic development and the pursuit of grants (which I have done). The sole commissioner should empower department heads and provide them with the autonomy and responsibility to run their departments efficiently and trust them to serve as leaders for the departments in which they direct (which I have done). And the commissioner should maintain good communication with their departments, department heads, employees, other elected officials, municipalities, and citizens to make sure county services are being provided effectively and, in the best, fiscally responsible way possible.

How can the office of Sole Commissioner be more transparent about activities and finances?

ALLEN: As I have said, we need to put the budget and finance reports on the website to ensure the citizens of where and how their tax dollars are being spent. Holding meetings at a time when working people can attend and provide a Zoom link for when they can’t.

ELSBERRY: We have public meetings every month and have updated the county website to contain more readily available information that citizens can access from home. We also provided a more detailed budget this year, than in previous years. We are currently working on uploading more information and documents to the new website.

Will any other employment or business venture in which you are vested present a conflict of interest for you as a County Commissioner? Please explain your answer.

ALLEN: Not anymore, the only business I am a part of now is my family-owned cattle company and I have a great support network with my family.

ELSBERRY: I have no other employment or business venture. My time is solely committed to the citizens of Chattooga County and working hard to get things done for our community.

a) In the event of an unforeseen conflict of interest arising in your official duties, how would you handle such a conflict to ensure the maintenance of public trust?
If an unforeseen conflict was to arise, I would let the public know and take the necessary steps to resolve the conflict.

Is there anything else you would like the public to know about you?

ALLEN: I am a self-financed candidate as I have not and will not accept any campaign contributions. I feel that outside money is a lot of what is currently wrong with politics in our country now. I am running because I love our rural way of life and the freedoms that we all have enjoyed for years as citizens of Chattooga County. I want to be able to pass this on to our kids and the generations to come. I built a business from the ground up with hard work and determination. I will work for Chattooga County just as hard and put the interest and safety of all citizens first and foremost. I also currently sit on the Georgia Workforce Development Board and have built and continue to build relationships that will benefit our county.

ELSBERRY: Leadership that recognizes individual liberty stems from our God-given freedom and should be preserved against government intrusion. I will continue to be an advocate for our constitutional rights and the founding principles of our constitutional republic. I believe that capitalism is key, rewarding innovation thru consumer choice, competitive bidding, and minimal government intervention. In 2022 I made the decision to re-bid the contract for the ambulance service in Chattooga County. This generated some controversy because it was already a free service, but I believed we had a unique opportunity that would be beneficial to our citizens and it did. The county expanded from 4 to 5 ambulances with over $1 million invested in new equipment, paid for renovation of the county owned
ambulance building, approximately 60% reduction in charges to citizens for ambulance services from the provider, and the county still does not subsidize EMS service. (Which is unheard of across the 159 counties in the state of Georgia.) So, I will continue to prove how capitalism works and use it to the benefit of our county. I will continue to be a champion for increased access to healthcare in Chattooga County and across rural Georgia. I will continue to be a champion for Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia. Serving as Vice-Chairman for the general county government legislative policy committee for all 159 counties in Georgia and secretary on the executive committee of our regional commission ensures that when legislative polices or decisions are proposed, Chattooga County has a voice at the table.

During my tenure, Chattooga County has received close to $8 million dollars in grant funding for a multitude of different topics, and I will continue to look for new opportunities and funding sources to help with the issues facing our county.

What is your position on expanding to a Board of Commissioners if the public declares that is what they’d like instead of a Sole Commissioner?

ALLEN: I believe our Sole-Commissioner form of government is a small but efficient way of doing business. Not having to run between 3 or 5 different people and not know exactly who to hold accountable. It allows businesses to deal with one person to move quickly. Give me 4 years to prove this and when I run for reelection, I will put it on a ballot for the people to decide. If passed, I will help with setting up the board and step aside.

ELSBERRY: If the public decides they want to pursue that, I will work with our state legislature to get it on the ballot. (Switching from a Sole to a Board requires the state legislature approval and a local referendum vote.)