Life As You Know It May Depend On Your Vote

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CHAIRMAN RESPONSES:

• James Sendelbach: I plan to work with the planning, zoning, and budgeting segments in Rockdale County to review the assessment process, determine fair valuations, and reduce spending to lower taxes. The authority to tax and spend should not reside in a three-member commission. The county has grown in population, and citizens need to have a say in their tax burden. Commitments by the current administration may have saddled us once again with an increased tax burden. 
• JaNice Van Ness: I will gain efficiency within the first six months by analyzing county needs through a series of staff and citizen forums. I will work to reduce staff turnover, look at innovative ways to save money and grow our tax digest.
  I will partner with the City and School system to design a plan to work in a united effort to save money.
  I will create a Citizens Finance committee that is filled with knowledgeable appointees who can review current practices and help find ways to streamline our budget.
  I will partner with our Finance Director, Tax Commissioner, and Tax Assessor to forecast our growth and revenue as we improve opportunities for Rockdale County residents.   
• Oz Nesbitt (Incumbent):  Homestead Exemptions, Property Tax Freeze or Caps; Tax Rebates or Credits
  Tax Deferral Programs:  Governments may allow eligible homeowners, particularly seniors or those facing financial hardship, to defer payment of property taxes until a later date, typically when the property is sold or transferred.  
  Appeal Process:  Homeowners who believe their property assessments are incorrect or unfairly high can often appeal to have them reassessed.  This process allows homeowners to challenge their tax bills and potentially lower their tax burden. 

COMMISSION POST 1 RESPONSES

• Fran Wright:   I think initially, we have to have a clear vision as to what kind of community we are becoming. With the growth and changes, we may have to deal with some tax increases. Nothing comes without cost!! However, there are some citizens who are over the age of having children in school and are paying school taxes. We want to be an education-based community, not a burden to our elderly with fixed incomes.  We have to educate our community on homestead exemptions and how they are of benefit. Promising to lower taxes at a time when the county is in a growth spurt is not a promise I would make but is a matter that I'd like to sit with other boards to get a handle on.  
• Yul Anderson:  We need to diversify our tax base by encouraging and attracting new industries. I would coordinate a certification program so people can work as soon as they are ready. As a member of the Global Business Academy and the World Academy of Art and Science, I would use all my national and international connections to create a future for Rockdale that builds a sustainable future and raises the quI ality of life.  I would also ensure that our commercial industries are paying their fair share to ensure the quality of life we have come to expect. 
• Renee Simpson:   Lowering our current mileage rate and collaborating with the Board of Education.
• Tuwanya Smith:  Providing relief to homeowners from rising property taxes is a complex issue that requires careful consideration of various factors, including budget constraints, revenue sources, and community needs. It's important for commissioners to carefully assess the potential impacts and trade-offs of any proposed tax relief measures to ensure they are equitable, sustainable, and in the best interest of the community as a whole. By taking a proactive and balanced approach, commissioners can work towards providing meaningful relief to homeowners while maintaining fiscal responsibility and preserving essential public services.

Maureen Wood:  

 1. Managing the caseload to ensure efficiency and timely delivery of justice. Justice requires that our legal matters are heard in a timely manner. It is the Judge’s responsibility to move cases efficiently through the system. That requires experience, organizational skills, and strong work ethic. The serious nature of Superior Court cases creates a sense of urgency for the litigant. Citizens should be able to expect a timely resolution of their case. It is imperative that the Judge have a clear plan for the timely and efficient resolution of each matter. The Judge should be approachable. An approachable judge is willing to hold pre-trial conferences with attorneys. Through the implementation of pre-trial conferences, trial issues are often narrowed, which results in less time in court and more cases settled outside of court.  The judge should be willing to embrace alternate dispute resolution and technology. Mediation, Arbitration, and videoconferencing promote caseload efficiency. Finally, the judge should have a strong work ethic. The judge's work ethic, or lack thereof, will impact case efficiency. Because I hear all felony and abuse and neglect cases concerning children, the law requires that my cases be heard on an expedited timeframe. Serving as the only juvenile court judge in a growing county, I hold court four days each week. I have a strong work ethic and two terms of experience hearing and disposing of cases quickly and judiciously. Therefore, this is a challenge that I am ready to meet on day one.  

2. As a judge, you are expected to operate with a high level of poise and decorum. The judge’s judicial temperament is critical. A judge’s behavior/ demeanor on the bench can cause the public to lose respect or trust in our judicial system. The Superior Court Judge routinely makes life-altering decisions. Felony cases are punishable by incarceration for a year or more. The most serious felony cases the Superior Court Judge hears can result in a life or death sentence. The Superior Court Judge is also the ultimate decision-maker in all child custody and visitation matters. The decisions made in those family law cases will shape the child's future and set parameters for the parent's contact and relationship with their children. The Juvenile Court Judge is the only other judge who has to make these same kinds of life-altering decisions (felony cases, child custody and visitation decisions, termination of parental rights). I have a reputation as a judge who makes thoughtful and balanced decisions. My decisions have never been reversed in the seven years and seven months that I have been serving as a judge.    

3. Maintaining quality programs to ensure equal justice for all. As a judge, you are the leader and have the discretion to start and stop all court programming. As a judge, it’s your responsibility to ensure that you and your staff are trained and implementing best practices for the benefit of the community that you serve. Access to justice requires that our next Superior Court judge is ready to meet the demands and needs of our growing population. The judge should ensure adequate systems and processes to guarantee that individuals who are self-represented,  whose native language is not English, or who have disabilities receive reasonable accommodations. Every citizen is entitled to equal justice under the law. During my two terms as a judge, I served as a Supreme Court of Georgia Access to Justice committee member. In that role, I have helped create policies and drive statewide initiatives to address this issue.   

Clarence Cuthpert Junior: 

Addressing the issues on my platform, I have developed comprehensive solutions to ensure our community remains safe, to enhance trust and access to our judicial system, and to guarantee fair and equitable treatment for all who come before the court.

Firstly, on the matter of community safety, I recognize the primary role of law enforcement in patrolling our streets and maintaining public safety. However, the judiciary also plays a crucial role in this ecosystem. My approach emphasizes the balance between rehabilitation and accountability. For individuals whose offenses are driven by addiction or mental health issues, I advocate for the use of accountability courts and pretrial diversion programs, which focus on addressing the root causes of their behavior. Yet, it is imperative to have a clear stance on those with extensive criminal histories or who commit heinous crimes. Such individuals, especially after multiple opportunities for reform, must face more vital consequences, including incarceration, to protect the well-being of Rockdale County's citizens.

As a Judicial Council Standing Committee on Access to Justice member, I am committed to improving public trust in our judicial branch. This commitment ensures meaningful and effective access to courts and fairness for all. My solution here is straightforward: As a Superior Court Judge, I will ensure every individual appearing before me has the opportunity to be heard. This approach respects each person's dignity and enhances our judicial processes' perceived and actual fairness.

Lastly, while it's beyond my power or any judge to guarantee outcomes that align with every party's desires, I pledge that my decisions will always be grounded in justice, fairness, and adherence to the law. My commitment is to deliver rulings that reflect a deep consideration of the facts, the law, and the impact on the community and the individuals involved.

In summary, my solutions focus on balancing accountability and rehabilitation, ensuring access and fairness in the judicial process, and committing to decisions that uphold the principles of justice and legality. These approaches form the foundation of my platform and my vision for serving as Superior Court Judge of Rockdale County.
 

Corey Hambrick:

 My plans for improving the overall safety of Rockdale residents include hiring and retaining the most qualified deputies with a passion for protecting and serving members of this community and providing the necessary training and resources for the deputies to aid in their career development. We will also purchase and deploy the latest technology that assists digitally in combating crime, keeping Rockdale County ahead of the curve, and partnering with mental health professionals to enhance our response options to benefit a growing population. Effective youth programming should be established to mentor our brightest minds, guiding them to a civic appreciation for integrity, legality, peaceability, and community.

Ron Muckle: 

As the Rockdale County Sheriff, my foremost commitment is to ensure the safety and well-being of every resident. Here are my specific plans to make our community a safer place.
Enhanced Officer Resources: I will prioritize recruiting new officers and providing our dedicated men and women in the Sheriff’s office with the necessary resources to perform their duties safely, effectively, and efficiently.
Increased Patrol Presence: We will bolster our presence and deter criminal activity by deploying more officers on the streets, including superior officers in uniform and marked vehicles.
Utilization of Drones: Introducing drone technology will significantly enhance our capabilities in monitoring and responding to incidents swiftly across the county. Drones offer a faster and more comprehensive surveillance solution than traditional patrol methods.
FLOCK Camera Implementation: With the support of residents and county commissioners, I will implement FLOCK cameras throughout the county. Strategically placed on highways and other key locations, these cameras will provide invaluable surveillance data to aid law enforcement in crime prevention and investigation.
Community Engagement and Accountability: We will prioritize community engagement. I and the senior ranks will attend and record all community meetings if invited to understand residents' concerns and develop actionable plans to address them. Officers will be encouraged to engage with residents regularly, fostering trust and cooperation.
Curfew Enforcement: To ensure our youth's safety, we will rigorously enforce curfew regulations. By keeping teenagers off the streets during designated hours, we aim to reduce incidents of juvenile-related crime and keep our neighborhoods secure.
Enforcement of Marijuana Laws: While some states have legalized marijuana, we will enforce the law in Rockdale County. I will work closely with the District Attorney to explore options such as issuing citations for possessing small amounts and ensuring compliance with legal regulations.
I will address Human Trafficking by bringing in all the resources available to mankind to stop it.
Through these initiatives, we will create a safer environment for all Rockdale County residents, prioritizing proactive measures, community involvement, and accountability in law enforcement.