Two of the races will be decided in this month’s primary while another will not be determined until the November general election.
The District 1 and District 2 seats will be decided later this month while the winner of the District 3 Republican primary will face Democratic incumbent Bill Healan this fall.
Republican candidates had three minutes to address would-be primary voters at last week’s forum.
In the race for District 1, incumbent Jerry Lampp said he “loves this job” and noted Statham was “his home despite being an import.”
He pointed to the construction of the wastewater plant as a great accomplishment for Statham and the county.
“Even when we were going through the drought, we were not low on water,” Lampp said.
The incumbent also said the Statham Library and the resurfacing of many roads were accomplishments he was proud of.
Challenger Larry Wilburn said is a lifelong resident of Barrow County and the Statham area.
“I can remember when Statham was a happy, little, sleepy, rural town,” Wilburn said. “Even with the growth Statham is still a great place to live. I believe District 1 can be an economic train that pulls the county and that I can be one of those conductors.”
In the District 2 county commission race, incumbent Bill Brown is facing challenger Eva Elder.
Brown said public safety is a top priority for him and noted the construction of new fire stations and the purchase of new firefighting equipment.
Brown said he has served on the Barrow County planning commission and has been the BOC chairman pro tem since 2002.
Brown told those in attendance he has been a residence of District 2 for 32 years.
Elder is the widow of former BOC chairman Eddie Elder. She said she has a three-decade career in the banking business which gave her experience in customer service and customer relations which related directly to politics.
Water, sewer, roads, traffic and emergency services are vital to the county’s future, she said.
“The Barrow County citizens have a very special place in my heart,” Elder said.
In the District 3 primary race, Tom Williamson and Steve Worley want to challenge Healan this November.
Worley, a Barrow County citizen for the last 17 years, is the Public Works Director for the City of Monroe.
Worley said he is a “team player” and that is what is needed on the BOC.
“If things are man made, they can be man fixed,” he said. “I will work with other municipalities to get things done.”
Williamson began his talk by pointing out he is a “committed conservative.”
Williamson said he has attended BOC meetings on a regular basis and works inside Barrow County.
“We need balanced growth and new jobs, new entertainment and new recreation,” Williamson said.
