Choice is a good thing, especially at the voting booth.
Barrow County voters will have some choices to make when they vote in the Nov. 6 general election. (Early voting began Monday so the election is officially here.)
There will be a choice on the ballot for sheriff between incumbent Jud Smith and challenger James Scott. Some political observers locally don’t foresee the race being close. Regardless, voters have a choice and that is good. On a side note, this is really one of those elected offices which should be non-partisan.
Incumbent Steve Worley faces a challenge for his seat on the Board of Commissioners from Johnny Smith, a former commissioner, who is seeking to return to the BOC. Once again, voters have a choice and that can only be viewed as a positive thing.
State Senator Frank Ginn is wrapping up his first term, but will face a challenge from Tim Riley. Ginn recently made some public comments about Riley’s personal life, which were completely ignorant and show that the incumbent state senator is not really interested in representing those who do not believe exactly the way he does.
Ginn has really been lucky in this election, however. He survived a primary challenge from Danny Yearwood mainly because the outgoing Barrow County chairman had so much negative baggage attached to his name.
Riley, running as a Democrat, probably doesn’t have much of a chance either, but at least voters do have a choice. Ginn has the backing of the political “big wigs” in the area and will likely be re-elected even though he has done nothing to deserve a second term.
Of course, there will probably be as much excitement for the presidential vote as any of these local offices. Voter turnout is typically higher when a presidential race is on the ballot.
Barrow County representatives of the Republican and Democratic parties have been working to help promote their candidates. Both were at the Bethlehem Star Festival Saturday talking with potential voters trying to sway a few votes their way.
Of course, there is always a choice on the ballot for president (three choices actually in Georgia) and we should all be thankful for that.
One race in which there will be no choice for voters is for Barrow County chairman. Former Braselton mayor Pat Graham has faced no opposition at all. She was unopposed in the primary after Yearwood decided to forego a re-lection bid for a chance at the state senate. No Democrat signed up to run and the election laws are so slanted against an independent or third-party candidate running that you couldn’t count on that to give voters a choice.
Barrow County, as discussed in this space previously, is set to move to a non-elected county manager form of government. Many have cheered the move although there certainly is no guarantee it would be beneficial in the long run.
The voters of the county will have no say on who the county manager is and once he or she is named to the post, there will be no way to remove them at the ballot box if their job performance is unsatisfactory. It all goes back to having a choice, and unfortunately citizens will have no voice or say so in this matter.
Voting is one of our most treasured rights and I trust Barrow County residents will take the opportunity this year to let their voices be heard. It’s probably more important now than ever.
Chris Bridges is editor of the Barrow Journal. You can reach him at cbridges@barrowjournal.com.
