Consolidation is a no-go, says Board of Elections

Published 10:00 am Wednesday, September 30, 2015

TIFTON — During their meeting Monday evening, the Tift County Board of Elections decided to not consolidate but to revisit the proposal at a later time. This decision comes after much opposition from the public prior to and at a meeting held last Monday night at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center.

The conference center was chosen as the location for the proposed consolidation. However, at Monday’s meeting, board members Amos Kimbrough, Stephanie McKee, Robert Swartz and Pat Wilson Robinson unanimously voted after a brief discussion to keep the precincts at 12 and to table the proposal of consolidation after the 2016 presidential election. McKee made the motion to table.

Other options were posted on the wall at Election Central (with one option following the county commission lines and Board of Education lines) for citizens who attended the meeting to view.

Robinson commented that based on public outcry, consolidation is not very popular, with the main issue being the location. The board also decided to table the discussion to bring on a new board member.

Sample ballots for the November election were provided for citizens who attended the meeting. On the ballot are the city races for mayor, candidates Jamie Cater (incumbent) and Julie Smith (currently seated as District 4 council member); District 2, Jack H. Folk Jr. (currently held by Chris Parrott); and District 4, Frank Sayles Jr. The election is Nov. 3.

Note: Pick up a copy of today’s edition for the sample ballot.