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Election numbers in; voters in favor of SPLOST
by Elizabeth Crumbly
Nov 09, 2011 | 4913 views | 9 9 comments | 16 16 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Poll Manager Elizabeth Gillespie (right) walks Tabitha Smith, 18, through her first time voting at the Calhoun Recreation Department Tuesday afternoon. (Tricia Dillard/Calhoun Times)
Poll Manager Elizabeth Gillespie (right) walks Tabitha Smith, 18, through her first time voting at the Calhoun Recreation Department Tuesday afternoon. (Tricia Dillard/Calhoun Times)
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Voters voiced their approval of the continuation of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax Tuesday.

The 2012 SPLOST passed 2,069 to 926, or 69.08 percent to 30.92 percent, during the municipal and special elections in Gordon County.

The 1-penny sales tax will fund projects like a new parking deck downtown and upgrades to the county courthouse. Also included in the pre-determined project list are a new county health department building and additional fire station, as well as improvements to the Calhoun utility system and the city recreation department.

Fairmount, Resaca and Plainville will also see SPLOST money for new municipal buildings (Fairmount); a new recreational park (Resaca); and recreation department upgrades (Plainville), among other projects.

The City of Fairmount's referendum for issuance of licenses to sell distilled spirits by the drink also passed 131 to 94.

Al Edwards was reelected to serve on Post 2 of Calhoun’s City Council with 953 votes to opponent Lorene Potts’ 311 votes.

Incumbent Eddie Reeves pulled ahead for a 690 to 572 win in the Calhoun City School Board Post 4 race over Trey Pierson.

In the Calhoun City School Board Post 5 contest, voters chose Debra Moyer over incumbent Tony Swink in a 676 to 593 race.

Troy Brant Talley took the Resaca Town Council Post 1 seat with 70 votes over incumbent Jimmy F. Brown’s 25 votes.

Resaca Town Council Post 2 went to incumbent Jean Makonis with 64 votes compared to opponent Johnny D. Brown’s 31.

Harry Pierce will serve another term as Fairmount Mayor with 122 votes to Steve Brannon’s 111.

In the closest race of the night, the contest for Fairmount City Council Post 2 resulted in a runoff between Larry Rogers, with 91 votes, and incumbent Linda Sledge Johnson, with 89 votes.

Jeff Crook, the third candidate in that race, trailed with 46 votes.

The runoff between Johnson and Rogers will take place Tuesday, Dec. 6, at the Fairmount Community Center. Early voting begins the week of Nov. 28; early voters can cast their ballots at Fairmount City Hall.

Incumbent Calvin Watts was the clear winner in the Fairmount City Council Post 4 race with 142 votes to Jerry Mauldin’s 85.
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Comments
(9)
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positiveoutlook
|
November 10, 2011
I voted against the SPLOST. Get rid of my county and city property tax and bump the SPLOST to 7 cents and I will vote for it. The same people paying property taxes will be paying the majority of this SPLOST also. Once the city and county taxes are completely maxed out I wonder what the threat will be to enable the next SPLOST to be voted in.
Reply
fairblow
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November 09, 2011
No tax is a good tax, the problems we have are directly related to government miss managing the money they have.. and you want to give them more? wow!
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bulldawgfan
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November 09, 2011
I'm sorry, but when you look at it the SPLOST tax is the only tax that makes any sense. It's the only tax that is actually FAIR. Anyone who buys anything has to pay it - including illegal aliens.
Reply
Welltraveled
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November 09, 2011
I got a good chuckle today driving by the local Ford dealer. The day after a $2 million tax for "police-public safety" vehicles was passed, they were displaying the new fleet models, to great fanfare by the local departments just clamoring to spend that tax money. I will admit, great business move by the private sector here, more power to you!
Reply
tracker93
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November 09, 2011
The vehicles were there yesterday too, the car drained 3 batteries just sitting there, something in the wiring, and had a steering wheel and parts that looked like they come from a 2005 f-150. There are a handful of prototypes, I think 6 or so that are making their way around the country, just a coincidence they were here at this time. I can see how it would give a bad impression though.

For the record, I voted Yes to SPLOST, along with the rest of my family, and share a similar opinion with bulldawgfan.
MoeJoe
|
November 09, 2011
Whitfield County voters defeated their new SPLOST and reminds me that there are still some counties in Georgia that have citizens that can comprehend the truth about SPLOST and who give a flip about those who are having difficult times. If nothing else it would be nice to have a news paper that was not biased and politically motivated. My house is for sale. If or when I sell it, I'm out of here and never looking back. This county is too rich for my blood.
Reply
fairblow
|
November 09, 2011
Go Harry! Good Bye Linda! Life is good.
Reply
bfb2k
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November 10, 2011
I voted against SPLOST because it looks like it was just benefiting our "Little Mexico" part of Calhoun City.
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