Smart Growth Forsyth gave voters and candidates the opportunity to interact in a relaxed forum with prepared questions and audience questions handled via free lottery.

Tuesday's "Meet Your Candidates" forum focused on candidate's visions and goals for the county without the expected pressures of a debate format. The venue allowed candidates to speak to voters on a range of topics including the county's development, environment and rapid growth.

All candidates were present with the exception of Patrick Bell and Charles Meagher. Jim Boff arrived late due to being in session, but was able to answer questions during the last quarter of the forum.

Candidates were asked to explain their vision for the county over the next 20 years as well as the challenges ahead for the next four years.

District 2 incumbent Brian Tam said his vision started eight years ago when he took office and began seeking citizen input. Additionally, he explained his hopes for continued enhancement of what he calls the "big three," education, recreation and public safety. "I've sat on local school councils for the past nine years and I sit on the advisory board for North Georgia College. We must support the expansion of higher education in this county." 

Tam told the audience that within the next 30 days, over 250 acres of passive and active recreation will open for the public to enjoy in South Forsyth. "This is a result of the parks and Green Space Bond that I initiated," said Tam.

Tam also explained his goals for public safety, including the addition of more fire stations, law enforcement facilities and fire engines, all funded through sales tax dollars.

Challenger Dennis Brown (District 2) said his vision is for Forsyth County to become the global choice for quality top tier businesses and residences, a county that is safe to walk the streets at night, and a county that recognizes and preserves its natural resources.

"The three topics that I see as the most pressing issues are growth and development, transportation and congestion, and water. Growth and development is inevitable, I just think it depends on how much and how fast. We need a balance growth policy that will allow us to maintain quality of life, yet sustain a reasonable tax base."

Challenger Tim Hubbard (District 4) said he wants to keep the county's growth from becoming reckless. "In order for folks to want to come here to live, we need jobs for them and that's something we need to work on," said Hubbard. "I want things to stay balanced and I want us to be able to reduce the budgets and start now instead of waiting until we're in trouble."

Challenger Bill Mulrooney (District 4) said one of the biggest problems the county faces in the next four years is jobs. "We've got to quit defining jobs in this county as retail. Retail is great, but it's not a creator of growth, it's a by-product of growth," said Mulrooney. "We need to attract real businesses attracting real employees."

"Another big thing facing the county is our budget. We just passed this two- hundred million dollar SPLOST. We now have to meet all those requirements, all those obligations that SPOLST has given us. We have to be careful, and we have to be smart, because we cannot do it by raising taxes," said Mulrooney.

Mulrooney also said he believes the county needs to be water independent.

Challenger John Derucki (District 5) said he couldn’t think of a better place to live than Forsyth County, which initially drove his decision to run for office. "Part of my vision is that I truly believe that we're at a crossroads and we can either veer off in the wrong direction, or we can veer off into the right direction, said Derucki.

"We have to learn how to handle all this growth and balance it at the same time. Balanced growth has everything to do with protecting natural resources and maintaining the value of your property."

District 5 incumbent Jim Boff talked about his belief that the county is already positioned very well, and that it's time to pay off some of the nice things that we've come to have. "We're going to have enough trouble paying for the operation of some of those nice things, and I also believe that the global economy is in such an unknown state at this point, that it's not a good time to entertain any additional expenditures," said Boff.

"We should pay down debt where we can, and consider collecting fees for usage of some of these things and hope that these things do attract people who would like to pay our SPLOST tax for us. My vision is to essentially continue with what we have."

"In terms of problems, the finances are pretty good in the county, we have plenty of green space, and we're taking care as best we can of our children, we've got several unique and good approaches, we have the boys lodges, we have Jessie's house, we have CASA, said Boff.

"We contribute a good deal of money and time trying to make sure that the organizations that we support buttress the justice system because we're guided by Judge Jackson on that which keeps court costs down."  

Boff said he believes the biggest issues continue to be water, transportation and conformance to the UDC (Unified Development Code).

"I personally believe that we got into this pretty good shape that we're in for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that by sticking largely to the standards we have and for what we expect of developers to come here, has caused this county to grow." 

Challenger Cindy Mills (District 4) said she believes a balanced tax digest can be achieved through adequate planning, stellar leadership and a community effort. Mills also stated her goals for the county to become water independent. "We need to get back and look back to our forefathers and what they intended in having a government for the people instead of a government that serves itself."

A lottery question posed from a member of the audience asked candidates and incumbents the amount of remuneration they would receive as commissioners and what percentage of their entire salary the remuneration totals.

All candidates felt it was appropriate to disclose the remuneration they receive as commissioners, but that any salary outside that amount is a personal matter.

Mulrooney explained that his salary outside of a commissioner's salary depends on the kind of day it is in his business as an industrial automation professional. Mulrooney and his wife also founded the Humane League of Lake Lanier, Inc. An organization of volunteers dedicated to providing additional resources to local county animal shelters.  

"The job as commissioner is supposed to be a citizen representation. As far as salary is concerned, there are people who will do it for the money, but if so, they're not doing it ethically. I'd do it for ten thousand dollars. Being a commissioner is really more of a public service position." 

Cindy Mills explained that she's not running for commissioner for the salary. "Not that I'm filthy rich, but I don't need the money in it. I have my own health insurance, I have my own cell phone, I have my own car. I'm going to have to pay for all those things whether I'm a commissioner or not."

Dennis Brown is retired from the military and is currently focusing all of his attention on his campaign efforts. "I get a good army retirement. The only reason I'm not working is because I am running for this job."

Brian Tam said commissioners used to receive a small allowance plus a salary, but now it's $35,000 annually, give or take a few hundred dollars. "If you go far out of town, you can turn it into an expense account, I guess. I've been on the job for eight years and I've never turned it into an expense account, so you're going to pay for some of that yourself in fuel and mileage."

"There are county cars available, if you like them. Go at your own risk," added Tam. 

John Derucki explained his stance on the notion that becoming commissioner solely for the money would be crazy. "If you're running for this office and that's somehow tied to money, you must be absolutely crazy," said John Derucki.

Tim Hubbard said he simply wants to represent the people of his district. "When we had to pay our qualification fees, I found out how much it did pay. I have my own business, my own vehicles, my own insurance. I'm not running for anything other than to represent the people of District 4 and to be a mouthpiece for them."

The "Meet Your Candidates" forum allowed candidates extra time to express and showcase their priorities once elected to office. The forum was held at the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce events facility.  

Smart Growth Forsyth's goal is the promotion of smart, responsible, well-planned and balanced growth and members of the community are highly encouraged to exercise their right to vote on the July 31 election ballot.

If you're interested in this story, here are several others:

Visit the Cumming Patch Elections page.