January 3, 2009

I would first like to congratulate the new District 4 Hall County Commissioner Ashley Bell.  Since he won the Democratic nomination over incumbent Debra Mack, he automatically won the November election because he ran unopposed by any Republican.  I am fortunate to have been able to get to know Commissioner Bell through some political functions, and I will say straight up – I really like him personally.  He is charming, polite, funny, and has the enthusiasm I have as an elected official. 

 

Now before you all tongue lash me because I like a Democrat, because I am a Republican, as well as the direction politics has gone in the last several years, I have to tell you what a wise man told me this past year.  “At our level of government, city and county, partisanship does not really matter because we are the core of serving the people and we, as elected officials, make laws that directly affect all of us not just a certain group as does many other levels of government.”

 

If you read the articles (here and here), Commissioner Bell made some strong statements about clarity in government and zero-based budgeting.  He also talked about getting the corruption out of government.  There may be a little Republican in him and I may have to try and convert him to the other team.  That may be my New Years resolution.

 

I look forward to working with Commissioner Bell in the future as well as the other Commissioners on a number of important issues this coming year.