Politics & Government

Post 3 Hopefuls Make Their Pitches

Cherokee County Board of Commissioners candidates tackled everything from the Cherokee County Aquatic Center and combined fire services to a controversial recycling plant and the transportation sales tax referendum.

Canton's Chris Hampton and Woodstock's Brian Poole, the men vying for the Post 3 seat currently held by , took questions from media representatives, the public and each other during a Monday night debate at the Cherokee County Republican Party headquarters in Towne Lake.

They tackled everything from the Cherokee County Aquatic Center and combined fire services to a controversial recycling plant and the transportation sales tax referendum.

Hampton, the sales and marketing division manager for 44Tools.com, has lived in Cherokee since 1992. Poole, the manager of the , moved to the area 13 months ago as a result of a job transfer.

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Here are some of the highlights from Monday night's debate.

How effectively is Cherokee providing for the recreation needs of its residents? Do you support proceeding with the  other park facilities being funded by the park bond program?

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Hampton, who is chairman of the Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency's advisory board: When the park bond was done, a research study was done that this county was 20 years behind in park recreation facilities. I think that the first round of the $90 million bond was spent wisely with land prices being low for future park spaces, and I think that the current projects on tap are of benefit to Cherokee County—especially when you consider bringing new business into Cherokee County. One of the cornerstones for bringing new business is public safety. The other is quality of life, and that's what park and rec offers. I am in support of the aquatic center. It received an overwhelming response from the public to put that aquatic center in.

Poole: Problem is how we're going to fund it every month on a maintenance basis. Right now, we're looking at $100,000 a month expense to run that aquatic center. I looked at some projections that was done on the aquatic center, and some of the numbers there, to me, seemed kind of skewed. They're projecting 63,000 people a month to attend the aquatic center. Right now, in this economy, I don't see it happening. I don't think we can fund it. So we're going to have to look at ways to cut some other places to fund all these activities. Do I think it's a good idea? Yes, it's a great idea, but it's just at the wrong time. The economy's still in the tank. We're trying to get out of this recession.

The county and many cities offer fire service to its residents. What are your thoughts on the fire service in Cherokee County, and should cities have their own departments or should the county handle all the fire service for all of Cherokee County?

Hampton: I think it's a great idea, and I would support it. It's a huge waste both in incoporated and in unincorporated parts of the county to have duplication of services. Anytime these services can be combined will save money and make the entire organization more efficient.

Poole: Right now, I don't think that's a chance of (combined fire services) happening. I think it'd be a great idea if they would combine the services, put everybody on one road and put more money in the kitty for everybody to be able to fund more firefighters and EMT personnel.

What are your thoughts on ? Do you favor the tax and for what reason?

Poole: I absolutely don't support the TSPLOST. It's not about traffic relief. It's about economic development. ... I'm not for the TSPLOST and adding anymore taxes to our taxpaying citizens.  

Hampton: I'm not a supporter of the TSPLOST because of the and projects inside the perimeter of 285. Traffic is a problem. It is a regional problem. And it needs to be corrected. But I don't think it needs to be done with TSPLOST because of the project list.

If a new operator were to take over the recycling plant, magically canceling out debt, but wanted to remain on staff, would you support that?

Hampton: If the taxpayers don't have to pay anything, who am I to tell the company who they can hire and not hire? 

Poole: I have no problem. They can do what they want to. They can hire Bobo the clown.

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