Candidates for Fr. BOC District 4 Race List Agriculture, Service as Reasons for Running

In Franklin County, voters are deciding on four local elections, two district races for the Board of Commissioners and two post races for the Board of Elections.

Last Saturday, voters were able to hear the candidates’ platforms at a political forum in Franklin Springs.

Running for County Commission District 4 to succeed Commissioner Eddie Wester are Cole Roper of Royston and Josh Smith also of Royston.

At 27 years old, Roper is the youngest candidate running for County Commissioner.

A lifelong Franklin Countian, Roper is a cattle and poultry farmer and is running on a platform of protecting agriculture in Franklin County while supporting measured growth.

“If elected to Commissioner I’m not going to promise I can do anything, but I will work hard,” he said. “That’s something that I’ve always prided myself on is working hard. I’ll work as hard as I can with knowledge and skill. And I don’t know an answer, I’ll go find it. ..My great grandfather was one of the first poultry farmers in Forsyth county for Mar-Jack in 1942. My grandfather and my father have also been poultry farmers for Mar-Jack as well…but if you go out to Forsyth County now, there are very few farms left, if any. And I would hate to see that happen here in Franklin County. And I will do the best I can to stand tall against the encroachment of Atlanta and preserve our agriculture and small town life.”

Challenging Roper is Josh Smith who is also a poultry and cattle farmer also works for a farm supply company.  Smith said he’s running because he believes county leadership should have a servant’s heart.

And like other candidates, believes county leadership and stakeholders need to work together to control economic and residential growth.

“When it comes to management, the collaboration between the Commissioners and the Industrial Building Authority or whichever entity is trying to collaborate has been a struggle throughout the years,” he said. “Sometimes two heads are not going to always see things the same way. However, at the end of the day, all these people are leaders in this county. It doesn’t matter what Board or committee you sit on, you’re a leader in this county. Those boards or committees should get together more often. Things are easy now. Zoom is readily available and find any way possible to get together so that we can all come together and listen to the citizens. A commissioner is a servant. You’re being a servant to the citizens. Find out what the citizens want.”

If you were not able to attend the political forum last Saturday you can hear it in its entirety Sunday at 12:10p here on 92.1 Lake Hartwell Radio.