Candidates for Fr. Co. Offices Participate in Political Forum Saturday

22 candidates running for local offices in Franklin County squared off Saturday in a Republican Party-sponsored Political Forum.

The forum was held before a packed room in the cafeteria of Franklin County High School.

Six races are contested in Franklin County: County Commission Chair, Board of Commission Posts 1 and 2, Board of Education Post 1, Chief Magistrate Judge, and District Attorney for the Northern Judicial Circuit.

Kicking off the forum were the four candidates running for Franklin County Commission Chair.

Those running include Nick McFarlin, Courtney Long, Colt Hart, and Joe Greene who was absent but sent present but sent a representative to deliver his opening speech.

All three candidates in attendance said the biggest problem facing Franklin County is impending economic and population growth and how to balance that growth while at the same time, keeping the County’s rural and agricultural heritage.

Candidate Nick McFarlin said the City of Royston is one of the poorest cities in the State and if elected he would reach out to State officials to get more jobs not only into Royston but the county as a whole.

McFarlin said the Board of Commissioners needs to focus on the next generation and work towards leaving the County better than when we found it.

Candidate Courtney Long said the County has been a victim of poor economic planning for too long.

She added that while growth is coming it needs to be controlled by setting boundaries and improving and expanding the current infrastructure along the I-85 corridor.

Colt Hart said one way to attract new industry to the county is to offer industries and commercial businesses better tax breaks and pointed to surrounding counties that do that.

921WLHR is airing parts of Saturday’s political forum each Sunday during our Community Forum program at 12:03p after ABC News.

If you have not registered to vote and plan to vote in May, you have until April 22 to do so.