Qualifying Continues Today for Franklin Co Commission Chair Seat

As of 4p Monday, two people had come forward to qualify to run for the Franklin County Commission Chairman seat.

The winner in November will fill the unexpired term of former Commission Chair Dr. Jason Macomson DVM who resigned July 31 due to work-related issues.

Carnesville resident Courtney Long and Lavonia attorney Doug Kidd qualified Monday.

Long announced her intention to run for the seat on social media.

“Ever since the rendering plant, I have diligently worked alongside other citizens to help protect our county. My goal is to give the seat back to the people by being your voice,” she said.

Born and raised in Franklin County Long said she believes that if elected it will put her in a better position to do that and by helping to guide future growth.

“I will always fight for my county regardless of the outcome of this election, but if elected it will put me in a better position to implement the will of the people. This county can prosper while preserving the integrity and the roots by which it was founded. Franklin County has a unique opportunity to thrive as a small piece of paradise where families come to raise their children and people come to retire. Let’s build on that by guiding the growth to the appropriate places, allowing us to preserve our rural way of life. I hope I can count on your vote this November when the time comes to make a change,” she concluded.

Long is married and the mother of two children. She and her husband own Long Farm in Carnesville.

Kidd said he is running because of a lack of foresight and preparedness he sees on the part of the county.

“Seems like every problem that has come down the pike, seems like the county says, ‘we weren’t prepared for this,’ or ‘our ordinances don’t cover this.’ Whether it’s massive subdivisions, or the cross-tie plant, or the rendering plant, or the rock quarry, our county leaders say, ‘our ordinances don’t cover this, ‘we need to put in a moratorium,’ or ‘we need to stop this and think.’ So, I think we need some leadership with some foresight to be able to look and see what future problems are likely to be, know what the laws are, know what the legislature is going to do down the road, and stop these things before they actually end up on our doorstep,” he explained.

Kidd said his campaign will focus on bringing in new industry and responsible residential growth. He said one way to do that is to get all stakeholders working together.

“That’s another reason I’m running is basically the communication issue. From what I’ve been told and from what I’ve seen, the County Board of Commissioners doesn’t communicate well with the School Board and the School Board doesn’t communicate well with the cities,” he said. “It just kind of goes round and round and everybody kind of has their own little turf and they don’t communicate. The same thing with the State. We don’t communicate with the State and things get forced on us as far as certain industries being recommended to be placed here that we don’t want here or we don’t get accommodated even if we did want them. So, that’s another thing. I think we need a strong leader on the Board to be able to communicate with the State and the local entities and just pick up the phone and call people so you know what’s coming and maybe have some influence on some things before they get here.”

Kidd practices law in Lavonia, where he focuses his general practice on representing local governments and helping small businesses navigate the legal landscape.

Kidd is a past president of the Northern Circuit Bar Association, as well as past chairman of the Franklin County Board of Elections, and he currently serves on the oversight committee of the circuit’s public defender office.

Kidd lives in Lavonia with his wife Beth and their son Henry.

Qualifying continues today from 9a to 5p and Wednesday from 9a to noon at the Franklin County Board of Elections and Registrations office in Carnesville.