YR IN REVIEW: Fr Co Voters Select New Commissioners and County Commission Chair

It wouldn’t be a year in review without mentioning the May and November elections.

In May, voters in Franklin County elected two new County Commissioners to Districts 3 and 4.

Elizabeth Busby won the District 3 seat to replace Ryan Swails who resigned early to take a new job in another county. Busby was appointed interim commissioner in August to fill Swails unexpired term.

Also winning the District 4 seat was Cole Roper who would have replaced outgoing Commissioner Eddie Wester. However, Roper resigned on November 30 before taking the oath of office.

Earlier this month, Franklin County Interim Elections Supervisor Tracie Creason issued a call for the special election to be held on Tuesday, March 21 for the District 4 seat. Qualifying will take place from 9a Monday, January 9 to noon, Wednesday, January 11 at the Franklin County Board of Elections office in Carnesville.

Another upset on the Board of Commissioners came in June when County Commission Chair Dr. Jason Macomson suddenly announced his resignation citing conflicts with his work as a veterinarian at Lavonia Animal Hospital.

Macomson left office at the end of July.

Three people qualified in August to run for the Chairman’s seat including former Commissioner Jeff Jacques, poultry farmer Courtney Long and Lavonia attorney Doug Kidd.

Jacques won the seat in November and was sworn in in early December.  After his win, Jacques thanked the voters in Franklin County for their trust in him.

In a phone interview prior to the election, Jacques said his goal as Commission chair was to see Franklin County move forward economically while retaining its rural farming history.

“And that allows the county to maintain the rural integrity of which we’re also proud of. It also allows for residential growth in a specified area, and then as important, retail, commercial, and industrial growth to be placed in targeted areas that yield a tax base, yield jobs, and very good partners in the community.”

Jacques had previously served as a County Commissioner from 2000 to 2016.