Mayoral Candidates Q&A

Editor's Note: In just a few short days, the city of Douglasville will elect the 40th person to hold the office of nayor since the first city election held in March 1875. The candidates for mayor—, , and —have been meeting with citizens and making appearances at various forums to answer questions and explain their position regarding the issues. Douglasville Patch had some Q&A time with them as well.

1. Lifelong residents of Douglasville have seen the city limits expand as areas like Thornton Road, Kroger at Chapel Hill, and Tributary were incorporated. What can be done to help downtown residents and citizens in these incorporated areas feel as if they are all in the same city?

Terry Miller: We must make sure that our signage is consistent throughout the city, and that services are provided at the same level in every incorporated area. Also, our city leaders should make the effort to participate in town hall meetings in each Douglasville neighborhood.

Harvey Persons: Our city has grown over the years and we need a mayor that will work to help all of our citizens feel that they are a part of one community. I will do several things to help each area of our community feel connected as one. We will start with Town Hall meetings to listen to the thoughts, needs, and ideas of our citizens. This will allow City Hall to better respond to the needs of our citizens. We will make better use of technology and communicate with our citizens to let them know what is going on in all areas of our community. This exchange of information and communications will help foster a better sense of community and oneness of purpose.

Rochelle Robinson: I'm sorry that some of the residents in Douglasville don't feel a part of the core of the city...I have seen citizens in the above-mentioned areas participate in activities in downtown such as the Taste of Douglasville, the Chili cook-off, September Saturdays and the Concert series on O'Neal Plaza, but, to be more inclusive, I would target those outlining communities with more marketing in the way of invitations, provide city transportation into downtown, and maybe take the events on "the road" by sponsoring a few concerts, family movies, or eatery functions in the outlining areas. We could "fun run/marathon" out to the Tributaries.

Ron Wilson: The proposed new downtown conference center building plan should be scrapped in favor of a Civic Center to include a theater for concerts and performing arts. Since we have committed to the debt on the building and in no way will the conference center generate the revenue to pay the debt and operating expenses, we can convert this building to a more useful purpose for taxpayer use. By having these functions in town on a regular basis, it will cause the need for other new businesses such as fine restaurants, specialty shops, and other small businesses available to people who want to go for a play or a concert and dinner. This will then provide the opportunity for all citizens of Douglas County to meet and socialize….just one idea.

2. There seems to be a never-ending turf battle between the governments of Douglasville and Douglas County that goes back several years.  What immediate steps will you take to encourage cooperation between the two governments? 

Harvey Persons: Division in any area of life is not healthy and applies to city and county cooperation. I currently have a good working relationship with the county as vice-chairman of the Planning and Zoning board and the Board of Appeals. I have been on these two boards with the county for the past seven years and have current working relationships with the County Chairman and Board of Commissioners. We have already started dialogue about what we will do to improve city and county cooperation. These are immediate steps I have already taken, to encourage cooperation between these two bodies and will continue in this spirit of cooperation when I am elected mayor.

Rochelle Robinson: Unfortunately, the city and county governments have had a stormy history past and present of not working well with each other.  I would propose quarterly dinners with the elected officials from both entities to discuss ongoing issues before they become problems.  I have a spirit of cooperation as I realize no man is an island and we are much stronger together than we are apart.

Ron Wilson:  During my years on the Development Authority, I have had the opportunity to interact with all Douglas County officials. I have established a very strong and good relationship with each member. I believe my current relationships provide an automatic and immediate cooperative relationship between city and county officials.

Terry Miller: When I'm elected mayor, I will reach out to the county to hold regular joint meetings between the City Council and Douglas County Commission, starting the first week I'm in office. These meetings must include discussions to find ways of consolidating our overlapping services, among other issues pertaining to city-county relations.

3. Downtown Douglasville has a rich history.   In your opinion, have we taken advantage of our history and how can we use it to promote our town even more?

Rochelle Robinson: Yes, I believe we have taken advantage of our rich history in the City of Douglasville, but we can always do better. I would expose all of the Downtown service area, not just a few streets surrounding City Hall, to include parts of the Northside and the Mill Village which have been ignored to some extent in the past...the footprint, lives and stories of our forefathers of the community are fascinating.

Ron Wilson:  City government needs to take a background supportive roll in redeveloping and promoting the central business district. City officials should be working with the Downtown Business Coalition to determine the market forces at work, and provide certain types of funding and or tax incentives to attract new small businesses and provide for certain rehabilitation of properties in need and pay it out through increased property taxes on these specific properties. City government should not be the dominant presence it has been over the past eight years.

Terry Miller: We have not taken advantage of that history, and that's an issue I want to explore when I'm mayor. Our architectural heritage can be better utilized by packaging it with our modern amenities and conference facilities.

Harvey Persons: Douglasville has a rich history dating back to the 1800s, with the original name of Skint Chestnut and later chartered by the Georgia General Assembly as Douglasville on February 25, 1875. The first elections were held in March of 1875 and we are continuing today with that process. We have a proud 136-year history and need to promote our city, with its accomplishments and all it has to offer as a community. This will be accomplished by developing a comprehensive marketing plan that highlights the many benefits of living in Douglasville.

4. Do you think the Douglasville Police Department should have a dedicated Public Information Officer to deal with the media and promote what is going on in the police department? Most communities the size of Douglasville have one.

Ron Wilson:  No, I do not believe the Douglasville Police Department should have a dedicated Public Information Officer at this time. Top-ranking officers should be trained well enough to handle the media.

Terry Miller: I'd like to explore the option of dedicating an existing officer to handle public information on a part-time basis.

Harvey Persons: No.....I believe, for a city our size, we currently have the mechanism in place to deal with the media and what is going on in the police department. The mayor, city manager and police chief are capable of dealing with these communication issues and need to communicate with our citizens. We do not need to add another layer of bureaucracy to the process and incur additional expenses.

Rochelle Robinson: Yes. I don't have information about other communities, such as McDonough in Henry County, whether their police department has a spokesperson or not.

5. The downtown business district is a key component to a thriving community, yet we continue to see several vacant buildings or buildings that will soon be vacated.  What are your plans to achieve a vibrant and economically viable downtown?  

Terry Miller: I think that bringing a college to the old jail site, perhaps Highlands College, would have a tremendous economic impact on downtown Douglasville, and I plan to promote that course of action when I'm elected. This move could stimulate public and private investment around the campus, which would cater to 500-1000 nontraditional students taking classes in downtown each weekday.

Harvey Persons: A live and vibrant downtown area is a key to a thriving community. I will help give vision and development to a comprehensive plan that will bring business to our downtown area that will help make it an exciting place to visit. We will look at other cities that have revitalized their downtown areas and build on their successes by creating a model that will make Douglasville a must-see city.

Rochelle Robinson: Economic Development and sustainability is the key to a thriving business community and downtown. I would first of all be welcoming, which has not always been the case in the past. Charge the City Development Authority in conjunction with the county to go out and recruit viable and unique businesses to the downtown area. I would continue to work with city staff and the DDA, Main Street groups, and solicit ideas from the community as to what they, the "people," want to see in the downtown area. We need to extend the hours of operation in the downtown area, as this would also promote more revenue.

Ron Wilson:  Much of this answer is contained in #3 above. The city must establish a strong public/private partnership with the downtown business community, but not drive it. Private enterprise thrives when government plays an active but supportive role and makes available funding from a variety of sources. Government should be a pipeline for external funding, not a consumer.

6. Several properties in the downtown area are controlled by the city – the city hall complex, the jail, the police facility, the land the armory sits on, etc. What is your plan to return some of these properties to private hands in order to generate property taxes?

Harvey Persons: When I am elected mayor, we will develop a plan that will evaluate and access each city-owned property to determine its current and proper usage. We will then develop a plan to insure that the property is used properly, to maximize its use in the city’s aster plan.

Rochelle Robinson: The city has been in the process of negotiating with private businesses to come downtown and fill the empty boxes. For example, the Salvation Army, a soon-to-come textile business, and a computer company. I would continue in that same vain.  I would also open up some of the empty space, such as the Smith-Dabs frame that used to be a building, to be a "Bistro" setting on Front Street where one could buy a sandwich from the Irish Bread Pub, Gumbeaux's, or the soon-to-open Munchies and sit out in a garden with small intimate tables and enjoy lunch or an early dinner.

Ron Wilson:  Again back to answers 3 & 5 above. Return city government to its proper role of providing limited services as necessary to the taxpayers. Refrain from competing with private enterprise and operate the city under wise and prudent fiscal policies and additional tax revenue to the city is almost automatic. The disposal of properties causes two things to happen. One returns the property to the tax rolls and the second generates cash to be applied to the city debt.

Terry Miller: I wouldn't endorse any proposal to bring government facilities private. These institutions exist to serve the general public, and the public should maintain them.

7. Do you think there should be a vote on Sunday package sales allowed? Why or why not?

Rochelle Robinson: No. I can't support a vote for Sunday sales from groceries i.e. Kroger/Publix for the purpose of getting alcohol as our sports bars and restaurants have the ability to serve alcohol at 12:30 p.m. in time for a Sunday game...however, with public safety data provided by the police department, I would support a "choice" vote by the citizens to extend the hours on Saturday nights for restaurants as is the law any other night in the city currently.

Ron Wilson:   I do believe there should be a citizen vote on Sunday package sales because it is a taxpayer issue. It is a source of additional revenue. My research tells me it is not the public safety issue that has been mentioned. It is not an issue for the mayor or city council to decide. It is a public issue. 

Terry Miller: Yes. This decision should be in the hands of the people. The citizens of Douglasville must be allowed to make this important personal choice on their own.

Harvey Persons: I personally do not favor Sunday package sales of alcohol, but feel that there is substantial public opinion to allow it to be placed on the ballot and allow the citizens to decide. The facts for both sides need to be presented and the citizens need to decide this issue.

Please feel free to ask any additional questions of the candidates in the comments section.

The City’s website advises early voting by absentee ballots is now being held at the Voter Registrar’s Office, located on the first floor of the Douglas County Courthouse, through Friday, Nov. 4, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day, and by mail for the City of Douglasville’s municipal general election.

The General Election for the City of Douglasville will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Polling places are listed here.