Voters in Jasper and Nelson will go to the polls Tuesday to choose council members in both cities. Nelson also elects a new mayor.
There are no contested races in Talking Rock and no races in unincorporated areas of the county.
Advanced voting is underway this week for elections in both cities. Advance voters who live inside the city limits of Jasper and Nelson must cast their advanced ballots at the Pickens County Admin Building on East Church Street. Hours of operation at the election office there will be 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. this week. Voters must bring a photo ID to cast a ballot.
Cherokee County residents who live in the Nelson city limits may also vote at the Pickens Admin building for this election.
On election day, Tuesday, November 3, voters will cast ballots at city halls in each town. For election day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Julianne Roberts, elections supervisor for Pickens County, said a heavy turnout is not expected. In advanced voting, only three people had cast ballots for the Jasper race and only two for Nelson races as of Monday. “Usually you get an idea from what happens in the early voting,” Roberts said.
In Jasper, voters decide one council race between incumbent Greg Burgess and challenger Anne Morrow. Allison Ballew moves onto the council unopposed. Incumbent Marcia Craft did not seek reelection for the seat Ballew will fill.
David Leister, James Queen, and D. George Smith vie for the position of Nelson mayor.
Larry W. Sellers, Jr., incumbent Willie Leonard Pye and Jamey Tamplin all contend for two council seats––the top two vote-getters to assume seats on the council.
In Jasper, each candidate declares a specific seat they are running for, while in Nelson, all council candidates run in a general heat with the top vote getters placed into seats that are open.
In Talking Rock, incumbents were the only candidates to qualify, so no election will be held.
Greg Burgess (incumbent)
Burgess, 45, of Old Cove Road, is a lifelong resident of Jasper. He is a farrier and Elvis Tribute Artist.
Prior Experience - Burgess has served on the Jasper City Council since he won a special election in November 2008 to fill the unexpired term of Hazel Mosley who died in office.
Burgess said he has spoken out for the people of the city while in office. He said during his council service he has become concerned about the type of government running the system here.
“We have a strong mayor pretty much calling the shots with the council,” he said. “Most cities are run more on the council/manager form, and it seems more suitable. Those seem to run better with the council being stronger. It’s not been that way for a while here.”
Platform - “For the council and myself, I want us to be heard more, not just filling an empty chair,” he said. “There is too much closed book going on.”
“Listening to others is not a concern of the mayor. He’s going to listen but do what he wants to do,” Burgess said. “It’s too much of a good ole boy system.”
Burgess said he wants to stop the unfairness he sees tied to personal issues.
Burgess said he would like to see more spending emphasis on employee pay and benefits at city hall. He said $430,000 recently spent on a new police station would have been better spent on employee pay.
Burgess said he would like to see Lee Newton Park opened to more events. “I would like to see more going on there,” he said.
“I want to see the type of government changed. We need a stronger council,” Burgess said.
Anne Morrow
Morrow, 48, of Fernwood Court, has lived in Jasper 20 years. She worked in medical management 25 years before entering her current position as manager at PCM Electric Contractors.
Prior Experience - Morrow says, “I feel like the experience I carry with me is management, because running a city is like running a business. I think my experience will be good for the council to help balance the budget and stay in the black instead of in the red. I think my management skills add that experience.”
Platform - “I think a lot of change is fixing to happen in Pickens County, and there has to be proactive efforts made by the city to control that growth. We can’t just sit around and wait for it to come to us,” Morrow said.
“With all the changes that are coming, we need people who will help control growth. The council should have an open door policy with citizens who can come and voice concerns.
“…I also feel that we need industries and commercial businesses to provide jobs. I see a lot of people driving out of town for work, and I want to support the Jasper community and help keep things local,” she said.
Allison Ballew (running unopposed to fill the seat of Marcia Craft)
Ballew, 35, of Arbor Hills, has lived in Jasper for five-and-a-half years. She works as an insurance salesperson with State Farm Insurance. She was manager at Jasper’s UPS store prior to her current position.
Prior experience - “Coming from Jonesboro, I have seen how things can change for the worse when people are not involved and the voice of the people isn’t heard. I feel like what I bring to the position is being that voice. I am in touch with the community, and I will make sure people’s voices are heard, “ Ballew said.
Ballew is also one of the Pickens County Chamber of Commerce’s Marble Festival organizers.
Platform - “I moved here because Jonesboro was such a mess…I’m sure you know what happened with the Clayton school board…but there was also so much development after the Olympics, and you saw all these cheap houses being thrown up in Clayton County and Jonesboro,” Ballew said.
“I want Pickens to move forward, and I want to be sure with the progress that is made that there are smart decisions that are made. I want the voters to be heard. At these city council meetings, I think it is very telling when community doesn’t come out. I want to be the person that makes the citizens’ voices heard. “
NELSON ELECTIONS
Nelson city elections, Tuesday, November 3, determine who will fill the soon to be vacated mayor's chair and two city council seats. Mayor Bill Walker's decision not to seek reelection opens the door for a new city chief executive. Three Nelson men have qualified in the race.
Candidate David Leister has lived in Nelson one and a half years. Asked about leadership experience, Leister pointed to his role as a parent and as a former homeowners' association president. Leister makes his living in information systems processing.
Leister said a focus of his service if elected would be to bring a convenience store to Nelson. "I've never lived in a town anywhere in the United States where you couldn't buy bread, milk, and eggs," Leister said. He would make it a major goal to get a store for the town, he said. "Then develop a plan for going ahead that ensures Nelson's future," he added. "I want to make sure that Nelson goes forward and does it in a planned way."
Leister expressed concern that, located between Ballground and Jasper, Nelson might find itself hemmed in by expansion of those cities. "We have to go out and look at what remains in Pickens County and Cherokee and see if we need to expand into those areas while we can," he said.
Leister indicated he sees Nelson's present government leaning more toward Cherokee County than Pickens for supportive government services. Nelson could benefit as well by cooperation with Pickens County government, Leister suggested. "I think we could work with Pickens County to make roads better looking in our town," he said.
If elected, he expects to learn about seeking grants for city improvements, Leister said. "Nobody wants to overgrow it," he said. "I don't want a lot of change. I just want productive change."
One change he would seek would involve an efficiency study for city employees, Leister said. These are times where every dollar counts, he said, and Nelson operates from a limited tax base. An efficiency study would not be to criticize city employees but would go toward the best management of resources, Leister indicated.
"I emphasize that city employees are doing a very good job," he said. They just need someone from outside the system, not entrenched with what has gone on, to have a fresh look at city government operations, he said.
"Everything works," Leister said. "Nelson isn't broken. It's just not growing."
"No matter who wins," Leister said, "I hope that the other two candidates will still lend their expertise to help grow this city."
Mayoral candidate James Queen has lived in Nelson 30 years. Asked about leadership experience, Queen pointed to his career in commercial construction before retirement and his eight years of service as a Nelson city councilman.
Asked about his specific goals if elected, Queen said "I'd like to see more sidewalks in town." And he wants to pave the parking lot at the town ball field, Queen said.
Asked about the future of two city-owned buildings on Blueridge Avenue near the railroad, Queen said he would still like to see the buildings converted into a community center. "I'm still for a community center myself," he said. "It's just getting the funding to do it with."
Asked for specific changes he would seek if elected, Queen's answer seemed grounded in the present economy. "There's just so much you can do with the funding you got," he observed.
"If I'm elected, I can be available any time day or night," Queen said, "because I'm retired and I've got plenty of time to put into it."
Mayoral candidate D. George Smith has lived in Nelson seven years. Self-employed, he is a semi-retired, licensed private investigator.
Asked about his leadership experience, Smith pointed to eight years as night sergeant for Smyrna's police department. Smith also worked as an investigator assisting public defenders in the local Appalachian Judicial Circuit.
Asked about his service focus if elected, Smith said he would make public safety his prime concern. Under specific changes desired for the city, Smith said he would improve communications equipment for patrol officers.
"I want to see a full-time fire department with firemen on duty in Nelson," Smith said. "We need quicker response times. I think homeowners would like to see their insurance rates drop with better protection."
Smith said he would also like to see an improved tax base for the city. He would encourage businesses to locate in Nelson for purposes of expanding and increasing the tax base, thereby relieving the burden on homeowners.
Smith said he would also like to change some procedures presently used in city council meetings for hearing questions from the public.
Smith limited his specific desired changes for the city to the ones you see listed here. "I don't want to make too many promises," he said. "Campaign rhetoric is just that."
City council candidate Jamey Tamplin was the only one of three council candidates qualified for this election who spoke to the Progress for this story. Phone messages left for both other candidates brought no further communications.
Tamplin said he has lived in Nelson about 11 years. Asked about leadership experience, Tamplin pointed to eight year's Navy experience and 12 in the Army, where he rose to staff sergeant. For his living, Tamplin manages a CVS pharmacy at Blue Ridge.
His service focus if elected would be "how we spend our money," Tamplin said. "If we agree to a contract, we have to make sure it's completed correctly."
Tamplin said he also hopes for broader community involvement soon. “I'm not sure the subdivisions realize they're part of the town and their voice can be heard,” he said. “Hearing from them will hopefully help dictate some of the progress or adjustments to make the city better.”
Asked if he has specific city changes in mind if elected, Tamplin said he would be learning his way along at first. "As I grow into the job, I'll add my input," he said. "There's nothing I see right now that I want to change. I'm sure I'll see something in the future."
As Nelson's city charter directs, council candidates do not declare as a candidate for a specific council seat. Instead, candidates are ranked by the number of votes they receive on election day, and open council seats are filled from that list in order. There are two city council seats open at this election cycle. Of the three council candidates running, the top two vote-getters will fill those seats.
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