Davis will have influential supporters, at least behind the scenes, because there are those who like ‘dealing out of the public eye”. That is not a culture that needs to continue. Oconee County needs a change in leadership. I believe Chuck Horton can provide that leadership.

AVOC

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June 17, 2012

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Oconee Chairman Race Is About Open Government and ‘Time for a Change’

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By Wendell Dawson, Editor, AVOC, Inc

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Well, Chairman Davis did not take AVOC’s advice and retire gracefully.   AVOC is not surprised considering the incumbent’s love for publicity and ‘photo ops’.   Many folks hoped he would retire and let new people and new ideas take over.

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72 Year old Melvin Davis Likes Power and Publicity

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3- 4-12 Memo to Oconee Chairman Melvin Davis- Congrats, Take a Bow and Retire Gracefully

                      http://www.avoc.info/info/article.php?article=4215

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Chairman Davis likes to be able to “do the deal in the corner office”.    Despite the local media ignoring it, it has become widely known that Davis does not like his board and key staff.   His modus operandi is to keep them in the dark.   That track record is the motivation behind the Board’s reorganization by the 4 Members on August 5, 2009.   It would not have been necessary if Chairman Davis had not usurped so much power of the Board.  

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Commissioner Horton pledges to be more open and to work and inform the Board of matters that impact the county.

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Chuck Horton is more approachable and open than his opponent

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Oconee County candidates square off at forum –ABH- 6.16.12

http://onlineathens.com/local-news/2012-06-15/oconee-county-candidates-square-forum

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….’Davis countered that he isn’t always able to tell commissioners what’s happening because he isn’t free to do so. “I will never expose what individuals have expressed to me in confidence,” Davis said.’……….

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Mr. Davis has campaign signs saying, “Continued Progress”.    His memory and voters’ memories may be at odds.

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Tax millage rates have gone down in recent years but not because of Mr. Davis.   After coming on board in 2005, Commissioner Horton, and to some extent, (especially in later years), Commissioner Luke have worked to slow spending and lower tax millage.   The reorganized board deserves credit for our lower millage rates.   SEE MILLAGE RATE HISTORY:

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OCONEE COUNTY MILLAGE RATES 2004-2013

Source:Oconee Proposed FY 13 Budget – Changing Times…. New Decisions- Page 7

                Public Hearing May 8, 2012

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NOTE:FY2004             1 mil = $ 1.8 Million                                 FY2013 1 mil = $ 1.3 Million       

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Other ‘Davis Successes’ include the following:

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            1.On an August afternoon in 2000 when Davis announced his candidacy he also announced that he “… will make the job part-time and turn much of the administration over to a County Manager”.   He also said he would delegate more to Department Heads.   He even told family and friends that he would continue to play in his competitive baseball league that required frequent travel out of state and absences over long weekends;

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            2.   Our scarce sewer capacity was diverted to residential development and we had the Master Planned Developments (MPD’s) in rural areas.   MPD’s turned out to be a bad idea.   Many of the MPDs went busted and we exhausted our sewer capacity, fast growth policies have resulted in “PVC Farms” or ‘dead subdivisions’;

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            3.    Veterans Park has been successful but spending on local roads and road maintenance has been neglected for 12 years;

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            4.   The $ 352 Million Hard Labor Creek Reservoir held a promise of water by 2014.The county’s involvement was committed on a three – two vote: For:   Norris, Luke and Davis; Against:Horton and Hale.  We are half way through the year 2012 and the Authority is trying to get $ 30 Million from the state to build the reservoir!   Sources for the remaining needed funds of $ 250 Million are never discussed.    The target date is now 2018 but it is doubtful that water will be coming to Oconee County by then.   A reservoir may get built and that will allow fishing and amenities for the platted subdivisions in the area of the lake;

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            4.   Switching priorities of the Oconee Connector and the Mars Hill –GA 53 improvement demonstrated a lack of vision.   We now have four-lane traffic dumping into a two-lane county road system.    It will only get worse with development of the mega shopping center.

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Davis will have influential supporters, at least behind the scenes, because there are those who like ‘dealing out of the public eye”.    That is not a culture that needs to continue.Oconee County needs a change in leadership.I believe Chuck Horton can provide that leadership.

Oconee County candidates square off at forum –ABH- 6.16.12

http://onlineathens.com/local-news/2012-06-15/oconee-county-candidates-square-forum

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    Davis and Horton squared off on whether commissioners, including Horton, should have removed the chairman’s power to run the county government’s day-to-day operations in 2009 and given those job responsibilities to the county administrator.

   “In my humble opinion, I think that’s a decision the public should’ve made,” Davis said.

Horton disagreed, telling the audience, “You people elected the county commissioners to do your work.” Commissioners had tried to resolve communication issues with Davis for years, but couldn’t get anywhere, he said. Removing the chairman’s day-to-day power has helped the county run better as a team, he added.

    Davis countered that he isn’t always able to tell commissioners what’s happening because he isn’t free to do so. “I will never expose what individuals have expressed to me in confidence,” Davis said.

    In closing statements, Horton and Davis offered a condensed version of their platforms. “I offer a culture change,” Horton said. “I offer you continued success,” Davis said……………