Crowded field for two of Commission’s five seats.

ROME – After serving for four terms, or a total of 16 years, Floyd County Commissioner John Mayes (Post 5) is stepping down.

“I feel like I’ve learned a lot about county government,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed almost every minute of it.”

Floyd County Commission elections begin May 20 with the first of two stages of primaries. The general election will be in November.

Larry Maxey

For his part, Mayes said the past 16 years have proved to be a “very positive experience.” Now, however, he said he is ready for change.

“It’s time to concentrate my energy on my wife and ministry,” Mayes said. His wife, Terri L. Mayes, is a pastor at Greater Refuge Ministries on Broad Street in Rome.

To set the ballots for the general election, a first party primary is set for May 20, with a final primary set for July 22. Party members with the most votes in the May 20 primary will run against each other on July 22 to determine the two-candidate race in early November. Mayes’s Post 5 is up for grabs, as is Post 4. Incumbent Rhonda Wallace is running unopposed for Post 1.

Five candidates are seeking Mayes’s seat: Republicans Diane Coker, Scotty Hancock and Jack Dickey; and Democrats R. Jay Driskill and Ouida Sams.

Scotty Hancock

Hancock offers experience

Hancock, who has worked for Floyd County government for 18 years as the county’s director of emergency management, said his skills in planning would serve the commission well.

One of the issues facing the Floyd County Commission is that the board lacks foresight in recognizing problems before they manifest themselves, he said.

His goal, therefore, will be to “plan for the future rather than plan for things as they come,” Hancock said. “My motto is focus on the future.”

Balancing the budget, improving roads and implementing better infrastructure are a few of his more specific goals, and he said they could be accomplished by compromise.

“I believe there is compromise in everything,” he said. “You can draw a line but you don’t have to give away the farm,” Hancock said. Without compromise, “you’re setting yourself up for failure.” 

R. Jay Driskill

Driskill: New blood needed

On the Democratic ticket, Driskill has worked for several newspaper organizations, including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and now is director of audience development for the News Publishing Company, publishers of the Rome News-Tribune and other area and regional newspapers.

Driskill said working in the newspaper business has helped him observe some of the operational flaws of the Floyd County Commission.

“I work at the newspaper so I see a lot of stuff going on, and it strikes me that the entire county commission votes the same way,” he said. “They are always voting ‘yes’ or ‘no’ as a block. There is no alternative voice.”

One of Driskill’s goals as a county commissioner, therefore, will be to offer that “alternative voice,” he said.

Bo Arrant

“I want to be a voice for the people who have no voice in government,” Driskill said.

Rome has largely been run by the same “Republican, wealthy business owners” for the last century, he added.

Driskill said he sees government as a business, and that it therefore should be run as one.

“You can’t buy everything and figure out to pay for it [later],” he said. “You must have a plan going in.”

From DeKalb County, Ala., Driskill has lived in Floyd County for four years. He attended Snead State Junior College and the University of Alabama.

Rhonda Wallace

Wallace to run unopposed

The unopposed incumbent for Post 1, Rhonda Wallace, said she disagreed with this contention.

“You would only do things to get a profit,” she said. “The county and city are not running to make a profit; they are running to provide services, because that is their duty.”

But, similar to good businesses, government should be organized, detailed and efficient with money, said Wallace, whose husband, Ronnie Wallace, was the former mayor of Rome. “We must spend money wisely so that we can provide the services our community needs.”

Ouida Sams

Wallace was elected to her seat in July 2012, when she ran for the unexpired term of Chad Whitefield. This is Wallace’s first time running for a full term, but with no opposition, she is almost certain to win.

“I feel very blessed,” she said. “I feel that I don’t have to run so hard to get back in there because it is something that I truly love.” 

For Post 4, Republican Larry Maxey, the incumbent, said his reason for running again is so that he could continue to “give back to the community.” Maxey is running against Democrat Bo Arrant, who did not respond to attempts to arrange an interview. 

Diane Coker

The other candidates on the ballot — Diane Coker, Jack Dickey, and Ouida Sams – also did not respond to phone calls requesting an interview.  

In all, there are five members on the county’s board of commissioners. To qualify for election, a person must choose which post he or she hopes to fill. According to the county’s website, “the Board is responsible for setting direction and approving policies as well as managing the budget and authorizing expenditures.” 

Photo credit: All candidate photos published with permission from NorthwestGeorgiaNews.com.