Walker County is a great place to live. We have some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere and lots of good, hard-working people who live here. In Walker, we do have one problem - our form of government. In Georgia, the law allows for the sole commissioner form of government. The sole commissioner is both the county executive and the legislator. There are only six counties in the United States who have this form of government. All are in Georgia, mostly North Georgia.
In the last few years, citizens in the county have become increasingly dissatisfied with the sole commissioner form of government.
In the 2012 Republican primary, Sole Commissioner Bebe Heiskell survived a primary challenge by Dr. Paul Shaw by a couple of hundred votes. At the center of the Shaw campaign was the promise to convert Walker County to a multi-member commission form of government.
Lately, citizens have questioned how Commissioner Heiskell has spent tax monies. For example, Heiskell spent several million taxpayer dollars purchasing and renovating Mountain Cove Farms in McClemore Cove in Walker County. There are also the loans which Heiskell backed for the failing Hutcheson Medical Center, including a loan from Erlanger Medical Center which could cost Walker County $10 million. As a result of the the Hutcheson issue, national bond rating groups have significantly lowered Walker County's bond rating. Then, there was last year's tax increase because the county did not have adequate money to operate. In addition, Walker County may be fined for damage the county did to Rock Creek during a construction project on Lookout Mountain.
Last year, some citizens circulated a petition which ended up with almost 2,000 names asking State Senator Jeff Mullis, a chief ally of Heiskell, to consider changing state law and allowing citizens to vote on this issue. In a recent newspaper article, Mullis said he would not consider this. Even the Walker County Republican Party at their 2013 convention attempted to place a measure on the ballot but were blocked by Heiskell and Mullis. It is expected that next month, when a similar resolution is proposed at the GOP convention, Heiskell and Mullis will do the same.
The interesting thing about Senator Mullis is that in 2013, when there was controversy in Fort Oglethorpe regarding the firing of several city employees by the mayor, Senator Mullis immediately jumped to the defense of citizens and formed a charter committee to change the Fort Oglethorpe charter and limit the mayor's authority. When it comes to Walker County, not so much.
This issue will continue to fester in Walker County. Citizens should be allowed to have a say in their government. If this issue is voted on and citizens choose to keep the sole commissioner form of government, then the people have spoken. If the people do vote to change the government, the legislative delegation representing Walker County should follow the people's wishes and change the law. A multi-member commission isn't perfect and won't solve all the county's problems. But it could lead to more transparency in the government and allow citizens more input into decisions that are made by the government.
In the meantime, citizens should contact their elected leaders in Atlanta and express their opinion. And to Commissioner Heiskell and Senator Mullis - why are you so afraid to let the people of Walker County have a say in their county's future?
Mike Cameron