The current commissioner of Walker County has been in office for 16 years and she is asking the voters of this county for four more years to finish what she's started. On Tuesday, Nov. 8, myself, family and friends will be supporting Shannon Whitfield to be our new Walker County commissioner and replace the incumbent commissioner.
I guess there are as many reasons to want to stay in elected office as there are to want to be elected in the first place. I cannot address why the current commissioner wants to be re-elected, but I would like to address Mr. Whitfield's reasons and his desire to make our county be the best it can be.
Mr. Whitfield is a product of this community and a family involved in a long time business with experience in not only business, but as an elected council member in Chickamauga and currently chairman of the Regional Library Board, amoung many other things. He has a very nice wife, two daughters and a young son, Daniel. Walker County is his home. It's our home also and our businesses are here and our future, too.
For many reasons the county we call home has some deep problems that must be addressed immediately. The issues we face did not happen overnight but have been in the making for quite some time. No one knows for sure how many millions of dollars our county is in debt for. Many, including myself, believe the north end of the county has been ignored for years. Other issues have been brought to the attention of the citizens in the past year that can be debated either way. What matters is not what has happened in the past, but how and who can change these problems.
I don't see change in our future if we continue doing what we have been doing for the past 16 years. Shannon Whitfield wants his home, family and this county to be financially solvent, a healthy reserve, new businesses creating jobs, and existing businesses doing well. I've seen plans Mr. Whitfield has shown to the public in a Power Point presentation. I've heard his specific thoughts and ideas on how he will address these problems on day one.
Here's the problem the current commissioner has in being re-elected. She has not shown the voters a viable plan, or any plan for that matter. If we are to be asked to have confidence in an elected official and vote for that person, we should know what and how that person is going to change our county and secure its future. Mr. Whitfield has shown that plan for months, but never have I seen a plan from Ms. Heiskell. Since Mr. Whitfield has shown us a plan, and said he would surround himself with the best and brightest residents this county has to offer to be his advisors, I believe he is the best qualified and will be the best last sole commissioner this county could choose at this time.
Please vote for Shannon Whitfield for Walker County commissioner on Tuesday Nov. 8.
David Roden
Walker County Resident
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I completely agree with your opinion piece regarding Bebe and Shannon. Bebe lost and is acting typically Bebe. She hasn't conceded, won't talk to the press or address the election results at all. Can someone say "petulant child"?
In my opinion, her being stunned by coming in third shows just how out of touch she is with her constituents and our concerns about the massive debts (Mountain Cove Farm and Hutcheson especially) that she has placed on every one of our heads.
Ready to see what Mr. Whitfield can do to heal our county and lower our debt.
Netta Dean