The Courier sent questionnaires to all candidates in the contested races for Liberty County Board of Commissioners, using email address provided to the Courier or listed on candidate qualifying forms.
Following are the responses we received by press-time Wednesday:
Commission Chairman
Democrat
Donald Lovette (incumbent)
Donald Lovette, a Liberty County native, is a graduate of Bradwell Institute, a medical laboratory assistant graduate of North Georgia Technical College and an honor graduate of Brewton-Parker College. He retired in 2020 as the director of laboratory services at Liberty Regional Medical Center.
Lovette served as vice-chair of the Liberty County Board of Education.
“I helped to guide the school district during the student population growth due to Fort Stewart and gave leadership in the naming of Snelson-Golden and Lewis Frasier middle schools,” he said He later served as District 2 county commissioner for 10 years before being elected chairman in 2012. He serves as the chairman of the Savannah Technical College Board of Directors, first vice president of the Liberty County MLK Committee and member of the Liberty County Development Authority. His honors and awards include the MLK President’s Award, Trinity College of Religion Honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree, 2023 North Georgia Technical College Alumni Hall of Fame Award, 2021 Governor’s Award for the Arts and Humanities and the Savannah Tech Community Star Award.
1. What do you see as the county’s biggest challenges in the next five to 10 years?
The county’s biggest challenges are to acquire water resources from neighboring counties as well as to lay the groundwork to install countywide water and sewer services. Without it the county’s growth will stall. Optimizing county financial resources in an exemption rich and fast growing county remains a challenge. Securing federal and state funding to levy with our SPLOST and T-SPLOST dollars is critical to our infrastructure needs to include roads pavement, safety improvements, roads resurfacing and sidewalks and installation of bicycle/ walking trails. The continuous attraction of high paying jobs, workforce development, workforce housing, recreational enhancements, the acquisition of properties for outgrown county facilities, the completion of phase 2 of the Hinesville Bypass to help alleviate traffic congestion and continuous progressive planning must remain a priority for the county.
2. What do you see as the county’s biggest attributes in the next five to 10 years?
The county’s biggest attributes are (1) the welcoming spirit of the people of Liberty County to include its diverse population (2) the attraction to the Liberty County coast with our proximity to Savannah, Jacksonville and Atlanta; (3) growing dining and shopping opportunities, (4) exploration and recruitment of family entertainment opportunities, (5) increase of cultural arts opportunities to include Food Truck Festivals, Ricefest, Small World Festival, Susie King Taylor Exhibit, municipality days, Bradwell Park events and events at Fort Stewart. In addition, we boast a rich history and have great historical sites - 12 are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
3. What can and should the county do to accommodate growth while not letting the growth take over?
The county must continue to be strategic in its planning for future growth. The Liberty County Consolidated Planning Commission is presently conducting town hall sessions to gain citizen input for their vision of future county growth. I encourage all citizens to take full advantage of this opportunity. The Liberty County interchanges at I-95 are attracting increased interest for future development. This development has the potential to contribute much needed economic development to our rural county. Our challenge and plans are to ensure the development is balanced and while allowing economic development, also protect the coastal Georgia lifestyle.
4. What makes you better positioned for the role?
I have given approximately 24 years to public service in Liberty County. I was a sitting Board of Education member and Vice Chair when the Liberty County School District grew exponentially. We had to build schools and infrastructure very rapidly. Our present growth spurt reminds me of the leadership required to accommodate that growth. I am a certified and advanced trained County Commissioner. In addition, I have completed specialty training in Leadership, Quality of Life, Revenue and Economic Development. I have the working experience and rapport with local, state and national leadership. I recently received a personal phone call from Senator Jon Ossoff in reference to our successful collaboration to fund a portion of the Hinesville Bypass. I have been an engaging participant in meetings at the Pentagon and in Congress, lobbying for projects for Liberty County and Fort Stewart. I am also involved in my local community in numerous civic, youth and church related activities. I am often complimented for my fair, trusted and calming leadership style which has been a great benefit to the progress of Liberty County. I am Liberty County Proud.
District 4
Republican
Timmy Blount
Timmy Blount is a lifelong resident of Fleming. He is the father of three children and “Grandpa” to five boys “who I pray will gain as much knowledge from me as I did from grandfather,” he said.
He and his family are members of Grace Point Worship Center in Fleming. He is a project manager for TSAY Federal Contracting Group at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield and oversees five departments – water/wastewater, pest control, refuse (landfill), roads and grounds and the central energy plant.
“From the time I was young, there were many people who influenced my life,” Blount said. “However, my ‘Papa’ as he was known to me, was the most influential person I had in my life. He taught me that having a hard work ethic, self-respect, being dependable and honest would follow me forever. I have represented these qualities throughout my life, and this would make me an ideal candidate for the job.”
1. What do you see as the county’s biggest challenges in the next five to 10 years?
The county’s biggest challenges in the next five to 10 years are managing the wasteful spending and lowering property taxes. Just a few of the challenges are modern development and elbow to elbow homes in subdivisions. For example, there are too many homes per acre.
2. What do you see as the county’s biggest attributes in the next five to 10 years?
The county’s biggest attributes in the next five to 10 years are the major highways which include Highways 84, 196, 17 and 119 having access to the Liberty County Airport, the military having railroad access, and to the Savannah Ports.
3.What can and should the county do to accommodate growth while not letting the growth take over?
The county commissioners and Liberty County Planning Commission can accommodate growth while not letting the growth take over by first looking at rezoning laws. a. Liberty County should stop the warehouses from building. If Liberty County is going to allow warehouse development, then they should be taxed and not waivered for 10 years. b. Liberty County should look at changing the zoning laws for high land and low land residential development. These subdivisions being built have four to five homes per acre. I believe two homes per acre in these subdivisions are enough. Liberty County is a beautiful county and we citizens want it to stay that way.
4. What makes me better positioned for the role? a. Experience b. I am a life-long concerned citizen of Liberty County. c. Strong willed, passion for the job and Liberty County. d. I will be accessible to all citizens of Liberty County. e. Most of all….my passion is for the concerns of the citizens of Liberty County.
District 6
Democrat
Eddie Walden (incumbent)
Eddie Walden has lived in Liberty County since he was an infant.
“Growing up, my father was stationed on Fort Stewart while my mother held the fort down at home raising six children and managing numerous businesses,” he said.
Walden was educated in Liberty County schools, starting with Bacon Primary.
“In my teenage years, I joined my parents and worked at their various businesses to include Westward Ho Gas Station, Liberty Ice Company, Walden House Movers and others,” he said. “It was during this time, that I had the opportunity to work with other community members for a congressional political campaign for Elliot Hagan and Bo Ginn. That was an experience that left an impression on me but also prepared me to assist my father with his own political campaign in running for multiple terms.”
Walden graduated from Bradwell Institute in 1973, later working for the Liberty County Sheriff ’s Office and ultimately landing at Georgia Power. He and his wife Kathy have been married for 42 years and their three children are graduates of the Liberty County School System. Kathy Walden taught in Liberty schools for 38 years, “teaching multiple generations of our community’s families,” Eddie Walden said.
He retired after 37 years with Georgia Power.
1. What do you see as the county’s biggest challenges in the next five to 10 years?
Ensuring that resources are in place to handle the continued growth expected to occur during that time. One example would be water and sewer. As a county that is currently in a “yellow zone” designation by EPD, the ability to withdraw water for new development is limited. We must continue to look for partnerships with other governmental agencies who are not under these restrictions to be able to meet the demand. From a wastewater perspective, we have just commissioned a study to explore the provision of sewer services in the unincorporated areas. This is important because a sustainable infrastructure is required to accommodate this new growth.
2. What do you see as the county’s biggest attributes in the next five to 10 years?
Our county is one of the most diversified in the state. Over the course of my time as a county commissioner, I have had the opportunity to witness multiple organizations band together for the betterment of this county. This gives us the ability to draw from a vast array of perspectives and knowledge. No one entity can solve all the issues facing Liberty County. We have a unique ability to partner with the individual municipalities, Fort Stewart and the Liberty County Development Authority to foster new growth for both our residents and new businesses.
3. What can and should the county do to accommodate growth while not letting the growth take over?
The county is required to develop and maintain a comprehensive growth management plan by the state. This document is meant to serve as a roadmap and guide for future growth county-wide. We are in the beginning stages of an update to this plan now. As we do this update, we must make sure that careful consideration is given as to how and where we want certain growth to occur. We must be sure that we maintain a careful balance to protect our historic and natural resources. As we review & update our comprehensive growth management plan, we continue to partner with the various entities within our county and outside of the county. Collaboration and discussion amongst other entities can expose potential problems and their consequences but also lead the way to a proper solution that fits best for our community.
4. What makes you better positioned for the role?
As previously stated, I have been actively involved in this community for the majority of my life. This is my home. This is my family’s home. I am invested in this county and want nothing more than to know we are leaving future generations set up for continued prosperity.
