Today’s Long County election preview focuses on the 2nd District commissioner’s race between incumbent Wallace Shaw and challenger Robert Long. Each candidate was given the same questions.

Wallace Shaw

Can you provide a brief biography?

I’m 66 years old, a lifelong resident of Long County a graduate of Ludowici High School. I have been married to Jean Shaw for 16 years and have seven children, 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. I was in the U.S. Marines, served in Vietnam and received the Purple Heart, along with numerous other citations.

What makes you qualified to be a Long County commissioner?

Besides being a commissioner, I represent Long County on seven other boards or committees. I also have graduated from several leadership courses — too many to mention here. But my best qualification is not in what I have done, but what we as a board have done. We have completed Phase 2 of the recreation park and are still adding on to it. We now have curbside trash pick-up. We’ve completed paving Wilkerson Road. We now have animal control, and we have lobbied for more grants and funding than probably any other board ever has. All of this and more is what I believe qualifies me to be re-elected.

What would be some of the first actions you would take on the commission? Also, would you attempt to make any major changes over your term?

I want to continue to work hard on the path that we are on. We’ve made great strides in the past four years, and I see no reason to change our course. We can always improve, but we’ve made a good start. We want to continue to treat everyone in the county fair and equal. I also see no need for any major changes. We do need to enlarge our facilities, but that takes money and the taxpayers can’t stand any more taxes, so we have to find other ways to raise funding, and so we may have to move slowly in that area.

What are some issues specific to your district you would address?

Mostly roads and growth. Some other important issues to be dealt with are the amount of traffic, the trash, the pot holes in the road and the speeding. In short, the kind of complaints that come with growth as you change from a rural area into a more urban-type area.

How do you see the county changing with population growth?

We want to grow, but to have a controlled growth. We have to be careful not to overload our county resources. Whether it is the school system, the sheriff’s department, the courthouse or whatever, our infrastructure can’t keep up if we grow too fast.

Do you have any comment on taxes?

We have not had a tax increase by the board of commissioners in the past three years, and I do not see a need to do so in the near future.

Do you have any comment on roads?

We are trying hard to try new technology, and we have been able to upgrade all our old equipment, which maintains our roads, so that we get more service time, rather than down time from our equipment.

Anything else?

I would like to return to the commission to continue this work for the betterment of the county. I also would like to take as much of the burden off the taxpayers by gaining a sales-tax base. Thank you for your time, and I hope you will vote to return me to this very important office so we can work together to make this a better place to live and work.

Robert Long

Can you provide a brief biography?

I’m 59 years old, a Christian, husband, father, grandfather and pastor of a local church. I’m a Long County resident who has been married to Barbara Wells Long for 35 years. We have a daughter, and she has two sons. I also was married to the late Shirley Moody; we had one son, and he also has one son.

What makes you qualified to be a Long County commissioner?

My faith in God, as he is my guide. Also pastoring as the under shepherd of a congregation of people in a local church, working in state and local government for 32 years, being a supervisor for 22 years, having experience working with local landowners and by being a leader both in and outside of the government.

What would be some of the first actions you would take on the commission? Also, would you attempt to make any major changes over your term?

First of all, unity, harmony, professionalism to be able to work together for the good of Long County. As for major changes, that would depend upon what the citizens of my district voice to me as to what they think needs to be changed; I will be their voice on the commission board. As for myself, by traveling through our county and by attending the commissioner’s meetings over the last nine months, there are many things that need to be changed, but far too many to list here.

What are some issues specific to your district you would address?

Most of the issues deal with the roads, both paved and dirt. Another big issue was hearing from the people in my district that county officials were too lax and taking too long to get back with them when an issue was brought to their attention. If elected, I plan on having districts within my district; what this means is that I will be asking volunteers to be leaders in their areas to help keep me stay informed of needs that need to be addressed. This doesn’t mean that people still can’t call me, but it does mean that we together can make sure that all the 2nd District is always heard and represented.

How do you see the county changing with population growth?

I believe we have to look at all of Long County together through different methods that are within the law to provide adequate measures in order to meet this need. I am in favor of new and continued growth in Long County.

Do you have any comment on taxes?

I plan to try and keep taxes as low as possible for our citizens.

Do you have any comment on roads?

I agree that some of our roads need to be improved. I think our county maintenance crew is doing all that they can within its means to keep our roads in shape. However, we need to continue to find ways or means through grants from our state or federal government to improve our road system.

Anything else?

I will be guided by God in all decisions, with the goal of making Long County a better place to live. I also will be a servant to the people of the county, act on county issues as quickly as I can in a fair and impartial manner. I will work to create jobs in the county, work to keep taxes as low as possible, encourage new business to come here, spend the taxpayers money wisely and do all I can to make Long County a place where people can be proud to live.