Today’s Long County election story focuses on the tax commissioner race between incumbent Becky Fowler and challenger Deona Carter. Each candidate was given the same questions to respond to.

Becky Fowler

1. Can you provide a brief biography?

I am presently serving as the tax commissioner of Long County. I have served in this position for the past four years, and have worked in the office for 23 years. I have been married to Tony E. Fowler for 31 years and we have three children; Brittany, Pee Wee (Tony Fowler II) and Tori Gordon, we also have four grandchildren, Jake and Nathan Gordon, and Tonilyn Pipkin and Camden Shealey.

2. What makes you qualified to be tax commissioner?

I have served as a public servant for the citizens of Long County for 23 years, and have excelled in each audit conducted by the state and county to the fullest. I have maintained proper records and have been at the public’s beckon and call 24 hours a day, assisting them in every way that I can. I have served on the Georgia Association of Tax Officials board with surrounding counties and served on the ethics forum at the Constitutional Officers Association of Georgia in Savannah.

3. What are some of the first actions you’d take as commissioner? Also, would you attempt to make any major changes over the next four years?

I feel that the tax commissioner’s office is run in a professional manner, and we will continue to strive to attain our motto of “Treating others the way that we would like to be treated.” We plan on mailing tag renewals out to our customers.

4. What role do you see this office playing in Long County?

We are the main resource of the county’s revenues; if the tax commissioner’s job is not carried out to the fullest expectations, the county cannot operate properly.

5. How do you see the office changing with the county’s growth?

Any changes would be to better serve the growth of Long County and its citizens. I will continue to educate my staff, as well as myself, and to work with the public to address new laws as they are put into effect, and as changes arise daily.

6. How would you make tax collection more efficient, or would you leave it as it is?

I have to evaluate each situation as it arises and work with individuals, while also abiding the state law. Properties that maintain in estates are to be handled in a different manner; every heir has to have the same opportunity as the other heirs, and sometimes these heirs cannot be located without the assistance of an attorney. Until the county adopts a resolution allowing me to process the sales of abandoned properties, I will continue to search for any heirs. Also, the public needs to know that those individuals that file bankruptcy, they cannot be levied on.

Many people have questions about collecting taxes, but I think it is important that the people know that in 2011 alone, my office collected 91 percent of all of the property taxes in the county. There also are a lot of questions about uncollected taxes, but most of them are from developers who have built homes in the area, with the intent of paying the taxes after the home sale. When the economy took a dive, and the homes didn’t sell, it made it difficult to collect these taxes. The commissioners now are working with these builders, and allowing them to pay the taxes once they sell the home. It’s not the best system, but it is the best that we can do right now.

7. Anything else to say? I would like to thank the citizens of Long County for allowing me the opportunity to serve as their tax commissioner for the past four years, and also for allowing me to serve them in the tax office for the last 23 years. I love Long County and the citizens that reside here.

Deona Carter

1. Can you provide a brief biography?

I am a native of Long County, married to Chris Carter. We have two sons Christopher and Alex, and my parents are Edward and Denise Walker. My dad retired from the U.S. Navy, and we returned to Long County in 1994. My grand-parents are Tommy and Jane Johnston, and my mother and father-in-law are Bud and Nancy Carter. I have been a volunteer recreation baseball, basketball and football coach for the last 12 years, and I am an active volunteer member on the Long County Touchdown Club, having served as vice president and president over the last two years.

2. What makes you qualified to be tax commissioner?

I have 10 years of property-tax experience, and I also worked 10 years in the Long County tax assessor’s office. In addition to this, I also am a certified appraiser through the Georgia Department of Revenue.

3. What are some of the first actions you’d take as commissioner? Also, would you attempt to make any major changes over the next four years?

Immediately, I would work on more effective tax-collection methods and better customer service. In the future I would extend the hours of operation at the tax commissioner’s office, and do this with no increase in cost to the taxpayers. I would also implement a mailing system for the renewal of vehicle and mobile home decals.

4. What role do you see this office playing in Long County?

This office is the foundation to the school system and the county government’s funding. The majority of the funding to operate the county and the school system is collected through property taxes, which is the tax commissioner’s responsibility.

5. How do you see the office changing with the county’s growth?

The tax commissioner’s office needs to become more efficient in order to change with the growth of the county. To become more efficient the tax office needs to be more accessible to the public, implement a mailing system for motor vehicles and mobile homes, and make hours at the tax office more accessible.

6. How would you make tax collection more efficient, or would you leave it as it is?

By implementing a mailing system for motor vehicles and mobile home decals, it would become more efficient.

7. Anything else to say?

My experience in the property-tax business makes me highly qualified to be your tax commissioner. Through all of my volunteering, I have made a difference in your children’s lives; now I am asking you to let me make a difference in your life.

On Friday: A preview of the race for District 4 representative.