I would have voted for Mike Maxey had he run against Don Norris

But evidently Mr. Maxey heeded unsubstantiated advice from someone giving him some faulty political intelligence to have (contemplated) switched races at least twice since then. Based upon the overwhelmingly enthusiastic and positive feedback received upon floating a trial balloon campaign against Norris Board of Commissioners' slot for Post with the powers-that-be-and-don't-be around here, Maxey then explored the idea of running against Melvin Davis for Board of Commissioners chair. By then Sarah Bell had been lining up her supporters and much of the non-aligned political players in the county, thus negating any perceived or imagined groundswell of support for a Maxey candidacy. He has run a very high profile campaign, pouring lots of money in multiple billboards and various sized yard signs.

I am voting for and actively supporting Chuck Horton for many more reasons than I can list here. Primarily (and this goes across all campaigns and races) there are those who think government is evil; and those that realize it is a necessary evil. Horton having served in the UGA Police for 29 years realizes what good government can do. "When the police or the fire department come to your house at 2'o'clock in the morning, they don't stop and ask if there is a D or an R next to your name," said Horton a few years back on a radio show run by yours truly. Yes, there is the fact that I coached Chuck Horton's son in basketball almost 15 years ago, and yes I have had my fair share of disagreements with Horton all the way back to the school board days. But I seek someone in government who shares a general viewpoint that government can do a little more than choose contractors to pave roads and driveways.

I think this particular race will be closer than any other in Oconee County come closed poll time Tuesday evening. I have not yet combed over the filed donation papers yet but have heard some interesting talk of where candidates are getting support. In a county where the seemingly worst political insult is to be called either a Democrat or Developer, it shall be seen how the votes come down on the Maxey-Horton race for post 4 for the Oconee County Board of Commissioners. While Maxey is to be commended for running for office, I would suggest his ties to development make me a little too uncomfortable to support him in this go-round.

"As your County Commissioner, I will help open the doors of Oconee County to entrepreneurs and large businesses that want to locate here, instead of losing those opportunities to surrounding counties." says Maxey's website, and I have heard him make reference to the voting down of a proposed shopping center in the back yard of Athens Academy, but I for one do not want to overdevelop Oconee any faster than it is already going. Once we get sewers to Bogart residential and at least can plan at little better for growth in the next 20 years, then we can carefully craft a better scheme for our county's continued success. I do not doubt Maxey's character or personality, but I am not ready to make him part of the slate of people I vote for this time around. I thank him for everything he has done and continues to do for Oconee County, but I cannot in good conscious vote for Maxey in this primary.

I will urge him to stay involved like he has with the Veterans Memorial and the Planning Commission. But I will vote for Horton come early voting Monday tomorrow at either the Civic Center or the Courthouse.