Oconee commission incumbent faces challenge by former commissioner
A runoff election for a seat on the Oconee County Board of
Commissioners features a long-time incumbent facing an opponent who once
served 20 years on the commission.
Post 3 incumbent Margaret Hale, a commissioner since 2000, was the
top vote getter in the Republican primary held in May, but she was
closely challenged by William E. “Bubber” Wilkes, who served on the
commission from 1985 to 2005.
The candidates served alongside each other on the commission for four years.
During the primary, Hale received 1,787 votes. Wilkes followed with
1,616. A third candidate, Maria Caudell, forced the race into a runoff
by gathering 892 votes.
The runoff is planned for July 22, but early voting is taking place
through July 18 at the Board of Elections office inside the county
courthouse on Main Street in Watkinsville.
Hale, a Savannah native who works as an administrative specialist at
the University of Georgia Library, has lived in the Farmington community
of Oconee County since 1984.
Wilkes, a lifelong Oconee resident, is retired after a career as a
farmer, and most recently in security at Athens Regional Medical Center.
Economic development is an issue Hale sees as a priority for the county.
Many are interested in what the commission is planning for Georgia
Highway 316 and its recruitment of businesses for the county, she said.
“Infrastructure is always a big issue with people; paving roads, water and sewer,” she said.
Other important issues the county will face in the near future will
be liquor by the drink and completion of the Hard Labor Creek reservoir
as an additional water supply for the county, she said.
Hale said she is opposed to an issue that her opponent has supported in his bid for the post.
“Bubber Wilkes is wanting to go back to a strong chairman, where I
worked very hard to have the power go back to the board to have some
checks and balances and transparency. That’s a huge concern to some
citizens,” she said.
Wilkes decided to leap back into local politics after his retirement.
“Several people came to me and asked if I’d run again. I talked it
over with my wife and considered it,” he said. “I’m interested in the
county, its growth and where it’s headed. People are ready for a change
on the board. That’s what I’m hearing.”
And he does support giving the board chairman more supervisory powers.
“I like a strong chairman,” he said. “I want the chairman to be the boss.”
While preparing the county for economic growth remains important, Wilkes said it’s not as critical as it once was.
“Growth is not that big an issue this go-around,” he said, “because
its picking back up, but not at the same pace it was seven or eight
years ago.”
Follow Around Here editor/writer Wayne Ford on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WayneFordABH.
Commissioners features a long-time incumbent facing an opponent who once
served 20 years on the commission.
Post 3 incumbent Margaret Hale, a commissioner since 2000, was the
top vote getter in the Republican primary held in May, but she was
closely challenged by William E. “Bubber” Wilkes, who served on the
commission from 1985 to 2005.
The candidates served alongside each other on the commission for four years.
During the primary, Hale received 1,787 votes. Wilkes followed with
1,616. A third candidate, Maria Caudell, forced the race into a runoff
by gathering 892 votes.
The runoff is planned for July 22, but early voting is taking place
through July 18 at the Board of Elections office inside the county
courthouse on Main Street in Watkinsville.
Hale, a Savannah native who works as an administrative specialist at
the University of Georgia Library, has lived in the Farmington community
of Oconee County since 1984.
Wilkes, a lifelong Oconee resident, is retired after a career as a
farmer, and most recently in security at Athens Regional Medical Center.
Economic development is an issue Hale sees as a priority for the county.
Many are interested in what the commission is planning for Georgia
Highway 316 and its recruitment of businesses for the county, she said.
“Infrastructure is always a big issue with people; paving roads, water and sewer,” she said.
Other important issues the county will face in the near future will
be liquor by the drink and completion of the Hard Labor Creek reservoir
as an additional water supply for the county, she said.
Hale said she is opposed to an issue that her opponent has supported in his bid for the post.
“Bubber Wilkes is wanting to go back to a strong chairman, where I
worked very hard to have the power go back to the board to have some
checks and balances and transparency. That’s a huge concern to some
citizens,” she said.
Wilkes decided to leap back into local politics after his retirement.
“Several people came to me and asked if I’d run again. I talked it
over with my wife and considered it,” he said. “I’m interested in the
county, its growth and where it’s headed. People are ready for a change
on the board. That’s what I’m hearing.”
And he does support giving the board chairman more supervisory powers.
“I like a strong chairman,” he said. “I want the chairman to be the boss.”
While preparing the county for economic growth remains important, Wilkes said it’s not as critical as it once was.
“Growth is not that big an issue this go-around,” he said, “because
its picking back up, but not at the same pace it was seven or eight
years ago.”
Follow Around Here editor/writer Wayne Ford on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WayneFordABH.
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