Candidates for the District 5 seat on the Fayette County Commission had their say at an Aug. 18 forum at the Fayette County Library in Fayetteville. Nearly 200 people heard from the three candidates who will be featured in the upcoming special election to fill the unexpired term of the recently deceased Fayette County Commissioner Pota Coston.
It was significant that a show of hands from the audience indicated that nearly all of the nearly 200 people in the room were residents of District 5.
All long-time Fayette residents, candidates for the September special election include Charles Rousseau, Angela Bean and Peyton Riley.
Questions at the forum came from the moderators and the audience.
One of the questions asked about the bickering among commissioners and what the candidates would do to reduce in-fighting and move ahead with the business of the county.
Rousseau said commissioners should treat each other like family.
“Families bicker and fight in private, but the people’s business needs to be done in public,” he said.
Riley said he believed commissioners need to be humble and professional at meetings.
“We are all professionals up here. You act professionally,” he said. “We’re ambassadors to the district. It’s not about ‘me.’”
Bean in her response said she knows all four commissioners and has spoken with them on many issues. If there is a disagreement it should be discussed outside the meeting.
“I hope from this day forward we’ll just have a civil conversation and I know I’m going to strive for that,” said Bean.
Candidates in another question were asked their opinion on bringing MARTA bus transportation, mass transportation, into Fayette County.
Riley responded first saying, “If we were to consider this I would have to look at a study to see how it impacts traffic flow, quality of life, things of this nature. I really can’t answer that question. But I think one of the things to consider is going to be transportation. Is it going to help us or hurt us? I’ll have to defer and talk to the experts.”
Rousseau was up next, saying that mass transit was not feasible but interconnectivity without it should be studied.
“I don’t think our infrastructure will currently accommodate mass transit, but we do need to look at some interconnectivity as it relates to getting people out of their cars. As seniors, pretty soon we won’t be as mobile and so we need to look at getting them to the seniors center and doctors appointments,” said Rousseau. “There needs to be some discussions held and planning to look at how we can be interconnected without the mass transit that MARTA would bring.”
Bean responded saying, “I’ll always be opposed to extending the MARTA rail line into Fayette County. MARTA mass transit is a losing proposition. We’re subsidizing every rider every day on the rail. If we’re talking about bringing in some buses, I don’t know why that hasn’t happened yet. I don’t think we need MARTA buses all throughout Fayette County, but what about a ‘park and ride’ on the north side of Fayette? Instead of riding to the Camp Creek ‘park and ride’ to get on a train I wouldn’t be opposed to a little ‘park and ride’ on the north side of Fayette if that’s what the citizens want.”
Candidates were asked what the commission’s response should be regarding Fayette’s rapidly-aging population, especially in terms of any measures that would address the aging population or an attempt to help reverse the trend, and what should the commission do with this information given that Fayette has the most rapidly aging population in the area and the lowest birth rate.
“I don’t think that’s our job as commissioners,” said Riley. “What I would say is creating a community where our children want to come back here. I would like to see a community that’s not just (one age group) or the other.”
Riley said senior services and an increase in physical access for disability issues should be encouraged. He added that business and technology should be increased to attract younger people.
Bean in her comments said many things are being done to accommodate the aging population.
“Seniors add a lot of value to the community. They’re usually the highest income in the demographic, they don’t commit crimes and they’re usually quiet. I’m going to support seniors because I’m aging and I’m going to be one in a couple of years,” said Bean. “I do feel we need to have more young people come back to the county.”
Rousseau in his response said, “Seniors are the most valuable resource we have in the community. (With) their experience, they are knowledgeable. They are active and they are involved.”
Rousseau said it is critical to maintain and enhance a variety of services for seniors.
“The role of commissioners is to bring people together, do some visioning and put people together to develop programs to meet those needs,” he said.
Candidates were asked about how county political races should be decided, by district voting or at-large voting, and what they see as the commission’s strategy for a favorable outcome for the community.
Bean in her response said the issue of the voting method, whether district or at-large, “is in the hands of the (federal) judge now. Whichever way we go, that’s the law. And I will live by the law and support it.”
Rousseau in his response said, “I believe in the concept of district voting. It is in the hands of the judges now. I will work this position as a district but it represents the entire county and I will fight to represent the entire county.”
Riley noted the importance in remembering the “main thing.”
“The main thing is, for this election, it’s district voting. I can give you my opinion but what I really want to tell you is that it is district voting, it’s going to be district voting,” said Riley. “I’m going to abide by what the judges say, and it’s going to be district voting and I will represent District 5 and the whole county.”
Another question asked what the candidates would do to support local businesses and promote economic development.
Riley said he is running to “create a larger tax base, increase property values and create opportunities for our youth to come back to this county.“
Riley said the county should look at transportation issues such as commute times and keep the education system as excellent as it is. Other issues included attracting the right businesses, such as Pinewood Atlanta Studios and supporting existing businesses such as Piedmont Fayette Hospital, he said.
Rousseau said he supports businesses in the community, yet the business base should be grown. The community must come together to attract and promote additional businesses by a variety of marketing methods. That effort also includes working with existing businesses, Rousseau said.
Bean in her comments said it is incumbent upon commissioners to maintain the business-friendly county that already exists. She noted the loss of Millennials, the need to attract high-paying, high-tech jobs and to explore ways to obtain the high-speed Internet capability that exists in some communities.
Rousseau, 54, is retired. He is a 22-year resident of Fayette County and former member of county library board, school board construction committee and race relations committee. He served in numerous positions within Fulton County government.
Rousseau made an unsuccessful bid for a commission seat in 2006. That race was referenced in the district voting lawsuit brought by the NAACP.
Bean, 58, is an independent contractor and graphic artist. Bean has a long involvement with the Fayette Issues Tea Party and the Fayette County Republican Party. She distinguished herself by gender, noting that a female viewpoint is need on the male-dominated commission board.
Riley, 48, listed his occupation as financial services. He has lived in Fayette since 1999 and has children who graduated from Sandy Creek High School and who currently attend Sandy Creek and Cleveland Elementary School.
Early voting for the Sept. 15 election began Aug. 24.
Responding to questions about the lack of party affiliation noted by the candidates on their qualifying forms, Fayette County Elections Supervisor Tom Sawyer said party affiliations are not required to be listed for special elections and will not be listed on the Sept. 15 ballot.
The forum was sponsored by the Fayette County NAACP and the Fayette Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Fayette County Democratic Committee, Fayette County Republican Party and the Fayette County Issues Tea Party.
