Fayette County Board of Commissioners Post 3 Candidates in Their Own Words, Part 1 of 3

Voters in Fayette County will choose a Post 3 commissioner in the primary on May 19, 2026, with early voting starting April 27. To help you decide, I asked each candidate the same set of questions about priorities, fiscal responsibility, relevant experience, prior candidacy, and what separates them from their opponents.

Answers are published in the candidates’ own words and have not been edited for content.

Mr. James Clifton and Dr. Phil Crane provided answers; Ms. Chandra Wright did not. 

This coverage will run in three installments. This first installment is standard candidate questions. The second is answers to a narrative about Peachtree City annexing land from Coweta County for construction of a data center not supported by planning documents currently available, and the third will be my thoughts and analysis.

Questions for the candidates:

1. If elected what are your top priorities?

Clifton:

If elected to the Fayette County Board of Commissioners, my top priorities are simple and straightforward: protect our quality of life, keep our taxes low, and make sure Fayette County stays the great place we all love to call home.

That means stopping unwanted data centers, apartment complexes, and MARTA expansion that would change our suburban neighborhoods forever.

I’ll fight for low-density zoning to preserve our green spaces, fix our traffic problems the right way, support our law enforcement, keep our schools strong, and bring real transparency to county government.

Fayette families deserve a commissioner who puts our community first, not big developers or outside interests.

Crane: 

My top priorities are straightforward.

Lower the tax burden on Fayette County homeowners through an increased homestead exemption. If we are going to host large-scale projects like data centers, residents should see real financial benefit.

Prevent overdevelopment by following the county land use plan.

Address critical infrastructure needs, especially within our water system. We need to fix problems before they become emergencies.

Fully support our Sheriff’s Office, Marshal’s Office, and first responders to keep Fayette County one of the safest counties in Georgia.

And finally, ensure decisions are made with transparency and common sense. Residents deserve to understand what is happening in their county and why.

2. All candidates run on fiscal responsibility and/or reducing taxes. What are your specific proposals to do this? Material costs and personnel costs go up every year so how will you counteract this in the County’s budget?

Crane:

I support increasing the homestead exemption from $25,000 to $200,000 in the first year, using revenue generated from the data centers already operating in our county.

That is real tax relief that puts money back into the pockets of homeowners.

As costs rise, the county has to stay disciplined. That means prioritizing core services, cutting unnecessary spending, and planning ahead so we are not reacting to problems at the last minute.

We should not be asking for more from taxpayers if we are not first being responsible with what we already have.

Clifton:

My plan is clear: cut the county budget and reduce property taxes for homeowners by using revenue we already get from the existing QTS data center. This is what we were promised when that data center came to town, and I will make sure they deliver on that promise.

We also need to stop reckless spending and use the money we have smarter. Rising material and personnel costs are real, but the answer isn’t raising taxes or approving developments that bring even more people and strain our services, like apartments and high-density housing.

It’s about tightening the budget, eliminating waste, and prioritizing what matters – public safety, roads, and schools – without overburdening taxpayers. As a small business owner, I live this every day. You control costs by making smart choices and saying “no” to unnecessary expenses. That’s exactly what I’ll do on the Commission.

3. Have you served on a civic board or supported a municipal government in some way?

Clifton:

I’ve spent my entire life right here in Fayette County supporting our community in the ways that matter most.

I served as the President of the Fayette County Bar Association, a distinction shared with seven sitting Fayette County judges.

For four years, I led the Fayette County Republican Party as First Vice Chairman, championing conservative values in our community.

I organized multiple food drives in Fayette County to support the Real Life Center and Midwest Food Bank, collecting several thousand pounds of canned goods to feed the less fortunate.

When it comes to local government, I don’t just show up at meetings to hold our elected leaders accountable; I work every day to make sure Fayette families have a strong voice against overdevelopment and for government transparency. That real world commitment and conservative common sense is exactly what this seat needs.

Crane:

I currently serve on the Fayette County Board of Health, where I work with other community leaders on public health oversight and planning.

I have also served on multiple local nonprofit boards supporting families, veterans, and individuals facing hardship.

In addition, I served on a SPLOST advisory group that reviewed proposed projects and made recommendations to elected officials.

4. Some of you have run for office before. Why shouldn’t voters just categorize you as serial candidates?

Crane:

I ran before because I care about this community, not because I am chasing a title.

Since that time, I have continued serving, building relationships, and gaining real experience that prepares me to be effective on day one.

I am running now because the issues facing Fayette County matter, and I believe I am in a position to help address them.

All three of the elections I’ve been a part of represent the same community.

Clifton:

I’m not a career politician. I’m a Fayette County businessman and dad who was urged by the community to step up because our future was at risk. This race is about protecting what we love, not collecting titles or building a political resume.

Voters can see the difference between the candidates. I’m in this to deliver results on the issues that matter most right now – stopping data centers and apartments, cutting taxes, and preserving our neighborhoods.

I’m running because I care deeply about Fayette’s future, and I have the backbone and real life experience to fight for it every single day on the Commission.

5. How does your platform differentiate you from the other candidates?

Clifton:

What sets me apart is simple. I’m already delivering results.

Together with other dedicated members of the community, I have helped stop a second Fayetteville data center, put the brakes on a massive apartment complex on Highway 54, and exposed Peachtree City’s plan to annex 1,500 acres for a possible data center.

I am the only candidate with the skill set, the conservative values, and the willingness to actually stand up for Fayette County families. While others talk in general terms, my platform is clear – No data centers. No apartments. No MARTA.

Other candidates may promise the same old things. I’m already working to preserve the Fayette County quality of life we love. That’s the difference.

Crane:

I am focused on practical results, not just talking points.

I have built relationships with local leaders based on trust and respect, and that matters when it is time to actually get something done.

On taxes, families are feeling the pressure. Property values have gone up, but so have the bills that come with them. I support increasing the homestead exemption from 25,000 to 200,000 using revenue from the data centers already operating here. That is a direct way to return value to residents without cutting services.

On data centers, we have reached a point where enough is enough. These projects bring real impacts to infrastructure and quality of life. I do not support additional approvals. The focus now should be on making sure the ones already here benefit Fayette County residents.

On infrastructure, especially our water system, we need to be proactive. Waiting for failures is the most expensive way to operate. I will prioritize upgrades now so we avoid bigger problems and higher costs down the road.

A county wide aquatics center is worth exploring, but it has to be done the right way.

Peachtree City is currently facing a 7 million dollar plus price tag to convert Kedron into a permanent structure, and PTC residents should not be expected to carry that cost for a facility used by the entire county and the Board of Education.

It is time to look at a true county wide aquatics center built through partnership, with shared funding and shared responsibility, and allow Kedron to return to being a Peachtree City pool.

Public safety is not something you take for granted. It requires consistent support and investment. I fully back our Sheriff’s Office, Marshal’s Office, and first responders so Fayette County remains one of the safest counties in Georgia.

On transportation, not every solution fits every community. MARTA expansion does not make sense for Fayette County. We should focus on solutions that keep local control and actually address our traffic challenges.

Workforce development matters. Expanding vocational and technical education opportunities in Fayette County will give students real career paths and support local businesses that need skilled workers.

Voters are not guessing where I stand, and they are not getting vague answers.

Author disclosure: In interest of full disclosure, I have a Phil Crane yard sign and have financially contributed to his campaign. Again, the candidate responses are in their own words and unedited.