HABERSHAM COUNTY, Ga. — In May, three high-profile resignations came from Habersham’s government, including the resignation of a commissioner, the county clerk and the county manager. Months after their search began to fill the clerk’s and manager’s vacancies, two new faces are joining Habersham County’s governing body with hopes to help the citizens of Habersham County.
County Clerk Brandalin Carnes
When Brandalin Carnes became the county’s deputy clerk in late March, she had no idea that in less than four months, she would become Habersham’s county clerk. Former County Clerk Lindsay Underwood announced her resignation in May, and after two months of covering the duties of the county clerk while keeping the deputy county clerk title, the commission unanimously voted to appoint Carnes to the official county clerk position.
“I didn’t have the foresight that the position would be available anytime soon,” Carnes says. “I go into every job with the mindset that I am going to give my employer all I have to offer, and in return, that they will provide me the training and experience to grow both in the position and as a person. It just so happens that this opportunity for growth came unexpectedly.”
Carnes, who lives in Rabun County, previously served as an adult Medicaid caseworker in North Carolina. She is passionate about elder care and says that one of her goals as the county clerk is to work with the senior population of Habersham County.
“It is a demographic that is often overlooked and forgotten,” she tells Now Habersham. “I am hoping that in the coming months I get to know community organizations working with this population alongside our Senior Center and find a way that I can provide support.”
Regardless of demographic, Carnes wants Habersham’s citizens to know she is available to address their concerns and answer their questions.
“I want every individual, whether a member of the public or staff, to feel as though I am personally available and willing to assist them or help direct them to someone who can,” she says. “I come from a customer service-centric background and this extends to how I operate in public service as well.”
Interim County Manager Alicia Vaughn
The Habersham Commission voted to appoint Alicia Vaughn as interim county manager in early July, following their search to fill the position resigned by former County Manager Phil Sutton. While Vaughn is set to serve as the interim manager for the next three to five months, she hopes to take over the position permanently.
Of her experience in the position so far, Vaughn has nothing but good things to say about her job and the county. She says she is encouraged by the work she is involved in with Habersham’s government, such as assessing employment needs and responsible growth, but is also encouraged by Habersham’s citizen participation in local government.
“I think a lot of people sometimes think it doesn’t matter, ‘I’m just one person,’ but it does matter,” Vaughn says. ”Showing up at a commissioner’s meeting and taking an interest in what’s going on in the community is really important.”
She says serving citizens is what brought her to government, and it remains her biggest passion in her line of work.
“I really like feeling like at the end of the day that in some way, I helped somebody and make their life a little bit better,” Vaughn says. “I think that’s what really drew me to government in the first place and has definitely kept me here.”
Vaughn, who has over 14 years of government experience in both county financials and county management, is excited to bring her expertise to Habersham. She hopes to work with the individual cities in Habersham to understand the needs they have, bring their interests together and address their concerns at a county level.
“I believe that any community is better if we’re all working together as a team,” Vaughn says. “At the end of the day, we’re citizens of just one county. What’s good for the county is generally good for the cities, and so I really like trying to bring people together.”
The county’s next meeting will be on Aug. 16 at 6:00 p.m. If you need to reach either Carnes or Vaughn, their contact information can be found on the county’s website.
