Voters to decide several key local issues Tuesday

November 4, 2019

Habersham County voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, November 5 to decide several key issues.

The biggest question on the ballot, at least for property owners, is whether to approve a $31.7 million jail bond referendum.

County officials and the sheriff have spent weeks talking about the bad conditions at the jail. They say the county desperately needs a new one. The sticking point for many voters is how to pay for it.

Low early voter turnout marks off-year election

If the bond referendum is approved, property taxes will be raised to pay for it.

Many voters say they prefer to pay for the jail through a special local option sales tax (SPLOST). County officials say that’s not feasible because SPLOST money is needed to pay for the county’s hospital debt and other projects.

The current SPLOST runs out next year. A new SPLOST proposal will have to be drafted before voters determine whether to reauthorize it.

Low early voter turnout marks off-year election

County commission and municipal elections

The other county-wide vote on this year’s November 5 ballot is the District 5 commission race. Five candidates – George Arnold, Michael Gosnell, Darrin Johnston, Tim Stamey, and Barry Trotter – are running to fill the unexpired term of Ed Nichols who resigned in August.

It’s a three-way race for two seats up for grabs on the Demorest City Council. Jerry Mobley, John Hendrix, and Nathan Davis are running for the seats vacated by Florence Wikle and John Popham.

In Cornelia, Wesley Dodd, Jr., and Mark Reed are running for the Cornelia City Commission Ward 1 seat. Cornelia mayoral candidate John Borrow and City Commission Ward 4 candidate Tony Cook are running unopposed.

Voters in Cornelia and Clarkesville will decide whether to allow alcohol by the drink sales on Sunday during what, for many, is church time. If approved, the Sunday Brunch Sales referendums would pave the way for local restaurants to serve alcohol by the drink from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.

WATCH Habersham County 2019 Political Forum below