Cook to repeat run for Commissioner

Harold Cook

My name is Harold Cook and I wish to announce that I have qualified on the Union County Republican Party ticket as a candidate for the office of sole commissioner of Union County and the Republican Primary election to be held in July this year.

I am married to the former Karen Barnes; we have two grown sons and a 20 year old daughter. I served in the United States Air Force and received an honorable discharge. I have been in the retail tire business in Union County for over 30 years.

I graduated from Union County High School, Tri-County Community College and the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, Leadership Academy and the Georgia Academy for Economic Development.

I am a certified County Commissioner, certified by the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia. I received a certificate of training from the Georgia Technology Transfer Center in sub grade base and hot mix asphalt construction. I received a certificate of training from the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia in effective management.

I believe my strongest qualifications for seeking this position as sole commissioner of Union County are my proven record of accomplishments as an elected official without putting our county in debt while keeping our taxes low and cutting the mill rate from 5.86 to 4.80 and my reputation as a fair and honest man.

I am a conservative. I learned to be conservative when I was growing up here in Union County in the 40s and 50s. My father was a farmer and sharecropper; he and my mother had to work hard to raise all seven of us children. We did not have any of the conveniences that folks have today, such as electricity and indoor plumbing. We had wood heat, a wood cook stove and had to carry our water from the spring. We had kerosene lamps to read by at night. Times were hard during that period. Most folks in our neighborhood had to work hard so they knew the value of a dollar. I can remember if you had fifty cents you had quite a bit of money.

I am not telling you this for any particular reason, but that is just the way it was, so you can understand where I got my conservative values. My father and mother taught me to work hard for what I got, and the value of being honest.

I believe that anyone who is able to work, should work for their livelihood. I also think that they should be able to keep what money they earn to use for their own benefit without paying excessive and unnecessary taxes to the local governing authority. I think that if we cut all the waste in county government and are conservative with our tax dollar, we can have progress and better living conditions for all our citizens without raising taxes or cutting benefits. We did it before,and we can do it again.

I am concerned when I see the rising cost of building you a home. Some permits are overpriced and need to be revised. One that I can think of is the septic tank permit. Why do we have to pay $300.00? Another thing if the state of Georgia mandates that the builders have to be licensed, why do we have to pay thousands of dollars for inspections? Some people have questions about the inspector's qualifications. How could anyone that knows anything about building allow water to run overhead in a building with an unheated attic, here in Union County? In my opinion, if you want to build your home on your land, there should not be any fees or permits as long as you do not offend your neighbor and do not intend to sell your home. You should be able to build it the way you want.

Elected officials are supposed to be public servants with their community interest at heart. As your commissioner I will look to the needs of all county residents, not special interest groups and personal friends. All citizens will be treated equally.

As your commissioner, I pledge to work to make Union County a better place to live, while controlling the annual budget, so that your taxes are used to improve our county in a wise and thoughtful manner, without hurting lifestyles and families thru excessive taxes and abusive laws that tend to hinder rather than help those who live, work, play and vote in Union County.

Please check my website at www.myemc.com/harold cook

or email me at haroldcook@brmemc.net.

In closing, I ask for your vote, your support and your prayers in the upcoming election.