Philosophy and Vision
My philosophy is simple: "more bang for our buck!" Government should not have to be perceived as an entity that must be watched through paranoid eyes, wondering what waste is being spent today, what scandal comes next. Our forefathers believed in a form of government that utilized citizen statesmen to serve By the People, of the People, and FOR the People. We were sick and tired of Royal British oppression and Taxation Without Representation. Sadly, it seems that not much has changed today.
Many people have used the phrase that we (local government) have been "entrusted" with the people's money. I actually disagree with this statement. We "entrust" someone with our money when we voluntarily give it to them, such as when we put money in the offering plate at church, pay dues to a club or organization, or donate to charities. Tax money has not been "entrusted" to government, it has been extracted from us the taxpayers. Since we fought a war for independence from unfair taxation, I believe that government should not perceive money as being "entrusted" but rather "taken". I hold the spending of taxpayer's money with the highest regard.
As your Post 2 commissioner for the last 3 and 1/2 years, I have a track record that you can verify. I voted (unsuccessfully) against the 2005 increase in the property tax millege rate. I have voted against budgets that I felt were inadequate or wasteful. Never have I, or will I, take reimbursements nor expenses for such things as meals, hunting trips, or personal cell phone usage. My position is that the taxpayers are hit hard enough without nickel and diming even deeper. Recently I voted (again unsuccessfully) against an engineering contract (that's right, no construction or even surveying, just plans and engineering services) for 3 ball fields and a tennis court at a taxpayer expense of just over $150,000! Often times I have even abstained from voting when the mere appearance existed of a conflict of interest with a business client (I own a land surveying business) or relationship (I am on the local Board of Directors of United Community Bank of Gilmer County).
As a local small business owner for the last 12 years, I have learned some very valuable lessons that have came in very handy in county government. I have learned that you must keep expenses below revenue, or else you'll go out of business. Unfortunately, government has developed the philosophy that it will simply increase revenues by raising our taxes, I disagree!! I have also learned that customer satisfaction and word of mouth goes a very long way towards success. Unfortunately, Gilmer County citizens can't choose another county to provide the services that we expect from county government, but we can choose other elected officials at the polls this July 15 in the Republican Primary Election.
My vision is that we must proceed into the future of Gilmer County with an unmovable intent to preserve and improve our way of life. We must work hard not to make the county somewhere to be ashamed of or to "settle for", but to make Gilmer County a GREAT place to live, work, and play.
Mark E. Chastain