Questions with the Henry County candidates

By Matt Elofson

Published: May 25, 2008

Two Henry County districts have contested races for county commission seats up for election. The following is a question and answer session the Dothan Eagle had with the candidates from districts 1 and 5.

District 1
Q: What is a main issue facing Henry County?

John E. Burdeshaw, farmer and substitute bus driver, Columbia: Henry County needs more industry to bring more funding to the county. To find ways for extra funding for the county road and bridge departments along with the other departments too.
Franklin “Brother” Swann, Newville, farmer and raises beef cattle, (incumbent): Swann, who has served one term as commissioner, has worked to help properly manage the county’s money. I try to get the most out of each dollar as I possibly can.

Q: How will you address the issue(s) facing Henry County?

Burdeshaw: It’s a five member commission, and we’ve got to work together along with the economic development board. I don’t propose to have all the answers, but I will work together to get all the answers. 
Swann: I want to manage the money correctly so that we can have better quality of life for the people of this district and Henry County.

Q: How are you qualified to serve on the commission?
Burdeshaw: I feel that my service with the Alabama Air National Guard as well as farming operations and business owner qualifies me to serve as your County Commissioner.  I look forward to meeting and talking with each one in District 1.  If elected I will have an open door policy and will be available to address your concerns to the best of my ability.
Swann: I promise not to vote for any tax increase, and I voted against the garbage increase. The garbage rate was recently increased at a 3 to 2 vote, Swann said.

District 5

Q: What is a main issue facing Henry County?

Emanuel Davis, Abbeville,: I think recruiting new industry, and finding ways of fund-raising to pay for and fund county projects. There is a need for road repair, that’s one of the issues I would address.
What worries me is the relationship between the county commissioners and the people of the county, and that’s going to hamper successfully getting projects accomplished.

Tommy Jones, of Newville, (incumbent): Money management is important for the county with the recent increase in gas prices. Jones also said the county’s roads need improving. People are happy if they have a good road to ride on, and a good drive way to drive in.

Gregory Reynolds, Newville: I been going to meetings for over a year now, and I’ve seen they been having a problem getting along. I think they could get a lot more done if they worked together.

Hollis Ritter, Newville: One of the main things for us up here in Henry County is we need to get some jobs here. We just don’t have jobs for folks. Since WestPoint Stevens left it has definitely impacted the county. 
I think anyway we could make our education system better, and the entire county has a drug problem. Anything we can do to help our law enforcement. I think that’s one of the things we definitely need to do.

Q: How will you address the issue(s) facing Henry County?

Davis, who works at Headland Alternative School and former Headland basketball coach: In order to do what we need to do we’re going to have to find some funds. I’m very creative, somebody is going to have find ways to get funds to get things done.

Jones, farmer: There’s not a barrel of money out there, but we can work on it (the roads) as time goes along. It’s going to take managing the money you got. Inflation on gas will probably tear the budget to pieces, but it’s just something you have to live with that’s not in the budget.

Reynolds, supervisor at Red Star Yeast:  All of them are new except district 5. I think he’s got too comfortable in there he’s been there for 16 years. I feel like it’s time for a change, I feel like the other guys want to do some good, and make some changes but he doesn’t agree with them.

Hollis Ritter, painting contractor:  There are manufacturing companies and industrial companies who are looking for a place to move a plant to, and if somebody is looking at Alabama I’d hope our county could do what it needs to get them to come here. I think we need to be open to anybody to come to Alabama. We’ve got the people to fill the jobs, and we’ve pretty decent roads to get them in and get them out.

Q: How are you qualified to serve on the commission?

Davis: It’s not about one man it’s about a united effort. What worries me is the relationship between the county commissioners and the people of the county, and that’s going to hamper successfully getting projects accomplished.
I am a family man, I am a small business man and I am also an ex-basketball coach.
Jones: I’ve had to serve with 17 different commissioners, you’ve got to be able to work together or you’ll accomplish very little. Everybody’s got an opinion, and I think everybody should be able to express their opinion whether it’s right or wrong.
I’m not one to make promises, when you make a promise it’s a lie if it’s not fulfilled. I’m retired, it’s my job I’m a county commissioner full-time.
Reynolds: Suggested commissioners talk to each other about issues before the public meeting.
If I get in the chair the people will see me, not just in the commission meetings. If the people put me in there, I will be working for the people. I’m there to help the people.
Ritter: I just think it’s time for a change in our district. I just there are some things that could be done differently, and for the better of the county.