City council candidates speak out

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September 16, 2009

By Johnna Pinholster The Valdosta Daily Times Wed Sep 16, 2009, 10:59 PM EDT

VALDOSTA — Candidates seeking seats on the Valdosta Board of Education and the Valdosta City Council were not the only ones who expounded on their opinions at Tuesday’s political forum.

The cities of Dasher and Hahira also have council seats up for election this November.

Wilmon J. Stanley is running against incumbent Terry Benjamin for the Hahira City Council District 1 seat.

Stanley said the face-off between Benjamin and himself over the seat seems to have become a recurring theme. But every time he thinks he won’t run again someone comes to him and asks him to represent the citizens of the district.

Benjamin has served on the council for eight years.

Candidates had the opportunity to make opening and closing statements and answer questions from the audience.

The first question the candidates answered concerned the proposed plan to widen Old U.S. Highway 41.

Benjamin said the issue of widening the road has been a heated one since about 1991 and that something needs to be done.

The plan recently presented to widen the road has been pulled, he said.

Stanley suggested that any decision on how to widen the road should not affect the citizens who live on the road so much.

“Don’t make it so hard on people there,” he said.

The Hahira City Council District 4 seat is also up for election but only Thomas A. Simpson was present. Incumbent Rose Adams and candidate Marion C. Nelson were not present.

For the city of Dasher incumbent Ronnie Lieupo and candidate Vivian Armstrong went head to head for the City Council Post 2 seat.

Both talked about the quaintness of Dasher and its almost “Mayberry” feel.

Lieupo said one of the best things the council has done in recent years is build a park for Dasher’s children, complete with a variety of playground equipment.

Armstrong said if she is elected to the council she would like to see it develop an ordinance much like Lake Park and Hahira have regarding the use of golf carts within the city limits.

Lieupo said that currently the council is looking into possible ordinances concerning the issue.

During the political forum citizens were reminded that the deadline for voter registration is Oct. 5, the general election is Nov. 3 and a runoff, if needed, will be held Dec. 1.

Other elections

• Valdosta City Council District 4 — Alvin Payton Jr., unopposed

• City of Hahira Mayor — David W. Bullard Sr., unopposed

• City of Dasher Mayor — Kenneth E. Allen, unopposed

• Dasher City Council Post 1 — Julian Q. Copeland, Jr., unopposed

• City of Lake Park Mayor — Walter K. Sandlin, unopposed

• City of Lake Park Council — Albert R. Carter, unopposed

• City of Lake Park Council — Paul R. Mulkey, unopposed

• City of Lake Park Council — Eric Schindler, unopposed

• City of Lake Park Council — Jeffery L. Spradley, unopposed

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