REMERTON – Several Remerton residents want to become more involved with their local community and city government while vying to hold seats on the city council.

This year brought the opening of all six Remerton City Council seats, including the seat for mayor. As qualifying rolled around, two council members, Richard Miller and Sue Cheney, said they would not run again. Only two council members, Cornelius Holsendolph and Sherry Woods, shared a solid interest in running as incumbents. The plans of the remaining two, Mayor Peggi Siefert-Shipman and Councilman Scooter Hines, remained a question.

When qualifying ended Friday, seven citizens had announced their candidacy for council seats: incumbent Sherry Woods and six new candidates. Both Holsendolph and Hines put in bids for the mayor’s seat on the final day of qualifying as the only candidates.

In an interview with The Times, candidates Reginald Stacks, Eason “Scooter” Hines, Cornelius Holsendolph and Deborah Harkins shared their visions and hopes for the city as they began on the campaign trail over upcoming weeks.



• Reginald Stacks

Occupation: Career services coordinator for a private agency in Lowndes County, and also served as a local police officer for 12 years, five of which were as an officer for the Remerton Police Department

Time as resident: Since 2004.

Running for: City Council.

What inspired you to run? I always wanted to run for office and I’d said that I’d run once I retired from the police force, but I didn’t know that it would come this early.

What do you love about the city? I like it because everybody knows each other and this is where I started my career in law enforcement once leaving the sheriff’s department. I just fell in love with the city.

What changes do you feel are necessary? I think that although we are a college town, we should gear more towards the family and those with children, elementary through high school. I believe there should be a focus on public safety, crime reduction and making improvements in the city’s existing water supply.

What are your proposals to bring about change? Maybe we can hook up with the city of Valdosta to get some better water, but I would like to get involved with the community to see what they actually think. In the past, everything that’s gone on has been done through the few members of council and the few who attend meetings. I’d like to get out there and hear from the people.

Where would you like to see the city in five years? I’d like to see development: the Remerton Square packed with retail and a few more restaurants in the city, and certainly some work on the Mill. I’d also like to see

us maintain a city government that has a more balanced representation of citizens, not just college students, as we’ve had in the past.



• Eason ‘Scooter’ Hines

Occupation: Circuit board company outside sales manager.

Running for: Mayor.

What do you love about Remerton? Its size. The size of the city enhances its value because it allows for you to get to know more people and that makes the community closer. I also like the youthfulness of Remerton. I like the fact that you can walk to get anywhere in town. I like the small-business atmosphere and knowing that if you don’t know the people who run those businesses, you can meet them.

What do you feel needs to be changed? My top issues of concern are: the Remerton Mill, attending to the water issues and instilling a pride for the city within the residents. We do have movement on the Mill project with the city working to take a big brother lead to its development. It’s the heart and soul of this city and we have to grasp our past and traditions to keep the city alive. I’m saddened to know that we’ve raised the water rates for our residents and there has been no change in the water as of yet. I’ve made a promise to show a return on our (council) promise to improve the water. As for pride in our city, I believe we have to revive in some and instill in others pride for Remerton. I know that 86 percent of our community is made up of college students, and while we can’t let them overshadow the city as a whole, we can work to give them more than we do, like a park and Internet-friendly places for them to study. I’m also in favor of public transportation, specifically for our business patrons. I believe we should show people that we want to get them home safely rather than catch them in trouble.

What commitments would you make to the people? My personal goal is to motivate people. I did it in the military for 13 years. As mayor, my goal would not be to dominate, but to sit back and facilitate, be a mediator, while working to motivate the citizenry. I believe that the entire council should be willing to go out and research and bring ideas back in order to make the best and most informed decisions. Also, I’ve learned that not everybody is going to see things as I see them, and being able to hear them is part of carrying responsibility. I am committed to listening and hearing different perspectives because that is how you are truly able to make good, informed decisions.

In a relating issue, about six months ago, I was arrested, and once that happened, I lost my temper and I’m absolutely embarrassed by that. However, I’ve put that behind me now and I do not, nor will I, let it affect my position. What it has done is humbled me and when a lesson in humility happens, you’ve got to take a lesson from it. I’ve overcome it, I’ve learned from it, and honestly, I’ve gained some respect from it in many aspects.

Why do you feel qualified for this position? While in the military, as a sergeant first class Airborne Ranger, I worked in a corporate level executive position and was in charge of several different departments. I held briefings for congressmen and worked on the national scene doing a job only two percent of officers went into. I met the movers and shakers and I bring all that to Remerton.

If not elected, how will you continue to serve? I will remain an active citizen. I’m not going away. I can’t sit here and preach and not be in the choir too.



• Deborah Harkins

Occupation: Accountant

Time as resident: About 13 months. Both my daughters live here. We moved here from Bainbridge to be near them and my grandchildren.

Running for: City Council.

What inspired you to run? This would be my first time in a position like this, and honestly, I never thought about it before, but it’s very easy to sit back and criticize. I felt that maybe I should get involved in order to make a difference. I live across the street from former mayor Peggi Siefert and she was a very good example of the kind of people we need in government.

What do you love about Remerton? I really like the activities and atmosphere of the city, and the people here are very friendly.

What do you feel needs to be changed? From my perspective, I feel we need to get more people involved in the governance of our city. My current top priority is registering voters. From my understanding there are only about 156 registered voters in Remerton, and that may be because a large number of its residents are students, but they can vote too. They are a part of this town.

What are your proposals to bring about change? I have a stack of voter registration cards on my desk right now and I plan to get out, door to door, speaking with people. If elected to office, that would remain as one of my goals. I’d also like to address some of the night disturbances and try to find if there is maybe a better way to handle that issue, but I’d certainly have to work along with other council members and citizens on that. Also, as an accountant, I’d like to see audits of the financial end, an accountancy of money being spent. And I realize that we’re landlocked, but I want to see some activity on some of projects that I heard were going to be coming about.

Where do you see the city in five years? I would still like to see the small-town atmosphere that’s in Remerton, and still be able to maintain the businesses, which I believe are a large part of the city’s tax base. I’d love to see us fill vacancies and increase our residency as well.



• Cornelius Holsendolph

Occupation: Truck driver.

Time as resident: Since 1992.

Running for: Mayor.

What inspired you to run: I just like to be involved in progress. The city seems to be going in the right direction and I want to pitch in and do my part to improve the city for Remerton’s citizens and myself. I see this as a great opportunity to express how I feel about Remerton.

What do you love about Remerton? I came here because I liked the area. It’s quiet, and not too many people, although it’s grown since we first moved.

What do you feel needs to be changed? I’d like to see an increase in street lights and I’d like for us to revisit the recycling bin project. I’d also like for us to revisit the wireless system project because I believe it would improve the safety of our police department as well as increase business development, resulting in revenue for our city. And I’d certainly like to see some progress on eliminating our water issues.

What are your proposals to bring about change? I believe if we follow through with the master plan for water improvement – the addition of water aeration systems and relooping of our water lines, and simply updating our current system – the water issues will be eliminated. In addition, I’d work to see that the water bills are reduced after the new water system is completed. Right now our police department is in the process of being state certified and I’d push the process, as well as the process to attain national certification.

What commitments would you make to the people? To listen to all of their issues and take those issues before the council in order that a decision could be made and some results could be seen. I’d make the commitment to be more of a people’s person, someone the community could feel comfortable coming to and sharing their issues with. That’s what we want as a council.

Where do you see the city in five years? I hope to see more landscaping completed throughout the city along with pedestrian walkways. I’d also like to see the purchase of the Remerton Mill and for it to be at least partially completed in that time, as well as business development in Remerton Square.

Why do you feel qualified for this position? I’m a longtime resident of the city and I plan to be here for a long time. Also, the fact that I care about the community I live in. I served eight years in the U.S. Army and two years in the individual reserves and my military career experience equipped me to deal with various issues. I’ve learned a lot about how government is run and its functions since serving on the council – the city’s charter, ordinances, how the police department works, the duties of the city manager, and the difference between the types of government in terms of having a strong mayor/weak council, and vice versa. I think I’d be a perfect fit for the people of Remerton and I’d work to direct the city toward development and growth. I’m on the Public Safety committee and the addition of speed humps is one of the things our committee worked on. Also, there were a lot of issues with residents about the people leaving bars at night, and one measure that was taken was the development of a group of citizens who observe bar patrons as they leave and alert our police department of any unordinary activity. That group is somewhat an extension of our committee.

If not elected, how would you continue to serve? I would continue to come to council meetings and let them know that if an elected council person moves or leaves for whatever reason, I’d be willing to put my name in to be appointed to council again. And, I’d volunteer for any of the committees and activities of the city.



• Remaining Remerton election candidates will be spotlighted in The Times later this week.