Rick
Whiteside
Statements made by Rick Whiteside
Committed to Responsible Growth
All candidates have made claims for responsible growth; however Rick Whiteside is the only candidate that has verifiable record for responsible growth as a member of the Cherokee County Planning Commission for the last 14 years. He also served as a member of the committee responsible for the most recent update to the land-use plan.
Traffic Congestion
Funding is a hurdle due to the backlog of transportation projects. The population of the county increased by 50 percent before 2010. It is not feasible to sustain overdevelopment at that rate for infrastructure enhancements to support the additional population. If our current property taxes do not provide the revenue to meet the demand for road improvements, then less tax revenue would put the county further behind in infrastructure improvements. The board of commissioners is having a discussion about allowing voters to vote for or against a 5-year transportation SPLOST. Rick Whiteside expressed his support for providing citizens with the opportunity to decide on this important matter.
Lower Property Taxes
The current board of commissioners and state delegation have been collaborating to pass a HOST Tax referendum. Residents will have the opportunity to vote on whether they support a change to our property taxes if the state approves the HOST Tax. In the event that it is passed, the HOST would add one penny to our sales tax. Visitors pay 35 percent of the sales tax collected in the county. The revenue collected will be applied to cover the M & O part of our property taxes. 25% of the revenue would be used for road improvements. Whiteside expressed his support for the HOST Tax, which if passed would greatly reduce our property taxes and provide additional funding for road improvements.
Economic Development
Economic development is important for a balanced tax base and providing jobs for area residents.
Whiteside has been involved with the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce for many years. He has demonstrated knowledge of the issue through his solutions to address the growing economic development.
Parks & Recreation
Provides support for additional park sites that offer active/passive recreational opportunities, with a particular focus on underserved areas in District 1.
An additional funding problem! No solution was offered.
A 20-year bond for parks worth $90 million was approved by voters in 2008. Due to the economic downturn immediately following the parks bond approval, the county was able to save significant amounts of money by purchasing large parcels of land throughout the county. The decision to preserve land for future generations was a great investment. The parks bond resulted in the completion of many new parks and updates to existing ones. The proceeds from the parks bond have been spent. At present, the only funding available for completing additional parks is impact fees and a portion of the county's 1-cent SPLOST. The park bond will be fully paid by 2028. It is up to Cherokee County voters to decide whether to endorse another park bond for increased funding.
Public Safety
Whiteside’s comments on this issue show that he clearly understands the importance of supporting public safety.
He stated: “As a former US Army officer, I know the importance of health and safety services that provide for a thriving community. Fortunately, Cherokee County offers excellent, accredited and award-winning public safety and response services to include our Sheriff’s Office, Fire Department/EMS, Emergency Management Agency, E-911 Response Center and Marshal’s Office. These services are led by the best and most qualified leaders assisted by officers and support staff committed to a safe and healthy Cherokee County. These individuals deserve our thanks and support. As commissioner and without reservation, I will be their advocate to ensure they have the necessary resources and tools to continue their excellent work going forward.”
As of the publishing of this website, Whiteside is the only candidate that has shown support for our public safety in his campaign materials. He is also the only candidate that has shown appreciation of our fully accredited public safety.
Greenspace
Considering his background as a certified Biologist and Ecologist it is not surprising that he would understand the value of preserving greenspace in the county.
TO VIEW ANOTHER PAGE, SCROLL UP TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE TO THE BANNER.
CLICK ON THE THREE WHITE LINES LOCATED WITHIN THE GREEN BANNER AT THE TOP LEFT CORNER.
THE MENU WILL LIST THE LAST NAME OF EACH CANDIDATE – CLICK ON EACH NAME TO VIEW THEIR PAGE.
YOU WILL ALSO FIND VOTING INFORMATION, THE ROLE OF A COMMISSIONER AND CONTACT US WITH ANY QUESTIONS.