I’VE MADE A DECISION

Robert Rowland, Elbert County Commissioner, District 1

After a great deal of reflection, prayer, discussion with friends, co-workers and family, I have concluded that I will not be seeking a 2nd term as your Commissioner to District 1 for Elbert County. I reach this decision with mixed feelings, including a sense of sadness and regret as I will be absent from the team we have built this past 3 years, a team that has accomplished so much in restoring our finances, developing a business team environment that has improved efficiency. This is a team that has broken down old barriers between the different departments and factions in county government. We have trimmed the fat, focused on the priority needs of the county, improved systems, all the result of the cooperation between most of our elected officials and all of our employees.

I am at peace with my decision knowing that the political landscape can and has changed, and that when the majority of the decision making board has different visions, different ideologies, then the majority of that board mandates the new direction. I am sad that so much of what we have accomplished is now, in my opinion, at risk with the new majority, but that is how the system works. I pray that the upcoming election will restore the conservative foundation and direction of the board. But for me, and for other personal reasons, when my current term is up in January of 2017, I will leave the future of Elbert County to someone else and in the hands of the voters.

I am however, completely committed to dedicating my full attention and energy to the task at hand in these remaining months. I will work hard to declare my positions on important matters, to shed public light on decisions, actions or persons that I believe are not working in the best interest of this county and I will continue to fight for the progress and the opportunities before this county. That will include water issues, infrastructure and planning for the inevitable growth that is coming. I will continue to be an advocate for preserving the leadership and the team we have put in place, and I will vigorously defend against anyone, including my fellow Commissioners who reject or diminish the important role these employees have played in turning this county around, and who are critically important to keeping us moving forward.

I will also continue to be outspoken and unapologetic in pointing out issues and persons who I believe are a threat to that future. I will at some point endorse and support candidates for the election of Commissioner in Districts 1 and 3 in this upcoming election. I will not be delicate or politically correct in pointing out the records and the facts about those I believe are detrimental to that future, and who I believe are either not competent or honest in who they are. This will include my endorsement of someone other than the current Commissioner in District 3, Larry Ross. I will continue to support honest, proven conservative candidates and do my best to expose anyone who does not represent the conservative principles and values of the majority of citizens in this county. I will continue to speak against that small, radical and loud group whose mission seems to be only to disrupt and damage the county in ways that are dishonest and that simply do not make sense. And I will do my best to oppose and expose anyone who collaborates with these destructive persons, including my fellow Commissioners. The time for political correctness is past, the future of this county is too important to remain silent on important issues. I realize this will anger some, offend others, but it is important that all issues, all persons be properly vetted in the public arena. The future and opportunity to continue to improve are too important to this county to avoid the uncomfortable discussions that must happen to insure that progress.

To be a Commissioner in the county that myself and my family have come to love and that we intend to remain is the greatest honor of my professional life, and I while we have made mistakes, learned hard lessons, I am very proud of our performance and of the team I am part of at the county. I will forever be grateful, and I will be there to assist in any way I can in a non-elected role.

To the citizens and voters I say, you must remain vigilant, you must pay attention to those who are serving you, you must hold them accountable and you must recognize when the candidates or those currently in office are not working in the best interest of our county and our future. Reject those who fail to do what they say, who claim to be one thing and do the opposite, we’ve had too much of that in our past and we must all do our part to keep us from returning to the days when self serving political advantage was the first priority. A time when politics and party over principle was the norm instead of being held accountable for our ones actions, performance and results and over putting the county and taxpayers first.

Thank you again for giving me this honor, I will work hard this last year and may God Bless Elbert County.

Robert Rowland