Whitehead says changes are coming
State Sen. Jim Whitehead spoke to the Greater Columbia County Republican Women's group Thursday night, telling members he is excited about his first term in office and that he looks forward to many changes.
Jim Whitehead discussed his upcoming term in the State Senate on Thursday.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
For one thing, Whitehead, R-Evans, said he is eagerly expecting what he says will be a great savings of state money through a group set up by the governor and including business leaders called the Commission for a New Georgia.
"It has never been done in 130 years,'' he said before a crowd of about 50 at BG's Restaurant in Harlem. "It's going to be great.''
White-head said the commission already has found many state vehicles that are not needed, planning to have 2,200 taken off the state rolls, and many state buildings that are currently abandoned.
"It's probably going to be amazing how many millions Gov. (Sonny) Perdue will save Georgia with this commission,'' he said.
Whitehead said he also is interested in seeing the approval of a statewide smoking ban in indoor public places.
"That will be passed on a statewide basis this year as far as we know,'' he said, referring to the smoking ban.
He also said he supports state licensing of such things as tattoo parlors and hair braiding businesses.
"It's almost rampant to where teenagers can go in and get tattoos without a parent's permission,'' he said.
Remembering his days as a Columbia County commissioner, Whitehead told the crowd how Columbia County began licensing massage parlors and how that transformed those businesses in the county. Columbia County also has already adopted its own indoor smoking ordinance, which went into effect Jan. 1.
Whitehead then praised the governor for an announcement of funding for a new Columbia County campus of Augusta Technical College.
"That is so wonderful for this county,'' he said.
Whitehead said he understands that the county plans to have a high school built next to the new Augusta Tech campus near the John Deere plant in Grovetown. He said the school could be used during the day by high school students and at night by the college.
"I think that's such a plus, plus, win, win situation,'' he said.