Chairman's leadership responsible for improvements in fire service, financial rating, recreation facilities

I have served on the Columbia County Board of Commissioners with Ron Cross for almost four years. I did not support Ron the first time he ran because I did not know him.

Since then, I have seen firsthand his leadership skills, his genuine caring for our great county and his dedication to the job. He is a full-time chairman, not because he has to be but because he wants to be.

Ron has gotten unwarranted criticism about the Furys Ferry Road project over which the county had absolutely no control. Ron went to the Georgia Department of Transportation to try to speed that project along, but to no avail because it was a DOT project.

As to the consolidation effort, four out of five commissioners were in favor of putting it on the ballot and letting the people decide.

Ron's leadership has resulted in 24/7 fire service to the total unincorporated county, a state-of-the-art library with a performing arts theater, amphitheater and walking track, a AA financial rating for the county (there are only four counties in the state with this rating), a smoking ban that is stronger than the state smoking ban, enhancements to Wildwood Park to facilitate national bass tournaments that put Columbia County on the map, and Blanchard Woods Park recreation facility, just to name a few.

Please cast your vote along with Sen. Jim Whitehead, Rep. Ben Harbin, Sheriff Clay Whittle and me for Ron Cross, a proven leader. He is experienced, dedicated and, above all, a Christian.

Tom Mercer

District 2 Commissioner

Martinez