Henry Daily Herald

District I Commissioner, Republican

Incumbent Warren Emory Holder, 62

Self-employed in lawn and garden equipment business

Married to Cindy Holder

Children: Scoot and Tammy

Born and raised in Henry County

Q: What one thing would you like to accomplish if elected?

A: I would like the county to be a more business-friendly community.

Q: What one special experience do you think you bring to the job of commissioner?

A: Proven leadership, going back to 1971. I’ve been on the Board of Commissioners for 16 years, I was on the Board of Education, and I was on the Locust Grove City Council.

Q: What one county program would you cut?

A: If I had to cut one, it would be in the social field.

William J. “Bo” Moss, 61

Small-business owner of a flooring company

Married to Connie Moss

Children: Tammy and Mark

I’ve lived in McDonough for almost 26 years.

Q: What one thing would you like to accomplish if elected?

A: I would like to get a good, solid balanced budget, and I’d like to get all the employees back on a full schedule so they won’t have any furlough days. I think we owe it to our citizens to have a fully staffed central services.

Q: What one special experience do you think you bring to the job of commissioner?

A: I’ve got 38 years in a small business. Being in a small business, I would like to help with balancing the budget by prioritizing our spending and to stop wasteful spending.

Q: What one county program would you cut?

A: I don’t know of anything I’d really want to cut.

District II Commissioner, Republican

John Brian Preston, 38

I am a CPA by training and run a business consulting and wealth management practice helping individuals, families, and businesses make sound financial decisions.

Married to Jennifer Preston, two children

28-year Henry resident

Q: What one thing would you like to accomplish if elected?

A: I would improve business and economic development within Henry County so that our residents are not required to drive north for opportunity.

Q: What one special experience do you think you bring to the job of commissioner?

A: I know what it takes to make payroll and grow a business, and I will bring that same business approach to the commission to help grow Henry County.

Q: What one county program would you cut?

A: Instead of cutting, I would like to update employee benefits so that our employees still have the best benefits in the metro area, but save the taxpayers over $2 million/year.

Vincent A. Lotti, 31

Attorney

Not married; Children: none

22-year resident of Hampton

Q: What one thing would you like to accomplish if elected?

A: My countywide goal would be to provide public-safety services with the monetary compensation and resources that they deserve. My District II goal would be to provide a senior center.

Q: What one special experience do you think you bring to the job of commissioner?

A: I have actually been a county employee, before I went to law school. I think that differentiates me by giving me the unique perspective of seeing how commissioners’ decisions affect not only the citizenry, but county employees as well.

Q:What one county program would you cut?

A: All programs should be evaluated to make sure they are meeting the goals for which they are established.

District III Commissioner, Republican

Gary W. Barham, 57

Retired from the City of McDonough

Married to Becky Barham

Two sons; five grandchildren

Q: What one thing would you like to accomplish if elected?

A: I would encourage a common sense, conservative approach to spending in county government.

Q: What one special experience do you think you bring to the job of commissioner?

A: 31 years of experience with the City of McDonough

Q: What one county program would you cut?

A. Declined to answer until better informed

Kenneth David Sherman, 48

Semi-retired businessman

Married to Joleen, 3 children

My family and I have lived in Henry County for 17 years.

Q: What one thing would you like to accomplish if elected?

A: I would work tirelessly to implement a pay and benefits solution for our police, fire, EMS, and public safety individuals, whom have not had a pay increase in five years.

Q: What one special experience do you think you bring to the job of commissioner?

A: I am a very accomplished relationship builder with a keen ability to listen and discern the root cause and disfunction of issues and situations. My 16 years of experience running my own aviation services business will serve Henry County well as we develop the newly purchased Atlanta South Regional Airport .

Q: What one county program would you cut?

A: I remain very uncomfortable with the question “what county program would I cut” because, as I see our county financial issues, it would be imprudent and irresponsible of the Board of Commissioners to not carefully examine virtually every county program for need, affordability, and alternatives including consolidation and privatization. We cannot continue to spend money we do not have!

William L. “Bill” Toney Jr., 65

I have been a business owner for over 30 years.

Married to Jenny Toney, I have six children and 17 grandchildren.

Q: What one thing would you like to accomplish if elected?

A: Pass a budget without raising taxes, then pass a budget cutting taxes.

Q: What one special experience do you think you bring to the job of commissioner?

A: Being a business owner I have had to make payroll without paying myself some months, we have never had that at the county.

Q: What one county program would you cut?

A: The first thing that needs to be cut is the Board of Commissioners salary... part-time work deserves part-time pay. I would like to see it cut to $25,000.