Canton Elections Guide 2019: Candidates Talk City Problems

CANTON, GA — Georgians will take to the polls next Tuesday to vote in local elections, including in Canton.

The Canton City Council election will take place Nov. 5. The election is for mayor and Ward 1, 2 and 3.

Patch has invited each candidate in contested races to participate in our election profile series. We will continue to update this story with links to responses to our questionnaire.

Part one of the candidate questionnaire dives into who the candidates are, why they want to run and what their long and short term goals are.

• See more: Canton Elections Guide 2019: Candidates Focusing On Smart Growth

Part two showcases what candidates say is the biggest issue that the city faces, how they want to combat that and why people should vote for them.

Who's Running?

Mayor

Bill Grant GrantForMayor.com

Dwight Pullen www.pullencantonforward.com

Ward 1

JoEllen Wilson (incumbent) electjoellen.com

Bob Reilly Bob Reilly for Canton

Kathy Strom kathystromforcanton.com

Ward 2

Shawn Tolan Tolanforcanton.com

Ward 3

Farris Yawn (incumbent) yawnforcanton.com

Brooke Schmidt www.VoteBrookeSchmidt.com

Question 4: What is the biggest issue you think citizens in Canton face?

Mayor

Bill Grant: Responsible and appropriate growth in the fastest growing county in Georgia. How do we plan for and manage the growth while holding steadfast to those values and ideas that define our small town character.

Dwight Pullen: Building the needed new water treatment plant and sewage treatment plant

Ward 1

JoEllen Wilson (incumbent): Trying to control growth so traffic does not become a worse problem. Examining all projects to make sure we grow as our citizens envision. Affordable housing is a close second issue.

Bob Reilly: It is infrastructure. It’s not all the apartments, but they are a big part of the problem. With apartments we are putting up to 100 people per acre opposed to 12-14 people per acre in single family homes. You can’t drive on Hwy 140 without a steady stream of vehicles. We will have to update our sewage treatment facility at a cost of $80 million to accommodate the influx of population. Population growth unchecked will choke the city and we are starting to see that on Hwy 140 with no relief for years.

Kathy Strom: There are many, and they are all linked together but the first is controlling growth to be able to address the other issues that we face. (Housing, transportation, budget and infrastructure need attention.)

Ward 2

Shawn Tolan: Growth. It must be smart and measured. With growth comes challenges like increased traffic, housing issues and a general strain on infrastructure. We need to stay ahead of the growth. I will be keenly focused on helping the city do the things needed to keep pace with the anticipated growth. Cherokee County is the fastest growing county in Atlanta. It’s our job to ensure that the city can support the growth by making long term, thoughtful decisions that will ensure Canton is a great city for many generations to come.

Ward 3

Farris Yawn (incumbent): The biggest issue we face right now is making sure we are prepared for the incredible growth that is expected in the next 10 – 20 years. That includes our water and wastewater capacity, which will need to grow significantly. That is probably one of the most expensive issues we will face. We also need to work on strategically managing development to minimize the negative impact on key areas of our infrastructure, our roads in particular.

Brooke Schmidt: One of the looming issues is our waste water treatment facility. The city has already created a waster water management plan available on their website. It includes an updated and revitalized water treatment plant to be up and running in the next 3-4 years. The good news for surrounding residents and CHS students and families is that this solution addresses the area's smell. The better news is that it increases capacity - necessary for our area's fast paced growth. Of course, this undertaking will be expensive.

Question 5: How do you plan to combat that issue?

Mayor

Bill Grant: Again, with the citywide Master Plan that is informed, first and foremost, by citizen stakeholders. The plan starts with listening to our citizens – listening to understand, not respond. We need to know how they want their city to grow and develop over the next several decades. What kind of city and culture do they want to leave to their children and grandchildren? The Master Plan will inform all development and how we curate the best projects for our city. We need developers to understand and build to our plan and standards, not the other way around. Of course, the plan also has to make economic sense and define how we pay for improvements and still keep our taxes low. For instance, we will need “once-in-a-generation” improvements to our water and sewer system during the next four-year term. We have to build a new water treatment plant and expand our wastewater treatment capacity to not only maintain our existing needs but also ensure we meet future growth capacity. However, our W&S system is the city’s single largest source of revenue, and it is financially sound. Also, our consultants have concluded a minimum expected annual growth rate of 3.7 percent over the next decade and more. With this growth and very minimal cost of living increases to rates, if necessary, the system improvements will pay for themselves. In other words, we can use revenue bonds to finance the upgrades by borrowing against the system itself, not adding to the city’s debt or additional taxpayer obligations.

Dwight Pullen: Move forward with plans to build those plants before they are needed

Ward 1

JoEllen Wilson (incumbent): Council must acknowledge that growth is coming. Reviewing and updating the City Masterplan to make it a living document to meet the needs of our citizens. Encouraging developers to bring plans for suitable, affordable housing for current and future residents.

Bob Reilly: First is, “No” to any apartment proposals. I am OK looking at town homes and single family homes. In fact there enough approvals to last over the next 10 years of construction and development that were approved up to 20 years ago which came to a halt over the 2007-2009 recession. I know Canton growth will continue, but it has to be smart, what works for the infrastructure and most importantly the citizens, not the developers.

Kathy Strom: This is a county wide issue. All layers of government are going to have to work together with a common vision for us to be able to fix what needs to be fixed while allowing others to enjoy what we have to live, work and play.

Ward 2

Shawn Tolan: Work with the new mayor, the other five council members and other city leaders to ensure that we are all working toward a common cause. And, constantly taking the pulse of the citizens of Canton to ensure we’re making the decisions that benefit the larger community.

Ward 3

Farris Yawn (incumbent): I plan to work with my fellow elected officials, city staff, citizens, and contactors to help define our future needs, and develop the most effective and economical plans to address those needs. We have access to a lot of experience and expertise, and I want to see us take full advantage of those resources. With my accounting and business background, I love digging into the budgets and proposals to ensure that we are always good stewards of the citizens tax dollars.

Brooke Schmidt: I'd like have discussions with the county about ways we could work together on the future of waste water management. Mayor Hobgood has mentioned repeatedly that not having these discussions during his last term was a missed opportunity. Let's make sure we have the facts and figures and pros and cons on all the ways the city can move forward on water treatment issues.

Question 6: Why should people vote for you?

Mayor

Bill Grant: I have the experience to continue Canton’s positive momentum, and I am trusted by our citizens based on my fiscally responsible voting record on council, my proven leadership and reputation for walking my talk when it comes to delivering on my promises. I love Canton, and I want to leave it a better city than when I arrived in 1996. The citizens of Canton have seen me in action, count on me to resolve their issues and understand my passion for this community is sincere 365 days a year, not just during elections.

Dwight Pullen:

• I have small town conservative values
• I believe in limited government
• I want to balance infrastructure improvements with population growth

Ward 1

JoEllen Wilson (incumbent): I am an independent thinker, a consensus builder, a team player and have 20+ years of experience as a councilmember. I am knowledgeable about city government, having completed almost 100 hours of municipal training from the Georgia Municipal Association. I believe in service to my city and in building a safe and strong community for all residents.

Bob Reilly: I live in and love our community so much I want to be your fresh voice for keeping community in Canton through healthy growth for all families. I have been involved in the city and on boards and committees over the last eight years. In 2014 I was on the Canton Vision committee forecasting what Canton would look like and need out to 2050. I participated in the City Police Citizen’s Academy, and am currently serving on the City of Canton building authority.

Kathy Strom: People need to know that they have options at the polls this year. I can bring a new perspective as I have school age children. People of all ages are passionate and care about what happens here, but I do not believe that everyone sees that. I love my town and am proud of where I live. Everyone should feel that way.

Ward 2

Shawn Tolan: Because I’ve demonstrated throughout my career that I enjoy leading. I’m effective at building consensus and getting things done. I have worked my entire career on solving problems on very diverse teams and look forward to continuing the great work that the city has done to date. I will work tirelessly on behalf of the citizens of Canton.

Ward 3

Farris Yawn (incumbent): My commitment to the economic revitalization of not just downtown, but all of Canton, has been amply demonstrated by my 15 years of work on the city’s behalf, first as a citizen, then as an elected official.

I first ran for city council because I felt that my background and skills could be put to good use by helping put the council on the path to moving Canton in a positive direction.

We have come a long way, but we have a long way yet to go. We have been able to accomplish much that I am very proud to have been a part of, and I feel that I still have much to contribute to this city I love.

I will never shy away from a tough decision, and I will always push to make sure new proposals are properly and thoroughly planned so they can actually accomplish the goals they were enacted for.

Brooke Schmidt: I was born in Iowa and grew up in Missouri and eventually went to middle school and high school in Peachtree City, Georgia. I may not have grown up in Cherokee County, but my husband and I made the conscious choice to live here and to raise their children here; to make our home here and enjoy the friendships we have made with fellow Canton residents. This city has been our village; it has built my children’s foundation. We are devoted to its future.

My feeling is that we should run for city council because we feel passionate about the work we can do serving. It’s not because someone expects us to do it; it’s not because of where you came from or who your family is. Choose leaders who have proven they’ll lean in and engage. Choose leaders who are team players, who aren't being divisive in word or action, and who you can be sure are paying attention and are in tune with residents' desires. Choose leaders who show real joy and enthusiasm in serving and who have a record of showing initiative when it comes to bringing policies to life.

It’s silly to think that because I haven’t been here for 50 years, that I love Canton less than someone who was born here, which is something I’ve been told. I love Canton. I’ve lived in lots of places, and I choose to make Canton my home. I think that says something about my commitment.