Poll: Move to a Board of Commissioners?
Georgia is the only state to have counties governed by sole commissioners, and Bartow is the largest county with a sole commissioner.
As the 2012 election nears, talk about who will be Bartow's next commissioner rears its head, as current Commissioner Clarence Brown has vowed to retire after 20 years in office.
Before he was re-elected to the helm of executive and legislative powers in the county, Brown said he would not run for office again, but changed his mind. Some speculate he would change is mind again before next year, especially if suitable candidates for commissioner don't step to the plate.
With explosive growth throughout the last 10 years—from about 76,000 in 2000 to more than 100,000 last year—should Bartow elect a board of commissioners or one person to govern the county with more than a $100 million budget?
Tell us and the community what you think by answering the poll and leaving comments.
If Brown retires, who would be the best person for the job? Who will throw his or her hat into the ring? Should that person move Bartow to a board with the General Assembly's approval?
Will Brown change his mind again and run for re-election?
Don't agree with the options in the poll?
Tell us in the comments.
Katherine M
2:41 pm on Friday, September 9, 2011
When they put this on the ballot a few years ago is was designed and worded in such as a way as to cause it to fail. It would pass with the right wording.
James
5:26 pm on Saturday, September 10, 2011
The Bartow County House and Senate delegation to Atlanta would have to propose it and they won't do it for several years.
String Bean
2:34 pm on Sunday, September 11, 2011
The "powers that be" need to take a long look at the results of this poll. Bartow County is changing and the good old boy clique can't hold power much longer. A county of over 100,000 is too big for one person to rule.