Whitfield County Commissioner District 1

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Whitfield County Commissioner District 1"

Jordan Winfred Welch
5 years ago
Views:

Run Off Election July 22, 2014 Advance Voting Dates: June 30 to July 18 Candidate & Election Information The Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce is non partisan and does not support any candidates.

This information is for the offices of Whitfield County Commissioner District 1 and for the Superior Court Judge of the Conasauga Judicial Circuit.

1 Run Off Election July 22, 2014 Advance Voting Dates: June 30 to July 18 Candidate & Election Information The Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce is non partisan and does not support any candidates. However, it is important that voters have the opportunity to get to know the candidates in preparation for the Run Off Election on July 22, This information is for the offices of Whitfield County Commissioner District 1 and for the Superior Court Judge of the Conasauga Judicial Circuit. This information was compiled for the Primary Election and now only includes the candidates that are in the run off election. Below are the unedited responses of candidates who chose to participate. This information is also posted on the Chamber s website at: 2/candidate-election-information/ Early voting begins on June 30 until July 18. Whitfield County Commissioner District 1 Renee Davis Q: What are your qualifications for Whitfield County Commissioner and what business experience do you have? A: I have owned and managed Four Paws Pet Resort for the past nine years. This is a business I visualized and oversaw construction from the ground up. Although on a much larger scale, the same business principals are applied to serving as a County Commissioner. My motivation for running and serving as County Commissioner came from my experience in Leadership Dalton Whitfield (LDW). Through LDW I have had the opportunity to really see the various sectors of Whitfield County, learn what they need and gain insight into different opportunities to get involved. When the seat became available in my district it just seemed like the perfect time and opportunity to put what I have learned into practice and serve my community in more depth. 1

2 Q: What do you see as the top issues facing the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners and how would you as a Commissioner address them? A: Our biggest issue is with the budget and maintaining the same level of services to our community with decreased income. The County s income level has dropped due to economic factors such as the recession and losing some of the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) revenue with the new agreement between the county and cities in As a commissioner I would work to increase tax revenue through economic development of bringing new businesses in and examine our existing expenditures for duplications in services being paid for by both county and city that might be combined to save the citizens money and still provide the same if not better services. I think working with the other commissioners and listening to our citizens while looking for creative ways to save money and increase revenue is going to be the best way to address the problem. Q: What are you most excited about for Whitfield County? A: Here are the 3 things I am the most excited about being involved with and/or making changes to help Whitfield County continue to move forward 1. Economic Development: Whitfield County has worked hard to put itself in a position to attract new business to our area. We provide water service throughout the county, good utility services, a wonderful road system with the by-pass and easy access to I-75. I will continue making decisions to push our county forward in this direction because attracting more business will equal more jobs and taxes coming into the county to sustain our growth. 2. Financially Conservative: I personally feel Whitfield County provides a lot of services to the community with lower taxes in comparison to surrounding counties of similar size. However, if elected I would continually explore opportunities to improve our services without raising taxes while monitoring and eliminating excess spending. 3. Education: Our Education system needs restructuring and updating. Core Curriculum is a big issue in the school systems and I will do my best as one of your Commissioners to support our School Systems in achieving changes our Educators feel are needed for our area. My goal is to develop and support a system that will help our children reach their full potential and produce graduates with skills needed to enter the technologically demanding fields in our area which will only serve to strengthen our infrastructure even more. In addition, the Southeast District desperately needs examined for locations to provide children a place to practice ball, play outdoors, and have school functions. 2

Whitfield County Commissioner District 1 Barry Robbins Q: What are your qualifications for Whitfield County Commissioner and what business experience do you have?

3 Whitfield County Commissioner District 1 Barry Robbins Q: What are your qualifications for Whitfield County Commissioner and what business experience do you have? A: I want to thank the Chamber for their interest in my campaign for a position on the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners as I am a candidate for the District 1 seat. Given my professional background of 30 years in banking and finance, I will bring a unique perspective to the Board as budget issues relating to revenue and expenses are always a priority. Operational efficiencies should always be a focus rather than a consideration for tax increases. I will work and support everyone, both individuals and groups, who demonstrate promoting an environment which improves the lives of all concerned citizens of Whitfield County. I am financially conservative and I will take a conservative approach to budget issues. Whitfield County is in a great position to attract new business to the area and create new employment opportunities. I propose to examine creative ways to attract economic development. 3

Superior Court Judge of the Conasauga Judicial Circuit David Blevins Q: What are your qualifications for this position and why do you want to be elected as Superior Court Judge?

As a superior court judge, I have presided over many bench and jury trials.

4 Superior Court Judge of the Conasauga Judicial Circuit David Blevins Q: What are your qualifications for this position and why do you want to be elected as Superior Court Judge? A: Part A: Qualification For the past two years I have had the privilege to serve as one of the four superior court judges for the Conasauga Judicial Circuit (Whitfield and Murray Counties). As a superior court judge, I have presided over many bench and jury trials. (For details see response to question two below) At present, I am on track to attend the National Judicial college in October Several of my orders are published on WestLaw, a national computer database of legal decisions. Prior to serving as a superior court judge, I practiced law in Dalton, Georgia for almost 27 years. My practice concentrated on civil litigation including cases such as products liability, medical malpractice, commercial transactions, estate litigation, and automobile collisions. My practice took me to federal and state courts at both the trial and appellate levels. Before becoming a superior court judge, I served on the Georgia State Personnel Board. One of the Board's responsibilities is to hear appeals from administrative law judges on personnel matters. I have published two legal articles: The Made Whole Doctrine From the Georgia Perspective GA. BAR JOURNAL (Spring 1995) and... Lest We Be Judged, The Dilemma of Judicial Power: A Lawyer s Perspective 19.1 CHRISTIAN LEGAL SOCIETY QUARTERLY 4 (Winter 1998). The first article is about the application of certain equitable doctrines to insurance proceeds. The second is part of a three part feature about judicial philosophy. The other two contributors were Judge Edith Jones of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and Robert P. George McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University. 4

5 I graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law in While a law student, I received the AmJur Book Award for the highest grade in Constitutional Law and was a member of the Intrastate Mock Trial team. I received my B.A. from Carson-Newman College in 1979 where I was outstanding graduate in history. Part B: Why do I want to be elected as Superior Court Judge. The short answer is I care. I care what happens to the children in the custody cases. I care about the heart break of their parents who can t or wouldn t find a way to live together in harmony. I care about the addict in trouble with the law. I care about the victim of crimes great and small. I care about the parent languishing in jail on a child support warrant and I care about the parent or grandparent (and taxpayer) who is raising the child and needs the money. I care about the business man or woman facing foreclosure and I understand that if his or her banker cannot enforce the promises of the bank s customers, then there will be no more banks, no more loans and no more businesses. When you care, you look people in the eyes. The eyes are the window of the soul. Some eyes are full of defiance; some are full of fear; some are full of anger; some are full of despair; and some only carry the blank stare of the soul without hope. I do my best to care about them all and not take away hope unless absolutely necessary. As much as I care about anything in my judge s world, I care about the law. It is the ship in which civil society sails. If she goes down, all of us are lost. I will defend her against all enemies great and small. All who work within the framework of the law will find in me a great friend. I am willing to listen to those who tell me I am wrong. I have never taken offense at a motion for reconsideration or motion for new trial. I have entertained many and granted several. Caring is hard work but it offers the satisfaction of a life well invested. Q: What is your level of legal experience? (trial, litigation, etc.) As a judge. I have been a superior court judge for two years and ten months. Thus far I have presided over 18 jury trials, had 5,738 calendered criminal matters, held 382 child support hearings, ruled on 143 family violence ex parte partitions, presided over 465 domestic hearings/trials, and held 72 hearings on general civil motions. In Whitfield County I have 250 open civil cases, 565 active criminal cases, and 3,300 open but not presently active criminal casesⁱ. In Murray County I have 118 open civil cases and 159 active criminal casesⁱⁱ. My total case load is 4,492 plus post conviction Murray County cases. The criminal cases range from murder to DUI. The civil cases range from disputes over millions of dollars to Magistrate Court appeals. In October 2014 I am scheduled to attend the National Judicial College. ⁱPost conviction cases remain with the judge but are considered inactive; however, they are a part of the case count because they often become active due to post conviction 5

6 matters such as probation violations, motions for new trial, extraordinary motions for new trial, habeas issues, etc. ⁱⁱCriminal cases are not assigned in Murray County, Represents 1/4 th of total criminal caseload. I was not able to find the inactive but open criminal (i.e. post conviction) cases from Murray County. As an attorney. In the first three years of practice I had seven jury trials, largely due to appointed criminal cases. From about 1988 through 2011, I averaged about one jury trial every three years which is fairly typical for civil litigation. During that same period I had about two bench trials per year (often contested probate matters). I could not give an accurate estimate of court appearances but the number would be fairly large. If I counted all appearances in bankruptcy court in my early years of practice the number might be in the thousands but that number would not have a great deal to do with my fitness to be a judge. Time in the crucible. The best training for being a judge is tough cases. Cases that have complex fact patterns, complex legal issues, good opposing counsel, demanding judges, and high stakes for the client. Tough cases are the crucible. The crucible will make or break you as a lawyer and give you the depth to be a judge. An attorney can do minor hearings and rack up tens of thousands of court appearances without ever being in the crucible. I have spent many years in the crucible as an attorney. I am spending more time there as a judge. Varied experience. I have had the advantage of practicing in both state and federal courts though out Georgia. Occasionally I practiced in other states in both state and federal court. I have a much broader prospective than a lawyer who rarely if ever has practiced outside Whitfield and Murray Counties. See also answer to question 1A above for types of cases handled. 6

Superior Court Judge of the Conasauga Judicial Circuit Jim Wilbanks What are your qualifications for this position and why do you want to be elected as Superior Court Judge?

7 Superior Court Judge of the Conasauga Judicial Circuit Jim Wilbanks What are your qualifications for this position and why do you want to be elected as Superior Court Judge? I attended and graduated from Murray County High School in I attended and graduated from Dalton Junior College with an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice in From there I went to West Georgia College and Obtained my B.A. in Political Science in My last quarter there I worked an internship at the State Capitol for the Georgia House of Representatives Judiciary Committee. I next attended the University of Georgia School of Law graduating in During my summers off, I clerked for the Mitchell and Mitchell Law Firm in Dalton. After my graduation from Law School I returned home and began my law practice with Mike Brown. Mike was a wonderful mentor and friend from who I learned a lot. I practiced with Mike for 6 years before I opened my own office. At all times I was focused on my ultimate goal of becoming a Superior Court Judge. I knew to do that I needed to handle all types of cases so I would be knowledgeable, experienced, and capable as a Judge on all cases that came before me. What is your level of experience? (trial, litigation, etc.) I opened my own office in Since the beginning of my practice of law I have handled every type of case that would come before a Superior Court Judge and even some that would not such as Social Security Disability cases and the trial of Workers' Compensation cases. Appeals of Workers' Compensation cases are heard in Superior Court. Having handled hundreds of these cases makes me knowledgable of the law in those cases. I have also handled divorces, child custody cases, contempts,tpos, restraining orders, protective orders, paternity and legitimation cases, termination of parental rights cases, guardianships of children and adults, estates, wills and trusts, adoptions, probate of estates, incorporation of businesses, both profit and nonprofit, business agreements, litigation of business and shareholder disputes, litigation of 7

8 property disputes, land lines, estates, wills, and the drafting of wills and estate documents. I also served as a contract public defender for Murray County for seven years. During that time I handled hundreds of all types of criminal offenses, misdemeanor and felony, including murder, feticide, aggravated assaults, aggravated battery, sodomy, aggravated sodomy, burglary, criminal trespass, armed robbery, child molestation, aggravated child molestation, cruelty to children, kidnapping, false imprisonment, damage to property, vandalism, arson, felony possession of all types of drugs including cases with intent to distribute, trafficking in drugs, forgery, bad checks, theft of services and property, including automobiles, escape, deposit account fraud, financial transaction fraud, perjury, gambling, obscenity, littering, rape, sexual assault and battery, stalking, terroristic threats, possession of explosive devises, reckless conduct, criminal trespass, conspiracy, solicitation, damage to property, underage possession of alcohol, concealed weapons, illegal dumping, criminal attempt, violation of probation, setting of bonds, aggressive driving, cruelty to animals, and all types of driving offenses including DUI, driving on suspended license, no license...etc. I have also handled the appeal of these types of cases to the State Board of Workers Compensation, Georgia Court of Appeals, and the Georgia Supreme Court. I have also attended annual continuing attorney education courses since I began my law practice resulting in hundreds of additional hours of updates on all areas of my law practice. In 1994 I completed the requirements for certification and registration as a mediator in all categories allowed of civil, domestic, domestic with violence, early neutral evaluation, and arbitration. Since then I have mediated over 1000 domestic and civil cases which include divorces, child custody, child support, alimony claims, legitimation and paternity cases, custody cases and all types of civil litigation cases including personal injury, contract disputes, suits on account, and business disputes. In 2001 I was selected to be a member of steering/formation team to create the Conasauga Judicial Circuit Drug Court Program which serves both Whitfield and Murray Counties. With the team I attended Federal training in New York and Louisiana. I currently serve as Judge Pro Tem for Judge Partain in Drug Court when needed. I have continued to receive annual Federal and State training on Drug Court issues and best practices since the formation of the Court. MY JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE: I currently serve as the Municipal Court Judge for the City of Dalton. I first began service there in the early 1990's when I began to serve as Pro Tem Judge for Judge Thad Boggs. When Judge Boggs retired in the mid 1990's I ran for the position and was the last elected Judge for Dalton. After that four year term the position was changed an 8

9 an appointed one. I left that position in I was asked to return in September, 2010 and have served there since. I have received annual State and National Judicial training during each year that I served. I also serve as Judge Pro Tem in the City of Varnell Municipal Court and have served there for several years. I also serve as the Associate Juvenile Court Judge for the Conasauga Circuit, which includes Whitfield and Murray Counties. I began service there in 2005 and have received annual State and National training since beginning service. Juvenile Court hears and disposes of Juvenile felony and misdemeanor cases, deprivation cases, legitimation cases, guardianships, and termination of parental rights cases. I have served as Judge Pro Tem for the Superior Court Judges since During that time I handled Court for the Judges when needed including while they were all at mandatory trainings. I have also served as Judge Pro Tem for the Whitfield County Probate Court, the Murray County Probate Court, and the Municipal Court of Cohutta. I have completed hundreds of hours of general and specialized Judicial training for over 20 years. I have handled thousands of cases as a Judge including felonies, misdemeanors, probation revocation hearings, arraignments, motion hearings, domestics, divorces, TPO's and trials. 9

General Criminal Scoring Criteria & Information. Registry Hit pending & active deferred. Score Decisional if no possible Pattern exists.

FELONY CRIMINAL MATRI Domestic Requirements Only 7 year scope *see notes below regarding calculating reportability scope General Criminal Scoring Criteria & Information Reporting Scope 7 years, to be counted