The field of candidates in South Forsyth's District 2 continues to grow as Charles I. Smith announces his intent to run for the seat. Charlie Smith recently served on the SPLOST transportation committee, and supported both SPLOST and the parks and greenspace bond...
The Committee to Elect Charles Smith announces the candidacy of Charles I. Smith for the position of Forsyth County Commissioner, District 2.
Richard Ward, At-Large Coordinator of the committee said today “Forsyth County needs a thoughtful Commissioner for our county representing District Two. Forsyth is certainly changing and Charles Smith would be the kind of commissioner we need to address and help manage these changes. His 4 years in Forsyth County and work on the SPLOST VI Committee and his Homeowners Association have given him an understanding of our county-wide opportunities and challenges and at the same time does not automatically position him as a ‘single issue thinker,’ representing only his District or just one segment of our county populace.”
From the candidate: “My candidacy is based upon a few simple concepts. First, land use and the management of attractive growth are the nuts and bolts of the work of our Board of Commissioners. In addition, Forsyth County is poised for some very large scale projects along the Georgia 400 corridor and elsewhere that are significant to our tax base. These projects, along with the ones included in the Parks, Recreation and Green space Bond and our recently passed SPLOST VI need to be carefully managed to ensure that they contribute as much as possible for our county.
Second, each of the five Commissioner districts has needs and opportunities, and the representative from each serves as the ombudsman to present issues to the full Board. District 2 is clearly characterized by significant residential building and it is in our best interests that this is of good quality and priced to attract the desirable purchasers we want. As President of the Aberdeen HOA, a 400+ home community, I have become engaged with other Associations and feel that I have a grasp of many of the issues before us. Also, we must ensure that the Peachtree Parkway Overlay plan properly addresses the look and feel of that part of 141 passing through District 2; nobody wants another Jimmy Carter Boulevard running through this part of the county.
Finally, there must be a continual and ongoing proactive focus on traffic and water. My work on the SPLOST VI committee provided insight to the former and I think the projects we selected will help address traffic issues throughout the county. As a Commissioner, I will work to ensure that the projects chosen by the Citizens Selection Committee are addressed. With respect to our water crises, we need everyone thinking how to make the best use of the resources we have at the same time come up with longer term solutions, whether they are Inter Basin Transfers or new sources of finished or unfinished water. Generally, new development must be balanced against the existing infrastructure – traffic, water and land.
Smith continued, “Being a county Commissioner should be viewed as a service, not a career or a means to some personal end, and it is my desire to provide straightforward and well-considered decision making to the issues that would come before me as a Commissioner. My background as a regional manager with AT&T gave me insight to working within a large organization with regard to both people and finance and my work locally as a board member of a local charity has provided another operating perspective for me. I think my background will enable me to be effective as a commissioner.”
To learn more, please go to the website, www.charliesmith08.com.
