Catoosa County: Cutler, Shadwick seek GOP nod

RINGGOLD, Ga. — James Cutler and Charles “Bud” Shadwick are vying for the Republican nomination on July 15 to face Democrat George Duncan for the District 3 Catoosa County Commission seat in November.

Commissioner James Emberson is not seeking re-election. The district includes the Ringgold and Graysville precincts.

Mr. Cutler, a U.S. Army veteran, lives near Ringgold. Mr. Shadwick lives in the Graysville area.

Mr. Shadwick said he will never vote to raise taxes. He said he wants better communication with the county school board and favors more comprehensive planning for water, sewers, stormwater and planning and zoning.

“I am retired and like to remain busy and active,” he said. “I believe I can be an asset to Catoosa County.”

Mr. Cutler said he will work to keep taxes low and wants to use his sales and marketing experience to assist in making the county-operated Colonnade self-supporting.

He is president-elect of the Ringgold Kiwanis Club. He is a member of the Catoosa Chamber of Commerce and has served as a member of the Catoosa 2020 Vision Committee.

Mr. Cutler said he wants to bring “common sense and a fresh face” to the commission. He said he is a fiscal conservative who would seek to operate within the budget. He said the county should be a member of the Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority

“Catoosa is an attractive community with good schools, and a flow of visitors with the interstate,” he said. “We need to prepare our infrastructure to take advantage of opportunities with spinoff companies from a major firm that will eventually come to Enterprise South” in Chattanooga.

Mr. Cutler said the county is outgrowing its roads.

“We have the prospect for economic growth, but must develop solutions to make sure it is reasonable,” he said.

Mr. Shadwick said he would try to solve the problem of blocked traffic at the railroad crossing in Graysville, and that traffic flow should be improved on several roads.

“I know talks with the railroad will take time, probably several years, but a need exists for a solution for motorists,” he said. “I want residents to approve the special purpose local option sales tax that visitors help pay,” he said. “That’s preferable to increasing property taxes.”

Mr. Shadwick said his experience in such fields as grading work on Interstate 75 at Ringgold and operating a trucking business can be used to benefit county residents.