Audio clip
Charles Bullock
The position of a sole county commissioner is unique to Georgia and has critics and supporters.
More common several decades ago, sole commissioners now now sit in just nine Georgia counties, seven of them in North Georgia.
“It can be very efficient,” said Dr. Charles Bullock, a political science professor at the University of Georgia. “I also imagine it saves money.”
But critics say too much power can corrupt, and Dr. Bullock agreed there is no separation of authority.
“The sole commissioner is both the executive and legislative branch,” Dr. Bullock said.
history
In 1879, the General Assembly voted to allow sole commissions, according to the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia. In 1976, 26 Georgia counties had a sole commissioner.
But the system began to wane in the 1980s after revision to the federal Voting Rights Act made it easier to challenge forms of government that prevented minority representation.
“It was sort of a movement away from the absolute right of kings,” Dr. Bullock said. “If you had a good king, then everything was great. But if you had a bad king, you wanted somebody to say, ‘Whoa, wait a minute.’”
In Northwest Georgia, Chattooga, Murray and Walker counties retain sole commissioners. Some area counties have had trouble shaking the legacy.
Catoosa County changed from sole commissioner to a five-member board with four district commissioners and a chairman elected at large.
Dade County changed from sole commissioner to five district commissioners, but residents were unsatisfied. In a referendum, voters narrowly rejected a return to a sole commissioner and decided to switch to a board with four district commissioners and a county executive.
Some in Dade are still unhappy.
“I think if we had the county executive we have now as a sole commissioner, we would really be in a bad spot,” said Eddie Pittman, leader of the Dade County Democratic Party. “I think you are really doing away with any system of checks and balances.”
Dr. Bullock said checks and balances are important.
“It promotes honesty, and maybe efficiency, if the executive branch has to be answerable to the legislative branch,” he said
But in Murray County, after changing from sole commissioner to a five-member board, went back to a sole commissioner. Jim Welch is nearing the end of his first four-year term as sole commissioner of Murray County.
“It is the kind of government that you can get things done,” he said.
LEADING WALKER COUNTY
Many Walker County residents like their one-commissioner rule.
Dr. Bullock said Walker may be the most populous county to keep a sole commissioner format.
Commissioner Bebe Heiskell, the first woman and first Republican to hold the post, is ending her second term and gearing up to campaign for a third.
She recently emerged from two months of hospitalization. After routine back surgery, she said she developed severe internal bleeding that required more surgery. She said that at one point she thought she would not live.
“But I have a drive to make myself keep going,” Mrs. Heiskell said.
Andy Hames has said he will challenge her in the July 15 Republican primary, and P.J. Wilson said she will run as a Democrat.
Both challengers said they are developing their campaign plans. Qualifying is from April 28 to May 2.
Mrs. Wilson works at the Hamilton County attorney’s office but lives in Walker. With 16 years of accounting experience, she said she has the skills to manage the county.
Mr. Hames is a Walker County business owner who works in auto mechanics. He said he has great respect for Mrs. Heiskell but sees room for improvement in the county.
Mrs. Heiskell said she thinks the sole commissioner system works for Walker County.
“I do think that it has been efficient,” Mrs. Heiskell said. “It has been satisfactory for the people of Walker County since 1941.”
Mr. Hames said he sees pros and cons in the sole commissioner’s role, but he thinks it is time to have a five-member board .
“Until recently I was actually for a sole commissioner,” he said. “Now I think the sole commissioner has too much power.”
FAST FACTs
* Georgia has 159 counties.
* Georgia counties with a sole commissioner are Bartow, Bleckley, Chattooga, Murray, Pickens, Pulaski, Towns, Union, Walker.
