As polls open, Catoosa County, Georgia, transportation tax campaign rages

Staff photo by Erin O. Smith /
Eric Morrison walks into the Catoosa County Administration Building with a large sign in protest of a sales tax increase Tuesday, February 19, 2019 in Ringgold, Georgia. A group of about 10 individuals showed up to the Catoosa County Commission meeting Tuesday to voice their objection to the additional 1-percent tax increase saying it would put an extra burden on those in the community couldn't afford it, would encourage people to shop online where sales tax may not be required or cause locals to go out of town to shop. — Staff photo by Erin O. Smith / Eric Morrison walks into the Catoosa County Administration Building with a large sign in protest of a sales tax increase Tuesday, February 19, 2019 in Ringgold, Georgia. A group of about 10 individuals showed up to the Catoosa County Commission meeting Tuesday to voice their objection to the additional 1-percent tax increase saying it would put an extra burden on those in the community couldn't afford it, would encourage people to shop online where sales tax may not be required or cause locals to go out of town to shop. Staff photo by Erin O. Smith / Eric Morrison walks into the Catoosa County Administration Building with a large sign in protest of a sales tax increase Tuesday, February 19, 2019 in Ringgold, Georgia. A group of about 10 individuals showed up to the Catoosa County Commission meeting Tuesday to voice their objection to the additional 1-percent tax increase saying it would put an extra burden on those in the community couldn't afford it, would encourage people to shop online where sales tax may not be required or cause locals to go out of town to shop.

By Tyler Jett February 25, 2019 5 min read

Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / Chuck Harris, a candidate for District 2 commissioner, speaks during a forum hosted by the Catoosa County Republican Party at the Boynton Voting Precinct on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 in Ringgold, Ga. Harris is running against incumbent Bobby Winters.

When he returned from a Caribbean cruise Monday, Catoosa County Commissioner Charlie Stephens was surprised to see his name evoked in an anti-T-SPLOST letter.

The advocacy, written by Ringgold attorney Marshall Bandy, told voters that the proposed 1 percent sales tax will be a waste of money. He argued the county commissioners don’t need extra funds for roads – they need to pave and patch problems with the money they already get.

Bandy also applauded Stephens, the one commissioner to actually vote against putting a referendum for the tax on a ballot. (Early voting on the referendum began Monday.)

But there was a problem. Stephens didn’t actually vote. He was not in office when the commission passed the deciding resolution, 3-2, on Dec. 18.

“We’re kind of thrown in this situation,” said Stephens, who took office Jan. 1. ” … We’re in a place that’s not a very good place right now.”