Justin for Commissioner

[queenbee]

Sometimer you are in your very own garage.

A VERY BIG, VERY EMPTY, VERY DARK GARAGE.
AND NO ONE IS THERE WITH YOU.

[queenbee]

Yes, go toward the light, toward the light.
Of course my tax dollars are paying for the flashlight too.

[sometimeman]

Ya'll mean. I an't gone help you fix your car neither!

[roundtree]

Sometimey , vote Lamar out and you will save enough on taxes to pay someone to fix your car .

[sometimeman]

Oh! Don't you worry none about that!
I'm voting him out. I'm gone take his money but I'll vote for somebody else.
You know they used to pay more money for your vote before them DieBold Machines. Now they just give money to the feller programing the ballot into the machine and sorta put up a pretext of the absentee vote stealing and buying and such, knowing all the time the vote outcome percent is in the machine.

[shortcircuit]

bluemoon said:

Shortcircuit, I do post on the other website.

But I just like to post over here also because y'all are so much fun to hassle. You are so predictable and get so torn up whenever anyone questions you.

Oh yeah, I'm really torn up whenever you make a post. ;D ;D ;D ;D

[manape]

This forum thread is rated ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzz

[sometimeman]

Ape will also enjoy a new commissioner. He's part chameleon

[sometimeman]

If a feller said something critical about a TV preacher using poor orphans, would he be accused of being against the orphan or the preacher?

[Justin Melick]

Here is an anonymous email I received and the response. I don't know if it should be taken seriously due to the anonymity and the rather poor sentence structure. I took his word for it about the combat experience although it seems unlikely that someone would have seen combat in all those areas....Probably a prank from a kid, and it kind of reads like a Nigerian email scam, but I answered it anyway.

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Curious Voter <[e-mail]> wrote:
Mr. Melick "Malachi":

We are curious if this is a serious attempt to become elected to the office of Commissioner of Union County, Georgia.

Secondly, we are curious about something on your video. As I am a combat veteran, your enthusiasm in your ROTC program really doesn't being out the best in you in your ad, in that you have such an outstanding combat stance (as you so call it). I am unsure as to your integrity as you play up your role in a simulated envrionment, much the same as does my 10-year-old playing his Playstation in the comfort of my home. My combat experience was in Iraq, Somalia, Congo, Kosovo, and Bosnia in temperatures ranging up to 125 degrees, which I am sure is substandard to the conditions you wish to experience in your tenure that you so desire as commissioner of my great county.

I challenge you to reply to my inquiry. Further, I challenge you to prove that you are worthy of holding the office of Commissioner, because as of this point, I fail to see anything that makes you worthy of holding a condition any more prestigious than of a Dog Catcher.

One more thing. Please tell me how you wish to accomplish fighting a war on drugs in this county using the office of the Commissioner as your vehicle. Please further tell me how you think you can lead this war when we will also in November vote on the man who will be this county's Sheriff for the next four years and will be largely responsible for fighting the war on drugs.

I am very impressed by your educational background as I also attended Young Harris, Gainesville, and North Georgia College & State University. Please tell me how your instruction varied from mine as I don't believe my educational background would come anywhere near preparing me for holding the office of Commissioner.

Congratulations on knowing what the millage rate is. Further, I am glad to know that your favorite number is 13. Did you know that 13 squared equals 169? Did you also know that most people consider the number 13 to be unlucky? If I were you, I might consider revising my favorite number, as your campaign as I see it will need all the luck it can afford.

Again, thank you very much for taking time out of your busy and arduous schedule to read my inquiry. Best of luck to you.

A curious voter.

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Dear Curious Voter,

Justin will do. Thank you for your interest. Absolutely this is a serious attempt.

As for your question about the video, I'm not sure what you are asking. But I will say that I didn't really care for the video myself, but I gave my campaign team some leeway on this as they were adamant and if I lose it reflects on them too. But I did make it clear that the video in question would be the only video about me. This election is about far bigger things than any one man.

I deeply and sincerely thank you for your service! As many can tell you, I have a great respect for our troops and veterans. Here is a brief quote from my speech at our last Support the Troops fundraising dinner, "I have been in contact with a wounded veteran associated with the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes and he has been so grateful for what we are doing. And I just wanted to say to him, don't thank me, I have done nothing, and never will do anything compared to you."

I think what the ad writers were going for was creative rather than brave and honorable. Because I was not able to serve I have and will continue to raise money for our troops so that I can contribute in some way. But no matter how much money is raised, the sacrifice will never equal that of a single American Soldier.

This is a great county as you have said, but I think the current commissioner would agree that the job has little more prestige than a dog catcher.

As for your educational background, don't sell yourself short. I imagine you would probably do a fine job as commissioner. We've had many great commissioners in the past with no college background. After all, text books can't teach you common sense. They are also not likely to teach you the ins and outs of Georgia law and you must learn those yourself.

Combating drugs is a combined effort and is not just the Sheriff's job. The commissioner sets the Sheriff's budget and he can demand results in return. The community must be engaged in this fight and the commissioner as the figurehead of the community is best positioned to stimulate this involvement.

As for the number 13, I was aware of its square root. I was also aware that it was the day on which I was born and Dan Marino's number! That info was included after a number of requests for more personal information. I do not believe in luck and do not need luck. I could use the Lord's blessings, however. We need to deal in reality, not superstition.

I know I have to prove myself. That goes without saying. And there is time.

Thank you for your challenge and I have met it. I am busy, but not too busy to talk with a curious voter. I assume that your military career involved covert operations and hence the anonymous email? If you served in Iraq and live in Union County, I more than likely know who you are. Please don't feel that just because you don't approve of me, you need to stick to the shadows. I welcome the critique and would treat you with the dignity you deserve. I simply don't get mad at people who disagree with me, even sharply, I never have.

Take Care!
-Justin

[manape]

I think community involvement in drug prevention would go a long way solving the drug problem.

Anonymous email would be great for reporting drug abuse.

I think a program where the Commissioner partners with citizens to prevent drug problems would help. I would like to see the church more involved in drug prevention programs and supporting treatment of abusers.

Is there a treatment programs for people who are arrested for using drugs. Do offenders have to submit to a drug test periodically?

[unionindividual]

Manape,

I seriously think you just spit some good stuff out. All of the candidates need to take note of that post. I don't disrespect you because you support Lamar or any other candidate for that matter, but I do disagree with you on several subjects and will remain that way until one of us see fit to change the way we think.

[Justin Melick]

From the Manape:
Justin, did you call manape? Have you been working on your sales skills? I'm still not buying...

OK, I'm still hung up on parts of your platform...



quote:

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To stimulate the building industry: I would waive all permit and inspection fees for a 12 month period.

I would encourage the City to waive business license fees and sewer tap fees for a 12 month period.

I would waive property taxes on improvements to existing property for one year for private property and two years for commercial property. bla. bla. bla.....


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I'm sorry, but after an MBA and many years working for big and small companies, I'm not sure how your ideas will stimulate the building industry. If a factory has too much inventory and no one wants to buy product, what good is it going to do to lower the costs of making more product? It is the same with the building industry when supply exceeds the demand. I don't think it will work to increase the supply side, by building more inventory. Also, the boomers have to sell their houses in order to move here. If no one is buying from where they are living, I think they will wait until they sell their current home. Besides, I think your stimulation package is like trying to drain the ocean. It just won't work because it is only a small part of building costs. Am I wrong here?

I am interested in how you are going to bring more industry in here when a lot of it is going to Mexico. Also, how will you change the DA to get higher wage jobs in UC? Hey, I'm just an ape. What do I know? But it sounds like monkey business to me.

I do like some of your war on drugs part of the platform. Tell us more.



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Reply:

Yes,

I missed my old friend, Manape. Good to hear from you!!!

Yes, my sales pitch is ever improving. But its very hard to sell to someone with a big "NO SOLICITING!" sign on their door. But, I'll keep trying till election day. Before the end, you'll do the right thing. I believe you will.

As for your hang ups: I have said from the beginning that we have to ditch the building cow, as we pinned all our hopes on her and yet she's about run dry. We must diversify our economy like it once was before the building boom when everyone figured out that they could put on a contractor's hat and make it big. In the mean time, the builders need to be helped. The bubble didn't burst elsewhere as hard as it did here. So, yes the incentives would entice people. We've got to keep the manufacturers of the old product working, until the new products hit the production line.

But, I will convey your hopeless outlook to the builders and their families and let them know that you have given up on them.

As far as industry, I never promised to bring in more industry. I said we need to come together and decide which direction we want to take. What I will work to bring in is more jobs. We had the opportunity to have a DHL and a UPS distribution center in Union County, but the opportunities were allowed to slip on by. UPS didn't go to Mexico with its distribution center, it went to White County. So now Union, Towns and Fannin are serviced out of White instead of Gainesville. Only the drivers still have to cross the mountain, which is what they had wanted to avoid. Wal-Mart could have been here 8 years ago, but it was held up by the current commissioner who said over his dead body would one ever come to Union County. The Home Depot deal was too far gone for him to stop it. Publix has been wanting to locate here for years, but they said, and this is documented, that they would have to pay too many bribes.

As for the war on drugs. The concept is not new. Law enforcement agencies across the country have become focused on community relations. Why? Because with all the technological advances that have been made in the field of law enforcement, human intel remains the most important source of information. Visibility of the officers is key. When officers are viewed as friendly, professionals who are there to help the citizens rather than just figures in scary looking patrol cars with darkly tinted windows, the community will be more cooperative. This concpet has not yet caught on in Union County.


The members of the community must be educated on what to look for through a variety of programs, and the people in turn must educate our hard working, but stretched thin law enforcement officers about what is going on in their neighborhoods.

-Justin

[lightening]

Justin,
Curious sounds like Norm Cooper. He's spying for Lamar. He thinks he clever and doesn't know how to put a sentence together.

[eddie]

A novel idea:

I see that Commissioner Paris has finally conceded to the fact that Union Countys’ economy is dependent on economic growth rather than tourism. Duh!

As of late, the Comm. Has stated that in times of an economic downturn that it is a proper role of government to step in and help. This was to promote the recent SPLOST tax which passed by a large margin. I can certainly agree that government should help when possible. It’s his idea of how to accomplish this that concerns me.

The Feds have already dramatically lowered interest rates, working on a substantial tax credit, and working on lenders being more accommodating towards home mortgages that are facing foreclosure. Gov. Perdue wants to eliminate the State portion of property taxes. All of this allows us to keep more of our money in our own pockets to spend as we chose and thereby stimulating the economy in the competitive market place.

Lamars’ idea of stimulating the local economy is to take more tax money from all of us that we desperately need for ourselves and our families and then he decides the few who will receive it for his proposed pet projects. As I have stated before, this money is all local money that he will merely redistribute as he wishes as opposed to new money from elsewhere introduced into the local economy such as the new Kia plant in West Point Ga. is doing to that local economy. It is booming. New money would dramatically help, but simply redistribution from within the small confines of this County will make little impact. Also, there is a likelihood that this local money he takes from us may even leave the county to outside contractors, material suppliers, etc. This is a philosophy typical of Democrats such as Hillary. Democrats of this mindset and yes even many likeminded Republicans always think that government knows what is best for us. Apparently they presume a level of superior intelligence that they, in their minds, believe we commoners are incapable of having. Have you ever noticed how often the Commissioner has stated “they just don’t understand” in regards to the public that may not agree with him?

Justins’ idea of government help allows you and myself to keep more of our money and if possible adds to it so that we chose how and where to spend it rather than government. This method has been proven time and time again to succeed in increasing government revenues as well.

Now it seems to be agreed that this county has thrived primarily on growth, i.e., land development, new housing, new businesses, new residents bringing in new money, making new loans and deposits with local banks, increasing new needs for hospital, doctors, dentists, new retail stores of all kinds, etc. etc. etc. During the past year or so all of this has basically died due in large part to the taxes/insurance problems in Florida and more recently the adjustable rate mortgage situation. All areas related to real estate sales, new construction, and badly needed financial growth has come to a virtual standstill. There have been numerous local people who have lost their jobs, equipment, homes, businesses, retirement, savings, credit ratings, and likewise their reputations through no fault of their own. And there are many , many more to come without a dramatic change, and soon.

Losses such as these are not only financial losses. They also lead to increased crimes, depression, drug and alcohol dependency, marital problems, broken homes and sometimes even suicide. All of these and more increase dependency on government services such as free medical, welfare, food stamps, section eight housing, unemployment payments, etc. Remember that while all of this puts a greater financial burden on government, there are fewer paying taxes. It’s a double whammy!

Justin has proposed a “novel idea” that I’ll itemize for the many of us, myself included, that “simply don’t understand”.

What if our leaders in the county were to get together and agree to some of the following propositions:

1- The County has personnel on the payroll now to issue building permits, septic permits, land disturbing activity permits, cell tower permits, billboard permits, and who knows how many more. The County also has many more employees that provide the myriad inspections for all the above. These people have little to do now that growth has all but ended. So, why not waive all permit and inspection fees for a limited time, say 6-12-24 months? How about considering waiving one or two years property taxes for new improvement to existing property especially for new businesses. If legal, how about waiving transfer taxes and finance taxes. He is merely suggesting these items that only relate to new growth, sales, expansion, or improvement.
2- The City could do likewise where applicable and possibly waive business license fees and sewage tap fees for the same time frame.
3- The Northeast Ga. Board Of Realtors, their brokers, and agents could consider lower commissions on real estate. Five percent of something is more that ten percent of nothing, as in no sales.
4- How about the three local water authorities waiving tap fees.
5- Blue Ridge Electric could do likewise.
6- Windstream could help too.
7- Local banks could consider waiving their appraisal fees, contract fees and any other up front fees that are large profit items. I am sure that there is more they could do that I am not aware of. But bottom line is this, the banks have to make loans in order to make a profit. I’m not suggesting that they take greater risks.

I may have overlooked others but I think you can get the idea. Other than the banks, these previously mentioned entities are mostly monopolies. The private sector would naturally fall in line due to the nature of free enterprise i.e. surveyors, contractors of all types, attorneys, etc. Home and land prices have fallen severely. It is now a true buyers market. Mortgage rates are extremely low.

If, and that’s a big if, one or more of the individuals involved in the above entities would just stand a take the lead in attempting to reach a mutual agreement along these lines the local economy just might improve drastically and quickly. It might not as well but what would be lost? Of course this would require a genuine spirit of cooperation from a few for the good of all, including themselves.

Should such a plan come to fruition, it would make little difference if no one outside the area knew about it. Therefore I would suggest that the entities listed place massive ads, half or full page, in strategic cities denoting that prices of existing homes, lots, and acreage have been reduced drastically as well as the above incentives. Would not this be an area for the Development Authority and the Chamber of Commerce to step up and help? This could potentially save tens of thousands of dollars to a prospective buyer that may sitting on the fence, in a wait and see position, etc. It just may save a few from losing their home or property in foreclosure. It might just make Union County the place to be and stand out amidst the surrounding counties.

Justin has proposed that he will pursue this if elected. I wish that someone would do something now rather than later. If I understand his proposition correctly, he’s not asking any entity to lose money, but rather forego future profits for a specific timeframe. As long as this slump lasts, there are no profits anyway therefore none lost. This is a creative idea that just might help alleviate the current economic slump. But already the naysayers have criticized him for this. They immediately dismiss him and say that he’s too young to have a worthy idea. They say that only someone experienced can provide insight. I ask each of them to answer these questions. Other than the cost to promote this, what will be lost? Who else, including candidates, has suggested anything whether creative or not to improve the local economy, aside from a new building on the golf course?

We all have heard the saying “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. Justin is ready to get going, how about you? And please don’t dismiss the message because of prejudice towards the messenger.