Barrow News-Journal

11/03/2025

The Winder City Council and the Barrow County Board of Education are set to vote this week on a proposed agreement transferring ownership of Legacy Park from the school district to the city.
Under the proposed contract, the BOE would pay the City of Winder $250,000 at closing to finalize the sale.
The Winder City Council will vote on the proposal Monday at 6 p.m. at the Winder Community Center, 113 East Athens St., Winder, followed by a vote by the BOE Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Professional Development Center, 179 W Athens St, Winder.

Read the full story here:

The Winder City Council and the Barrow County Board of Education (BOE) are set to vote this week on a proposed agreement transferring ownership of Legacy Park on Midland Avenue

10/31/2025

A pedestrian was struck and killed early Wednesday on North Broad Street near Shenandoah Drive. The driver told officers it was still dark and he didn’t see the person until the moment of impact.

The Georgia State Patrol is leading the investigation.

Read the full story here:

A pedestrian was struck and killed on North Broad Street Wednesday morning, according to the Winder Police Department (WPD).

10/20/2025

A man was struck and killed late Saturday night on West May Street after lying in the roadway near the Winder Coin Laundromat, according to a Winder Police Department report.
Witnesses say he appeared disoriented just before the crash. The Georgia State Patrol is investigating.

FULL REPORT:

A man was struck and killed late Saturday night on West May Street in Winder after lying in the roadway near the Winder Coin Laundry, according to a Winder Police

10/11/2025

🗳 MEET THE CANDIDATES - MAYOR OF CARL 🗳

SHANNON STINCHCOMB

🗳Q1. Why are you running for city council/mayor, and what do you see as your top three priorities if elected?
➡️ I’m running for Mayor because this is our town, for all of us, young and old. I care about Carl and its future. I want to help make sure this small town works for everyone, now and for the years to come. Key Note: “Back to Safe, What’s Left!” I see the role of mayor not just as an administrator, but as a servant leader. 1. Listening to and enabling community voice of the things they feel the town needs. 2. Protecting the small community we have left and reaching out to the surrounding residence bordering our town. To see if they are willing to join into our small Town of Carl. 3. Helping our small to Town grow but stay within the limits of a small town government, not a big town government that’s growing beyond there infrastructure means.

🗳Q2. If your city needed to raise revenue (e.g. tax increase or new fees), how would you structure that to be fair and sustainable?
➡️ The Town of Carl Council has managed town fees well, and remaining tax-free for our citizens has been a key factor in our success so far.

🗳Q3. What do you believe is the biggest risk facing your city in the next 5–10 years, and how would you mitigate it?
➡️ The greatest concern I hear—and one I share—is the risk of being swallowed up by the growth of surrounding cities that are already stretching beyond their infrastructure. As I travel through the Town of Carl, knocking on doors and asking for your vote, I hear the same message again and again: “Please protect our small town from being overtaken by neighboring communities.” Our residents value Carl’s independence, character, and sense of community. They do not want to see our small town burdened with unnecessary big-government policies and regulations that don’t reflect who we are. My commitment is to safeguard the identity and values that make Carl unique while ensuring smart, responsible growth that benefits our community—not outsiders. Every town or city needs an active and engaged community. Without resident input and involvement, growth and prosperity are limited. When citizens have a voice in shaping their town’s future, the whole community benefits.

🗳Q4. With limited resources and staff, how would you prioritize Carl’s budget to maintain essential services while avoiding waste or mismanagement?
➡️ With limited resources and staff, my priority is to focus on essentials and ensure every dollar is spent wisely. I will protect core services by eliminating waste and refusing to simply roll over last year’s budget. Instead, I’ll review each expense line-by-line so every dollar is justified. The town council will come up with a public update forum or newsletter system. Every town or city needs an active and engaged community. Without resident input and involvement, growth and prosperity are limited. When citizens have a voice in shaping their town’s future, the whole community benefits

🗳Q5. What specific steps would you take to improve communication and transparency between Carl’s government and its residents?
➡️ To increase resident engagement, we can conduct short online or mailed surveys to gather community input on key issues before major decisions are made. Additionally, we can launch a monthly newsletter to keep citizens informed about upcoming open meetings and encourage their participation. This will give residents the opportunity to express their needs, share ideas, and help shape the future of our community. Every town or city needs an active and engaged community. Without resident input and involvement, growth and prosperity are limited. When citizens have a voice in shaping their town’s future, the whole community benefits

10/11/2025

🗳 MEET THE CANDIDATES - MAYOR OF CARL 🗳

JASON ALLEN

🗳1. Why are you running for city council/mayor, and what do you see as your top three priorities if elected?
➡️I am running for Mayor because I truly care about Carl and the people who call it home. This town has a special kind of charm that you rarely find in modern cities. Neighbors look out for one another, families who’ve been here for generations, and a pace of life that’s worth protecting. I want to make sure that as Barrow grows, we keep that sense of community and small-town pride that makes Carl so special.
People should always know what’s going on in their town, from council meetings to how money is being spent. I want everyone to feel included and heard, not left guessing about decisions that affect them.
Growth can be a good thing if it’s managed right. We need to make sure our roads, utilities, and basic services can handle it. I never want to lose the rural charm and open spaces that define us.
I would also love to see more community events, local partnerships, and opportunities for people to come together and feel proud of where they live.

🗳Q2. If your city needed to raise revenue (e.g. tax increase or new fees), how would you structure that to be fair and sustainable?
➡️Raising revenue is not something I take lightly. If we ever found ourselves needing to increase revenue, my first step would be to make sure the community fully understands why it’s needed and what the money’s for. Transparency and communication are key.
In order to maintain no municipal taxes, I would work on applying for state and federal grants to specifically address the needs. Also, as a member of the council for the past two years, this has been something I’ve already had a hand in. I’ve worked with the other council members, restructuring the business licensing and permitting fees to raise revenue for the infrastructure and needs of the residents.
Raising revenue should always be a last resort and if it’s ever needed, it should only be done for the benefit of the residents of the town. I will always make sure every resident has a voice in the process.

🗳Q3. What do you believe is the biggest risk facing your city in the next 5–10 years, and how would you mitigate it?
➡️I believe the biggest risk facing Carl over the next ten years is uncontrolled growth in the county and losing our small town feel. As Barrow County continues to grow, Carl will no doubt feel the pressure of new development, rising cost of property, and outside interests that may not share the same vision we have for our community. If we don’t plan carefully, we could lose the things that make Carl special to those of us who live here.
To prevent that, I will focus on creating a clear vision for how growth happens. I want to be sure our infrastructure can handle it, and set standards that protect our rural charm.
I will always keep our citizens involved. Growth shouldn’t happen to Carl, it should happen with Carl, by involving citizens in planning discussions, maintaining transparency in zoning decisions, and prioritizing projects that reflect our shared values.

🗳Q4. With limited resources and staff, how would you prioritize Carl’s budget to maintain essential services while avoiding waste or mismanagement?
➡️With a small town like Carl, every dollar counts. I will always focus on transparency, efficiency and accountability. Our first priority should always be maintaining the essentials such as infrastructure, utilities and the safety of our residents. I have already been working closely with the other council members to ensure we pass a responsible budget and have been focused on developing intergovernmental agreements that benefit our community. These are things I will continue to do if I’m elected Mayor.
When possible, we should pursue state and federal grants before we ever consider raising local costs. My main concern as a representative of the town has, and will continue to be: How does this decision benefit the residents of Carl? I want to ensure the Town of Carl runs smoothly and responsibly.

🗳Q5. What specific steps would you take to improve communication and transparency between Carl’s government and its residents?
➡️Improving communication and transparency starts with making it easier for residents to know what’s happening in our town. As a councilmember I have worked with the council to improve our old website and build social media pages. We voted to contract a new IT consultant who has already begun to build a new website and social media pages. I will work to post our meeting agendas, minutes, budgets and any announcements on these pages.
I would create a monthly newsletter that would be available online or in print for those who cannot access it online. I will make sure decisions, especially those involving spending or development, are discussed openly and clearly explained before votes are taken.
By keeping communication consistent and honest we can build stronger trust between the council and our residents to ensure that our government reflects the voices of the people it serves.

10/03/2025

https://www.mainstreetnews.com/barrow/news/sheriff-smith-no-danger-after-apalachee-teacher-accused-of-threatening-student/article_415aa486-995a-44d4-ad22-f03cd1952cfb.html -source=login

An Apalachee High School teacher has been relieved of all duties after a student reported Wednesday that the teacher “made a threat toward a student during class,” according to a

10/01/2025

🗳 MEET THE CANDIDATES - WINDER CITY COUNCIL 🗳

CRIS COOK - AT-LARGE

🗳Q1. Why are you running for city council/mayor, and what do you see as your top three priorities if elected?
➡️ I am running for city council because I love Winder. This is my home and I have spent my entire life here. I am a retired science teacher and coach from Winder-Barrow High School and I am looking for a way to give back and continue serving my community. My top three priorities are improving our downtown development, streamlining the process to run a business in the city of Winder, and controlled, quality growth.

🗳Q2. If your city needed to raise revenue (e.g. tax increase or new fees), how would you structure that to be fair and sustainable?
➡️ My first thought when faced with raising funds is to look for grants or ways to reduce spending. This question assumes that the city would be caught off guard needing to rapidly raise funds. However, A responsible government means anticipating rising costs and investing in local businesses to increase sales tax revenue. Through downtown development we can increase sales tax that can mitigate any property tax increases.

🗳Q3. What do you believe is the biggest risk facing your city in the next 5–10 years, and how would you mitigate it?
➡️ The biggest risk facing us in the next 5-10 years is population growth. Winder will be stretched by new housing inside and outside the city. What we have to do as a city is prepare for it and limit what we do in the future. Currently there is very little land within the city that can be developed in this way. Some smaller tracts, when they become available, should be purchased by the city or donated to the city and converted to green space or parks.

🗳Q4. What initiatives would you support to promote local economic development and small businesses in Winder?
➡️ I believe we should hire an experienced economic development person to head the Downtown Development Authority with the sole job of looking for ways to help develop our city in a smart, controlled way that will meet the needs of our citizens. Also, the authority itself needs the budget to help our downtown thrive. There are so many creative and smart people on the DDA, and I think we need to give those people the agency to help make downtown better. When our downtown is a place that people want to go, people will come from outside of our community to spend their time and money here.

🗳Q5. How should the city work with Barrow County to resolve disputes over shared services such as water, sewer and road maintenance?
➡️ The best way to come to an agreement with people is to try to fully understand the position of the other side. That can only occur with good communication. I want what’s best for both Winder and Barrow County. I am fully committed to open communications between Winder and Barrow County.

10/01/2025

🗳 MEET THE CANDIDATES - WINDER CITY COUNCIL 🗳

STEPHANIE BRITT - AT-LARGE

🗳Q1. Why are you running for city council/mayor, and what do you see as your top three priorities if elected?
➡️ I’m passionate about this community, and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished during my first term. But there’s more work to be done. That’s why I’m running for re-election — because I have both the experience and the drive to continue to responsibly move Winder forward.
My top priority is responsible leadership. That means:
Making thoughtful, forward-looking decisions to support our infrastructure and community resources.
Managing our budget wisely to ensure every dollar goes as far as possible.
Listening to residents and working in the best interest of everyone who calls Winder home.
I’m ready to keep serving with honesty, integrity and accountability — and I hope to earn your continued support!

🗳Q2. If your city needed to raise revenue (e.g. tax increase or new fees), how would you structure that to be fair and sustainable?
➡️ As I mentioned earlier, one of my key priorities is managing our budget responsibly. If raising revenue becomes necessary, it won’t come as a surprise that it will be the result of thoughtful planning and open dialogue with the community.
I will ensure full transparency by sharing information and involving residents in the decision-making process. Any decision to raise revenue will be made because it’s in the best interest of Winder, not due to outside pressures or short-term fixes. Together, we’ll make financial choices that support our future while honoring the values of our community.

🗳Q3. What do you believe is the biggest risk facing your city in the next 5–10 years, and how would you mitigate it?
➡️ I believe there are two key risks facing our community.
First, we need experienced, steady leadership. We need leaders who understand how things work and can navigate complex decisions. Over the past few years, I’ve worked collaboratively with others to make thoughtful choices that put Winder first. Not every decision is easy, but I bring the experience to lead with a clear vision and do what’s right for our future, not just what’s convenient in the moment.
Second, we’re facing pressure to grow simply for the sake of growth. But true progress means growing at a pace that matches the needs of the Winder community. That means making sure we have the roads, water systems, and infrastructure in place before approving developments. Growth should be supported by local input, not driven by outside interests.
I support smart, intentional development — the kind of growth that strengthens our community without compromising our character. Winder deserves growth that reflects our values, not just our capacity to build.

🗳Q4. What initiatives would you support to promote local economic development and small businesses in Winder?
➡️ I will work with groups and ask people to attend meetings to have a dialogue about what is best. Economic development is about bringing people together to determine what people want, and what we should develop. I will listen to ideas, and do what’s best for the community and people at the speed of growth that’s best for Winder.

🗳Q5. How should the city work with Barrow County to resolve disputes over shared services such as water, sewer and road maintenance?
➡️ We are here for our community. We have open meetings and are willing to set up additional meetings to bring everyone together. I’m a firm believer that the best way for us to be successful, is to bring all of these groups together to determine what can and can’t be done. We shouldn’t approve items without taking all of theses items into consideration and ensuring we are being responsible to everyone in winder.

10/01/2025

🗳 MEET THE CANDIDATES: WINDER CITY COUNCIL 🗳

SARA JOHNSON - WARD 3

🗳Q1. Why are you running for city council and what do you see as your top three priorities if elected?
➡️ When our farm started flooding in 2022, I had no idea who to turn to and that’s a feeling no one should have. Since then, I have been helping citizens in our community to find the advocates needed to address hurtles and find favorable outcomes. If I’m on council, I can positively impact change through more effective measures & policy change. My top priorities are to slow development for infrastructure to catch up- I want to be proactive vs reactive. I want to focus on building downtown through partnerships with the DDA & other local partners to help achieve our vision & see it thrive. And, I want to ensure we are not hindering small businesses by easing regulatory burdens by reviewing policy to simplify the permit processes and lower costs. Successful business equals successful Winder & lowers the tax burden for our residents.

🗳 Q2. If your city needed to raise revenue (e.g. tax increase or new fees), how would you structure that to be fair and sustainable?
➡️ I feel like this piggybacks on the previous question. I want to go through the current budget and get rid of contracts where we are paying for duplicative services. This will allow us to focus on ensuring our City employees get the raises they deserve and ensure they feel as valuable as they are. We also need to make it easier for businesses to open, transfer here or expand with less red tape and fewer fees. We should not be focusing on profiting on a fee schedule. When we have successful businesses, we have sales tax revenue and that is revenue that lessens our tax burdens. We also need to implement impact fees. These fees can go to our first responders, parks/green spaces, and library costs. It removes a burden from locals and allows us to attract top quality developments who want to invest where they build.

🗳 Q3. What do you believe is the biggest risk facing your city in the next 5–10 years, and how would you mitigate it?
➡️ We are at a pivotal moment in our city. We have an opportunity to make key changes, and the direction of those changes will determine the success or failure of our city. Our success is my top priority. Partnering with our DDA and having a plan in place on the development of downtown is vital because we need to work together to build partnerships and attract businesses in the right places while ensuring infrastructure is in place and issues don’t arise from it. This will need to be strategic and everyone working towards a common goal. That goal needs to focus on what is best for our community. I am excited about what I see for our city and I pray that I can help lead us there.

🗳Q4. What initiatives would you support to promote local economic development and small businesses in Winder?
➡️ I want to build a strategic partnership with our DDA, Chamber of Commerce and local economic development experts to build partnerships and encourage new businesses to come to Winder. Through collaborative partnerships we can establish procedures and policies that make the process easy, attract growth and increase foot traffic. With increased foot traffic, we increase the revenue for businesses and help them to grow and, in turn, helps Winder grow. If we focus on others, our needs will fall in line. In order to do that, we must remain open and have discussions that ensure we are all on the same page.

🗳Q5. How should the city work with Barrow County to resolve disputes over shared services such as water, sewer and road maintenance?
➡️ The city and the county need to both remember that the top priority should always be the constituents. We MUST put ego aside and look at the long-term initiatives and work strategically so that we can all be successful. This should go hand in hand with the surrounding cities as well. Ensuring our citizens have the best services and making sure things work cohesively means that we all grow and succeed in a sustainable manner. We need to ensure that we have transparency and open communication with everyone so that we don’t miss opportunities that could benefit our communities.

10/01/2025

🗳 MEET THE CANDIDATES: WINDER CITY COUNCIL 🗳

DAN CAREY- WARD 3

🗳Q1. Why are you running for city council/mayor, and what do you see as your top three priorities if elected?
➡️ I’m running for city council because I love this city and I care about our future. I want to make sure that the decisions we make today, set us up for success in the future. My goal is to bring a solutions-oriented approach to city leadership. I believe we can strengthen our community while planning smart growth. My top three priorities are budget, our downtown and infrastructure. Responsible budgeting that ensures taxpayer dollars are managed wisely, so that our needs are met without unnecessary waste or overspending. A downtown focus that supports smart growth to attract businesses, strengthen our economy, and that creates a vibrant downtown that community members and visitors can enjoy. A continued focus on infrastructure like investing in our streets, utilities, and public infrastructure would improve safety, support growth, and would ensure that our city is built to last.

🗳Q2. If your city needed to raise revenue (e.g. tax increase or new fees), how would you structure that to be fair and sustainable?
➡️ Honestly, my first question would be why the city feels the need to raise revenue. Before asking for more or increased revenue, it's important for the city to review its spending first, in order to eliminate unnecessary spending or inefficiencies. Secondly, what has changed from before? Having an understanding of how the city got there, will help us to understand how to move forward. Our community deserves to know how every dollar is spent and how it is linked to a community benefit. Residents deserve to know why revenue is needed, what it will fund, and how it improves daily life. To that point, clearly understanding 'why' additional revenue is needed should guide 'how' or 'if' any increase is needed and structured

🗳Q3. What do you believe is the biggest risk facing your city in the next 5–10 years, and how would you mitigate it?
➡️ In the past few months, I have spoken with hundreds of hardworking folks in the community and believe the greatest risk we face is the frustration many people feel when their voices aren’t heard. They've shared concerns about city issues or how tax dollars are spent and walk away believing their input didn’t really matter. When folks feel overlooked, it can lead to them not caring as much, making the problem worse. When people stop participating because they feel ignored, decisions are left to a few folks instead of reflecting the broader community. We have to close that gap by listening more, communicating openly, and ensuring folks see their ideas happening. Our city is strongest when people feel that they have value, are respected, and heard. Rebuilding that trust is absolutely essential, for today and our city's future.

🗳Q4. What initiatives would you support to promote local economic development and small businesses in Winder?
➡️As a current small business owner, I understand how delays in getting started can have tremendous financial impact. Economic development, especially for our small businesses, depends on initiatives that make it easier to start, grow, and sustain a business. It would be critical to streamline the permitting and licensing process, because quite honestly, any delay can add cost and jeopardize the success of a business. Having a 'business navigator' available to assist new businesses with the process from beginning to end would help to set our new businesses up for success. Another initiative that will benefit small businesses in the community, is a stronger Downtown Development Authority, that allows for the purchase of available property in the downtown area. This would create more affordable space rentals for small businesses starting out and it would reduce one of the biggest barriers small businesses face. When businesses succeed, so does our community.

🗳Q5. How should the city work with Barrow County to resolve disputes over shared services such as water, sewer and road maintenance?
➡️ Since the city and county play critical roles in providing shared services, it's important to maintain collaboration that is built on trust. Our residents want reliable and affordable services. At the end of the day, we all serve the same community, and people expect us to work together as leaders. By approaching any shared services as a partnership, we create solutions that support our community.

10/01/2025

🗳 MEET THE CANDIDATES - WINDER CITY COUNCIL 🗳

PATRICK CRAWFORD - WARD 1

🗳Q1. Why are you running for city council/mayor, and what do you see as your top three priorities if elected?
➡️ I’m running for city council because I love our town and hope to see Winder continue to grow into a place where our citizens want to live, work, play, and stay. We have a need for experienced leadership at the town level to help Winder become that place. Our top priorities as leaders in this community: 1. Encouraging business investment in our downtown. 2. Ensuring our infrastructure is capable of supporting the growth that has already been permitted. 3. Ensuring our public safety departments are fully funded and empowered so that there is never a need to outsource those roles to the county. All of this can, and must, be achieved while keeping costs and taxes as low as possible for our citizens.

🗳Q2. If your city needed to raise revenue (e.g. tax increase or new fees), how would you structure that to be fair and sustainable?
➡️ To justify any cost or tax increase, there must be a litmus test: a. How would a tax/fee increase benefit the community? b. How would a tax/fee increase benefit the taxpayer? c. How would a tax/fee increase benefit the citizen?

🗳Q3. What do you believe is the biggest risk facing your city in the next 5–10 years, and how would you mitigate it?
➡️ The biggest risk facing our city is the potential for mismanagement of the growth that has already been permitted at not just the city, but also at the county level. A high number of residential use permits have already been issued countywide. So, the conversation needs to focus on how we can manage this in a way that keeps costs low and has as low of an impact on both new and legacy citizens.

🗳Q4. What initiatives would you support to promote local economic development and small businesses in Winder?
➡️ What I hear regularly from local business leaders is how challenging working with local authorities can be when deciding whether to invest in any community, particularly ours. If we view business investment in our community as a positive, a way to help generate revenue that is not paid out of pocket by our property owners and taxpayers, then we must find ways to encourage local business investment. Leadership must be open to reviewing and revamping zoning ordinances and permitting so that the process for permitting is sensible and streamlined. A community like ours needs a liaison whose role is to foster goodwill between our town leadership and local business leadership. And we need a game plan in place that would be developed by a robust and independent Downtown Development office.

🗳Q5. How should the city work with Barrow County to resolve disputes over shared services such as water, sewer and road maintenance?
➡️ Whenever there is a dispute between county and town governments, leadership must be willing to come to the table and come up with workable solutions that benefit all parties involved.

10/01/2025

➡️ MEET THE CANDIDATES: WINDER CITY COUNCIL 🗳

JESSICA BURTON - WARD 1

🗳Q1. Why are you running for city council and what do you see as your top three priorities if elected?
➡️ Winder is my lifetime home. My three biggest issues: (1) Transparency/Communication with Constituents - Providing as much information as possible to constituents so they can be informed in their oversight of their own local government, which is essential to keeping a People-based system of governing (2) Taxation/Local Economic Development - Reducing taxation will assist in increasing local economical development. We need to revise our budget and cut unnecessary spending, lower taxes, and help locals and businesses thrive (3) Stop Over-Development - Propose a 1 year moratorium on residential development while using this time to assess the needs of the infrastructure, cost of improving the infrastructure, and time it will take to expand that infrastructure, while also using this time to focus on downtown development of local mom and pop stores and decreasing financial burdens of our local business owners

🗳Q2. If your city needed to raise revenue (e.g., tax increase or new fees), how would you structure that to be fair and sustainable?
➡️ First assess why the revenue needs to be increased and see where we can cut before we raise any taxes. If there is any way to avoid raising taxes, then those options should be considered first and tax increases only considered as a last resort. At the end of the day, any consideration of increased taxes needs to be met with adequate communication with citizens so that we can work with our community to determine its priorities. Sacrifices will need to be made one way or another, whether it be by cutting things out of the budget that citizens might want, but not need, if it means maintaining the millage rates at their current levels.

🗳Q3. What do you believe is the biggest risk facing your city in the next 5–10 years, and how would you mitigate it?
➡️ Over-development and lack of our infrastructure keeping up. Residential development affects more than our own city fees and taxes, but also overburdens our school system, which will likely increase in further millage rate increases with the Board of Education. This is why responsible growth is necessary, and the lack of imposing impact fees to these new developments has resulted in a burst of residential development with new nigh density neighborhoods, which has resulted in putting additional pressure on our current infrastructure and school system. Tightening up our local zoning ordinances and imposing impact fees will help this growth slow, and imposing a one year moratorium can help us assess how to catch up in improving roads, sewage, and other needs that new development brings. It will also help in improving traffic issues we've seen as a result of the explosive growth.

🗳Q4. What initiatives would you support to promote local economic development and small businesses in Winder?
➡️ Deregulation would help immensely in promoting local economic development. Business owners have complained how expensive it is to seek or obtain permits for any improvements to their businesses, or to host local events to help bring in more revenue for their businesses. We cannot have a permitting process that would cost more than what businesses could bring in for any given event, and we need to relieve that burden by making the process simpler, while also removing a lot of hoops and red tape that become costly.

🗳Q5. How should the city work with Barrow County to resolve disputes over shared services such as water, sewer and road maintenance?\
➡️ First the city council needs to work with each other and communicate effectively. Only when we are united as a council can we begin to repair the relationship with the County. The trust between the City and County will need to be rebuilt, which will require a strong leader, which our charter requires to be our mayor. Encouraging communication between the Council and Mayor are a must, which thankfully we have a mayor who listens to all sides before making a decision. We also have the support of a strong administrator who has been more than willing to be informative to council members, candidates for city council, and the citizens of Winder. With this, I think Winder is already on the right track to have a strong council and rebuild trust with the County.