Forsyth County native Pete Amos has announced plans to run for the District 1 post on the county commission in the July 2010 primary election.
Amos, 57, is the first candidate to throw his hat in the race from that district, which includes some of Cumming and much of western Forsyth.
The seat is currently held by Charles Laughinghouse, who couldn’t say whether he would seek re-election.
“It’s a little early,” he said.
Amos, a Republican, said getting a jump on the campaign gives him more time to hear concerns of residents.
“I’ve been asking people what they feel they’re not getting from the current leadership,” Amos said. “Most of them feel like District 1 has been forgotten.”
Amos said his aim is to be “more receptive to the voters of District 1.”
“I’m looking out for the whole county, but my main purpose is to be responsible to District 1,” he said.
This marks his second bid for the commission seat. Laughinghouse, who has held the spot for about six and a half years, edged Amos in 2006.
But recent changes to the way voters elect their commissioners has altered the election landscape.
The new legislation, approved by the governor this spring, means the five county commission seats will be decided by voters living in the respective districts, rather than the county at-large.
The July 2010 primary will be the first election to use the method.
Laughinghouse and Commissioner Jim Harrell will be up for re-election.
Had district voting been in place in 2006, Laughinghouse would not have been re-elected as he failed to carry his district.
Amos said the change should work to his advantage.
“I think [this election] will be a lot different,” he said. “I did win District 1 last time ... our county was just too big for not having district voting.”
If elected, Amos said there are several important issues that will take precedence.
“I want to work to ensure we have plenty of water for the future at the lowest possible rate,” he said. “I want to work to keep our tax base good for future generations, and I want to help keep a handle on [government] spending.”
He also hopes to improve relations between Cumming and Forsyth County.
“All this arguing between the city and the county gets us nowhere,” he said.
Amos, the former owner of a plumbing company, served as chairman of the Forsyth County Planning Commission from 2000 to 2006.
A graduate of the University of Georgia, he lives with his wife, Catherine. They attend Cumming First United Methodist Church and have one son, Slate, 26.
Amos said living in District 1 his entire life has given him some perspective in “seeing which direction we want our county to go.”
Friend Charles Meagher plans to help Amos in his campaign.
“We need a leadership change,” Meagher said. “Just look at the financial problems we’re having in the county. We had to [lay off] county employees ... better planning could have alleviated that situation.”
E-mail Frank Reddy at frankreddy@forsythnews.com.
Amos, 57, is the first candidate to throw his hat in the race from that district, which includes some of Cumming and much of western Forsyth.
The seat is currently held by Charles Laughinghouse, who couldn’t say whether he would seek re-election.
“It’s a little early,” he said.
Amos, a Republican, said getting a jump on the campaign gives him more time to hear concerns of residents.
“I’ve been asking people what they feel they’re not getting from the current leadership,” Amos said. “Most of them feel like District 1 has been forgotten.”
Amos said his aim is to be “more receptive to the voters of District 1.”
“I’m looking out for the whole county, but my main purpose is to be responsible to District 1,” he said.
This marks his second bid for the commission seat. Laughinghouse, who has held the spot for about six and a half years, edged Amos in 2006.
But recent changes to the way voters elect their commissioners has altered the election landscape.
The new legislation, approved by the governor this spring, means the five county commission seats will be decided by voters living in the respective districts, rather than the county at-large.
The July 2010 primary will be the first election to use the method.
Laughinghouse and Commissioner Jim Harrell will be up for re-election.
Had district voting been in place in 2006, Laughinghouse would not have been re-elected as he failed to carry his district.
Amos said the change should work to his advantage.
“I think [this election] will be a lot different,” he said. “I did win District 1 last time ... our county was just too big for not having district voting.”
If elected, Amos said there are several important issues that will take precedence.
“I want to work to ensure we have plenty of water for the future at the lowest possible rate,” he said. “I want to work to keep our tax base good for future generations, and I want to help keep a handle on [government] spending.”
He also hopes to improve relations between Cumming and Forsyth County.
“All this arguing between the city and the county gets us nowhere,” he said.
Amos, the former owner of a plumbing company, served as chairman of the Forsyth County Planning Commission from 2000 to 2006.
A graduate of the University of Georgia, he lives with his wife, Catherine. They attend Cumming First United Methodist Church and have one son, Slate, 26.
Amos said living in District 1 his entire life has given him some perspective in “seeing which direction we want our county to go.”
Friend Charles Meagher plans to help Amos in his campaign.
“We need a leadership change,” Meagher said. “Just look at the financial problems we’re having in the county. We had to [lay off] county employees ... better planning could have alleviated that situation.”
E-mail Frank Reddy at frankreddy@forsythnews.com.