Dougherty County Commission District 5 pits incumbent against political newcomer

ALBANY – The Dougherty County Commission has made a number of big decisions over the past year and a half with a 4-3 vote, from the firing of its former county administrator to the same 4-3 margin to hire a search firm to recommend a replacement.

With three terms on the commission expiring this year, only one is competitive for the May 21 primary and nonpartisan election. In District 1 incumbent Commissioner Ed Newsome, a Republican, has a Democratic challenger in Harris in the fall.

On the May 21 ballot, Democratic District 5 incumbent Gloria Gaines will face challenger Thomia Thomas, a political newcomer. Both are Democrats.

Now in her 14th year on the commission, Gaines identified economic development as a major interest moving forward. The region has a great resource in Radium Springs, and with 18 acres of undeveloped land at the former National Guard Armory site north of downtown it has a site that is a prime location for development, she said.

A Monroe High School graduate who holds a master’s degree in community development, Gaines’ career and travels took her to Atlanta, where she worked as assistant general manager for MARTA during which time she helped launch a partnership to develop the mixed-use City Center in Buckhead. She also has worked in Africa, where she met Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and earlier worked with prominent Albany civil rights attorney C.B. King and in U.S. Rep. John Lewis’ office.

“I think Albany has so much potential,” Gaines said. “Albany is such a wonderful place, especially the Radium Springs area.”

Gaines said she sees the Albany-Dougherty County Economic Development Commission taking a role in a project that could bring new residential opportunities and more to the 18 acres on North Jefferson Street.

“It will be a perfect opportunity for our development authority to look at these 18 acres for a mixed-use development,” she said. “I think there are some opportunities there (Radium Springs) and there are some opportunities north of the Phoebe (hospital) campus. This is something I’ve been trying to talk to our people about for years and finally some people are listening.”

Gaines said she appreciates that some people want to live in Lee or Terrell county or somewhere else in the area, but for some a live-play-work location in the urban center in the region will be an attraction. It’s also something that may help keep the county’s young people at home rather than having to seek out those opportunities elsewhere.

“We’ve got to find a way to keep young folks here,” she said. “Commissioner (Clinton) Johnson and I are working together to figure out about how best to go about this.”

After her career and travels, Gaines said she is looking to improve the county where she grew up.

“I love the big cities, but I came home,” she said. “It feels good. It really does. I’m comfortable here. This is a great place for me to serve and grow old. All my life I’ve kind of lived by the motto from one of Martin Luther King Jr.'s speeches: ‘If I can help along the way … then my living will not have been in vain.’”

Thomas also pointed to her roots as a life-long resident of District 5. She has worked in behavioral health, including functional family therapy, and worked with young people who are on probation.

Since deciding to run, she has made the rounds in the district, speaking with residents about their concerns and issues.

“As I’ve done this, I’ve talked with probably over 900 households, close to a thousand, out of District 5,” she said. “In talking to these people, they need guidance. Right now we don’t have anybody to speak for them. One of the issues is not seeing politicians until election time, and then they never see them again. One of my goals is to work with people.”

One complaint that is common is that when residents call for someone to address an issue no one shows up, the candidate said.

“Nobody comes out to their area,” she said. “Our people need somebody who can advocate for them. A lot of families don’t know who to approach, who to talk to.”

Among the items on her platform are addressing crime, recreation for youth, increasing economic development and improving mental health care.

“A concern I have is mental health,” she said. "Over half our kids are on ADHD medicine. We have services for mental health, but the services are limited. Another one is crime, making the public safe. Crime is bad."

To address crime, Thomas said she would push for more resources to fight criminal activity and to invest in community policing initiatives to build trust between law enforcement and residents. She said she also would like to initiate prevention efforts, including neighborhood watch programs and youth outreach initiatives.

“That’s one of the things with crime,” Thomas said. “I know people who just got out (of incarceration) and when they get out it’s hard for them to get a job. We need programs that will, without judgment, let them have a chance at life and re-entering society. I think we just need more opportunities for people in general – to get mental health treatment, to get help with the children.”

One thing she would advocate is for children in unincorporated Dougherty County is more recreational opportunities, she said. The Indian Creek neighborhood, for example, needs a park, she said, as do other neighborhoods in the district.

“I think one of the best things is to be able to congregate, to be able to get together with people,” she said. “We need more programs for children."

To bring economic development, Thomas said she would like to build partnerships between local government, business, schools and colleges to create job-training programs and work force development initiatives. Tourism, based on area culture and resources, also is a way to build economic growth and showcase the community’s unique assets.

Other needs that Thomas said she sees in District 5 are sidewalks and other pedestrian infrastructure to provide access and retaining and growing businesses.

“Dougherty County needs a change,” she said. “In the last couple of years, Dougherty County has had it’s battles and we’re still going through more. Part of my passion is social work, and it’s about making changes in life. With that passion, that’s part of what made me want to run.”