Davis, Wise, Sumter BOC District 3 candidates, speak at Kiwanis

Genie Collins

AMERICUS — Rick Davis of Americus and Amy Wise of Plains will face off on July 15 in the Republican General Primary Election for the District 3 Sumter County Board of Commissioners seat.

While they are running against each other, they both seem to have a lot in common: They seem to both have money and budget knowledge, as well as the same ideas for economic growth in the community. Wise and Davis shared those ideas with the Americus Kiwanis Club Friday at a political forum.

The District 3 seat is being vacated by Commissioner Bill Bowen, a Kiwanian, who has decided not to seek re-election. Whoever wins the July election will face Democrat Valarie Jenkins Grimes in November.

A toss-up determined who the first to speak would be at Kiwanis, and Wise won that toss-up. Each candidate had five minutes to speak the first time, and three minutes to speak a second time.

Wise served on the Plains City Council for six years, and she said she feels her experience in government and her business degree make her qualified for the job.

In her tenure on the Plains City Council, Wise has served on various committees, which include finance, personnel, streets and subdivisions and hospitality and public relations.

“I believe in keeping an eye on spending,” Wise said, of budgetary matters. “We’ve done right in Plains, and now I want to do right in Sumter County.”

Wise said she believes in the industry of tourism, as a potential growth avenue for Sumter County.

“Sumter County gets a-half-a-million dollars from tourists each year,” Wise said. “We need to work on ways to keep them here for for a few days.”

Wise said she belives that “good communication” is vital in government, and that includes listening to peoples’ views and respecting them.

Davis said he feels the experiences he has gained over the past 25 years makes him qualified for the job.

In the days and months following the devastating tornado that hit Americus on March 1, 2007, Davis said he worked with various relief outlets in pulling things back together and the rebuilding efforts. After the tornado hit Greensburg, Kansas, he and wife Mary Kathryn went there with Samaritan’s Purse.

Davis said he received 20 years of invaluable experience in running his own business.

“I understand cash flow very well,” Davis said. “The key is planning for the future.”

“I believe a budget should be strictly adhered to,” Davis said. He said more scrutiny is needed in “our county budget.”

Davis said Sumter County has three “avenues of growth,” and they are Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW), South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) and retirees.

Davis said he feels that both GSW and SGTC are poised for tremendous growth, with their leadership. He said he also feels that these two institutions, as well as retired people in the community will provide the needed jobs and spendable income for Sumter Countians.

After Davis was finished, Wise returned to the podium. She said having sat in economic development meetings, she learned that GSW and SGTC have a half-a-billion dollar impact on Sumter County.

In his return to the poduim, Davis said that these numbers make a “huge impact” on the community.

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