Roy Barnes visits Americus

Becky Holland

AMERICUS — Roy Barnes enters a room with a booming voice, a greeting for everyone and a firm handshake for all he meets.

The 61-year-old Marietta lawyer may have left the office of Governor of the state of Georgia over six years, but he still has the look and thoughts of a politician.

This time around, according to Barnes, and local supporters, like City of Americus attorney, Jimmy Skipper, he has a new perspective about the state of the State and how things should operate.

He’s visiting areas all across the state, getting feedback from communities about their ideas and thoughts, and at the same time considering another run for the office of Governor in 2010.

While in Americus, Barnes visited: the local school system, met with teachers, and the school superintendent; the local fire and police departments; Georgia Southwestern State University; and county and city officials before making a final stop at the Americus Times — Recorder.

Barnes — his laid-back demeanor was evident with his casual, but well thought answers and genuine smile — first spoke about the education system in the state of Georgia.

The former Governor said, “I believe we have a a good group of teachers and administrators for the state, but they can’t deliver the services without adequate funding.”

He continued, “I believe we are progressing, but I don’t see how a school board has been able to run a school system over the last few years when they have had their funding cut — some even at $2 million. The greatest failure we have had in the education system is the lack of funding.

“We have a great foundation if we would lift it up and celebrate the great teachers that we already have, instead of criticizing everything,” said Barnes.

Barnes talked briefly of the current state of the economy for Georgia, and discussed the measures that Governor Sonny Perdue and the Georgia General Assembly have recently made to the upcoming budget.

“I think we are going about it the wrong way. I think our priorities are askew. We seem to think nothing below, really, Griffin, needs to be concentrated on as far as marketing and economic development. I think every member of the legislature should take a tour of the state of Georgia. I believe there are some members who are not aware that there is more to the state then the metro areas.

“Georgia is the largest state geographically east of the Mississippi. We have challenges to make sure that we spread growth throughout the state, instead of concentrating it in one part of the state,” Barnes said.

He added, “The part of the state that the growth is concentrated in, is the metro area. The growth has been so overwhelming in that area and taken away from the quality of life. You can’t drive anywhere. And the other part of the state is starving to death.

“If we can send a man to the moon, then surely, we can figure out how to use a win-win situation, where we can shift growth from one area that has too much to another area that doesn’t have enough. North Carolina seems to have done it, and they are very prosperous and they are our twin sister. They seem to have discovered how to do it, and we need to concentrate on the same.”

Barnes paused, and he added, “You have to remember that 57% of the population in the state is concentrated in and around Atlanta. I believe a large portion of the elected officials, state elected officials, probably have never heard of Americus, Dawson, Blakely or Ellaville.

“And they don’t realize that the problems do exist outside of their daily sphere living. Local elected officials look after local issues, and state elected officials look after the state, or are supposed to,” said Barnes.

“The problems that you have in Gwinnett County and Cobb County are not the same as what you have in Sumter County or Schley County. You can’t have a one size fits all solution to the problems,” Barnes said.

Which is part of the reason Barnes has been visiting areas all over the state. According to him, “I have made a point not to visit big cities during this trip. In fact, Americus is the biggest city I have visited.”

I had not considered running for office again, but what has upset me, is what has happened in the last three or four years. I don’t see anyone stepping up and saying, ‘Look, let’s do something different.’ “

“When I was Governor, I realized, I made some mistakes. I also know that you learn more from your mistakes, then your successes,” Barnes said.

“People have been very open with me and receptive during these visits.”

Barnes said he would decide by the first of June and make it known publicly if he was going to run for the office of Governor for the state of Georgia.

“I enjoy going around and seeing everyone. I hadn’t been down here since I left office, and I used to come down here a lot. When I was a young pup of a lawyer, I used to come to the federal courthouse.”

Smiling, coyly, when asked if he was leaning toward running again or not, Barnes said, “Some days, I am, and some days, I am not.”

The Times—Recorder will follow this story as details are made available both in print and online at www.americustimesrecorder.com.

Text Only