Commissioner Donna Hardy runs for re-election in Wilkes District

HARDY

Incumbent District 2 Commissioner Donna B. Hardy has announced her candidacy for re-election to a seat on the Wilkes County Commission.

"I would again like be your Commissioner for District Two," she said. "Originally, I intended to only serve two terms, but I now feel that if my constituents would like me to continue, I would like to serve for another term."

Change now would not be good, she said. "We have several things in the works I'd like to see completed before I leave - zoning taken to a next level, waste system/trash disposal improvements, economy development/Work Ready, and our Employee Performance System in place. These are all projects that I have taken the lead on for the county during my tenure."

She says she is also committed to holding county debt down in bad economic times. "We have school debt, the City of Washington will incur water plant debt soon, and the citizens of the cities and county just can't stand any other major debt at this time," she said. "I am committed to voting 'no' to special interest groups. I am not now, nor have I been in the past, obligated to any special interest group."

She is proud of her eight years in office."Looking back, I believe I have held my promises: fair and equal treatment for all citizens, a totally open government - no behindclosed door meetings, open, honest communications, and property taxes paid up."

Working with the Chamber of Commerce the last two years has broadened her knowledge of the people in my community, she said, and strengthened relationships with state contacts and officials.

Hardy is particularly proud of starting Relay for Life here, and the annual July 4th Celebration. "I started and ran the 4th of July Celebration for several years, and I was responsible for bringing the Relay for Life to Wilkes County - I organized the first committee in Wilkes County when no one else would."

In economic development, Hardy says she is working with the University of Georgia, MCG, Athens Tech, and others to develop the county's workforce. "Every company we talk with says our workforce is not ready for the jobs they're bringing in," she said. "We need to concentrate on developing the 'soft skills' of our people before new companies will come. And by the way friends - most 'soft skills' are taught at home by loving, caring parents - good, core values - something else I believe in!"

Hardy has taken Economic and Leadership Development Training through the Georgia Academy for Economic Development and is a Certified County Commissioner and Advanced Certified County Commissioner. "I am the only Advanced Certified County Commissioner in Wilkes County and the only one who has ever completed this designation to date," she said. "I feel I need to know everything that might help us - a tax break or a way to cut costs, etc. I know all the state-level representatives and their officestaff and how to contact them. And I have been to grant-writing school and have successfully written grants for the area and county at no cost to the county."

Hardy also has an extensive list of awards received for the years of public work she has done.