Candidates are Mark Mitton, Dan Fincher, Tracy Dobson-Cox Pamela Studdard Fredebeil
Mark Mitton (Incumbent)
As Mark Mitton faces off against three other Republican opponents in the race for his Post 5 seat on the board of education, the incumbent said he is proud of all the things the board has accomplished during his almost eight year tenure and hopes to continue his work on the board.
“I’ve seen a lot of change in the years I’ve been on the board,” he said. “When I first ran, I had an interest in bringing a business mind to the job. I understand budgets and how they need to operate, and that’s primarily what the board is responsible for. That and setting policy for the administration to carry out.”
Mitton said one of the most frustrating aspects of serving on the board is watching as less and less money is supplied to the local system from state funds, a figure that has been dwindling for years, he said.
“When you’re sitting there and looking at what the folks in the gold dome have done, it’s frustrating. When I started doing the budget we took about 56 percent of our revenue from the state. Now it’s completely reversed and we’re having to make tough decisions to manage our schools a little bit more judiciously.”
Mitton said although it’s always a challenge, he’s enjoyed his time on the board and feels he brings both good accounting principles and policy input to the table.
“There can be some headaches but there can be some highlights like when you watch those kids graduate on Saturday mornings each May. Three of my children have gone through the Pickens County school system and I’ve always been heavily involved in the schools. I’ve seen a transition from one superintendent to another which was a positive transition time for the schools.”
Mitton said he has seen impressive capital improvements to the school system during his tenure as well, including a new elementary school, new cafeteria and gymnasium at another school and additional facilities and classrooms at PHS.
“Overall I think if I left today I would like to think that I’ve left the school system in a better situation than when I came on.”
Mitton said he welcomes letters, comments and emails from anyone with concerns about the school system and hopes people will get out and vote.
“Please get out and vote. Vote your conviction. That’s the biggest thing. We need people voting.”
Mitton is vice president and lending officer at Community Bank of Pickens County.
Tracy Dobson-Cox
Saying the local school system needs to place more emphasis on academic performance, Tracy Dobson-Cox will vie for the Post 5 seat on the school board currently held by incumbent Mark Mitton.
Cox, who has three children, (one each in elementary, middle and high school), said her slogan is “Working to put our children first.” Cox is also a bus driver for the local system.
“It seems like when you’re in the system you see more of what goes on. I feel like a board member’s first thought should be, ‘Is this going to benefit the children of Pickens County?’”
Cox’s platform centers on stronger academic performance, but she also feels some changes need to be made at the high school, including more stringent supervision of students.
“We have policies and procedures in place and we need to follow those,” she said. “We’re also lacking so much in what the kids need academically. My kids don’t have the books they need to take home and study. And there are not enough teachers and not enough supervision. I feel like I have a good insight into things and I can put it together to make things work.”
Aside from stronger academics and beefed-up supervision at the high school level, Cox said she would like to see the board be more receptive to parents and others concerned with issues relating to the schools.
“I’ve always felt there should be an open forum for parents or teachers to come and talk to board members. That’s what our board is for. The board of education is set up to hear people and make decisions based on that. Parents may not always get the resolution they want, but they should be heard.”
Following advice from her grandmother, Cox promised to always keep in mind: “We get the things we need now and we get the things we want later.”
The candidate has a meet-and-greet scheduled for July 3rd at Roper Park.
Dan Fincher
After considering a run for the school board for over a decade, Dr. Dan Fincher recently qualified to run against three others for the Post 5 seat.
“After much thought and prayer on this, I decided I would submit my name to be a candidate,” Fincher, a veterinarian, said. “My primary interest is quality education for our children. We need to work toward providing the best education for the least amount of money.”
Fincher said he doesn’t have a specific issue he would like to see changed within the school system, but after one and two terms for present board members, he said it would “be good to have some fresh thoughts on the board and go at things from a different perspective. I just think it’s time for a shift in the makeup of the board.”
With the state of the economy, Fincher said it’s imperative to consider whether the school system can afford certain programs and continue the status quo way of conducting business.
“After listening to people in the county since I qualified they tell me they are spending all they want into the tax system. I would always keep that in mind if elected. We have to always think ‘can we afford this’ and weigh that in the balance when making decisions. Everybody’s cutting back and any government must do likewise.”
Fincher has lived in Pickens County for about 15 years. He opened Animal Medical Clinic in Jasper before selling it to the current owner and starting a new clinic later in Marble Hill. Recently deciding he didn’t like retirement, Fincher now provides veterinary service in Norcross.
“As long as I was in business locally I just didn’t feel like it was the proper thing for me to be in business and run for the board. Now that I am working outside the community I feel I have the freedom to be a candidate.”
Fincher is a member of the Rotary Club and Foothills Community Church.
Pamela Fredebeil
A member of her childrens’ school advisory committee for several years, Pamela Studdard Fredebeil recently decided to step up her involvement in the school system by running for a post on the board of education. Fredebeil along with Dan Fincher and Tracy Dobson Cox will face off against incumbent Mark Mitton.
“I’ve had a passion for this, and I’ve talked about running in the past, but now is the time,” Fredebeil said. “I’ve been involved in the schools for years, and I feel with all the things that have gone on at the high school this year, it’s just time.”
Fredebeil grew up in Montezuma, Georgia and then attended Georgia Southwestern College and ABAC. She has worked as a property tax consultant for 35 years and has owned her own business, Studdard, Glisson and Smith, Inc., for the past 20 years. She is a member of Trinity Evangelical Church and a resident of Bent Tree. Fredebeil has four children, three of whom are students in the Pickens County school system.
“I think there’s a lot of emphasis put on graduating, and I understand why, but I don’t think it should be ‘graduate at all costs’,” she said. “Students need to graduate with tools to be successful in life. I’d also like it to be instilled in kids that with the HOPE scholarship everyone can go to college. I do realize college is not for everyone. I feel like early on these kids can get stereotyped, and then they feel like college is not for them. I just feel there should be a more positive feel in the school system.”
With the continuing budget crisis at the state level, Fredebeil said she feels she can make a positive impact on the local budget process thanks to her years of experience.
“I have experience with budgeting through my own business, and I do know about dollars and cents and checks and balances. I feel I’m qualified for the position,” she said. “I feel like we’re at a point with the economy and other issues within the school system that some really hard decisions need to be made. And I feel like I can make those.”
Having a career where negotiating is a key focus, Fredebeil said she doesn’t like to create controversy but is not afraid to stand up for what’s right.
“I’m excited about the challenge, and I appreciate everyone’s vote,” she said.
If you have questions for the candidate, please contact her at pam@sgsproptax.com
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