It’s election season in Coffee County. Most of the time has been spent discussing the races in Douglas and Broxton. There is, however, one county-wide election on the ballot: An eSPLOST for the Coffee County School System.
Early voting is currently underway at Central Square in the Dogwood Room Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This Saturday, early voting will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Election day is November 7 and all precincts in the county will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for voters to cast ballots in favor of or in opposition to the eSPLOST.
While there are four seats on the ballot in the Douglas city election, only one — Ward 3 — has opposition. Current Ward 2 commissioner Olivia Pearson has chosen not to run and two candidates are vying for her seat: Gregory Batts and Tony Paulk II. The candidates who are unopposed are Commissioners Kentaiwon Durham (Ward 2) and Steve Bailey (Ward 6), along with Mayor Tony Paulk.
In Broxton, incumbent Mayor Jimmy Littleton will have opposition from current council member and mayor pro-tem Carlos Wilkerson. Five individuals, three of whom are incumbents, qualified for the four council seats. Incumbents Ruth Christian, Helen Jones, and Bill Whiddon qualified to seek another term. Challengers Wanda Kirschbaum and Gregory Zachary also qualified. The top four candidates will take their seats on the city council. The council member who receives the most votes will be mayor pro-tem.
When the polls opened Monday morning, 114 voters had cast ballots during the first week of early voting.
Regarding the sales tax referendum, the current eSPLOST (special local option sales tax for education) is expiring. The school system still has several major projects that need to be completed, including two new schools, athletic facilities, school buses, and safety equipment. As such, the system would like to continue the eSPLOST for another five years. If approved, this would not be a tax increase; it would simply continue the current one-cent sales tax.
The school system has a list of proposed projects. Just a few of those projects are completing the construction of a new West Green Elementary School, building a new George Washington Carver Freshman Campus (to be built at the same location as the current school), tennis courts at Coffee Middle School, purchase safety and security equipment (including cameras) for the entire school system, upgrade technology, purchase school buses and other vehicles, and purchase textbooks and other school equipment (including band instruments, etc.).
The list of projects that have been completed with previous eSPLOST referendums is extensive: the Clayton Mathis Performing Arts Center, new schools in Nicholls and Broxton, Coffee High renovations, ROTC/multipurpose facility at Coffee High (currently under construction), security equipment, technology upgrades, and much more.
“We are thankful for the support the school system has received in the past and we are looking forward to a bright future for our children and schools in Coffee County,” stated Dr. Morris Leis, school superintendent.