Augusta mayoral candidate Elmer Singley plans on, among other things, improving funding for Augusta libraries if elected. This year's mayor's race is Mr. Singley's ninth attempt at public office after being defeated in his previous eight campaigns. JEFF JANOWSKI/STAFF

Defeats not getting best of candidate

Web posted October 4, 1998

 Singley's planks
 Singley: Q&A

By Sylvia Cooper
Staff Writer

Mayoral candidate Elmer Singley isn't exactly a household name in Augusta, but not from lack of trying.

This will be his eighth run for public office since 1984, when he sought three different offices the same year, qualifying in all three as a pauper.

In January 1984, he ran for Richmond County sheriff in a special election to replace Sheriff J.B. Dykes, who went to jail for ticket-fixing. The next month he qualified for the coroner's job and lost in the July primary. Then in October he qualified for a seat on the Richmond County School Board and lost again.

Also in 1984, he had applied to become Hephzibah police chief, and when he was not granted an interview he protested the hiring procedure as being racially discriminatory. He said he would ask the Richmond County Human Relations Commission to investigate, but did not do so.

Mr. Singley ran as a pauper in 1984 because his income put him ``barley at poverty level,'' he said. He had retired from the military and was attending college at the time.

MAYORS RACE  THE MAYOR'S RACE Each week until the Nov. 4 election, The Augusta Chronicle will feature a candidate running for Augusta-Richmond County mayor. Check back each Sunday for a new profile. •Ed McIntyre •Larry Sconyers •Elmer Singley •Moses Todd •Kenneth Winters •Bob Young  Q&A The Chronicle asks each candidate specific questions about their abilities and goals. Here are their answers. •Ed McIntyre •Larry Sconyers •Elmer Singley •Moses Todd •Kenneth Winters •Bob Young  ASK THE CANDIDATES Do you have a question you'd like to ask the mayoral candidates? •Click here

He ran three more times for the school board -- in 1988, 1992 and 1994. Then in 1995, he ran for the District 6 seat on the consolidated government and received only 8 percent of the vote in the race won by J.B. Powell.

But don't think those defeats discouraged him.

``I don't get discouraged because I'm not a longtime resident, and that's the way to get some recognition,'' he said.

What he lacks in the way of name recognition, an extended family and old school chums to turn out for him, he makes up for in leadership, he said.

``I'm kind of an unknown, but I'm also a vision of hope for Augusta for the 21st century,'' he said.

``I feel as though I'm the best qualified in the race. I feel I've got the most experience. Although they (Larry Sconyers and Ed McIntyre) have been in public positions, if you look at their records, they're somewhat tainted.

``And Bob Young does not have the experience to lead Augusta into the 21st century.''

Mr. Singley said he is qualified by 22 years in the military, his academic degrees and training.

Last week, he chose the Wallace Branch of the public library on Laney Walker Boulevard to be photographed and interviewed. His wife, Helen, works at the library, and one of Mr. Singley's campaign promises is to improve funding for Augusta's libraries.

``Look, a lot of the equipment and books have been here since 1959,'' he said, pointing to a table with a warped top.

He also proposes keeping libraries and recreation centers open on Sundays, nights and holidays to keep young people off the streets, and creating a program to help juvenile delinquents find jobs and training when they get out of jail.

He also would push for a program that would allow people who can't pay for insurance to work to earn credits to go toward hospital bills, he said.

Three of Mr. Singley's staunch supporters were at the library last week, ready to say a good word for him.

The Rev. Robert L. Oliver Sr., who described himself as Mr. Singley's consultant, said Mr. Singley has a better campaign organization this election than in the past and that should make a difference.

The Rev. Oliver also praised Mr. Singley as a military leader and recipient of the Bronze Star in Vietnam.

``In addition to that, he has been the commander of a 2,000-man unit, District 11 of the American Legion that stretches from Eatonton, Ga., to Sandersville,'' the Rev. Oliver said.

The Rev. Oliver said he has supported every other current candidate that has previously run for office, and none delivered.

Another supporter, Harold Vincent Clark Jr., whose lapel was studded with military pins, called Mr. Singley a take-charge kind of leader.

A.N. Lawton Jr., chairman and campaign treasurer, said he thought Mr. Singley would play a major role in helping to fight crime and bringing substandard housing up to code.

Also at the library Tuesday was Joseph Goudy, president of the Augusta-Richmond County Community Action Committee, who declined to say whether he thought Mr. Singley has a chance to win this time.

``Well, I think he might go hard,'' Mr. Goudy said. ``He's got a lot of veteran support, and we've got a lot of veterans in this area.''

But Mr. Goudy allowed that Mr. Singley has a lot of work to do.

``I hope him the best, but sometimes it takes a little more political activity and political know-how and people in the community -- all Augusta wide -- knowing you,'' he said. ``That's the important thing.''

On, Tuesday, Mr. Singley took his campaign to the streets -- Laney Walker Boulevard and 12th Street.

He approached a young man, James Shields, sitting on a porch listening to a radio. He introduced himself and asked him to vote for him.

``I'll vote for you,'' Mr. Shields said.

Mr. Singley went through his spiel with two women he met coming down the sidewalk and then with an elderly man sitting on the porch of a house on 12th Street.

``I'm a candidate for mayor of Augusta, Ga.,'' Mr. Singley said. ``I need your support. Are you a registered voter?''

``No,'' the man said.

``You've still got time to register,'' Mr. Singley said. ``Until the 5th of October. If I have time today I'll come back and bring you an application for registration.''

Then at Curry's barbershop, at 1219 12th St.: ``I'm Elmer Singley, candidate for mayor of Augusta, Ga.''

``All right,'' said the barber cutting a man's hair.

``I'll appreciate your support in November,'' Mr. Singley said.

``All right. We'll do the best we can,'' said the barber.

``Very good. Can I leave this with you?'' Mr. Singley asked, handing him a sheet of campaign literature.

``OK. All right,'' said the other barber sitting in a corner chair. ``Is this the same one you left the other day when you were in here?''

``These fellows are teasing me,'' said Mr. Singley.

The barbers said Mr. Singley was the only candidate who had come to solicit their support. That ought to count for something, they agreed.

At another house, he asked the young woman who came to the door, Josie Lawson, whether she was a registered voter. When she said, ``No,'' he said he would bring some registration forms by so she could register.

``I can't vote this year,'' Ms. Lawson said. ``My daddy, he votes. What are you going to do for us?''

``I'm going to establish a recreation program so you guys can have something to do after school hours,'' Mr. Singley said. ``Recreation centers to be open on weekends and holidays, so you can go to the gym. We're going to establish cultural programs to be held in May Park or some facility around here in Augusta, Ga.''

``What about the little kids?'' Ms. Lawson asked. ``They need a safe park.''

``We can try to get them a park, but there's no land available for a park in this area,'' Mr. Singley said. ``However, if they go down to the park located on Ninth Street or James Brown Boulevard we will have the necessary security to ensure they have a safe environment.''

``All right. I hope you win,'' Ms. Lawson called out as Mr. Singley left the porch.

Singley's planks

As part of The Augusta Chronicle's series on mayoral candidate profiles, we will ask each candidate to state their promises to voters if they are elected. The newspaper expects to check up on the winner's promises after the election.

Here are Mr. Singley's promises:

-- To be a qualified, honest, fair leader, with sound judgment and clear character to lead Augusta into the 21st century.

-- To contribute true leadership, proven leadership, qualified leadership.

-- To work with commissioners to end diversity in Augusta government. (When questioned about the meaning of the word ``diversity,' Mr. Singley said he meant to end divisiveness).

-- To increase tourism to increase the tax base and improve historical sites.

-- Establish a program for troubled or at-risk children that will include those persons released from confinement that will enable them to return to the mainstream of the community.

-- Increase funding for the library system.

-- Reorganize the recreation department to make sure our children stay off the streets. That is on holidays and Sundays make sure the libraries and recreation centers are open at the proper time that the children will have something to do. I know they say we go to church on Sunday, but there's no reason they can't open up at 1 o'clock. There's no reason why they can't open up on holidays early in the mornings until late at night. These are some of the things I think will help to reduce the crime in our community.

-- I plan to work with the commissioners to devise a plan by which to support indigent care. At the current time we are running short on funding for indigent care.

I plan to constantly work with the outlying counties to make sure they're aware of the problem we're having here in Augusta and some way by which we can get funding from these counties. One plan I was thinking of working on was a voucher plan that would allow a poor person to come in the hospital and earn credits for possible patient care. This would also develop a training scale and show people how to work and possibly find jobs elsewhere.

-- I will not support tampering with the pensions of the retirees in Augusta-Richmond County.

-- I would not support the privatization of any facility or activity. This privatization tends to lead people back to poverty. The first year people will get the same pay raise as other employees. Sure they will, but that after second year the minimum people will probably drop down to minimum wage and nobody can have a good quality of life working minimum wage. The contractor has to devise some way in which to make money.

Sylvia Cooper covers Richmond County government for The Augusta Chronicle. She can be reached at (706) 823-3228 or newsroom@augustachronicle.com.

[Past Articles]