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 The Chronicle welcomes you online! Please feel free to respond to these editorials or letters to the editor by sending your letters to the editor.

We condense letters; most, as published, won't exceed 300 words. A letter must include the writer's name and city, which will be published, and an address and telephone number for verification, which will not be published. Writers may be limited to one letter every 30 days. Open letters, letters to third parties and poetry are not considered. Letters from people living outside the Chronicle's circulation area usually are not considered.

District 2: Marion Williams

Web posted October 31, 1999

Augusta Chronicle Editorial Staff

There are almost 9,000 registered voters in this all-too-often neglected district. They must decide if they are dissatisfied with seven-year Augusta Commission incumbent Freddie Handy and, if so, which of his three challengers merit support.

We commend to voters the articulate REV. MARION WILLIAMS for several reasons.

The career railroad employee and Augusta native says ``the water problem must be addressed first; that is the only way we can get industry moving to this area.'' He has done his homework and won't scrimp when it comes to underwriting new infrastructure. Handy never understood that he was part of the problem during the mid-'90s when it was time for water system upgrades and better management. And when commissioners raised property taxes too high in 1991, creating a new slush fund for spending, Handy went along and enjoyed the spree.

While concerned about his district, challenger Williams cares about the entire community. He vows to wage war to clean up litter and to redouble efforts to condemn and tear down abandoned buildings which often turn into crack houses. He will not vote to cut muscle within the Sheriff's Department, and supports last year's controversial addition of 46 new deputies.

Marion Williams chides the incumbent for his unrealistic, expensive plans regarding new homes for municipal and judicial offices. Williams wants to implement: 1) the county space study, to consolidate offices and services and 2) much of the efficiency study, which cuts government waste. Finally, we don't think Williams will walk out of Commission chambers during key votes; he'll vote up or down and hold his head high.