Candidate Profile: Taurus Morris, Paulding County Board Post 3

DALLAS, GA — Six candidates — four Republican and two Democrat — are running for Post 3 on the Paulding County Board of Commissioners in the May 24 General Primary Election.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as the primary draws near.

Taurus Morris is running for Paulding County Board of Commissioners Post 3.

Name: Taurus Morris

Campaign website: Vote Taurus Morris

Office sought: Paulding County Board of Commissioners Post 3

Party affiliation: Democrat

Education: Master's degree in marketing and project management

Occupation: Business owner for 17 years. Owner of Douglasville Boxing Club for 12 years.

Family: I have been married for almost 20 years to my husband, Edward Morris. We have three daughters: Sydney, 16; Lyndsey, 14; and Ashley, 12.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No

Previous public office, appointive or elective: No

Age: 43

Why are you seeking this office? I am seeking this office to "Unite Paulding." I believe in public service, and I enjoy building consensus and working as part of a team to make our county the best place to live. I want our residents to believe in our county. I believe I can help make local decisions that will best represent our residents. And, I have the expertise to do the job. I understand the county's challenges with infrastructure, property taxes rising, and the need to partner with the school board when it comes to implementing building and development decisions that affect our students and community. We must bring balance to the number of homes being built and bring in profitable companies to support the county's financial needs, opposed to putting financial burdens on our residents.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it. The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is property taxes. I plan to focus on unnecessary red tape that keeps our residents from opening businesses. I also plan to solicit larger corporations, including plants and manufacturers for higher paying jobs. And, I hear residents say, "if only they could have an Olive Garden." It may be the running joke, but I take it seriously; and it will be on my list.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? The major differences between me and the other candidates seeking this post are my problem-solving and leadership skills, as well as my diverse background. I problem-solve, do business management, and operations for a living. I have a master's degree in marketing and project management, which gives me both the education and business acumen to get the jobs done. This is my niche. My diverse background affords me the ability to effectively understand and communicate with all our residents. So, when it comes to making responsible, financially sound business decisions for the county to which residents can see and understand the usage of their taxes, this will bring faith back into our county's leadership, as I will lead with effective communication and transparency. With my diverse background, I come to "Unite Paulding." Most corporations, when deciding on locations, look at diversity as part of their decision-making process. So, I am a great financial asset to the county. I believe I will be an asset to strengthen the Commission Board as well as making Paulding County one of the best places to live.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign? Along with addressing issues regarding rising property taxes, the infrastructures needed for large companies and small businesses to emerge such as water, roads, and broadband; I will also focus on rising concerns of mental health, homelessness and the opioid epidemic that are affecting our residents. As Paulding Unites, we must be able to provide effective resources to our residents to strengthen our viability as a community.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? With my strong leadership skills, active community engagement, and my ability to build and implement community and youth programs, I have been recognized from the City of Douglasville, as well as Georgia's State Capitol. I selflessly give my time, efforts and resources to our community as I consistently address constituent's issues with our county leaders that produce satisfactory results to our residents.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you? The best advice anyone has ever given me is a quote, "Life doesn't come with a remote. You have to get up and change it yourself." I always tell people, whatever problems you see in the world, "you be the change." We must stop shifting responsibilities to others and understand that change starts with ourselves. So, together we must "Unite Paulding."

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions? Taurus Morris is the owner and Director of Operations of Douglasville Boxing Club of 12 years. She is a college instructor who teaches business and marketing and has been a youth minister for over 16 years.

She has previously run for the Commissioner Post 3 seat in 2018 and the Chairman seat in 2020. As she runs again for Commissioner Post 3, she is hopeful that the momentum of educating and promoting voter empowerment has earned her the numbers to be successful with this third run.