Candidate Profile: Terry Parsons For Loganville City Council

LOGANVILLE — Seven city council candidates qualified for three at-large City Council seats in the Loganville Nov. 2 municipal election, which include incumbent Anne Huntsinger. Loganville Mayor Skip Baliles is running unopposed.

Terry Parsons, Shenia Rivers-Divine, Rosa D. Steele, Branden Whitfield, Melanie Long and James Wilson qualified as candidates for City Council. The three candidates who get the most votes will fill the at-large council seats.

November 2, 2021 Municipal General/Special Election sample ballots are available for review at the Georgia My Voter Page. Enter your information in order to access a personalized sample ballot.

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

Terry Parsons is running for City Council against incumbent Anne Huntsinger and Melanie Long, Shenia Rivers-Divine, Rosa D. Steele, Branden Whitfield, and James Wilson.

Age (as of Election Day)

63

Position Sought

City Council for City of Loganville

Party Affiliation

This election is nonpartisan but I am a conservative.

Family

Married for 33 years to my wife and we have two sons.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

BBA in Business Management from Georgia State University

Occupation

35 years as Owner of GTA services Termite and Pest Control

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Served on the Citizens Advisory Group (CAG)

Campaign website

none

Why are you seeking elective office?

To continue a journey I started 2 years ago to save our city from High Density Development.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Is the development of downtown Loganville. I want the existing City Hall to become a downtown destination area . Re-imagine City Hall with an attached Park, a few walkable rent controlled shops like ice cream, doughnut etc... and possibly a new library if the Voters want in the back corner off CS Floyd. I want to see the property across from the Methodist church developed with Fee simple shops connected to one story owner loft apartments above.

What are your short- and long-term goals if you are elected?

To lay the groundwork for this development.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I have stayed true to my vision while others who held a strong high density growth desire have switched positions for political expediency. Some candidates have not been to enough council meetings to be fully engaged.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

The current incumbent supported destroying the current city hall and Baptist church to drop 900 apartments in downtown. While she has changed her position on the type of growth she wants. She remains adamant on selling the current city hall to a developer which can only mean in my opinion that a mixed use apartment complex would be built. 60-100 units maybe? Then a new City Hall has to be built with no guarantee taxpayers would be on the hook for it.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

VERY VERY well !!!

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I want the city to decide one way or another about the Library. Build a new one or add on to existing. I want the city to get out of the real estate business, I understand the city has 20 properties. Continue support of our Police, Fire and city workers whom without their efforts we would not have the great city we have.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

30 years as a resident who has lived through this growth, 35 years as a business owner who has faced many recessions including the great one ... and survived. 25 years as an active member and current state district advisor in our pest control association CPCO dealing with Department of Agriculture rules and regulations.

What do you like best about living in your city (or county)?

The people.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Be dependable, do a good job , charge a fair price and you will never be out of work.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

My journey will continue or come to an end with your vote. This is the Real Survey voters are taking Nov 2... who they choose will lay the groundwork for Loganville's future.