Meet the Candidates: Chuck Bagley

For the city of Loganville, three at-large seats are open on the council and the mayor's seat also is open. Seven residents have qualified as candidates for the council, and two candidates are running for mayor. Chuck Bagley is one of the candidates running for city council.

Name: Chuck Bagley
How long have you lived in Loganville? Since November 1998, just shy of 15 years
Educational background: 2 Years College, St. John’s University. Over 250 hours of Continuing Education in Local Government at Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia
Family: Widowed, two sons deceased. Remarried to Fran Bagley for almost 16 years with three grandchildren, the youngest attending Loganville Middle School
Military background: US Army 1961 – 1963 Honorable Discharge
Occupation: Retired form Southern Bell/BellSouth after 22 years and Self-Employed owning the SMART Company for 15 years

Have you ran for/served previously on the city council? If so, when? Yes 2005 - 2006, re-elected 2007 - 2008

What inspired you to run this term? Requests from citizens in the Community.

What are some of the notable projects you've helped or spearheaded in the past? While on City Council, I initiated citizens class “Loganville 101” for the citizens to learn about all departments of Loganville City Government. Established the Citizens Advisory Committee resulting in the Community holding the July 4thParade from 2006 through 2010 with average attendance exceeding 5,000. As the District 2 County Commissioner I assisted the City Public Works department in securing some of the material used to build the Pavilion at Destination Park. I led the initiative to have the new building for Department of Family and Children Services and Child Support Services for Walton County at a minimum of funding from Walton County Citizens. This building was built in 2012 and dedicated in 2013 with the State of Georgia financing the building, at the end of 20 years the building becomes the property of Walton County Government.  

What are some of the immediate things you want to work on if you win the council seat? Determine the specific goals set forth by the present administration to determine how I can best assist in achieving these goals.
How would you accomplish them? Reestablish myself as an elected official that believes in setting policy and not one that is involved in the “Day to Day” operations of the business of the City unless invited. Talk more with the citizens regarding their vision for the next 5 to 10 years. Reestablish my Quarterly Town Hall meetings that I held for 7 years to inform and educate the citizens and speak to local organizations with Q and A sessions to receive their input regarding the future of the Loganville Community.

What are some of your long-term goals for the city? My long term goals include to assist in attempting to stabilize the cost of water to the City of Loganville. To assist in developing a plan to eliminate or prevent empty “Big Box Stores” for the City of Loganville.
How would you accomplish them? This can only be accomplished by working with other elected official and developing intergovernmental agreements that are mutually beneficial to neighboring local governments.

What do you think is the greatest challenge facing Loganville? I think the greatest challenge is to increase revenues coming into the City without increasing the property taxes while keeping our City competitive with the cities and counties surrounding Loganville.
How would you approach it? This will take a combination of businesses, citizens, elected officials and city employees seeking information form the community with an attitude of “How do we make it work” putting aside our personal agendas and following those municipalities that have been successful in achieving this goal.