Excellent point. On the surface, no opposition to incumbents seems to signal satisfaction with the status quo, but the lack of choice DOES diminish the voting process. Incumbents can't tell if they've been reelected because they're doing a swell job or because there was no alternative.

I fully expect record voter turnouts for the presidential election precisely because there will be clear differences between the candidates and voters will be able to choose which widely divergent road their country takes. So, while Bulloch County citizens are in the voting booths, if they go ahead and vote for individual commissioners one could assume that signals satisfaction with the commission. If they opt out of that portion of the ballot because there aren't choices to be made, that could also be a political statement that can't be dismissed.

Alot of times people figure whats the use. We do still tend to have a GOB system here. People vote based on who they, or there granddaddy knows or knew or just vote for someone because of who they are. Everyone is complaining about the higher taxes, but noone stands up, noone asks could we have done a 1/2 cent splost instead. Is anyone asking why the 3 manned county fire stations are going to be in or just outside of Statesboro? What about response time to Portal, Brooklet, Clito, Register? They wont be a bit better. Maybe worse considering that each truck will only have 2 men.

There won't be as high turn out for the presidential election. many Obama supporters say they wont vote for Hill and hers say the same for him. Many will sit home, if Obama didn't get the nomination many of his supporters, who were first time voters would not vote in the general.

My husband says much the same thing, bullochguy, but I'm a "sunny side of the street" person who still believes each and every person can make a difference...and this election has such a clear cut choice and the electorate is so energized that my bet's on record turnout.

I don't see any clear cut choice. On one side you've got a guy with very questionable friends and advisors, who won't give to many straight answers on where he stands and gets an enourmous amount of support for only one reason.

On the other we have a guy who is unprdictable and will side with nuts on some very important issues! I do see a lesser of the two evils, but no clear cut choice! I do have to say Mccain will state where he stands even if it means pissin someone off.

I fall on the cynical side. McCain, Obama and Clinton are all intelligent people who have have different ideas and philosophies, but they answer to the same master - special interest groups and lobbyists. They may be different special interest groups and lobbyists, but they serve their interests and not our nation's.

I don't see that changing in the near future. Actually, I don't see it changing.

I understand BillyJ's frustrations.

No one runs against these commissioners because of who they are. They are going to win because of their "status" in the county. So why bother to run against them even care. I know I'm going to get some backlash for this comment but its really how people a lot of people feel.

Statesborogirl, you hit the nail on the head. I spoke with several people about running for a commission seat and they all pretty much said the same thing, "why waste the money, they are going to win because of who they are". I agree that it's more of a popularity contest. I will admit like most politicians they get something right occasionally. I will vote in November but not for any of the current commissioners.

I'm not sure what to make of the unopposed status of the current county elections. I do feel that we have a good slate of commissioners, maybe the best we've had in quite some time. They are attentive, progressive, and are working hard to maintian a county that has grown at a staggering pace.

Many folks who have not served in a local government are unaware of the balancing act it requires. Just a small example - GSU provides tons of sales taxes, but all their valuable real-estate is exempt from ad-valorem taxes. Sales tax money, esepcially in the form of SPLOST and ESPLOST isn't very flexible in its application, I could go on and on.

That said, if someone truly feels strongly that they are not represented, they should qualify or office and open the debate. While we have had many presidents who were well connected on a national level, let's all remember the nobody peanut farmer from Plains!

Y'all are right in one resepect or another. There still is a GOB system, but it's not run by Commissioners, it is still run by a few men who stand less the 5'8" (hint, hint) but have a pile of dough that is taller than them. They all profit from SPLOST, too. GSU probably breaks even for the community wealth pot. Now matter what their great comuputer driven impact studies tell you, they cost as much, or maybe more than the ripple effect produces in terms of taxpayer expense. Yet, Statesboro would be like Millen without GSU. Eagle Nation produces bragging rights. Hoo-rah!

Despite the apathy, these Commissioners have had to make some tough decisions that have been lacking since the fertilizer czar left the Board. Lil' Abner (the old county manager), left the Big Dog (the new county manager) a mess that had to be cleaned up and the Commissioners have let him do his job. We don't have county employees taking their county trucks home or on their vacation anymore, and there aren't any Chinese delegations being wined and dined at taxpayer expense. You can usually get the guy on the phone if he ain't smothered and he doesn't give you some smart butt answer when you want to know something. I hear his biggest problems is that he's a tightwad and a workaholic.

I think that the voters just don't have any stones to throw. If the Commissioners or the Sheriff, or the Mayor just get stupid, the GOB's would be loadin' the ballot like they did in 2004.

Hey, speaking of the City of Statesboro.......can't wait for that election! The GOB's won't be able to find anyone to run because all the right folks live in the county now. Brain drain! Just let GSU annex the city.

No comment on the presidential election...yuk!

Ugablonde I hate to tell you I was born and raised here in Bulloch County and long before GSU was GSU when it GSC and there was no Eagle football this town was much smaller I admit but we were no Millen....I appreciate all the money the college brings to us don't get me wrong but we were a town long before GSU got so big.

Back to the subject of this blog...I still feel that the reason the poll the Statesboro Herald ran results were correct. People don't care and that is sad because we should care but I feel they don't care because they dont' have any control over who gets these positions.

Ugablonde, I hate to tell you, but some county employees do take vehicles home, and treat them as personnal! I see it daily! Some never drive another vehicle! Changes in things like that could have averted the property tax hike, or maybe pay for this Fire Dept!

If Statesboro would be like Millen with out GSU, and GSU just balances itself financially, then why isn't Statesboro just like GSU? Why does it have industry? Why is retail growing?

After the rude treatment from the employees at the courthouse when I or my wife called to find out where to register in Bulloch County to vote and where we would go to vote, I can see why people don't care.

If the level of service from the Sheriff Office and the Courthouse is the same for other areas of the county as it is for us, I can see why people don't care.

Because they probably feel the same why we do. "It's not worth the hassle."

Bulloch guy...you're right. I called a county employee I know and she told me that public safety people, especially the Sheriff's Dept. still have take-home vehicles - a small few at the road department, too. It's supposed to be an on-call system for emergencies. She did say that they cut about 30 take home vehicles last year - I guess everybody had one. She said if we see employees abusing vehicles we should report it to the elected officials or the County Manager.

Hey, Superhowie...your right, too, but, some of those departments aren't controlled by the County Commissioners, the Commissioners only give judges, voter registration, the Sheriff and the like, money. The Comm's can't tell them what to do.

Have you ever been to the Tax Commissioners office? Those people treat you like dirt. But the same goes for the Tax Commissioner, he's elected. If their taking our tax and tag money, they should be the nicest employees in the county.

I ain't sayin' its perfect, but it's better than it use to be. At least a County Commissioner will call you back.