Tina Slendak has never run for public office, but as an administrator for the Facebook group “Augusta Political Watch,” which has 3,500 members, most people who follow local politics are well aware of her and where she stands on local political issues.
Slendak has filed a declaration of intent with the Board of Elections and plans to run for the district seven Augusta commission seat that is currently held by Sean Frantom.
Frantom cannot run for re-election due to term limits and has endorsed Slendak to become his replacement.
According to Slendak, she always knew that eventually she would go from being a sideline political commentator and government watchdog to actually getting in the ring herself, but the timing had to be right.
“I have given politicians grief online for years, so now that I am scaling back and working less, I feel that I have the time to devote to really getting involved and bring my skills to the commission,” Slendak said.
The Westside High graduate is the office manager for the Cheatham Fletcher Scott Architect firm, and she says that she is not fully retiring, but scaling her work schedule back greatly in the coming year and won’t be working full time.
Slendak says one of the biggest issues is the homeless encampments that have sprung up in the Washington Road/I-20 area over the last several years, stating that the homeless population there has swelled to the point that people no longer feel safe getting out of their cars to shop.
“We need to understand there is a difference between people who are homeless and genuinely need assistance and the vagrants and professional panhandlers. Vagrants do not want to be helped off the streets. They want to do their drugs and live off harassing people for money,” Slendak said.
Another top priority for Slendak is making the city’s hiring practices more fair and transparent, citing the Parks and Recreation Department as one of the places where nepotism rules over talent and ability when it comes to getting a job.
“All across the county, people are being hired because of who they know and not what they know, and this needs to stop. We need people with more qualifications than simply who they might be related to,” Slendak said.
Naturally, someone who is very vocal online, might expect such an announcement would bring out the trolls who hide behind screen names and avatars, but word of Slendak’s political plans has largely been met with enthusiasm.
“Yes, I am running for office, but if I lose, it won’t be anything devastating, I will just continue doing what I have always done. But I do think I have a lot to offer. Between Vineland and National Hills, this has always been my home and always will be,” Slendak said.
Former Augusta commissioner and current political commentator John Clarke says he is already on Team Tina.
“She is smart, strong-willed and not afraid to speak her mind. I know she will make for a fine commissioner,” Clarke said.
Travis Blitchington, president of the National Hills Neighborhood Association says that Slendak has always been a beloved member of the neighborhood, and he is confident the residents will support her.
“She has been a part of the neighborhood for a long time, and she wants it to remain a close-knit community. She wants what is best for both the old families here as well as the new families moving in,” Blitchington said.
Scott Hudson is the Senior Investigative Reporter and Editorial Page Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
