In a cordial and highly-scripted debate incumbent Columbia County Commissioner Dewey Galeas faced challenger Alison Couch Friday at the Bessie Thomas Community Center. Both are running for the District 4 seat.
Couch, a Harlem accountant, said if elected she wants to give voice to citizens, firefighters, police and find ways to fix Grovetown traffic woes.
Galeas, an anesthetist who lives in Appling, touted his Army record and efforts to get the county to buy the Harlem water department.
“Not everyone wanted to purchase the Harlem Water District, yet we did it because it was the right thing to do,” Galeas said. He said the purchase may have saved the city of Harlem millions of dollars and customers money, too.
Couch said if elected she would work to make smart growth in the county, especially in areas of Grovetown and Harlem hit hard by traffic.
“We are very quickly growing in this part of the county,” Couch said in an interview before the debate. “It’s a rough spot right now.”
The debate was sponsored by the Columbia County Republican Party. Couch and Galeas are both Republicans and will not face a Democrat in the general election, so the May 24 primary will decide who is the District 4 commissioner.
Both candidates cited religion in their attempts to sway voters. Couch, a member of Quest Methodist church, said Jesus called her to run for office.
“I am a Christian, and Jesus is my lord and savior, and I feel it is my duty to obey,” Couch said during an interview.
Galeas cited a Bible verse about serving others and compared it to his service as a nurse anesthetist in the Army. He is a retired officer.
Joshua B. Good is a staff reporter covering Columbia County and military/veterans’ issues for The Augusta Press. Reach him at joshua@theaugustapress.com
