During a breakfast meeting on Saturday morning, Jan. 13, the Richmond County Republican Party gathered to discuss upcoming elections, community issues and ways the Augusta government needs to change.
As attendees heaped hot grits and eggs onto their plates, community member Sean Frantom shared how he foresees his ninth and final year as a county commissioner unfolding.
Highlighting county-wide decisions and votes, such as the newly-passed sales tax for the James Brown Arena and upcoming elections, Frantom emphasized a need for the county and party to display a united front.
“This is an election year. It’s a big year in Augusta and I do anticipate there’s going to be a lot of controversy this year,” Frantom said. “For me, it’s time for a change in Augusta-Richmond County. I think it’s time that this group sticks together … and I think there’s power in this group.”
By reminding attendees to vote ‘yes’ on the same initiatives, Frantom said he especially hopes Augustans will vote to review and change the city’s charter, which was last updated in the 1990s.
“Augusta’s code and charter have created this entity of controversy and secrecy from my perspective,” he said. “Everyone in this room has the opportunity to change the landscape of Richmond County.”
If voters pass the need for a review, Frantom said one of the major changes he will help push for will include securing Augusta’s mayor an equal vote to the Augusta Commissioners during meetings – an amendment Augustans will vote on in May of this year.
“At the end of the day, it takes six votes to get anything done in our government,” said Frantom. “The fact that the mayor does not have a vote, as an elected official for the entire county, is kind of ridiculous, and it is time that we stop and support this. It would be game-changing.”
Referencing the often “bickering” among the city’s commissioners that prevents any progress on several motions, Frantom said providing the mayor with a vote could allow more policies to be passed.
“Vote ‘yes’ on May 21st,” he said.
Encouraged by Republican support for the possible voting amendment, Mayor Garnett Johnson, who was in attendance, said he hoped Augustans would vote ‘yes’ to the amendment and other changes in order to improve efficiency.
“I am the only county-wide, elected official that serves on the commission, yet I don’t have the opportunity to vote,” said Johnson. “It is time for Augusta to create a charter review committee … our charter has not been addressed since its inception, and this is just the beginning – in my opinion – on a great process to engage the voters of Richmond County.”
To Johnson, no change should be made to the charter without the approval of voters in the county, and the vote will not create a strong mayoral power within the county, but will simply allow the commission to have another representative voice.
“Any changes to our charter in Augusta-Richmond County should be put on a ballot and decided by the voters. I stand by that,” he said. “This is our democracy in earnest.”
Describing the fight between “fresh versus traditional perspectives” as a “tug of war,” Frantom also said he believes there to be an enormous accountability issue within the county in regards to department heads and how money is handled.
“This government needs change,” he said. “We don’t need anymore taxes within our county – we have plenty of money. We’ve just got to use it better, and cut out the fat that we have in our government. We started that last year and we have to continue those conversations.”
Especially angered by the criticism of current and former police officials, Frantom said he wholeheartedly believes in preventing any tax increases, and stresses rather the importance of money management by disciplining frivolous spending.
“When I hear former lieutenants going on the Austin Rhodes Show and saying that, ‘we didn’t’ fund them’ is a bunch of crap. We funded them very well – over $13 million since I’ve been in office – and it’s not my fault that they are over 235 deputies short,” said Frantom. “At the end of the day, we need to support them and hold them accountable as well.”
Following Frantom, Republican Mark Newton, who represents the 127th House District and is the chairman of the House Committee on Interstate Cooperation, said he believes in bolstering Augusta’s downtown, and agrees with Frantom’s thoughts on supporting the police by providing more training.
“A vibrant downtown I think is going to be key to attracting the talent of the future,” said Newton.
In addition to improving Augusta’s downtown, Newton also emphasized the necessity to improve the state’s rural healthcare by continually focusing on furthering Augusta University and the Medical College of Georgia’s established foothold in the profession.
“The state is really looking to invest in medical education because they understand that the healthcare of our people is crucial, especially as the population ages,” he said. “The reason a lot of our students don’t want to go to some of the outlying areas is because of the specialties that we have here.”
Praising the Georgia Cancer Center and the Children’s Hospital, Newton said he was confident in securing more support and possible funding from Gov. Brian Kemp and other officials over the course of 2024.
“I think we have a great opportunity right now to continue to grow,” he said.
After Newton, Richard Dixon, an independent candidate, spoke about his intention to run against Sheriff Richard Roundtree in November, if he can secure 7,500 petition signatures.
Although it will be his first time “entering the political arena,” Dixon said he is no stranger to the politics of policing.
“It’s a mess sometimes,” he said.
A lifelong Richmond County resident who has worked over 20 years with the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, Dixon believes his work experience and relationships with over 100 police chiefs across 37 counties in the state will allow him to raise moral and open communication between police and citizens.
“Everyone I speak with says, ‘we cannot reach or speak with our sheriff,’” he said. “… personally, I’m sick of it. It’s a position people should be able to reach.”
With a focus and determination in bettering the county’s communication, Dixon said he wants to run as an independent because he does not fully align with any political party and believes in remaining a neutral figure in order to hear all opinions and ideas.
“I will not run as a Republican or a Democrat because I’m neither one. I have supported both Democrats and Republicans on tickets,” he said. “As an independent, I feel that I can speak for both parties – for both sides, for all opinions and for all demographics – because it is a constitutional position for the entire county.”
With a desire to change the leadership paradigm, Dixon said he believes the county’s shortage of personnel can be largely solved through communication and great leadership.
“We’re going to have to build these relationships to solve some of these other problems that we have,” he said. “It’s time to take responsibility.”
At the conclusion of the breakfast meeting, Frantom said he hopes party members and other attendees walk away with a better understanding of the complex future of Augusta-Richmond County.
“I just want to educate people on what’s going on and the challenges I foresee,” he said. “I’ve always been about making a difference. I only have 11 months left and I want to continue planting seeds to change things in the future.”
Liz Wright is a staff writer covering education, lifestyle and general assignments for The Augusta Press. Reach her at liz@theaugustapress.com
