Lyle ready for rookie year on commission

ALBANY, Ga. — Ewell Lyle knows that his debut into Dougherty County politics was both atypical and fortuitous.

It just seems unfair for a political rookie to make his first foray into politics by running unopposed in both the primary and the general election.

But while most people would look at the financial benefits of not having to run a hotly-contested race — candidates will typically spend thousands of dollars in private donations and their own money to stave off even lukewarm challenges with the need for cash growing as the intensity of the challenge does — Lyle said it allowed him time to learn how the county works before he was called to control it.

“Running unopposed for the 4th district Dougherty County Commission seat has been an unusual experience. It’s been both good and bad. It greatly limits the need, time and expense required in a contested race, but you feel somewhat left out of the political process, and to some extent ignored by the media,” Lyle said.

“What it has allowed me to do is shift from talking about myself and what I think about issues to spending time with folks to find out what their thoughts and concerns are,” he said.

Lyle has also spent a good portion of that time in the classroom with the Association County Commissioners of Georgia and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government through the University of Georgia becoming a certified county commissioner. Lyle lacks only two classes before he becomes a certified county commissioner.

He’s also managed to meet with nearly every department within county government –25 so far including the judges, district attorney and other constitutional officers — to hear their concerns and learn about how they contribute to the Dougherty County government.

And with the swearing of his oath this week, Lyle is officially started pushing his agenda which he shared with The Herald this week.

That agenda has Lyle’s conservative nature at its core, especially as it pertains to taxes and fiscal management, two things he intends to work with his fellow commissioners on as Dougherty County begins its preparations for what some have already said will be an unprecedented year in terms of challenges for the commission.

Lyle will pick up his predecessor’s seat on the county’s finance committee — the arm of the commission that will, along with the county administrator and finance director, decide what programs to fund before making a budget presentation to the full commission.

First on the list is to cut the government, and forget the fat. Lyle says the commission needs to be prepared to cut to the bone.

“I think it’s going to get really nasty this year,” Lyle said. “I don’t think we’ve experienced a really austere budget. After having worked for DNR at the state level where we’ve had to close parks and totally change the way we’ve done business, I’ve seen what cutting really is.”

Lyle is also a fan of zero-based budgeting, which he intends to push with his fellow commissioners.

Whatever budget the committee comes up with will ultimately be paid for by property taxes; taxes Lyle believes are too high and too cumbersome for many in Dougherty County to pay.

Lyle said he plans to work with County Administrator Richard Crowdis and Tax Director Denver Hooten to implement a few changes to the local tax system that he thinks would be beneficial, including allowing taxes to be collected in partial payments twice a year rather than in one lump sum in December and to work towards freezing values of homes for tax purposes of seniors.

“We need to give the people in this county hope,” Lyle said. “Hope that we can do something about taxes and do something about the size and scope of government.”

Also on his list is to pursue a public vote for consolidation, which is something the county commission has offered split votes on since 2005; create a citizens academy to give the public knowledge as to the inner workings of its government and to complete his training with the state.

Lyle has been elected to fill the seat left by Chuck Lingle, a retired veterinarian who retired from the commission when his term expired Dec. 31.

A Vietnam veteran, Lyle has his masters in public administration and spent 30 years working with the state Department of Natural Resources where he started as a park ranger and retired as chief of operations.