Meet the Candidates

Each week, we will be interviewing candidates for the upcoming election in November. This week’s feature includes candidates running for the office of Swainsboro City Council – District 1, Dr. DJ Davis and Sue Bragg. Attempted contact was made with Luis Machado, third running candidate for District 1 position, but was unsuccessful.

Sue Bragg
Candidacy: City Council District 1 – Swainsboro
Q: Are you a native of Emanuel County? If so, what city did you grow up in?
A: No
Q: You have qualified to run for Swainsboro City Council District 1. A requirement is that you live in Swainsboro. Do you live in Swainsboro?
A: Yes
Q: Have you ever served in a public office before?
A: Yes
Q: What do you think would be the most difficult part of serving as city council representative for District 1?
A: Being able to clean up Ward 1 in order to make it more appealing to not only visitors but the citizens who live and work here.  
Q: Do you think it’s fair that people in Swainsboro have to pay county taxes as well as city taxes?
A: It is important first to know what the county money is going towards. Understanding how the money is being spent needs to be a priority. If the funds are utilized to provide a service, can we do without the service or do we look at ways to make those funds beneficial to e citizens.
Q: How would you go about attracting more industry and retail to Swainsboro?
A: Perhaps the most important way is to make the area more appealing visually as well as by providing tax breaks, public works incentives or just by being creative and coming up with things that appeal to business owners.
Q: Are you aware that there are over 250 jobs that are unfilled in Swainsboro today?
A: It is not a secret that there are many jobs available in our area. It is also not surprising that we have a high poverty rate. There are several factors that play into this. One is the federal government and the many changes that have been made, also at the state level, due to the pandemic. But it is time that WE, the citizens of Swainsboro come together, get back to work and help our community thrive.
Q: It’s been said that the city could save money by not hiring outside companies for water and sewer operations. Do you have any data or factual information to prove that?
A: While I do not have any data to prove or disprove this, a fact is that when the city did contract for these services, the city was not responsible for purchasing and maintaining the equipment that is needed for the service. I have long felt that with an outside company providing services for a limited time, the city would be able to one day take over these services.
Q: The city recently hired a code enforcement officer to handle the problem of abandoned cars and houses. What more do you think can be done when property owners won’t clean up themselves?

A: This has been an issue for quite some time. One way to remedy this is for the city to allow properties to be auctioned off for failure to pay taxes as is outlined by the city charter. Also, it should be fair to everyone. If one person doesn’t clean up his property yet a house owned by the city is violating the ordinance, shouldn’t there be consequences for all involved? It needs to be fair to all. Policy needs to be followed and the consequences should be that eventually, if you do not clean up your property, the city reserves the right to one in and clean it up at the homeowners expense.
DR. DJ Davis

Q: Are you a native of Emanuel County? If so, what city did you grow up in?
I am from Clermont, FL. My family and I have lived in Swainsboro for nearly six years. My wife and I have three children with one on the way.

Q: You have qualified to run for Swainsboro City Council District 1. A requirement is that you live in Swainsboro. Do you live in Swainsboro?
A: Yes
Q: Have you ever served in a public office before?
A: I served on the Swainsboro Downtown Development Authority for three years.
Q: What do you think would be the most difficult part of serving as city council representative for District 1?
A: Establishing a healthy budget.
Q: Do you think it’s fair that people in Swainsboro have to pay county taxes as well as city taxes?
A: I have a home and a practice in Swainsboro city limits, I understand the feeling. I believe that we can better the millage rage and lower taxes if we can get everyone to see the long-term benefit.
Q: How would you go about attracting more industry and retail to Swainsboro?
A: Asses the millage rate and provide opportunities for businesses to thrive.
Q: Are you aware that there are over 250 jobs that are unfilled in Swainsboro today?
A: I did not know the exact number. Yes, I understand that there are jobs to fill.
Q: It’s been said that the city could save money by not hiring outside companies for water and sewer operations. Do you have any data or factual information to prove that?
A: I believe that any outside company would be looking to make a large profit to handle matters such as water and sewer. If we could hire within the community and have more opportunities for more jobs and an improved budget, this would create a win-win scenario.
Q: The city recently hired a code enforcement officer to handle the problem of abandoned cars and houses. What more do you think can be done when property owners won’t clean up themselves?
A: We would find the ethical and legal route to solve this issue and use the best option with clarity and the right expectations