Mike Crane's Campaign Announcement

Southern Party of Georgia candidate announces campaign

Mike Crane is pleased to announce his candidacy for Fannin County Board of Commissioners, chairman as a candidate of the Southern Party of Fannin County.

In today’s world our government at federal, State and local levels has lost many of the founding principles of our Founding Fathers. The goal of the Southern Party is to offer a real choice to voters, one that is based upon returning to the principles upon which our great nation was founded.

One of our founding principles is that elected officials serve to represent the entire population of their district. Fannin County has many admirable leaders, both in and out of office capable expressing their position on issues. This is leadership and I commend all who are willing to stand up for what they believe. However all to often, a small number decide controversial issues, such as the animal control and courthouse/jail last year, without reaching a consensus of the citizens. In the past, Fannin County citizens have had to choose which of the opposing sides they want to make these decisions. But in this election there will be a real choice. If given the opportunity to serve I would settle truly controversial issues by a vote of the affected citizens. Officials are elected to represent the entire population and not to dictate to them.

On fiscal matters our county is facing a period of high debt and has already joined the State and National trend of increasing taxes. Not only have we recently increased sales taxes but our property tax digest increased 16% just last year alone. Unless this trend is reversed it will have permanent effects on life in Fannin County. If this trend continues for the next 19 years of our current debt we will see people having to sell their property and the higher taxes and lack of incentive funds will make recruiting industry even harder than it is now. But any tax increase over true inflation should be voted on. Government has to recognize that the money that it spends is the citizen’s money and has the responsibility to ask for what it takes. After getting permission, it should be spent wisely and justly.

I was born in Chattanooga and have lived in Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia and Florida before moving to Morganton three years ago. I am married to Pam Crane and both are active members of Morganton Baptist Church. Two of my three children and two of my six grandchildren live in Blue Ridge. My ancestors were the original settlers in Hanging Dog, just outside Murphy, in the 1830’s.

published in the Basin Prospector and News Observer in March, 2002

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