CHAIRMAN ON UPSON’S LEGAL ORGAN.

AT  TUESDAY’S MEETING,  UPSON  COUNTY  COMMISSION  CHAIRMAN  MAURICE  RAINES   RELEASED  THIS  STATEMENT  IN  REFERENCE  TO  ONGOING  MISGIVINGS ABOUT  THE  TRANSFER  OF  THE  LEGAL ORGAN  DESIGNATION  FROM  THE  THOMASTON  TIMES  TO  THE  UPSON  BEACON. “ THE  BOARD  OF  COMMISSIONERS OF  UPSON COUNTY FULLY  AND  CONSISTENTLY  SUPPORTS THE  CLERK OF  SUPERIOR  COURT,  SHERIFF,  AND PROBATE JUDGE  IN   THEIR  DECISION TO  MAKE A  CHANGE OF   LEGAL  ORGAN.AT  NO TIME HAVE  ANY  MEMBERS OF  THE BOARD BEEN INVOLVED IN  THIS PROCESS, AS WE ARE LIMITED  IN  OUR  STATUTORY  ABILITIES  BY  THE  STATE    CONSTITUTION. THE  AUTHORITY TO  DESIGNATE AN  ENTITY THE  OFFICIAL  LEGAL  ORGAN RESIDES ENTIRELY WITH THE  THREE  ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT  WERE  INVOLVED IN  THE  DECISION-MAKING  PROCESS. I  WOULD  LIKE TO  THANK  THE  VARIOUS ELECTED  OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD FOR KEEPING THE  STANDARD OF  PROFESSIONALISM  HIGH, AND  NOT  MAKING COMMENTS  OR  SHARING  OPINIONS ON  THIS  MATTER. IN  RESPONSE  TO  INQUIRIES ABOUT  MY  RELATIONSHIP WITH  MEMBERS  OF  THE  STAFF OF  THE UPSON  BEACON, I  WOULD  LIKE TO  ENCOURAGE ALL PERSONS  TO  STOP  BY  MY OFFICE  AND  TALK WITH  ME  THE  WAY  I  DO WITH  DEBBIE LORD OF  THE UPSON  BEACON, OR  ASHLEY BILES OF  THE  THOMASTON  TIMES  OR  DAVE  PIPER  OF  WTGA. I  BELIEVE  IN,  AND  OPERATE, AN  OPEN  GOVERNMENT. ANY  COMMENTS THAT  MAY HAVE  SURFACED ABOUT  MY  INVOLVEMENT IN  THIS  OR  ANY OTHER  MEDIA-RELATED  MATTER  ARE  FALSE AND  UNAPPRECIATED.  AS  CHAIRMAN OF  THE  BOARD, I  WILL  WORK WITH ANY  AND  ALL  MEDIA OUTLETS, AND ONLY  ASK THE  VERY  BEST OF THE NEWSPAPER THAT IS  DESIGNATED OUR  COMMUNITY’S LEGAL ORGAN. AS  FOR  MY  PERSONAL  INVOLVEMENT IN  THE DECISION-MAKING  PROCESS AND  ANY  QUESTION AS TO  WHETHER I  USED MY  POSITION  TO  INFLUENCE THE  CHANGE, THE  ANSWER IS  A  RESOUNDING  NO.  I  WOULD  ASK  THAT  ALL  MEDIA  OUTLETS DISCONTINUE THEIR  UNCONSTRUCTIVE   ACTIONS  AND  REFOCUS THEIR  EFFORTS ON  HELPING TO PROMOTE THE PROGRESS THAT IS  BEING  MADE  COUNTY-WIDE. THE NEGATIVE COMMENTING DOESN’T SERVE  THEIR  READERS OR  THE  COMMUNITY AT-LARGE WHEN INDUSTRIAL OR  COMMERCIAL  PROSPECTS  USE OUR  LOCAL  MEDIA FOR  RESEARCH  AND  DEVELOPMENT  PURPOSES. IN   CONCLUSION, I  LOOK  FOWARD TO WORKING WITH  THE  THOMASTON  TIMES,UPSON  BEACON,WTGA  AND  WTUC-TV IN  2011. BY  BANDING  TOGETHER,WE  CAN ALL ENSURE THAT  TEAM UPSON  CONTINUES  TO GROW  AND  PROSPER.”