Early voting has started for Effingham residents who are being asked to consider another penny-per-dollar sales tax for education and Guyton voters who are choosing a mayor and deciding about alcohol sales.
Effingham County Election Supervisor Olivia Morgan said Monday that 43 people had cast ballots on the Education Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) – 27 in person in early voting and 16 by absentee ballot.
Early voting on ESPLOST is being held at the Elections Office at 284 Ga. 119 S. in Springfield, across the street from the jail. It’s the only site where early ballots on ESPLOST can be cast in person.
Early voting continues from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, through Oct. 30. There is no Saturday voting this election.
Voters also may cast ballots at their regular polling locations from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, which is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
All Effingham County registered voters are eligible to cast ballots for the ESPLOST, which would collect up to $60 million for such projects as a new Rincon Elementary School and the new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Academy, which will more than double the size of the Effingham College and Career Academy.
It would be the fifth five-year period for ESPLOST in Effingham. The current ESPLOST expires in June 2017. So far, voters have never voted down an extra penny for education.
Guyton election
The only other voting in Effingham on Nov. 3 will be in Guyton, where voters will be asked to choose between incumbent Mayor Michael Garvin and challenger Jeff Lariscy.
Garvin works for Georgia Pacific and Lariscy works for the Effingham County school system.
Guyton voters also will be asked if they support Sunday package sales and Sunday sales of alcohol by the drink.
Guyton voters can vote in the city election early at Guyton City Hall from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Oct. 30. City Hall is closed for lunch from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. each day.
About 15 people had cast ballots in the Guyton election as of Monday, according to City Clerk Lauree Morris.
Guyton voters also may cast absentee ballots or vote in the city election from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election day, Nov. 3, at the Leisure Service Room, next to the Civic Center on Magnolia Street.
Registered voters who live in Guyton who want to vote on ESPLOST will have to go to the county to cast that ballot. ESPLOST is separate from the Guyton city election.
Elections are not being held Nov. 3 in Springfield or Rincon, because the incumbents on those city councils have no opposition.
To check the status of your registration or request an absentee ballot, visit http://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do or contact the Effingham County Elections Office at 912-754-8030 or Guyton City Hall at 912-772-3353.
Guyton mayor
Here’s some information about the men running for Mayor in Guyton:
Michael Garvin has served the city for about 20 years, starting with planning and zoning, then six years as a council member and 10 years as mayor.
“Guyton has had great accomplishments over the years,” Garvin said. “We’ve paved all the dirt roads, extended our water and sewer system, started a police department and extended our sidewalks and walking trail.”
Garvin said one of the major issues the city faces now is wastewater treatment. He said the city has requests from owners of about 350 subdivision lots for water and sewer service.
“I believe that by Guyton having its own treatment plant, we will be able to control our own growth and have more control over cost that could be passed down to our citizens,” Garvin said.
He asked voters to approve the alcohol sales amendments, saying it’s necessary for Guyton to be competitive in the business community.
“During my tenure serving the city of Guyton I’ve shown my commitment to the city and its citizens,” Garvin said. “The progress this city has made in the last 10 years speaks for itself.”
Go to effinghamnow.com to see a statement from Garvin about why people should choose him again as mayor.
Lariscy served on the Guyton planning and zoning board from 2003 to 2006 and on the city council 2006 to 2010.
During that time, the city completed the multipurpose trail along the rail bed, resurfacing of numerous roads and purchase of land for a wastewater treatment plant.
Lariscy said major issues facing the city now include the need for a long-term solution for wastewater treatment.
Lariscy said Guyton has needed a long-term solution for wastewater treatment for many years. “Many options have been considered, but the most cost effective solution that will allow Guyton to grow independently was to construct its own plant,” he said. “All other solutions put Guyton in a position of dependency on another entity as they are now. This has not proven to benefit the citizens of Guyton and limits Guyton's possibilities.”
Lariscy said there are pros and cons to alcohol sales. If the resolutions don’t pass, Guyton may lose some potential businesses moving to the city, he said.
“However, I do not believe this will make a significant impact on the local economy,” Lariscy said. He said he will vote against the two resolutions.
Go to effinghamnow.com to read more about Lariscy’s experience.