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Bruce Harkness speaks at the Farm Bureau political forum.
Habersham County Vice-Chairman Bruce Harkness will face a challenge on May 21 from commercial real estate developer Wade Rhodes for his seat representing District 4 on the Board of Commissioners.
Harkness is finishing his first term after two terms on the Demorest City Council, and he is in his third year as vice-chairman.
The Demorest attorney said he wants to run again because the county has major needs that must be addressed.
“We have a lot that has to be done, and I think I am building a consensus and a team where we can get things done,” Harkness said. “It has taken a while to get to know the ins and outs and ropes of things, but I think I know now what the county’s needs are and how we can bring some solutions.”
Harkness said the commissioners are working to make sure the designated SPLOST projects – including the new animal shelter, the public safety radio system and the new EMS headquarters down the road – are completed over time. The current commissioners had to restructure the SPLOST budgeting, which was grossly underestimated in 2020 by the previous board.
“I would not support these projects if it was not done with sales tax,” Harkness said. “The only time I will be in favor of any tax is renewing the SPLOST (in 2026) to finish the projects that we have started.”
Harkness also said it is important to work toward getting some additional land near the landfill from the U.S. Forest Service to expand its life.
Harkness said it is well known that the county needs a new jail, but he said perhaps there are ways to delay that high expense.
“Maybe we need to remodel or renovate the one that we have until we can afford to build a new jail,” Harkness said. “The one we have has some major issues, and we can’t let it rot down like the old courthouse up there.”
Harkness describes himself as a conservative, Christian Republican.
“Those are my values,” he said. “I have lived here all my life, I want to fight for the people here. I am going to ask the hard questions and stand up for what I think is right. I am not a yes man.”
Harkness embraces his role as a “contrarian” on the board.
“If I have to ask questions and I don’t get the information I need, I am not going to vote for something just to go along,” he said.
Harkness has voted against tax increases multiple times during his time on the board.
“I think it’s morally wrong for politicians to ask the people here to raise their taxes to build new roads and extend water lines to get people to move here,” Harkness said. “We need to take care of the people here. We have people living north of Clarkesville where they don’t have city water. Some of the folks there have seen their wells run dry. We need to work with the cities to drought-proof this county. We can’t tax people to death. I have to live within my means, and the government needs to do the same thing.”
Harkness said he wants to defend Habersham County and its citizens.
“This is our slice of Heaven, and if we don’t protect it, it will be gone,” Harkness said. “I want my children and grandchildren to be able to live here and enjoy it for a long time.”