Incumbent Holt seeks third term

Daniel Chesser-The Auburn Villager J. Mathan Holt is also the owner of University Station Motor Coach and RV Resort.

The District 1 seat on the Lee County Commission is being challenged in the upcoming March 13 Republican Primaries before voting season this fall.

Incumbent J. Mathan Holt was elected to be one of five County Commissioners in 2004 and ran again unopposed in 2008.

"I am running again this time for a couple reasons," Holt said. "First, I have had many people ask me to run again and it has been my goal to serve the people in this district.

"For the past two terms that I've been on the Commission we have continued to be fiscally responsible."

Auburn City Councilmember, Sheila Eckman, of Ward 2, is putting her name in the ring as a Republican candidate for Holt's role on the commission.

No Democrats are in the running for the District 1 seat on the County Commission.

"I am a conservative who does not want to spend the tax payers money except for a good reason," Holt said. "Therefore we (the Commission) have been able to keep a balanced budget, we've been able to cut things instead increase spending and borrowing money."

Holt recognizes that the current economic times are hard and money has to be borrowed occasionally, but only when it makes sense.

"There have been some indicators that the economy is growing, but fragile," Holt said. "We have been able, to this point, to keep from laying anybody off, implementing some kind of furlough program, but we haven't been able to give any raises.

"I think most people understand that in this economy people would rather have a job right now than have a raise, and everybody needs a raise especially in this economy."

Holt would rather eliminate certain programs instead of employees.

"One of the policies we abolished almost two years ago was the 'Dirt-road paving policy,'" Holt said. "When I first got on the Commission I did pave a few roads, but the longer I was in office I assessed the roads in the county especially in my district.

"I found that spending money to pave dirt roads did not appear to me to be the best choice to spend the county funds at that time; we've got so many existing paved roads that need to be repaved and a lot more people travel on our paved roads than they do on dirt roads."

Holt acknowledges the Commission is made up of five members and is a group effort.

"The County Commissioners who are there now, we have worked together for a long time and are like-minded in our thinking," Holt said. "It is not real radical or real liberal and with today's economic situation, the most important thing to the citizens out here is the economy.

"So we don't want to adopt any policies that could hurt the economy at this time like raising taxes or fees with the exception of a couple things."

One exception implemented in Holt's time is a raise in county court fees. If found guilty in court, the fees is higher than if found not guilty.

"All that money goes to the court system and the county," Holt said. "That has allowed us to do some necessary repairs to the building and increase operating budget for the court system."

Another accomplishment Holt is proud of in his time on the Commission is paving the way for a countywide planning department.

"The county planning department is not near as stringent as the city's," Holt said. "The purpose is to not have as much government regulations.

"I oppose unreasonable government regulations."

Holt owns and operates University Station Motor Coach and RV Resort on Highway 14 in Auburn and has been a local businessman for nearly 40 years.

"I know what it is like to run a business, meet a payroll, take care of employees, take care of family and pay bills all at the same time," Holt said. "Anybody who has been in business a while has those struggles from time to time without the government imposing additional taxes and fees."

Holt believes the commission should act with business theories in mind even though the business being run is not for profit.

When it comes to campaigning for re-election Holt's tactics are simple.

"My plans are to just tell the people I am interested in serving another term on the County Commission," Holt said. "I very am pleased with the things we have accomplished the last two terms, and there again I don't take personal credit for all of that, but I am proud to be a part of it.

"My strategy is really not a strategy; I am going to tell the people that I am willing to serve again and if they want me to represent them again, they can go vote for me."