A trio of candidates for the County Commission District 2 special election coming up in November sat down on Thursday evening (October 1) for an opportunity to reach voters with their thoughts on how the view where Polk County needs to go in the future, and they all agree on one thing: economic development is the key.

How each feels the county should get there differs.

Commissioner Linda Liles, who was appointed back in April to fill the seat, was joined by Jody Bentley Smith and Glenn Robinson for the evening event (which you can still watch here, but note you’ll want to use headphones) organized and hosted by the Polk County Chamber of Commerce for the virtual event for those watching from home. Chris Roberson and Ricky Clark, who are also candidates in the race, were unable to attend.

Moderator Jordan Hubbard provided the candidates with 12 different topics to talk about during the event, but what became clear was that each felt a focus on providing greater opportunities for Polk County – and therefore growing the tax base at the same time – will solve a lot of the ongoing problems locally, from job growth to infrastructure improvement.

The trio had different ways of getting there, with Liles and Smith generally agreeing that economic development can only occur with additional focus on attracting industry during the night, though with Liles focused more generally on the subject and Smith looking toward the ways that the DAPC and Chamber can attract businesses large and small to the county, as well as growth in tourism utilizing the Silver Comet Trail as a main factor.

She reflected on a recent meeting of cyclists from Alpharetta during the forum, and how they are an example of the kind of economic growth Polk County would love to have more regularly: people who spend their money here and go home afterward feeling like they got something out of the bargain.

However, Smith also talked about some of the negative impacts of the trail and how they are being handled as well with it attracting some crime elements to use it for their own nefarious purposes, including break-ins at her own business.

With Robinson, economic development is tied to the largest moneymaker in the county currently in agriculture. The farmers and livestock producers in Polk County do make up the largest engine of economic development in the county, and Robinson said it is his belief that a lot of growth can come from providing agriculture with its own center for a variety of purposes within the center of the county. He has previously proposed the $1.2 million center to be built in Fish Creek before the county previously without any luck in getting it started.

Robinson used the example of the agriculture center he envisions several times during the forum as a way to provide a source of economic development for the county in the future.

When commissioners were asked about how to handle the Grady Road Landfill, Robinson said he was a vocal opponent of the site and wants to “Dump the Dump.” That is easier said than done, and Liles said during her time on the Commission so far progress is being seen with new management on site in solving a lot of the ongoing problems that sent the County into a legal battle with Waste Industries, now owned by GFL Environmental.

During her opportunity to answer, Smith also pointed out the contract as it stands would be difficult to break based on the way it is written, and believes it gives a greater advantage to the operators than the county who owns the site sitting off Highway 278.

All also agreed on the need to preserve Polk County’s natural beauty as much as possible for future generations, and the need to improve the Polk County Volunteer Fire Department, among other issues.

Check out the whole of the forum in the link above for more on the questions and answers from candidates, and be informed when you head to the polls in the weeks to come.