A more diverse look for elected officials

Published 10:28 pm Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Looking back over Tuesday’s local election results it’s evident that the makeup of our elected boards is starting to look more like the people they represent.

A win by Tyree Goodlett, a newcomer to politics, to the Dalton City Council reflects that outlook — he is comparatively young and is the first African-American and minority to be elected to that board. To his credit, on election night after his win, he downplayed his “firsts” and instead emphasized that he intends to “be there for the whole community.”

In other Dalton city elections, Denise Wood kept her seat on the council, and Pablo Perez, a Hispanic, ran unopposed for a seat on the Dalton Public Schools Board of Education.

Speaking of the school board, it has long represented a broader spectrum of the community than some other elected bodies. Tulley Johnson, who is African-American, has been serving on the board for two terms and before him, Minnie Marsh, who also is black, served her elected terms.

Although women, who make up more than half the population, are not currently on the school board, they are no stranger to other area governmental boards. On Tuesday, Joan Dooley beat a challenger to retain a post on the Eton City Council. She has been a force in that city’s government since the late 1980s.

Over in Varnell, another woman, Andrea Gordy, was elected to the city council. This was her first incursion into politics.

In our region, women have made advancements into elected and appointed offices, including many judgeships and in Murray County, a woman holds the highest elected office of sole commissioner.

In many areas around the country, and particularly in the South, so-called “good old boy” networks of usually older white males run for and are elected to offices.

We think that at least in our area, voters are more willing to overlook a candidate’s race or gender and instead concentrate on the person’s character and stance on issues, thus ensuring a more balanced representation.