Houston County Post 2 candidate: Tim Riley

HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — Only a few short weeks in 2022, Houston County Commissioner Chairman Tommy Stalnaker and Commissioner Jay Walker, III, announced that they would not be seeking re-election. Following their announcements, Post 4 Commissioner Dan Perdue announced that he would be stepping down from his place on the board so he could seek a campaign for the Post 1, Chairman seat. Following the final day of qualifying, only one candidate qualified for Post 1: Dan Perdue. A number of candidates, however, qualified for Posts 2 and 4. Here is your final Post 2 candidate: Dr. Tim Riley.

Riley spent his youth in Warner Robins — Northside high School was his stomping grounds. After graduating he went on to receive his Bachelor Degree from Mercer University, a Master’s Degree from Georgia State University, and his Doctorate degree from Clark Atlanta University. As a nationally licensed professional counselor, Riley later worked in the state prison system as a Mental Health Counselor. While living in Atlanta, Riley served as Assistant Commissioner to Post 6 in DeKalb County. Later, Riley moved to Hawaii and became the vice-mayor of Waianae, Hawaii. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Riley returned home to care for family, and hopes to serve his community.

“When I’m elected, I’ll be able to hit the ground running — their will be no on the job training,” Riley said. “I know exactly what to do and how to get it started.”

Through his years of experience and lived knowledge, Riley believes he is the best candidate for the County Commissioner, Post 2 seat. Considering the booming growth of Houston County, Riley says there is work to be done.

“We are not the sleepy little eight to ten thousand population town that was here back in the 60s, we’re now every bit equal, in my opinion, to Macon-Bibb.”

With experience in large-scale infrastructure and city planning, Riley has a number of key-focuses in his platform: Public transportation for the estimated 180,000 people living in the county, support from the county government for the Houston County Board of Education, and improved, proactive infrastructure for public health. Additionally, during his time in office, Riley hopes to serve some of the communities longest standing members by ensuring police and other first responders are supported, while simultaneously serving the community’s youth by bringing in new developments such as performance centers, downtown areas — Riley even went so far to say that he’d like to support Warner Robins in their efforts to revitalize Watson Boulevard.

Although Riley does have several ideas for the county’s growth, his goal is to weigh each all of his constituents needs and wants when making a decision.

“I believe in an open-door policy,” Riley said. “Throughout my political and professional career, I’ve always had a policy where, if you need to talk about something, you can come and find me and we’ll talk about it.

“I have a history of standing up and representing people that are under represented and disenfranchised. I don’t necessarily have to agree with you on your particular issue, but I will make sure your thoughts and desires are heard. I don’t care who you are in Houston County, if you have an opinion, your opinion counts, and your opinion needs to be heard.”

Finally, Riley told The Journal how he see’s the county moving forward if he were to take the Post 2 seat.

“We’re going to move forward, one way or another,” Riley said. “Whether it’s slowly or rapidly — we’ve got to be proactive and decide the direction we want to go, whether we want to become a county of cookie cutter homes or a county of traditional family values, or if we want to incorporate it all. I think we’re eclectic enough in Houston County now so that we’re able to address and serve everybody’s needs — that’s where I will do a good job. I’ll make sure everyone is heard, and I’ll get the issues presented to us addressed, whether it’s tax relief for seniors and veterans, or an entertainment venue that’s wants to be put in Perry or Warner Robins. I’m the guy that’s going to be able to get that accomplished.”

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