Meet the Warner Robins Council Post 4 candidates

Kevin Lashley

Kevin Lashley is asking for residents to vote him as the next councilman in Warner Robins Post 4. Lashley was born and raised in Warner Robins and is a graduate of Warner Robins High School. After high school graduation, he went on to earn a degree in horticulture from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. He then spent years building and maintaining golf courses such as Jennings Mill Country Club. In 1997, Lashley began working at his father’s insurance agency and did so until 2018. For the last five of those years, Lashley bought the business from his father and owned it. In February, he sold his business and began work as the project manager for Houston County Servpro.

“I want to bring back transparency for the City of Warner Robins as well as move it forward in a positive light,” Lashley said. “I spent a year as a member on the Downtown Develop Authority and Redevelopment Authority for the city. I remember from day one when we were presented several projects. A year later those projects took a complete 180 turn and were not what we had originally discussed or voted on. Other things happened and then our chairman Sam Evans resigns. I asked him not to, but when he told me what was said to him, I supported his decision. Members of the executive committee, that included two council members, told Sam, that they were going to do what they wanted no matter what, that was it for me.”

Lashley said from his time as a member on both authorities, it became clear that the current council was operating off an old emergency provision that was put into the city’s charter when former mayor Donald Walker died of suicide in 2009.

“The current council doesn’t want to relinquish power and they feel that they are in control, and every idea they come up with is the best one in the planet, and it’s not,” Lashley said. “Also, how they treat the average citizen is not good. For example, when one councilman expressed that the city’s budget is too complicated for an average citizen to understand, therefore they won’t be explaining it, it’s just not right. I want every citizen to have a seat at the table and understand what’s going on with their tax dollars. That’s why it is critical that we have a forensic audit done because there is a lot of dollars missing. I will be 100% honest, up front and sincere. I will be respectful and I will work for the people. Do I feel called to this, no, but I do feel a responsibility to give back to the community that has raised me. If you know me, you know where my heart and mind are.”

Early voting for the Nov. 5 election ends Friday Nov. 1. Warner Robins registered voters are to cast their early vote at City Hall in the Carolyn Robbins Conference Center. Hours for early voting are Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. On Election Day, voters will cast their ballots at their assigned precincts. For more information regarding voter registration, go online to www.mvp.sos.ga.gov or call 478-929-1133.

Tim Thomas

Warner Robins Councilman Tim Thomas wants to continue to serve in Post 4.

Thomas was born and raised in Warner Robins. He attended Miller Elementary, Warner Robins Junior High and graduated from Warner Robins High School. After graduation, he attended Valdosta State University and Fort Valley State University, and then went into multiple business ventures including construction, investment properties and was the former owner of Parkway Bonding. Thomas is also a registered mediator for the state of Georgia, a member of the Warner Robins Development Authority and has served as a councilman for Warner Robins Post 4 for the last six years.

“When you’re first elected it takes a good year and a half just to get your bearings about you,” Thomas said. “No matter how much you think you know, you realize you really know nothing. I was raised around local government as my father was in office. Again, as much as I was listening to him at the supper table, when you’re in the seat it’s just totally different. Now that I have been in office for six years, I feel as though I have gained a lot of experience, I’ve kept promises that I have made and I want to continue serving my city.”

Thomas said one of the first promises he made when he was first elected was bringing industry to Warner Robins.

“Every election we hear candidates say we need to bring industry to Warner Robins, however, after I was elected, I found out how difficult this was to accomplish. Attracting industry is a highly competitive market. Companies are searching for shovel ready sites. Warner Robins did not have large tracts of land nor utilities or the fiber system needed for industries, so we were at a disadvantage competing for companies in a very competitive arena. The Warner Robins/Peach County Joint Development Authority purchased 432 acres of land. We chose this area because of its proximity to I-75. We landed our first international company out of Canada- Pure Flavor’s Distribution Center. The way the deal was structured with Pure Flavor is- we built the building on 7 acres and they are paying the lease. That agreement paid off (free and clear) 425 acres for future development at this industrial site. Since then, 5 additional lots have been sold.

The way the deal was structured with the City of Warner Robins and Peach County is a 70/30 split with Warner Robins obligated to 30% of the cost. This equals out to a fraction of one tax mil. This was a very solid deal for the taxpayers of Warner Robins and Peach County- as we are a city in two counties (Houston/Peach). Warner Robins will generate 100% revenue for its enterprise fund off of the entire industrial site (432 acres).”

Thomas said he is also proud of completing the passive park in his post, The Walk at Sandy Run, which took about four and a half years to complete.

“When I make a promise, I keep it, and if I can’t fulfill it, I am honest with the citizens,” Thomas said. “I have the trust of the council and I trust them. We really work hard to do what is best for the city. Lately, I’ve had a lot of people ask me why aren’t you responding to the person running against you. I do not attack my opponent. We are either going to win this race with class or lose with class. I don’t see the need to attack people, especially, at the local levels because at the end of the day, we see each other around town at the restaurants, stores, etc. People think they have to attack just to win and I’m not going to do that.”

Early voting for the Nov. 5 election ends Friday November 1. Warner Robins registered voters are to cast their early vote at City Hall in the Carolyn Robbins Conference Center. Hours for early voting are Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. On Election Day, voters will cast their ballots at their assigned precincts. For more information regarding voter registration, go online to www.mvp.sos.ga.gov or call 478-929-1133.