Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009

Steve Earles: I can do better than a politician

Ask Steve Earles why he is running for the vacant Georgia House District 129 seat and wait for the answer.

“I feel like I can do a better job than a politician,” Earles said. “I feel like I have earned the right to represent the people. I want to serve the people without political conflicts.”

Earles, 56, is a Pine Mountain businessman who has played around the fringes of politics before jumping into the pool when Vance Smith vacated the office four months ago to become commissioner of the Department of Transportation.

A licensed massage therapist who owns wellness centers in Pine Mountain and LaGrange, Earles was appointed by Gov. Sonny Perdue to serve on the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy.

Four men — Earles, former legislator and Hamilton businessman Earl Davis; Columbus publishing consultant and former radio/television talk show host Jerry Luquire; and Smith’s younger son, Kip — are fighting it out for the opportunity to serve the final year of the term. The election is for the district that includes parts of Muscogeee, Harris and Troup counties is Nov. 3.

While he is a Republican and has been active in the Troup County Tea Party movement, Earles said he would not be a rubber stamp for the party if he is elected.

“I understand you have to compromise and negotiate with people of different opinions,” he said. “… But people here want someone to resist against the power in Atlanta.”

He points to the new Kia Motors assembly plant in West Point, the heart of District 129.

“Kia was a great idea,” he said of the plant that will bring 2,500 direct jobs and up to 10,000 indirect jobs to the region. “But with good ideas, come a lot of side effects that can impact people. The property owners around Kia have had their property taxes triple. And Kia is not having to pay any property taxes for 10 years. The property owners are frustrated because they can’t sell, they can’t develop and they are paying triple in property taxes.”

He calls that a small side effect of the progress, but an important one.

“These are good jobs and a good industry, but we have to find a balance for property tax payers who are supporting the services and schools,” Earles said.

Earles was the contractor who operated the historic Liberty Bell pool in FDR State Park. The pool was closed this year by the state because of costly upgrades to the drain system.

“The Liberty Bell pool gave me insight into how the state works,” Earles said. “The Liberty Bell pool was a point of pride and the only public pool in four counties.”

Earles said he would be an independent voice for the district.

“I am not aligning myself with outside lobbyists and special interests that don’t reflect the people of this district,” Earles said.