Selling Solutions: Ninth District Candidate Hunter Bicknell Begins Campaign

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“They’re both talkers; I’m a solutions person.” A new candidate recently entered the race for the Ninth District Congressional Seat. Now, in addition to Rep. Doug Collins (R-Gainesville) and Conservative Radio Talk Show Host Martha Zoller, the race includes Jackson County Commission Chairman Hunter Bicknell. While Collins and Zoller go point for point over whose type of experience matters most, Bicknell seems to offer a solutions oriented approach, ala Gingrich. Bicknell too has experience, but it appears to be that of applied experience manifesting in clear accomplishments.

When Bicknell visited Gilmer County last Friday, December 2nd, Gilmer voters sought to hear about the Chairman’s experience and solutions at the local level, but also about his solution-oriented approach to both national and international affairs.

In the backroom at The Davis House restaurant in Ellijay, Bicknell spoke and answered questions before a group of Gilmer voters over breakfast and steaming coffee. However, before the group asked the perennial questions concerning the pressing issues of the day, Bicknell gave a brief biography and introduction.

“I had my first, permanent regular job at the age of 12 out of necessity,”

he explained. Although a bit curt, the statement set the theme for Bicknell’s life and career. After graduating high school in 63’ and then earning his bachelor’s and masters degree, he rose in the ranks of Sperry Hutchinson Company, where he soon became Vice President of Marketing for the company’s Southeast division. Following his time at Sperry Hutchinson, he opened a string of sandwich shops, which he eventually sold and, later worked for a company called Sky Climber. Bicknell then retired from Sky Climber, making the transition from private to public sector. In October, 2004, he was appointed to Jackson County Water and Sewer Authority and was then elected Commission Chairman in 2009. Bicknell said he plans to serve out his term, which expires next year.

Now, that the group had its formal introduction, it was ready to look deeper into his thoughts.

“I wasn’t comfortable with voting for either one of them, because they’re both talkers; I’m a solutions person,”

he said, giving his rationale for entering the race.

“I provide solutions based on experience, knowledge, and an understanding of our economy and government,”

he added. What kind of solutions? the group wondered. Bicknell said he was able to help reduce the County Budget from 42 to $36 million. Part of the reduction was possible by returning a five million dollar unspent portion of the County’s bond, a move that significantly reduced the payments. This seems to have resonated with Gilmer voters, reminding them of Gilmer County’s heavy bond debt.

“We’ve had tremendous reduction in revenue,”

he admitted.

“However,” he added, “ we’ve managed to make adjustments and to do the things we needed to do to prevent any kind of millage rate increase. Most people in Jackson County are paying less in taxes today than they were three years ago.”

During the meeting, Bicknell also discussed his recent efforts in job creation, another point of interest for Gilmer County Voters—Gilmer County’s unemployment rate has hovered above the State average for the past year or so. In November, Gilmer’s unemployment rate was 11 percent, with few signs of dropping any time soon. On job creation, Bicknell said that he is involved in economic development in Jackson County by sitting on an economic development committee and working with the local Chamber of Commerce. During the meeting, FYN prompted the Candidate to discuss the recent announcement by the Bed, Bath and Beyond Company to bring its facility to Jackson County. Bicknell said that it was six month process to bring the company to the County. The facility will be an e-commerce operation, filling and shipping on-line orders out to customers and, in the first year will bring 400 jobs to the County and, Bicknell said that over the next four years, the company is expected to bring as much as 900 jobs to the area. Also, on December 8th, Governor Nathan Deal announced that the Japanese company Kubota Corp. will bring its tractor manufacturing facility to Jackson County, creating an additional 200 jobs, which will begin operations in January 2012. These are only the most recent merits to Bicknell’s efforts. In the past three years, other company’s have set up shop in Jackson and expanded existing operations.

But, Gilmer Voters were also interested in Bicknell’s stance on the major issues.

In comparison, all three candidates said they support either a Fair-tax style tax reform or the Fair-Tax proper. As such, all three seemed opposed to raising taxes.

Regarding health-care reform, Collins said that The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) needs to be repealed, and that

“We can not survive Obamacare in Georgia.”

Zoller too argues it should be repealed, but feels it should be replaced with a free-market system, the type which currently exists in eye-care and dermatology, where Collins argues for a block grant to the States. On healthcare reform, Bicknell is curt and confident, saying simply that Obamacare will be repealed, either in The Courts or at the Congressional level.

Also, both Bicknell and Zoller are avid deregulators, aggressively seeking the abolition of The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), The Department of Energy, and The Department of Education (DOE). Although Collins conceptually agrees with deregulation, he balks a bit when it comes to the EPA, arguing that it can not be all abolished at once. This answer did not sit well with one Gilmer Voter, Frank Oglesby, who afterward said,

“I don’t want to hear that we can’t do away with the EPA.”

On immigration, like his opponents Bicknell argues to secure the border with a fence. But, beyond the fence, he looks to fellow counties and current GOP front-runner, Newt Gingrich for solutions.

“I endorse what is being done in Gwinnett County and Cobb County, where they’re literally identifying who is here that’s illegal and shouldn’t be here and they have a program to remove them the country,”

he said. At first this seems in stark contrast to his opponents’ position. Zoller, for instance, argues for a reinstatement of the guest worker program and feels that we need look closer at illegal immigrants who are paying taxes. And, Collins boasts that he signed HB 87, an Arizona type immigration law, but added that Georgians need a bill that retain immigrants who earn advanced degrees in this country so they can stay and start businesses here. As Bicknell elaborated on illegal immigration, though, he seemed to land closer to Zoller’s idea.

“If people have a job, if they are contributing, as Newt says,…maybe we just don’t unilaterally gather them up and send them back,” he said, including the caveat, “ we need to know who they are, where they are and that they’re making a contribution and if they’re not, they need to go back.”

Although Hunter Bicknell has entered the Ninth District race a little late, he seems to have made a positive impression with Gilmer Voters. Some voters said the Candidate was clear and that he did not avoid any issues, while others commented that he was well informed on every question asked. “

He understands local issues,”

Gilmer County Tea Party Communication Director Jack Smith said referring to Bicknell’s background as Jackson County Commission Chairman.

As we look ahead to January and the cold weather, the Ninth District Race is bound to heat up, now with Bicknell in the Race. But, are these all the Candidates? Or will more enter? Former State Rep. Chip Pearson toyed around with the idea of entering late in the summer, but balked. This does not, however, discount the former Representative from making a late race bid. Pearson told FYN that he would make an official decision in January. FYN will continue to follow the Ninth District Race as it develops and see if Gilmer County Voters are in the market for Bicknell’s solutions.

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