FANNIN, Ga. — Richard Arnold is a candidate for the Post 4 seat on Blue Ridge City Council. He spoke with FYN to discuss his candidacy, his concerns, and his goals for the city. Arnold is running against Jacqueline Brown and William Whaley. 

On a city manager form of government : 

Arnold says he’s strongly in favor of the city manager format: “The city is a multi-million dollar corporation like many cities are … the mayor has been mayor for 12 years. She lacks the skill set and experience of a city administrator to carry out her duty, and that’s why I think we’ve got 400 something thousand dollars behind in uncollected taxes. I think that’s why … infrastructure got ignored, because we’re being ran by a part time CEO, at $700 a month … a council part time at $500 dollars a month … and so, we have part time people … overseeing departments.” 

Arnold says, “This is exactly what happens when you don’t have term limits, and somebody gets up there and over time, they build up their connections throughout the state like with Speaker Ralston and Steve Gooch, and the developers … that’s why I’m in favor of it. And, not only am I in favor for that, I’m in favor of it because on 28 Dec. 2020, they passed unanimously a resolution asking the state legislature to approve us to change the city charter. And Ralston said no, cause he didn’t think we’d done our homework, but I know why he said no: because Donna Whitener told him to say no.”

Arnold continues: “I hope to be speaking at the meeting this coming Tuesday [Oct. 18, 2021] … so I’m going to ask them point blank on Tuesday night, what do they plan to do with the resolution? That’s a legally approved resolution, that should be resubmitted to the state legislature before the end of the year, so it can be considered in the 2022 legislative session, and I’m going to hope to get an answer from each and every one of them, the council members and the mayor.”  

If elected, Arnold says he would hold more town hall meetings on the subject: “In fact, Rhonda [Haight] and Nathan [Fitts] both told me in the summer they were gonna hold town hall meetings on it this fall, and they didn’t do it, because they didn’t want to bring up a controversial issue during an election.” 

On increasing public involvement and communication with the city council: 

“I would increase the number of public speaking spots on the agenda.” Arnold says that the mayor has filled the spots with DDA reports to stop citizen input: “She don’t like people speaking on things that’s not on the agenda, which is entirely ridiculous.  Just recently, in the last three or four meetings, she made sure to introduce meeting rules and how the public can decorum themselves: no outbursts, no questions, no nothing. Well, that’s B.S., it is B.S., they work for us.” 

“Then, I would have more town hall meetings. If something came up that I thought was controversial, and had a fair amount of support on both sides of the issue, I would bring it up for town council meetings,” Arnold says. However, he thinks the public isn’t getting enough town halls because of the council’s fighting: “They have no civility about themselves. They all hate each other’s guts.” 

Arnold also mentions improving the city website, to allow a more user friendly experience. Among his suggestions, Arnold says he would like to see an efficient way for citizens to report downed signs, potholes, and the like. 

On the city pool and proposed aquatic center:

Arnold says he supports the aquatic center, but wants the county to do it. “As far as city pool goes,” he says, “Maybe we can fix it, maybe we don’t. I don’t have enough background to answer that part of it, but there’s something that can be done with that pool. If people would put their creative minds together, problem is they’ve just been fighting each other so long, they don’t even know what a creative thought is. I mean… it may make sense to build a splash pad down at the pool, I mean that’s all the city residents … would like to see.”  

On parking and traffic:

“As far as parking goes I’ve proposed during a town hall that I would make all parking in Blue Ridge [excluding privately owned lots] … on an honor system. Where, just like the First Baptist Church does … they have a donation box. So, you put signs up and down the streets, you put signs in the parking lot … you put signs in front of the courthouse, you put signs at city hall, you put signs everywhere. Basically: ‘Blue Ridge is an honor system parking city. Please help us improve our city. Donate … whatever you feel is appropriate.” Arnold says he’d like to include QR codes where citizens or tourists can scan the sign, which would bring up suggested donation amounts. He says this system could increase income for the city, which could help pay for a new city manager.

Arnold also says he’d like to look at improving intersections. As one possibility, Arnold says he would suggest roundabouts in the more congested areas of town. 

On Donna Whitener:

“The lady’s got a full time business to run. She don’t even live downtown. She’s got a big old house down on the lake. She’s a liar. And she’s connected at the hip with David Ralston … she’s the reason that hotel is there.” 

To voters: 

“I’m not politically connected to anybody. I’m a sharp businessman. I’ve been running my own business for almost 30 years, been trained by some of the best companies in America, including Delta Airlines and Kroger Company, been mentored by some awesome business people. I educate myself on business, and I understand business, and I understand that the city needs to be run like a business, not like somebody’s little goldmine.” 

FYN made an effort to contact every candidate, but we were ultimately unable to speak with Post 1 candidates Herald Herndon and Jack Taylor; Post 3 candidate Brian Christy Kay; Post 4 candidates Jacqueline Brown and William Whaley; and Post 5 candidates Bill Bivins and Nathan Fitts. Early voting is already underway and Election Day is Nov. 2, 2021.