Candidates At Farm Bureau Forum Oppose SR 15 Truck Bypass, Answer Questions On Property Taxes, Farmland Preservation

***Broad Support For Oconee County Agriculture Voiced***

All four of the candidates in state Senate District 46 and state House District 121 spoke out in opposition last week to the plans currently under consideration by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) for a truck bypass linking SR 15 and U.S. 441 south of Watkinsville.

Speaking at a Candidate Forum organized by the Oconee County Farm Bureau, Democrats Ray Smith and Eric Gisler and Republicans Marc McMain and Mack “Dutch” Guest IV took nearly identical positions, saying that the routes under consideration would damage farmland important to the county.

Differences Among Candidates Seeking To Represent Oconee County In Atlanta, D.C., Highlighted In Candidate Forum At Veterans Park

***Gaines Does Not Participate***

The seven candidates seeking to represent Oconee County in the General Assembly in Atlanta and in Congress in Washington interacted cordially in a Candidate Forum on Thursday, sometimes agreeing in response to questions from an audience of more than 90.

At many times in each of the four sessions in the Forum, however, the candidates took very different positions on issues raised by an audience member.

Oconee County School Board Updated On Plans For And Funding Of New Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education Programs

***Report: $7.8 More In Revenue In FY 2026 Than Budgeted***

Discussion of Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) and of the Peach Education Tax Credit program dominated the Oconee County Board of Education meeting last week.

Superintendent Melissa Butler, in her report to the Board, said she had recently toured both of the system’s high schools to explore options for growth in CTAE instruction.

Republican State House District 121 Candidate Guest Rejects Current Plans For Truck Bypass Of Watkinsville In Town Hall Meeting

***States Position On Abortion, Vaccines, Other Issues***

In response to the first question at his Town Hall meeting last week, Republican House District 121 candidate Mack “Dutch” Guest IV said he is opposed to current plans for the truck bypass connecting SR 15 south of Watkinsville to U.S. 441.

Guest also said he was opposed to the state incentivizing data centers, wants the state to help address homelessness in Clarke County, was in favor of a cap on property taxes, and supported cuts to the state income tax. He also said the 4 percent state sales tax should be reviewed.

Thursday Forum Will Allow Citizens To Pose Questions Directly To Candidates Seeking To Represent Oconee County In Atlanta, D.C.

***Gaines Only Candidate Not Attending***

Citizens will have a chance on Thursday to pose their questions directly to candidates seeking to represent Oconee County in State House District 120, State House District 121, State Senate District 46, and U.S. Congressional District 10.

Moderators at a candidate Forum sponsored by The Oconee Enterprise and Oconee County Observations will ask citizens wishing to ask a question to identify themselves and state a question for the candidates.

Oconee County Election Board Votes To Extend Time In Last Week Of Early Voting

***Hears Report Mandating New List Of Persons Who Vote***

The Oconee County Board of Elections and Registration agreed on Monday (9/14/2026) to add an extra hour at the end of the day in the final week of early voting for the Nov. 3 elections.

The Board took the action on the recommendation of Sharon Gregg, Director of Elections and Registration for the county, who said extending the voting day in the week of Oct. 26 through 30 would accommodate voters who work until 5 p.m.

Construction At SR 316 Will Cut In Half Number Of Lanes Of Traffic In Each Direction On Oconee Connector

***No End Date Given For Disruption***

Traffic on the Oconee Connector will be greatly restricted beginning at 7 p.m. today (9/18/2026) as Archer Western Construction begins work on mid-span vertical supports for the two bridges that will carry SR 316 over the Connector.

The current four lanes of traffic now moving through the intersection in each direction will be cut to two lanes, one for through traffic and one for left-hand turns.