Two-term incumbent Bryan County Commission Chairman Carter Infinger stressed his long experience on the board during a candidate’s forum April 24 in Pembroke.

His challenger, Buck Holly, promised to bring business acumen and transparency to the role while claiming county government doesn’t treat North Bryan fairly – and at one point suggested the Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival should rotate between Richmond Hill and North Bryan.

The two were among the candidates participating in the second of two forums organized by the Bryan County Republican Party in advance of the May 21 primary.

Neither candidate saw questions in advance of the event, which was moderated by voice actress and radio personality Laura Anderson Picone. Here’s a look at what the candidates were asked, and how they answered.

The recap

Infinger and Holly were first asked how they’d “ensure a cooperative and productive working relationship” with Pembroke and Richmond Hill.

Infinger said there’s already a productive working relationship, citing the latest SPLOST negotiations in which Pembroke was given 8 percent of the proceeds despite having only 3 percent of the population to help fund improvements.

He cited work with Richmond Hill on improvements to Brisbon Road and Belfast Keller as well as a $1 million grant for a senior citizen center in Pembroke.

Holly pointed to Richmond Hill’s 2018 lawsuit against Bryan County over its tax equalization measures and service delivery, one which ultimately wound up in mediation and costly legal fees before a settlement was announced in 2021.

Holly said such issues can be avoided by going to breakfast or lunch or dinner with representatives from the cities and having discussions. He said the county should be a buffer and referee and work to make sure both ends of Bryan County are being treated equitably.

The candidates were asked next about transparency. Holly said it’s important to publish agendas “days or weeks ahead of time,” and find other ways to open up communication with residents on how taxpayer money is being spent.

Infinger said when he first got on the commission in 2011 meetings were held at 11 a.m. and that was changed to 5:30 p.m. and rotated between Pembroke and Richmond Hill. He noted the county website includes the budget and notice of meetings.

Infinger also said residents were allowed to address commissioners during meetings that are live streamed and then put on the county website so residents can watch them.

“We are pretty transparent,” he said, adding “people just have to go on our website and look.”

The candidates were then asked what skills they have to lead the county.

Infinger touted his eight years as chairman and six years prior to that representing District 4, as well as some 150 hours of classes taught by the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, where he said he’s helped write the curriculum for new commissioners and has spoken on different topics at ACCG events.

“I’ve been doing it a long time,” Infinger said, adding his contacts at the state and federal level have meant some half a billion dollars worth of infrastructure investments are coming to Bryan County and won’t cost local taxpayers a dime.

Holly, who owns C&H Precision, a firearms part manufacturer in Richmond Hill, noted his military background and said that while that could come across as arrogant it is instead being “mission focused.” He cited his $17 million investment in expanding his plant and bringing jobs to Bryan County.

The men were also asked how they’d work to preserve North Bryan’s “small town charm” in the wake of “unasked for growth” due to Hyundai’s 2022 decision to put an EV plant in Black Creek.

Holly said the commission doesn’t dictate how Pembroke should grow, but it was important to work with the city on growth and infrastructure.

He also said there should have been set-aside zones for the warehouses popping up in North Bryan and was sympathetic to residents who’ve found themselves living nearby, and commissioners should listen to those in the rural areas who are opposed to growth.

Infinger reminded those in office that 40 years ago Pembroke was the business seat of the county and Richmond Hill was a place where people went to go fishing on the weekends and “everyone wanted a place on that river.”

He added, “the pendulum is swinging back the other way.”

Infinger said the county’s comprehensive plans show where residential and industrial zones are, and those were decided by county and city officials in concert. He said Hyundai is bringing challenges but called the county “well prepared” to handle them.

Up next the candidates were asked to name the biggest challenge apart from growth facing Bryan County.

Infinger said preserving the county’s quality of life and its green spaces as development continues.

“Is (the county) going to look different,” he said. “Absolutely. Is it going to be a great place to live? Absolutely.”

He also pointed to the county’s purchase of the old Fisherman’s Cooperative in South Bryan, which when finished will provide additional public access to the water. “We are a coastal community,” Infinger said. “Right now there are only three public accesses to the water, and we’re expanding that.”

Holly said the county needs to be more proactive, pointing to the amount of time it’s taken to rebuild Hendrix Park two years after the April 5, 2022 tornado devastated parts of North Bryan and leveled much of the park.

He said South Bryan appears to get all the resources while North Bryan, and claimed had the tornado struck a park in South Bryan it would be repaired in 90 days.

“There are batting cages still inoperable after two years,” Holly said, adding the county “could’ve done better and can do better.”

He also cited Brisbon Road, where a 7-year-old boy was killed in 2021 after he was struck by a minivan while riding his scooter and work is yet to get started.

Holly listed several of some “27 short term countermeasures” that could have been done since the boy was killed to make the road safer.

“If we can’t do the little things well, how can we do big things,” he said, adding that commissioners “should work for (the people), not the other way around.”

Holly and Infinger were then asked about unifying the county. Holly said he’s worked to help rebrand the Richmond Hill Bryan County Chamber into one Bryan County Chamber to include North Bryan. He also said the RHBCC’s largest fundraiser, the Seafood Fest, could be brought up to Pembroke every other year.

“How great would that be?,” Holly asked, adding he’d work with the mayors in Pembroke and Richmond Hill to be proactive.

Infinger said he’s already working with the mayors and development authority.

“Everybody needs a seat at the table when an industrial project comes in,” he said. “The school board has a seat at the table, both cities have a seat at the table. It is one Bryan County and we are working together … we’re going to have to work together.”

In his closing remarks, Holly said he’d like to see the rec department offer more than athletic programs for those kids who aren’t into sports, suggesting a partnership with Arts on the Coast to provide art classes.

“But the common theme here tonight seems to involve the impact of Hyundai coming here,” he said, adding “Who in here was asked if they wanted Hyundai coming here?

That said, Holly said the project was “dropped in our lap. It’s going to be great for Georgia. It might be good for Bryan County. But it’s going to hurt for a long time and we were not asked ‘Do you want a megaplant here.’”

He said the county is having to fund infrastructure such as a “massive water treatment facility” for an electric vehicle facility, a technology with an uncertain future.

“All unknowns we should’ve been able to know about and hear about before it got dropped in our lap,” Holly said.  “It’s about being proactive not reactive.”

Infinger said Bryan County didn’t have much choice when the state started looking for a place to put a regional project, and once it was announced Hyundai was setting up shop his job was to make sure the state and regional funding was available for infrastructure so the project wouldn’t land on the backs of local taxpayers.

Infinger also referenced the 2022 tornado that struck North Bryan. That storm--while too minor by federal standards to qualify the county for federal aid--led to an $18 million insurance claim with the ACCG, the largest in that organization’s history. That was followed by two reinsurance claims, Infinger said, and that slowed efforts to finish the park.

“Government is slow,” Infinger said. “Government is not run like a business. There’s no P&L (profit and loss) statement.”

He said the range of issues discussed at the forum showed it’s important to have the experience to keep moving forward.

Infinger said he’s “okay with term limits,” and said after “two or three terms you should be done, and I will be done after this term,” while adding that he wants to see through projects started during his tenure.

“A lot of them will be done in the next two, three years,” he said. “I’m asking you to vote for me.”