Tim Gaylor, a newcomer to Bryan County politics, thinks the 2016 election cycle will be one of the most important in American history.
“I can’t really do anything about what’s going on in Washington, or even Atlanta, but I can make a difference in Bryan County,” he said. “I think this is the year people get back engaged in the political process.”
Gaylor faces Carter Infinger in the May 24 Republican primary. With no Democrats running for the position, the primary will effectively name the winner. Current Chairman Jimmy Burnsed is not seeking re-election.
Gaylor, who owns a contracting company, said his only other foray into politics was in the 1990s, when he lost a bid for the Hinesville City Council to a long-time incumbent by seven votes.
“I’ve been employed in a highly competitive industry for a lot of years,” he said. “It takes a lot of discipline to stay in business and the private sector and government business are two different animals. A lot of politicians don’t realize it’s not their money.”
Gaylor said if elected he “promises to lower taxes,” although he’s not sure by how much that is possible.
“If you count the pennies, the dollars take care of themselves,” he noted. “When the economy tanked in 2008 for the public sector, government didn’t follow. Sometimes it seems like they invent problems to justify their existence.”
He also promised to go through the county’s $17 million budget line by line.
“The school board has a maintenance shed to take care of all its vehicles,” he explained. “The county ends up sending vehicles all over the place just to get oil changes.”
Gaylor said that while Bryan County is uniquely qualified for expansion, he is the person who should oversee it all.
“I’m licensed to build all of it, so who better to audit every part of the process and protect the taxpayers?”
Gaylor said he’d like to see Bryan County become more than just a bedroom community to Savannah.
“I want people to be able to sleep here and work here,” he said. “The Gaylor household is all in when it comes to the future of Bryan County.”
Gaylor added that he is not accepting any political donations and is entirely self-funding his campaign.
“Money in politics is the root of all political evil, from the local level all the way to DC,” he said. “I don’t have any extended political ambitions and I promise not to serve more than two terms.”
As for any speculation that Bryan County could someday split into two separate counties, Gaylor said he thinks it would be a mistake.
“I think it would be a long process,” he said. “If it ever happened, the folks up in Pembroke wouldn’t have much of a tax base.”