Bell sworn in as District 4 commissioner

GAINESVILLE - Hall County's newest commissioner took an oath of office Friday afternoon as a large crowd of his family and supporters looked on.

Ashley Bell was sworn in at the Courthouse Annex by Superior Court Judge Jason Deal.

Bell said that a year ago he and his wife, Lauren, never thought they would be where they are now. He said last year "I was just a citizen trying to do my best to help my county do better."

Bell spoke about the county Tax Assessors Office, and how he tried to bring about changes within it. He said the only way change will happen is with transparency and an open door policy at all levels of government.

"The only way we're going to get the kind of change that we deserve in this county is going to take dedicated folks who aren't afraid of letting the public in, and letting the light of public scrutiny into government, so we can no longer have the dark corners of corruption and collusion in this county," he said.

Bell touched on the challenging economy, with estimates that unemployment in the state of Georgia is going to reach 10 percent. He said at all levels of government there will have to be cuts and sacrifices.

While the county furlough days have helped, Bell said this year the commission should look into zero-based budgeting.

"I think it's the type of year where we should justify everything we spend, start from scratch and make sure that there's no fat and we're back down to the basics. Because we don't have any other choice. It's going to be a tough year and it's going to take a lot of tough decisions."

Bell acknowledged that zero-based budgeting is going to take more time, but that this year the county needs to take that time.

"I know we all can do it if we all just do what we do at home. We buckle up and we cut where we can. We try our best to deliver the services we can to make sure this county can continue to run."

Bell also thanked outgoing Commissioner Deborah Mack for her years of service to the county.

"You hold a special place in Hall County history. You filled a void when somebody had to fill it, and you did it well."

Gainesville Mayor Myrtle Figueras thanked the commissioners for "embracing" Bell.

"Ashley recognizes that we all live in Hall County," she said, "that we all want what is going to make Hall County one of the greatest counties in the world."