Mecum wins commission chairmanship in Hall

GAINESVILLE - A law enforcement veteran, once the sheriff of Hall County and a U.S. Marshall, will be the new chairman of the Hall County Commission.

Richard "Dick" Mecum claimed just over 69 percent of the vote to incumbent Tom Oliver's nearly 31 percent in Tuesday's Republican runoff.

"People have to understand, when they take these jobs, they're not leaders, they're servants. They need to service the community," Mecum said.

"I think sometimes we forget that across the board. Whether it's city, county, state or federal government, we really have to get people in office that are more interested in the citizens than they are in their own personal wants," Mecum added.

Oliver, a poultry and cattle farmer, has served two terms at the helm of the commission. A victory would have put him in an exclusive club.

"For a guy to go for three terms is pretty well unheard of, and it's a long shot. We knew this to start with, but I felt it was very important that we have dialog in this election," Oliver said.

Mecum faces no Democrat challengers in the November general election. He'll officially take office in January.