Growth and taxes spur candidate to challenge incumbent Whitfield County commissioner

As with many of the May 21 Republican primaries in North Georgia, development and property taxes top the list of issues in the battle for Whitfield County District 2 commissioner.

Incumbent Robby Staten is a certified public accountant who is asking voters for a third term, while Christian Phillips is a businessman who wants to slow the development of the county.

The Whitfield County Commission is a part-time board of five members, with each member serving a four-year term. District 2 covers a northeastern portion of the county, which includes the suburbs of Dalton and a significant rural area.

Early voting started this week.

Robby Staten

Staten served one term in District 3 in 2010 but has been unable to run for office since he moved to Dawnville, a rural community northeast of Dalton, to build a house on his family’s land.