Candidate profiles: Croy says he wants to help others

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Phillip Croy

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July 27, 2012

Candidate profiles: Croy says he wants to help others

Victor Miller victormiller@daltoncitizen.com The Dalton Daily Citizen Fri Jul 27, 2012, 08:48 AM EDT

Phillip Croy believes it is time for a change in Whitfield County Magistrate Court, “not only that office but maybe some other offices” as well.

Croy is one of three challengers — along with Don Allen Garrett and Jerry Leonard — to the re-election of Kaye Cope, who has been a magistrate judge for 28 years.

“After 28 years we’re due for a change,” Croy says.

The position is nonpartisan, and the election is Tuesday. The court handles civil claims of $15,000 or less, certain misdemeanor criminal offenses, county ordinance violations and some deposit account fraud cases. Judges can issue arrest and search warrants, and the court handles preliminary hearings and summonses. Magistrate Court judges are not required to be attorneys, and none of the current judges are attorneys.

Croy retired from United Parcel Service after 34 years. This is his first run for elective office. Asked what he would bring to the position, he said, “Being an employee at UPS I learned a lot of things. One was a strong work ethic. I learned integrity, dedication and discipline. I dealt with the public every day, so I learned how to be fair and courteous and make common-sense decisions. I have a real good ability to relate to people also. Those are the kinds of attributes that I will bring with me to the court.”

Croy noted, “The qualifications are bare minimum, and a lot of people don’t understand that. It’s a common-sense court. I believe it’s the people’s court. That’s the way it should be handled, a common person in there helping other people solve their problems.”

A native of Whitfield County, Croy graduated from Southeast Whitfield High School in 1976 and attended Dalton Junior College. He and his wife Janice live in the Dug Gap community. They have two adult daughters, Amber and Zana. The couple attend Rock Bridge Community Church.

“I’ve basically built my campaign around three things,” Croy said. “Term limits, self-imposed. My character. And giving back to the community.”

Croy says if elected he will not seek more than one additional term.

“I don’t think it’s good for someone to be a public servant for life,” he said when he announced his candidacy.

Croy says he will give back part of his salary.

“I want to use part of my pay to help others. I plan to give a $1,000 scholarship every year that I am in office to one student at each of the high schools in Dalton and Whitfield County. That would be seven scholarships a year and 28 over four years,” he said. He noted that includes Christian Heritage, Morris Innovative High School and Phoenix High School.

Croy said when he retired from UPS, “I wanted the opportunity to do something, to be active in the community, and I’ve chosen the Magistrate Court as my way of being a public servant.”

He has enjoyed the campaign.

“You get out in the community, you find out there’s a lot of great people in Whitfield County that otherwise you never would have known or seen,” he said.

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Candidate profiles: Croy says he wants to help others

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