Candidate profiles: Garrett says time for a change

Don Allen Garrett, director of the Whitfield County Animal Shelter for the past 20 years, took a leave of absence from the position to run for Whitfield County magistrate judge, his first run for elective office.

“It was something I thought about for a long time,” Garrett said. “The department I work for, those tickets pass through Magistrate Court, and I began to see a need for a court with a little more integrity, a little more credibility, saw some things I’d like to be a part of the change with.”

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

“I think this office is long past due for a change,” Garrett said.

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.

“I think there needs to be somebody there with the proper work ethic,” Garrett said. “I hear people say they go to Magistrate Court and (are told they can’t be helped). I don’t think that’s necessarily the case. If Magistrate Court is not the place for them to go then they should be shown courteously where their help lies.”

Asked if he was being critical of Cope, Garrett said, “Once you’ve been there as long as some of those people have there’s complacency. That simply rears its head, it just goes with the territory, and I certainly don’t want to be there that long.”

Asked what he would bring to the position, Garrett said, “Common sense is the first thing, being a people person is paramount. I’ve always prided myself on being able to talk with anybody in any walk of life. Plus my department’s citations did go through the Magistrate Court and I’m familiar with its adjudication process. I have had 20 years experience of watching citations go through the process. I’m very familiar with the way the court operates.”

Garrett is a lifelong resident of Whitfield County. He graduated from North Whitfield High School in 1971 and attended Dalton College. He is married to the former Pam Perkins and they have two grown daughters. Dawn Campbell is a media specialist at Dalton Middle School and her husband, Tolley, is a member of the Dalton Fire Department. They have a son, Camden. Fallon Garrett owns The Barre Dance Studio on Cleveland Highway in Varnell.

Don Allen Garrett is on the board of directors of the North Georgia Fair Association and incoming president of the Georgia Fair Association. He is on the board of the Whitfield County Farm Bureau and is a member of the Dalton Noon Lions Club.

“I intend to be somebody people can talk to, and intend to be somebody that’s accessible,” he said. “My door will be open to anybody that’s got a problem. If the Magistrate Court is not the place for the solving of their problem I’ll take every step I can to graciously and courteously send them along to whatever department it is they need, instead of just saying, ‘No, I can’t help you.’”

Garrett said there have been some questions about his leave of absence from the animal shelter, which was effective June 1.

“Department heads are not under the merit system, they work at the pleasure of the board (of commissioners),” he said. “Anyone who is a merit employee who runs for office must resign. If you’re not under the merit system it’s simply whatever deal you work out with the board on an individual basis.”

Garrett said he met with County Attorney Robert Smalley and Board of Commissioners Chairman Mike Babb to make sure he was OK to take the leave of absence and pursue the position.

He said if elected, “I go back and finish out the year in my job, then vacate the job. If not, I’ll go back to work.”

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Candidate profiles: Garrett says time for a change

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