Honest for the People. Stubborn for Georgia.
“Your representative should be more than a vote in the Golden Dome; they should be a voice for the reality you live every day. You deserve a leader who is honest about the struggles we face, stubborn enough to fight for new ideas, and accountable to the families of Cherokee, Pickens, and Forsyth Counties—not to special interests. I am committed to bringing an honest Georgian work ethic to the House, ensuring that your story is finally heard. I would be honored to earn your vote.” — Ryan Fountain
The Jasper Water issue
Arguably, the defining issue that any candidate must answer for HD11 is how to deal with the water crisis in Jasper. So, I am going to put my view right here, not hidden in a different tab.
The $18.6 million USDA investment into the wastewater plant was needed, but it does absolutely ZERO for the 50% water loss on the drinking water side. We have to find funding to fix the pipes without hitting people with massive rate increases or taxes to pay for past mistakes.
Jasper has already received two 20-year loans from GEFA (Georgia Environmental Finance Authority) totaling $8 million at 2.36% and 2.28%, plus the $18.6 million USDA loan. The state is not going to justify giving another multi-million dollar loan to Jasper when the city is losing 50% of the water it needs to sell to pay back its current debt. We have to consolidate the water system under Pickens County. Not just to change management (although that doesn't sound too bad right now), but because it is financially necessary.
So, we push the City of Jasper and Pickens County to draft an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) where the city transfers its water treatment plant, distribution lines, and that $26M in existing debt to the county. They then file an amended Service Delivery Strategy (SDS) with the state, officially designating Pickens County as the sole provider.
If the city and county refuse to play ball and protect their political turf, my job as your State Representative is to hold the big stick. I will have the constitutional authority to introduce a Local Bill in the General Assembly to amend the City of Jasper’s municipal charter directly, legally altering their jurisdiction over the water system and forcing the transfer by state law.
During this transfer, we mandate a certified audit of every asset, main line, and leak. Once we have the exact figures, I will take that data to Atlanta to negotiate a final GEFA loan for the newly consolidated county system. That loan will be legally ring-fenced: absolutely no money for expansion, only for fixing the existing system.
To ensure this isn't just another empty political promise, any state funding must come with strict public reporting requirements. I will push for a transparent, public-facing dashboard and mandatory quarterly updates detailing exactly where every project dollar is spent, the measurable progress on leak repairs, and updated financial metrics. You asked for accountability. This ensures that if stakeholders miss a milestone, the public will have the exact data needed to hold them accountable. Myself included.
By consolidating the water system, the ratepayer base expands to the county level, spreading the cost and insulating residents from the massive, localized rate spikes that Jasper would otherwise have to enforce to pay its debts.
I will not promise you that all these fixes will happen without rates going up at all. I won't have direct control over local utility billing, and I won't lie to you just to get a vote. But I firmly believe this legislative roadmap is the only viable option to actually fix the pipes without tripling your water bill to do it.
Want to speak with me?
I’m running for the State House to represent you, not a political party. That requires more than just an email address—it requires a real conversation. If you have questions about my platform, worries about our community, or even if you’re a critic who wants to see where I stand, I’m making myself available. Think of this as a kitchen table discussion to see who I am personally. Pick a time that works for you, and let’s talk about how we right the ship for Georgia.
The Vision: A Georgia That Works for the Rest of Us
My approach to policy isn't born in a think tank; it’s born from the grit of growing up in Ball Ground and the reality of working hard only to still come up short. I believe in a government that stops prioritizing the "top" and starts investing in the foundation—our students, our workers, and our families.
My platform is built on three core pillars:
Investing in Potential: Using our state surplus to fund the Georgia Achievement Fund, giving every student a merit-based investment in their own future success.
Bridging the Gap: Solving the "Medicaid Gap" and healthcare costs that punish families for earning "too much" while still struggling to survive.
Restoring the Middle Class: Moving away from failed "trickle-down" theories and focusing on honest economic solutions that protect the monthly grocery budget.
I am running to bring fresh blood and real-world ideas to the Golden Dome. We don't need more career politicians; we need a representative who is Honest for the People and Stubborn for Georgia.
