Avis is from Newton County, Georgia and graduated from Newton County Comprehensive High School. He holds bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Emory University and a master's of divinity, and a doctor of ministry degree from Emory University's Candler School of Theology. She serves as the community liaison for the Putnam County Charter School System and is a former member of the Keep Covington and Newton Beautiful committee, and former chair of the Sandhill/Tex Alley Community Reunion program. She also founded a mentoring and tutoring program in partnership with Oxford College at Emory University. 

Avis is the owner of a Newton County environmental, health, and safety consulting firm. 

Ballotpedia

This is Avis E. Williams’s first entry into politics. 

Candidate website

Plans to prioritize service, education, and empowerment in tax administration, ensuring accessibility, assistance with inquiries, and transparency in the appeals process for all constituents as Tax Commissioner.

Plans to focus on the principles of service, education, and empowerment if elected to office. 

Promises to ensure transparency, accessibility, and equitable for all citizens.

- Plans to focus on the principles of service, education, and empowerment if elected to office. 
- Promises to ensure transparency, accessibility, and equitable for all citizens.

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Avis E. Williams

Brent is from Newton County. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management form James Madison University and a Master’s in Human Resources Management from DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management. He currently resides in Social Circle, Georgia with his wife Nyasha and their three adult sons. He is currently a member of the Vehicle Standing Committee at the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA).

Brent is the Director of Regulatory Compliance for the Georgia Department of Drivers services. He previously worked for the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) as an Assistant Director and as the Director of Motor Vehicles. He also served as the Deputy Tax Commissioner and Tax Administrator with the Dekalb County Tax Commissioner's Office. 

This is Brett Bennet's first entry into politics. 

Plans to enhance customer service as Tax Commissioner by ensuring office transparency, streamlining processes, reducing wait times, and utilizing technology for data-driven improvements, aiming for greater efficiency and effective communication with taxpayers.

Plans to enhance customer service as Tax Commissioner by modernizing processes, utilizing technology, and installing data-driven improvements, aiming to improve communication and efficiency with taxpayers.

Said, "Responsible Fiscal Management: I am a firm believer in responsible fiscal management of taxpayer dollars. Operating efficiently and effectively is a top priority for me, and I will take full responsibility for every dollar spent under my watch."

Said efficient and effective use of tax funds is a key priority. 

Said, "Objective and Accurate Tax Collections: As Tax Commissioner, I will ensure that all tax collections are objective and accurate. I will work to ensure that there is no bias or favoritism in the collection process."

Said, "I will ensure that all tax collections are objective and accurate...[and] that there is no bias or favoritism in the collection process."

Said, "Professional Development: As Tax Commissioner, I will prioritize professional development for myself and my staff... I will ensure that my staff is properly trained to provide the best possible service to taxpayers."

Plans to prioritize professional development for all Tax Office employees and provide staff training. 

Said, "I believe in working collaboratively with other government agencies ... to better serve the residents of Newton County. I will also prioritize community outreach and education to ensure that taxpayers understand the tax process and their rights."

Wants to work with outside government agencies and plans to focus on community outreach and education to promote a greater citizen understanding of the tax process and their rights. 

- Plans to enhance customer service as Tax Commissioner by modernizing processes, utilizing technology, and installing data-driven improvements, aiming to improve communication and efficiency with taxpayers.
- Said efficient and effective use of tax funds is a key priority. 
- Said, "I will ensure that all tax collections are objective and accurate...[and] that there is no bias or favoritism in the collection process."
- Plans to prioritize professional development for all Tax Office employees and provide staff training. 
- Wants to work with outside government agencies and plans to focus on community outreach and education to promote a greater citizen understanding of the tax process and their rights. 

LinkedIn

Brent Bennett

Margaret is from Jasper County. She is engaged to her fiancé, Jermaine, with whom they have five children and five grandchildren. She enjoys cooking, traveling, and working with various nonprofits to contribute positively to her community.

Margaret served as an Account Manager for the current Tax Commissioner in Newton County, handling funds for property and motor vehicles and managing year-end audits. Previously, she at the Orkin Contact Center in various roles, including Customer Service/Quality Assurance Manager and Inbound Sales Manager, where she managed over 40 agents. She also has experience as a Business Account Manager at United Bank.

This is Margaret Smith’s first entry into politics. 

The candidate's website says, "Each clerk will be crosstrained to process property and motor vehicle transactions"

Plans to have each clerk cross-trained to process property and motor vehicle transactions. 

The candidate's website says, "Obtain citizens quarterly feedback to evaluate their customer service experience to identify ways to improve"

Wants to provide opportunity for citizens to communicate feedback on the tax office's customer service experience to help identify areas of improvement. 

Supports equitable, efficient, and transparent tax administration; commits to integrity and professionalism in tax revenue management; aims to build trust, accessibility, and superior service; and seeks innovation and compliance to foster economic growth.

Wants to "innovate and adapt to changing tax landscapes while promoting compliance and economic growth." 

Said, "Evaluating our current clerks to identify if any additional training is needed to improve customer service."

Plans to examine the performance of current office clerks to identify if additional training is needed to enhance customer service.

The candidate's website says, "Be available anytime to speak with citizens about any tax concerns"

Plans to alter current operating hours to ensure all citizens can be accommodated. 

Promises to uphold integrity and professionalism if elected to office.

Wants to develop more office morale to foster a positive work environment.

- Plans to have each clerk cross-trained to process property and motor vehicle transactions. 
- Wants to provide opportunity for citizens to communicate feedback on the tax office's customer service experience to help identify areas of improvement. 
- Wants to "innovate and adapt to changing tax landscapes while promoting compliance and economic growth." 
- Plans to examine the performance of current office clerks to identify if additional training is needed to enhance customer service.
- Plans to alter current operating hours to ensure all citizens can be accommodated. 
- Promises to uphold integrity and professionalism if elected to office.
- Wants to develop more office morale to foster a positive work environment.

Margaret Smith

Marilyn is from Newton County, and is married to her husband, Kennedy, with whom they have two children, and three grandchildren. 

Marilyn has experience working for the Newton County Tax Commissioner's office. She currently serves as Senior Administrative Specialist at the Tax Assessor's office.

This is Marilyn Williams’s first entry into politics. 

Said, "I want you to know as a citizen; who visits The Newton County Tax Commissioners Office; you will be treated with the upmost respect; and served with dignity and kindness. “We can make it better together”."

Promises to treat Newton County citizens with the upmost respect, and with dignity and kindness if elected to office. 

Plans to implement cross training for staff, so they can help with both property and tags.

Wants to assign employees to be responsible for answering the phone, in an effort to compete with anticipated population growth.

Plans to implement a sign in system that aims to be user-friendly.

Plans to abolish the lunch shut down, aiming to reduce customer backup, saying the office currently loses 6.25 hours a week due to this policy.

- Promises to treat Newton County citizens with the upmost respect, and with dignity and kindness if elected to office. 
- Plans to implement cross training for staff, so they can help with both property and tags.
- Wants to assign employees to be responsible for answering the phone, in an effort to compete with anticipated population growth.
- Plans to implement a sign in system that aims to be user-friendly.
- Plans to abolish the lunch shut down, aiming to reduce customer backup, saying the office currently loses 6.25 hours a week due to this policy.

Marilyn Williams

Tax Commissioners are elected at the county level, and their job is to oversee most phases of the taxing process. These responsibilities include billing, collecting, processing, and distributing taxes. They are generally in charge of property taxes, solid waste fees, public utilities, and renewing your vehicle tag. Notably, the Tax Commissioner does not determine how much taxes you pay. Because taxes are a source of revenue for counties, the tax commissioners’ work is ultimately beneficial to individual cities, education, transportation, and other local services. In addition to administering tax laws, the department is responsible for enforcing laws and  regulations pertaining to the control of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products in Georgia as well as motor vehicle license plate and title administration.

Newton Tax Commissioner, Democratic Primary

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