Carl Camon for Governor

P.O. Box 840

Ray City, Georgia 31645

229-455-2708

www.camonforgovernor.com

Official Response To Questions

Posed By The

Initiative to Protect Jekyll Island State Park

December 8, 2009

Dear Mrs. Dory Ingram,

The Camon for Governor Campaign offers the following responses to your questions:

I. Your intentions regarding the composition and structure of the Jekyll Island Authority Board, including the combination of qualifications and experience that you would require for appointment to the Board.

The composition and structure of the Jekyll Island Authority Board appears to be sufficient, as it relates to its categorical elements.  The biographical information of the individuals currently serving on the Board does not appear on the Authority’s website, therefore it is difficult to ascertain the qualifications and experience of the current members.  As Governor of Georgia, I would ensure that the Board is comprised of State, County, and City officials, along with individuals who are full-time residents of Jekyll Island.  I would also appoint an environmentalist, and a member of the Brunswick-Glynn County Chamber of Commerce/Economic Development Authority to the Board. 

II. Your vision of how best to balance the state park’s mission with the Jekyll Island Authority’s financial needs, including the appropriate level of commercial development, the enhancement of the quality of the visitor experience, and the protection of the island’s ecosystems.

As Governor, my vision of how to best balance the park’s mission with the Authority’s financial needs consist of establishing an open line of communication between all entities and stakeholders of Jekyll Island.  It is imperative that the park’s mission remains intact, and it is of utmost importance that the Authority has the necessary funds to accomplish its mission as well.  The appropriate level of commercial development is crucial to the park’s sustainability.  Reasonable levels of development will serve as a means to meet the needs of visitors, therefore enhancing the quality of the Jekyll Island experience.  The most important part of my vision as Governor will be to ensure that necessary safeguards are in place that will protect the island’s ecosystems.

III.Your views concerning a public-private partnership as a means of facilitating Jekyll’s redevelopment and financial self-sustainability for the Park.  

Public-private partnerships are effective when full disclosure and transparency exist.  The State of Georgia and local governments have limitations as to the availability of funds for various projects.  Therefore, a well-defined and collaborative agreement between public and private entities can result in success, and can be beneficial to all parties concerned.  The government benefits from tax dollars and the private entity benefits if there is a profit made from the partnership.  As Governor, I will ensure that redevelopment efforts are orchestrated in an inclusive (citizen involvement) manner.  The effective collaboration between all stakeholders will undoubtedly result in financial self-sustainability for Jekyll Island.

IV. Your feelings about the Park’s affordability mandate and its place in the Jekyll revitalization effort.

The reason that many Georgians visit Jekyll Island is because it is affordable.  It will take a great deal of planning to ensure that Georgians will continue to have opportunities to enjoy the Island at reasonable costs.  We must also face the reality that redevelopment efforts aren’t free and that there are associated costs. As Governor, I will facilitate dialogue in an effort to ensure that those costs remain reasonable.

V. Steps you would take to protect the pristine qualities of “Georgia’s Jewel” and to guarantee, in   perpetuity, the conservation of at least 65% of the natural land area of Jekyll Island that lies above mean high tide.

As governor, I pledge to do everything within my power to protect Jekyll Island and ensure the conservation of at least 65% of the natural land area that lies above the mean high tide.  As much as I would like to say that I could guarantee perpetuity, I cannot, but if there is anything that I can do to ensure that conservation efforts lasts as long as the law allows, I will do that.  Realistically, I don’t know of anyone who can guarantee that these efforts will remain in perpetuity.   If it was within my power to grant, I would grant it.