White County Commission Q7 Candidate Responses

The Main Street Journal – Sparta has been listening to the community. Over the past several weeks, readers have submitted questions they want answered ahead of the 2026 election—and we’ve taken those directly to your County Commission candidates.

Here is your seventh question, and answers from those candidates who chose to respond.

How will you prioritize infrastructure improvements, such as roads, public transit, and parks?

BRYAN COLE: I will prioritize infrastructure with safety as the top priority-not just for District 6, but forthe entire county. Roads, bridges, and essential services must be maintained and improved to ensure the well-being of all our residents. From there, I will consider overall need and long-term impact, while also recognizing that parks and recreation play an important role in quality of life. As our county grows, planning ahead and investing wisely will be critical.

ANDY DAVIS: You can’t do everything at once, so you’ve got to be smart and fair about it.

First, I’d look at safety and need. Roads that are in bad shape or areas where there’s been accidents need to be at the top of the list. Taking care of what we already have comes before starting something new.

Second, I’d listen to the people who use it every day. The folks driving those roads, using the parks, or dealing with traffic know where the real problems are. Their input matters.

Third, I’d focus on what supports growth and our local economy. Good roads and infrastructure help farmers, small businesses, and emergency services do their jobs better.

As far as public transit, in a rural county like ours it’s not the same as a big city. We need to look at practical options that actually make sense here, not just copy what works somewhere else.

And with parks, it’s about quality of life. Making sure families have safe, well-kept places to spend time together without overextending the budget.

At the end of the day, it comes down to common sense. Fix what’s broken first, plan ahead, and spend taxpayer money like it’s your own.

ERICK DILDINE: When it comes to infrastructure, I believe the priority should always be what impacts our everyday lives the most and in White County, that starts with our roads.

First, we need to focus on maintaining and improving our existing roads. That means fixing problem areas, staying ahead on maintenance, and making sure our roads are safe for families, school buses, and emergency services. We shouldn’t let things fall apart just to come back later with a bigger, more expensive fix we need to stay proactive.

I also want to say I’m a big fan of Jerry Sawyer and the job he’s doing as our Road Superintendent. From what I’ve seen, he manages the budget well and keeps our roads in good shape. I believe in supporting what’s working.

Second, we need to be smart and responsible with taxpayer money. Projects aren’t cheap and should continue to be planned carefully with clear priorities, also we should pursue more state and federal grants to reduce the burden on local families.

For public transit, we need to be realistic about what fits our county a budget , while still supporting transportation needs for seniors and working families.

We also can’t overlook parks and recreational spaces. From playgrounds to ball fields to something like a dog park, these spaces improve quality of life and give families places to come together.

At the end of the day, my approach is simple: fix what we have, support what’s working, plan smart, and spend responsibly.

DERRICK HUTCHINGS: In the 2025/2026 budget, we allocated property tax money to the Highway Department. This has never been done before. I pushed hard for this because I see it as a priority. I’m also in favor of allocating additional funds through sales tax if the increase passes. Parks, phase one (master plan), passed right when I took office 4 years ago, then in the 25/26 budget, we were able to hire a P&R Director. With these two pieces of the puzzle now in place, we will be able to pursue much-needed grant funding to improve the parks.

JAVIER ORTIZ: It starts with listening and evaluating needs. I’d prioritize:

• Safety first (roads, repairs, high-traffic areas)

• Long-term planning over short-term fixes while working with other commissioners and department heads to figure out the specific needs of the county

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