All three candidates vying for the vacant District 2 seat on Statesboro City Council – Maleek Jones, Loletta Donaldson-Elliott and Kathleen Keehner – express concerns about a data center locating in Statesboro. Their positions range from simply insisting that District 2 have representation in any decisions to opposing data centers near “where people live.”

Only registered voters who are Statesboro city District 2 residents are deciding which of these three will be the next council member. For just those voters, the city special election will appear as an addition to their ballots for the statewide and county general election during Tuesday’s 7 a.m.-7 p.m. regular Election Day, Nov. 3, voting at assigned precincts, just as it has done during the 16 days of early in-person voting that was concluding at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30.

Earlier in the week, the Statesboro Herald sent the Council District 2 candidates two questions. The first question, a compound one about data centers, is here divided into its two parts. Each candidate responded individually, by email. But their answers are arranged in varying order here after each question.

Herald: What is your position on data centers being allowed within Statesboro city limits?

Keehner: “I oppose allowing large-scale data centers within Statesboro’s city limits. Our city should prioritize families, small businesses, and sustainable economic development that benefit the people who actually live here. Data centers can place significant demands on electricity, water, and infrastructure while offering very few permanent jobs compared to the resources they consume.”

Donaldson-Elliott: “District 2’s seat has remained vacant while important decisions affecting our city’s future have moved forward, and that has to come first. I believe the city should pause any further action on data centers until District 2 has an elected representative at the table.”

Jones: “If data centers are to be allowed within city limits, their approval should come only after rigorous examination, careful consideration of their long-term impacts, and, most importantly, meaningful input and support from the community. “One of the most common concerns I have heard from residents, and one I share myself, is a simple question: ‘Why here?’ Location has been, and will continue to be, a major point of contention surrounding this proposal and any future data center developments.”

Herald: If data centers were allowed, what should be the requirements or limitations, and why?

Donaldson-Elliott: “I want to hear directly from the residents I would represent. Their concerns deserve careful consideration and also clear answers. My position will be guided by the voices of District 2. Ultimately, my stance will be District 2’s stance, based on what the people of this district want. Residents deserve a voice in making these decisions.”

Jones: “I believe Statesboro has taken steps in the right direction by establishing restrictions on hyperscale data centers, placing limits on facility sizes, and requiring special-use permits. We should continue building on these safeguards while ensuring that any proposed development aligns with the long-term interests and well-being of our residents.

“Economic development is important, but it should never come at the expense of the community we are entrusted to protect. If a data center is ever approved within our city, it should be because there is clear, measurable evidence that its benefits outweigh its potential costs, not simply because an opportunity for development exists.

“Until we have the necessary facts regarding environmental impacts, infrastructure demands, economic benefits, and the overall effects on our community, I do not believe approval is warranted. Our responsibility is not simply to encourage growth, but to ensure that growth is responsible, sustainable, and beneficial to the people of Statesboro.”

Keehner: “If data centers are ever to be considered, residents deserve full transparency, independent environmental and infrastructure impact assessments, clear protections for utility customers, and enforceable agreements ensuring that developers bear the costs of necessary upgrades and potential clean ups.

“Until those protections can be demonstrated, I do not support bringing them into our city limits. I just don’t believe they belong around where people live and raise their families and time and time again, we’re seeing that the vast majority of our residents agree with that.”

Herald: Other than data centers, what is the most important issue facing Statesboro and its city government, and how would you deal with it?

Jones: “Outside of land-use decisions, I believe one of the most pressing issues facing Statesboro is managing growth and rising costs while protecting our taxpayers and maintaining the city’s financial stability. Growth is inevitable, but it must be managed responsibly.

“I would prioritize fiscal accountability, rebuilding our financial reserves, and carefully evaluating city spending to ensure we are making the best use of taxpayer dollars. Ultimately, my goal is to see Statesboro continue to grow and prosper without placing unnecessary financial burdens on the families who call this city home.”

Keehner: “I believe our top priority should be restoring trust between our local government and citizens. There is a lack of accountability and transparency in how our city government spends taxpayer money and establishes its priorities.

“I believe our district deserves a representative who is independent of affluent interests and focused on the needs of the approximately 7,000 residents who have gone months without representation.

“At this point, it is difficult not to see this as taxation without representation. Our residents deserve better. It is time to restore the principle that public servants exist to serve their constituents, not their own financial interests.”

Donaldson-Elliott: “The biggest issue is that too many of our neighborhoods, especially those in District 2, haven’t had a full voice in the decisions that shape their future. That’s why my priorities include affordable housing, stronger and safer neighborhoods, responsible budgeting that respects taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars, and real investment in our young people.

“I was born and raised in District 2. I know these streets and I know the families on them. I understand the importance of protecting the community we call home, and I’ll listen before I decide.”

For some basic facts about these candidates, see the brief bios at the end of this previous story: www.statesboroherald.com/local/turnout-through-monday-17-in-statesboro-council-district-2-but-18-for-county-overall . It also appeared in the Thursday, Oct. 29 print edition.