Whidby Appointed to GMRC Council

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

Former Franklin County Commissioner Angela Whidby said she is excited about her new role on the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission Council.

Last week, Governor Nathan Deal announced his appointments to each of the 11 Regional Commission Councils statewide.

Whidby credited recommendations from State Senator John Wilkinson and State Representative Alan Powell for her appointment.

She said she is honored to now be a part of that important board.

“I was very surprised and I feel honored, just being selected from the Governor’s Office and being chosen out of 13 counties, I am very honored and very excited and very surprised,” said Whidby.

While serving as a Franklin County Commissioner, Whidby attended regular meetings of the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission.

She said she is now looking forward to representing Franklin County as a Council member.

“You have to attend the meetings once a month and they are in different counties so you have to go and there are certain things you may vote on and just being that voice for Franklin County, that vote for Franklin County, that means a lot to me,” said Whidby.

Whidby will serve on the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission Council with Rex Farmer and Will Wade, who were re-appointed.

According to its Web site, the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission’s purpose is to locally promote and guide proper development of human, natural, physical, social and economic resources in the Georgia Mountains region.

A 44-member council oversees the regional commission and is composed of individuals appointed by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and House Speaker.

The Council also includes a county elected official, a city elected official, and one private sector individual from each of the 13 counties, who are appointed by their respective city and county governments.

Covering 3,500 square miles, the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission includes Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White Counties.