Marion County has New Tax Commissioner [Photograph] by Richard Harris, 2026, The Journal, tjournalnews.com.

On February 25, 2026, Marion County citizens were notified by a news article written by Richard Harris from “The Journal,” that their tax commissioner, Phyllis Blocker, had plans to retire in April, although many citizens only found out about the sudden retirement on April 2, 2026, in a local facebook group called “Marion Co, GA Information Page (Formerly the REAL Marion Co, GA Watch Page),” that is run by a single citizen admin, Molly Fuller Rudd.

In that same article by Richard Harris, entitled, “Marion Plans Special Election for Tax Commissioner,” it was publicized that a special election for the new Tax Commissioner was being held on May 19, 2026, alongside our primary election; however, I did not find this out until this morning when I was searching the Georgia statutes for whether a replacement tax commissioner is appointed or elected, because I believed this to be an officer elected by the people. Since I had not heard about the special election or even an intention to appoint a replacement, I wondered how many other citizens were unaware.

When I saw the article written by Richard Harris, “Marion County has New Tax Commisioner,” on April 8, 2026, I further questioned how we had a new Tax Commissioner, when no special election had been held for the new Tax Commissioner, but then I remembered that one can be appointed to complete the term of the previous Tax Commissioner. However, we need to be informed that just because a public officer’s position is filled by a replacement to complete an existing term, it is and has always been my understanding that this is something that should still include notification to the people.

That being said, I wanted to ask a very important question to the citizens of Marion County, Georgia. Does appointing a new Tax Commissioner to finish out Phyllis Blocker’s term mean that she should be the only candidate in the special election for Marion County’s new Tax Commissioner, just because she is appointed to finish out Phyllis’ term which expires in 2028? I don’t believe so.

With the special election being held on May 19, 2026, does this leave enough time if someone else wanted to run as a candidate for the Tax Commissioner? Honestly, at this point, I do not know, but I do believe that this is a question that I would like to invite our Elections and Registration Office to answer.

While, I have had some interactions with Georgina Harvey in the tax office, I really don’t know much about her or how I believe in her abilities to serve in this capacity. That doesn’t mean that I don’t disagree with her appointment, but it does cause me pause when the control that we the people are meant to have is subverted or disregarded; when notice of these decisions are not appropriately given. I understand that some notices only require publication in a local organ for a specific amount of weeks, or for a specific time in advance of some change; however, unless a local facebook group administrator decides to approve a certain post in their group, or a citizen can afford a copy or subsription to The Journal, how are we as the citizens given the opportunity to know what is going on in our government?

I do want to congratulate Georgina Harvey on her appointment. I also want to congratulate her for taking her oath of office, administered by Magistrate and Probate Judge Heather Stuart, where the citizens are able to witness this transition. Many thanks to Richard Harris from “The Journal,” for informing the citizens through his newspaper and for capturing this transition.

In sum, I want to make it very clear, that I have no personal issues with Georgina Harvey, nor do I have issues with her appointment. My issue is whether or not the special election is made open to any other citizen who would like to register to run as a candidate for Tax Commissioner in the special election, which is a month away. I don’t believe rushing this special election is a fair option for the citizens of Marion County, Georgia, as I believe it forces an individual as a public officer upon the people without giving them any input as to who serves them or giving them another opportunity to elect a different individual.

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