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Family key to Edwards campaign

• Local politics is all in the family for County Commissioner Muarlean Edwards.

Carlton Fletcher

ALBANY — Muarlean Edwards says she and her husband, William “Penn” Edwards, started planting seeds of civil awareness in their three children — Victor, Prince and Velvet — at a very young age. Those seeds have obviously bore fruit.

Victor Edwards has served on the Dougherty County Commission, and Velvet Edwards-Riggins will become the nominee for the soon-to-be vacant District 3 seat on the Dougherty School Board July 15 barring some unannounced independent challenge. Muarlean Edwards, meanwhile, has kept up with her young ones by winning a special election to fill an unexpired term on the Dougherty commission and is unopposed in her bid for a first full term.

“I’m really proud to be a part of a family that is dedicated to serving the people of our community,” Muarlean Edwards said. “I learned a great deal from Victor when he was in office, and I was a little surprised — but very proud — when Velvet announced her plans to run.

“Our family talks about things like this, but the final decision is up to the individual. They’re all adults; they make up their own minds. My husband and I planted little seeds along the way, and we’ve fertilized them over the years. Now, our children have plenty to bring to the table.”

As the newest county commissioner, Muarlean Edwards has spent the year-plus of the unexpired term getting the lay of the land of the governmental board. Her background in social work and education made her a quick study, and she has moved smoothly into the role.

“I think the gentlemen on the commission have fully accepted me now,” she laughed during a recent conversation. “There was a little period where they wanted to see what I was going to do, but now we all work very well together. I think the overwhelming position of this board is not about politics, age, sex, race, religion ... It’s about doing the things that are best going to serve the people of the county.

“I’ve been able to complete all my training classes and have been certified by the University of Georgia and the Association County Commissioners of Georgia. Some said I’ve gotten certified quicker than anyone else in the state.”

Like her daughter, Edwards is unopposed in her bid to return to the commission. But she says that has not stopped her from “campaigning.”

“I actually never stop campaigning,” she said. “I try to make contact with as many of my constituents as I can, make sure they know they’re making an investment in their government.

“It’s their input that helps the commission make decisions that will allow the most cost- effective, yet best, services the community has come to expect. We have to provide the services, but also have to be mindful of the purse strings.”

Edwards said she doesn’t want to come off as sounding like a school board member, but one of her priorities going into the new term is the future of young people in the county.

“We’ve got to do something about our children,” she said. “We’ve got to find ways to prevent them, correct them, collaborate with them and make them better citizens. And we have to start early, with the prenatal care of young mothers. It’s like driving; we prepare our youngsters before they go get a license. They’ve got to understand the responsibilities (of parenthood).

“We’ve got to give our young people empathy rather than sympathy, and we’ve got to instill in them the importance of family. And we who call ourselves leaders have got to provide true leadership.”

Edwards points to the words of leaders like influential educator Cornel West — “None of us alone can save the nation or world, but each of us can make a positive difference if we commit ourselves to it.” — when defining her role with the Dougherty commission.

“I have an opportunity to have a positive impact on this community, on my constituents and on my family,” she said. “That, to me, is what such service is all about.”

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