Statesboro council candidate Loletta Donaldson-Elliot says her lifelong roots in District 2 make her qualified to serve

STATESBORO, Ga. (WTOC) - Three candidates are running in a special election to fill the District 2 seat on Statesboro City Council, which has been vacant for nearly five months.

Loletta Donaldson-Elliot is one of the candidates seeking the seat. She is a lifelong Statesboro resident and was born and raised in District 2.

“I know the people here, their concerns, I’ve lived here all of my life, worshipped here all of my life, I know what the community needs as a whole,” Donaldson-Elliot said.

Data center vote

In August, city council approved a zoning map amendment that would allow a data center to be built within city limits. Because District 2 was unrepresented, Mayor Jonathan McCollar broke a tie to push the approval despite residents’ protests.

Donaldson-Elliot said that if elected, she would have to look at the full picture before casting a vote for or against a data center. She said the council needs to slow down for now.

“I think that the city needs to pause on the data centers right now until district two gets a representative and seat, because we don’t have one in place right now,” Donaldson-Elliot said.

Budget priorities

One of the main responsibilities of a council member is to approve the city’s annual budget. Donaldson-Elliot said she has a few areas of the city she would like to invest taxpayer dollars into, with a focus on the city’s most vulnerable residents.

“I want to make sure they have mentorship, they have someone to, places to go, they have someone to listen to them, they have different options, I just want to work with the youth,” Donaldson-Elliot said.

“Older people right now, seniors, they’re worrying about how they are going to pay their rent or how they would get by month to month, I think we need to invest in them as well,” Donaldson-Elliot said.

Background and candidacy

Donaldson-Elliot has never held public office. She said that as an active member of her church, a Sunday school teacher and a lifelong neighbor to residents, she has what it takes to represent District 2.

“I know the community, I feel that I could work well with the community. The person the community needs, district two needs someone to listen and hear them out, I feel that I am a great candidate for that,” Donaldson-Elliot said.

“I’ve worked with a lot of people, so I feel like I am great with people, I can work with them, I can listen, because that is exactly what people need, someone to listen to them and hear them out,” Donaldson-Elliot said.

When asked why voters should support her candidacy, Donaldson-Elliot said:

“I’m here for them, I’m here for district two, I’m here for the youth, I’m here for everyone here that needs the assistance,” Donaldson-Elliot said.