COVER
STORY
We have to get young people involved in government. It is time
to pass the gavel so to speak. Everywhere you go all you see is gray heads.
— Elwanda Templeton, Jackson County Justice of the Peace,
Jackson County Elwanda Templeton bears a servant’s heart, she wears it on her sleeve
By Scott Perkins County Lines Editor
Clark, Jackson County Clerk said. “I feel blessed to know her. She is a great person.” Her underlying skill of being good with people has helped carve out
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her career path. Her heart for service is evident in her actions and appar- ent in what others think of her. Elwanda Templeton, Jackson County justice of the peace, began serv- ing the Jackson County community in 1989 when she was appointed as the Newport City Clerk. “She works hard for all of us and for the people of Jackson County,”
Clark said. She said that was meant to be a temporary position for her, but “it kinda just happened and the rest is history.” She would serve in that capac- ity until she retired in 2000 and decided to run for justice of the peace (District 7). She is currently in her 12th year as justice of the peace. “Serving the people is really an honor. I enjoy people and I enjoy helping people,” Templeton said. “I believe you treat everyone equally. It doesn’t matter who they are, they are still your boss when you’re in public service.” Templeton, who also serves on the Jackson County Central Demo- cratic Committee, was born in Swifton, Ark., and graduated in 1951. She then studied psychology and real estate in college before she would eventually work for the city of Dorville, Ga. She is currently the chairperson of the finance committee, and says
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he lives by the philosophy that if “you don’t use it .. you lose it.”
At 79 years of age, this great grandmother certainly uses all her talents and has more energy than most people half her age. “She is a great friend of mine and of Jackson County,” Melanie
managing the various financial aspects of the county is the most chal- lenging part of the job. “Most people think justices of the peace are allowed to do more,”
Templeton said. “We’re just the legislative body of the county. Te only task we can take part in is allocating the funding for county expendi- tures. And that’s true for all forms of government where the legislative body is concerned.” One of the accomplishments she said she is most proud of is helping to pass a bond issue for a new municipal building and a fire station. However, the jail situation was at the top of the list of the most press- ing decisions facing Jackson County, according to Templeton. “I think the biggest challenge I have experienced in my 12 years as
J.P. is our current jail situation. We educated the voters so they could understand that we had only two choices to make and the best choice was to build a new jail,” Templeton said. “If this tax didn’t pass, we would have had to transport our prisoners to another county and that is unacceptable as far as county finances. I think once the voters realized the consequences if the tax was defeated, they ‘stepped up to the plate’ and voted YES.” Voters decided to support on a 3/8ths sales tax for construction of a new jail, and another 3/8ths of a cent for maintenance of the new facility on Feb. 12 by an unofficial percentage of 70 percent in support of the measure. Templeton has already decided this term will be her last as justice of the peace. She will have reached 43 years serving the public in some capacity by the end of her term. “People tell me this is political. It’s not political. It’s not. I enjoy being a public servant,” Templeton said. “My talent was working with the people and helping people. It is the greatest honor to serve and have the public’s trust.” She also served as the financial officer for the Drug Task Force from 1991-2007.
COUNTY LINES, WINTER 2013
A friend of
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