CLARKESVILLE, Ga. — Jason M. Smith says a lifetime of service — from the military to engineering — has prepared him to help guide Habersham County through a pivotal period of growth and development.
Smith is one of two candidates seeking the District 3 seat on the Habersham County Board of Commissioners in the May 19 special election. The race comes as the county continues to debate a new Unified Development Code, navigate a monthslong housing moratorium and respond to increasing development pressure.
A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Smith earned a civil engineering degree in 1992 before serving as an artillery officer.
During his military career, he deployed to Somalia and Haiti, and later to Iraq with the National Guard, spending about a year overseas.
After leaving active duty in 1996, Smith moved to Cornelia and began his career in civil engineering. In 2006, he launched his own firm, where he continues to work on projects ranging from local infrastructure to large-scale international development.
Service-driven background
Smith said his decision to run is rooted less in politics and more in a desire to apply his experience to local challenges.
“I’m not really wanting to get into politics as what you’d consider a typical politician,” Smith said. “I just want to help out.”
He pointed to his background in engineering, military leadership and budgeting — including managing multimillion-dollar projects — as key qualifications.
Outside of his professional work, Smith remains active in the community as a scoutmaster and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
“My whole life has been service,” he said. “That’s just kind of who I am.”
Development pressures and the UDO
Smith said his role on the county’s planning commission has given him direct insight into the development of the Unified Development Code, which has been under review for months.
He said the effort began as officials sought to address increasing growth and close gaps in
the county’s existing development regulations.
“We needed to make sure our ordinance was updated so we could handle anything that came our way,” Smith said.
While he believes the process has been thorough, he acknowledged that public concern has intensified as more residents have reviewed the draft proposals.
“A lot of the interest has been recent, as people are seeing what’s in the draft ordinance,” he said.
Smith said the challenge moving forward will be balancing growth with infrastructure capacity and quality of life.
“If you allow growth to go unchecked, it’s going to impact roads, safety, utilities and people’s quality of life,” he said.
Traffic and infrastructure concerns
Smith also raised concerns about how large-scale development could affect traffic, particularly near areas tied to proposed annexations into Baldwin and Cornelia.
He said his own analysis of potential development scenarios shows significant impacts on local roadways.
“For comparison, Ga. 365 carries about 28,000 trips a day,” Smith said. “You could be looking at a development that generates nearly that much traffic on its own.”
He said that level of traffic would add pressure to already busy intersections, including Duncan Bridge Road and Ga. 365.
Smith, who lives nearby, said he has seen firsthand the dangers associated with that corridor.
Timing and representation
Smith said he supports the commission’s decision to delay a vote on the Unified Development Code until a full board is seated, citing the importance of representation across the county.
“Right now, part of the county isn’t represented,” he said. “I understand the commissioners wanting to wait.”
If elected, Smith said he would be prepared to step into the role immediately.
“There’s not going to be a honeymoon period,” he said. “You’ve got to hit the ground running.”
Property rights and affordability
Smith said one of the most difficult aspects of the development debate is balancing private
property rights with the need for regulation.
“That’s the big question,” he said. “That pendulum is swinging back and forth.”
He said some proposed regulations, such as larger minimum lot sizes, could make it harder for families to divide land among children and could drive up housing costs.
“We have to be careful not to price our own citizens out,” Smith said.
At the same time, he said the county must avoid unchecked development that could dramatically alter its rural character.
“You don’t want houses stacked on top of each other, but you also want people to be able to use their land,” he said.
Public engagement and transparency
Smith said the recent town hall on the development code demonstrated both the level of public interest and the community’s ability to engage respectfully.
“That town hall was terrific,” he said. “People were passionate, but everybody was polite.”
He said the county could improve communication by doing more to inform residents about major issues earlier in the process.
Looking ahead, Smith said officials should incorporate public feedback while recognizing that no single plan will satisfy everyone.
“You’re never going to have a perfect document,” he said.
He also cautioned against extending the housing moratorium indefinitely, noting the potential impact on property owners and developers.
“We need to be careful not to keep people waiting so long that it affects their livelihood,” he said.
Leadership and accountability
Smith said his approach to leadership is shaped by his military experience and professional background, emphasizing accountability and support for county employees.
“We’ve lost a lot of good talent,” he said. “We need to make sure our employees are appreciated and given the tools to be successful.”
He said county leaders must set expectations while allowing staff and department heads to do their jobs.
“You’ve got to let leaders lead, but you also have to hold them accountable,” Smith said.
A service-first approach
As voters head toward the May 19 special election, Smith said he believes the county needs leaders who can balance growth with infrastructure realities while staying grounded in service.
“I’m not running to be a politician,” he said. “I’m running to serve.”
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