CLARKESVILLE, Ga. — Shelley Tullis says her experience as a business owner and community leader has prepared her to serve on the Habersham County Board of Commissioners at a time when the county faces major decisions on growth, infrastructure and spending.
Tullis, a Republican, is one of two candidates seeking the District 2 seat in the May 19 election, facing Andrea Harper in the race to replace outgoing Commissioner Dustin Mealor. Unlike the District 3 seat, which will be filled immediately, the District 2 winner will take office in January after Mealor’s term expires.
Tullis, who has lived in Habersham County for 24 years, said her background combines business management with local government and civic involvement.
Business and community experience
Originally from neighboring Banks County, Tullis moved to Habersham after meeting her husband. The couple has raised two sons while building multiple businesses across Northeast Georgia.
Tullis said she and her husband own pawn shops in Toccoa and Mt. Airy, along with other ventures including rental properties and storage units.
She also serves as general manager of the Chattahoochee Mountain Fair, a role she said requires coordinating with county officials and managing large-scale budgets.
“That’s a huge event that we set up,” Tullis said. “You have to work with budgets, with county employees and with commissioners.”
In addition, Tullis serves as chairman of the Habersham County Recreation Board and is a member of the Mt. Airy Planning and Zoning Board, where she has completed multiple training courses related to planning and development.
She is also president of the Mt. Airy Civic Association.
“I’m already extremely involved in the community,” Tullis said.
Protecting the county’s future
Tullis said her decision to run comes as the county faces several major issues, including a new jail project, discussions around fire service consolidation and long-term planning efforts.
“We’ve got some big-ticket items coming up,” Tullis said. “At some point, common sense has to kick in.”
She said preserving the county’s character is a top priority as growth pressures increase.
“I want to protect Habersham County,” she said. “It’s a very special place.”
Tullis said she also wants to ensure residents feel heard by local government.
“I want to give people a voice,” she said. “People need to know we’re listening to them.”
Questions on development code balance
Tullis said she has closely followed the county’s ongoing work on the Unified Development Code and is not convinced the current draft strikes the right balance.
“As it stands right now, I’m not sure the balance is correct,” she said.
She said the current approach may redirect growth rather than control it, particularly along major corridors.
“It’s not really controlling growth — it’s just redirecting it,” Tullis said.
Instead, she said the county should focus on policies that make large-scale development less attractive while protecting local property owners.
“It’s too easy for developers to come in and build what they want,” she said.
Tullis said she supports increased use of impact fees to ensure developers bear the cost of infrastructure tied to their projects.
“Developers need to pay their way,” she said. “That cost should not be pushed back onto taxpayers.”
Growth along Ga. 365 corridor
Tullis also addressed concerns about zoning and potential annexation activity along the southern end of the county, particularly near Baldwin and Cornelia.
“You’ve got to protect the people down there,” she said.
Tullis said residents in those areas are concerned about how growth could affect their communities, especially along the Ga. 365 corridor.
“If you start putting residential on 365, that’s going to be a disaster,” she said.
She said the county’s comprehensive plan should guide development, but added that many residents are not familiar with it.
“That’s your roadmap for what the county’s going to look like,” Tullis said. “But a lot of people don’t even know what it is.”
Support for delaying UDO vote
Tullis said she agrees with the commission’s decision to delay a vote on the development code until a full board is seated.
“Yes, I agree with delaying that vote,” she said.
She said full representation across the county is critical before making a decision with long-term impacts.
“We have a portion of the county that’s not being represented right now,” Tullis said.
She added that the additional time should be used to refine the proposal.
“We need to make sure we get it right the first time,” she said.
Managing growth and infrastructure
Tullis said infrastructure should be the primary factor in determining how the county manages growth.
“We need to make sure our infrastructure is ready,” she said. “That should be the number one deciding factor.”
She said growth should be controlled when necessary to avoid overburdening roads, schools and public safety services.
Tullis also questioned claims that the county is experiencing a housing shortage, saying data she has reviewed suggests vacancy rates are higher than what would indicate a shortage.
“We keep hearing there’s a housing crisis, but the numbers don’t support that,” she said.
Affordable housing concerns
Tullis said rising construction costs are a major factor driving housing prices, limiting the ability to build lower-cost homes.
“At the moment, you can’t build an affordable house,” she said. “That’s a national issue.”
She also pointed to rising rental costs, which she attributed in part to outside investors purchasing housing and influencing the market.
“You’re seeing corporations come in and buy up properties, and that affects rent,” Tullis said.
Property rights vs. developer regulations
Tullis said county policy should prioritize protecting individual property owners while placing stricter requirements on developers.
“Citizens should have the right to do what they want with their property,” she said.
At the same time, she said developers should be required to meet higher standards, including infrastructure improvements and construction quality.
“I’m more in favor of putting restrictions on developers than on the citizen,” Tullis said.
Transparency and public engagement
Tullis said improving communication with residents will be key to building trust and increasing participation in county decisions.
“We need to push that information out more,” she said.
She said the county should use a combination of social media, traditional outreach and community events to keep residents informed.
“I liked the town hall meetings,” Tullis said. “We need more things like that.”
She also emphasized the importance of educating residents so they can engage in the process.
“If people don’t understand, they’re not going to engage,” she said.
Budget priorities and oversight
Tullis said her approach to the county budget would focus on detailed review and fiscal discipline.
“I’m going to go line by line,” she said.
She said she would work closely with county finance staff to identify areas where spending could be reduced or adjusted.
“If we don’t need it, let’s not put it in there,” Tullis said. “I’m not for padding budgets.”
She said she has already begun reviewing budget materials ahead of the election.
“I want to get all the education I can now so I can hit the ground running,” she said.
A voice for residents
Tullis said her campaign centers on representing residents and ensuring their concerns are heard.
“I’m here for the citizens,” she said.
She said her goal is to balance growth with infrastructure needs while maintaining the county’s character.
“I want to be a voice for Habersham County,” Tullis said. “I’m here to listen.”
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