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Name, age and address: Ashley McCoy, 28, 126 Planters Ridge Drive, LaGrange.

Occupation: I am a branch manager at Commercial Bank and Trust for 8 years.

Education: I studied business at Troy University

Family: Married to Marshall McCoy, we have four children.

Relevant Experience: Public service is nothing new to me; I have experience in working to make our community a better place to live. I have volunteered with numerous organizations throughout Troup County and have become well informed of the issues we face. I have gained experience at the bank in managing expenses, working together as a team and helping customers to solve problems.

Why are you running?

I am running for commissioner in District 3 because I have a vested interest in the future of Troup County. This is where I am raising my children and I want them to reap the benefits of our work. I will make decisions and come up with solutions that will positively impact our community.

What are the biggest issues in the county right now?

I think two of the biggest issues we face in Troup County are poverty and unemployment. Poverty is directly related to crime and unemployment, both of which are costing the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. We spend about $23,000 a year for each inmate and only about $9,000 a year for each student. If we focus on educating our community, it will cost taxpayers much less in the future. Also, more of our citizens will be qualified for jobs in our area and our unemployment rate will continue to decline.

What can you do to address the issues?

We are at a critical point with so many good things going on, and it is important that we keep up the momentum. If we continue to be a proactive community and address the root cause of the problems that we face we will create and sustain a better Troup County.