Mapp seeking D5 seat on City Council

Oct. 20—Shonya Alicia Mapp is seeking the District 5 seat on Milledgeville City Council in the Nov. 8 special election.

Early voting already is underway. During the early voting period, city voters can cast their ballots at the Baldwin County Voting Registrar's Office located at the Baldwin County Government Center on North Columbia Street.

This marks the first time that Mapp has ever sought political office.

A 1984 graduate of Baldwin High School, Mapp is vying for the seat against four other candidates.

The seat became vacant earlier this year with the unexpected death of longtime City Alderman Richard "Boo" Mullins, a retired captain with Baldwin County Fire Rescue.

Mapp works with the Baldwin County School District as a family engagement coordinator. She has been with the local school district for the past four years.

She retired from the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health after a 31-year career. For 13 years, she worked with the Georgia Department of Corrections.

Mapp said she has four main goals in mind to work on if she is elected.

One involves addressing the stormwater problems that exist in Carrington Woods and other parts of the city, including Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

"We have a major problem with that sort of thing in the Carrington Woods subdivision," Mapp said. "I have been residing there in Carrington Woods for almost 23 years, and while living there, there has always existed a stormwater problem."

Another problem there in the subdivision is sewer-related.

"We need to get problems associated with that corrected, too," Mapp said.

During the campaign, Mapp said she has talked with neighbors to get their feedback.

"A lot of them understand those problems need to be addressed too," Mapp said.

The number of blighted properties that exist within District 5 is another concern, according to Mapp.

"It's a problem all over District 5 that we need to get corrected," Mapp said.

Mapp said if elected, she wants to work closely with other members of city council to attract new industries and businesses to Milledgeville.

"We need to find ways to create new jobs so that we can keep our young people here," Mapp said.

Many local students who graduate from the high schools in the area attend college but after they graduate from college, they leave Milledgeville and Baldwin County and move elsewhere.

"They tend to leave because there's no major industry to really keep them here," Mapp said. "I'd like to see that change."

Mapp said she supports a healthy workforce, as well as the creation of new jobs. She said she supports any idea that will further economic development in the city and county.

Mapp said with her law enforcement background, she would also like to see more community policing.

"I would like to work closely with Chief (Dray) Swicord and Sheriff Bill Massee as far as increasing our community policing," Mapp said, noting that at one time in her past she served as director of the RYDC facility in Macon. "I'd like to see our law enforcement officers have a better one-on-one rapport with individuals in the community. That means the police officers and deputies are going to need to get out of their patrol vehicles and do a little walking and get to know the individuals on a personal basis that they serve in our neighborhoods."

Mapp said she believes that law enforcement officers having such interaction with community residents would greatly reduce crime.

"We have some of that interaction going on right now, but we need more of it," Mapp said. "I see some of this going on ... but it needs to spread all over Baldwin County."

Mapp said it's been proven within the local public school district how officers interacting with students makes a difference in the lives of young people.

"If we did more of this type of thing throughout our community, I think it would help out a whole lot when it comes to reducing crime," Mapp said.

Asked what she believes makes her the best candidate running in the field, Mapp quickly replied.

"I think I have a lot of experience when it comes to addressing the needs and concerns of the people I will be representing on city council," Mapp said.

She said her experience and her ability to work well with others would be invaluable to her in serving on city council.

"I have experience in the fields of social services, mental health, law enforcement, clerical and financing," Mapp said. "I've worked in so many different fields, so I feel like I have a certain amount of knowledge in these fields."

Mapp said she believes she would be able to provide a lot of input into those kinds of discussions when working with fellow members of city council.

Mapp, a native of Baldwin County, is a graduate of Georgia Military College and Georgia College & State University. She has a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice, and a master's of science in counseling and psychology from Troy State University. She is scheduled to graduate in December from Capella University with a master's degree in science and behavioral analysis.

Mapp, who is an active member of Saint Paul Baptist Church in Milledgeville, said she wants voters to know that her goal is to serve them with passion.

"I want to serve everyone fairly and improve the quality of lives for all citizens of District 5, as well as the rest of Milledgeville and Baldwin County," Mapp said. "I want the voters of District 5 to know that I will always listen to their voices. It's important for them to know that their voices are being heard by someone who truly cares and is concerned about the same things that they are concerned about."