Meet the Candidates

Montgomery County Magistrate Judge Ashley Thornton (Incumbent) 1. My name is Ashley Thornton. I’m a lifelong resident of Montgomery County. I’m the daughter of Buddy Adams and Debra Adams, and the granddaughter of the late Frank and Betty Jane Fountain. I’m the wife of Quentin Thornton. We have four children: Rome, Paris Ann, Sicily, and Italy, and one grandson David Lee. We’re active members of Mt. Vernon First Baptist Church. I’m a graduate of Montgomery County High. I’ve worked in the legal field for nearly 25 years and served as the Associate Magistrate from 2012 to 2018, then took office as Chief Magistrate in 2019 until present.

2. I am seeking re-election for Magistrate, as it is a position that I truly enjoy doing daily. I have completed both civil and criminal trainings as required by the state to perform duties as a Magistrate. I also complete yearly required re-certifications. Over the last 7 years, I have been appointed to the state Magistrate Communications Committee and a member of the Magistrate Mentoring Board program. I was nominated and elected as a Georgia Magistrate District Representative for the 8th Judicial District, which consist of five judicial circuits, with 27 counties represented. I have also traveled to various Magistrate trainings where I have had the honor of teaching different classes to Magistrates around Georgia. I like speaking and working with the public. I am willing to help work towards any solution that may help resolve a conflict, examples such as setting up payments or helping someone enroll in rehab. The Magistrate position is not one to be taken lightly, as it involves the well being and day to day lives of others. I pray that the voters of Montgomery County will take into consideration my experience and pride that I have regarding the job that I do.

3. While the Magistrate position doesn’t have the authority to change the state or local laws, we are to uphold them fairly and consistently. Therefore, changes in this position may be limited in this aspect. Though my hope is that each citizen that comes through the court knows and feels they have been treated with respect and have a full understanding of the laws pertaining to their individual situation. I plan to continue to work alongside other county offices, businesses, and citizens as we all work together to perform task needed to keep the judicial system running smoothly and efficiently.

4. My goals are to continue to work with and for the citizens of Montgomery County, to help in any way I can, and to continue to learn and grow through the opportunities I am given along the way. I plan to continue yearly recertifications and keep our office up to date on the everchanging laws. I pray that I am given the opportunity to continue to serve the citizens of Montgomery County and I thank you for your consideration and support in this election.

Kimberly M. Wiggs

1. My name is Kimberly Wiggs, and as a lifelong resident of Montgomery County and a graduate of Montgomery County High School, I possess a deep commitment to this community. My roots here are extensive; I am the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest “Bubba” Wiggs Sr., and I have had the privilege of raising my three children— Antonio, Ny’Asia, and Zion—within this county.

My dedication to our community is driven by my history here and my desire to serve its citizens in a judicial capacity. I look forward to the opportunity to earn your support. 2. With over 20 years of experience in the mental health field and 12 years as a Licensed Practical Nurse, I have developed a strong background in public service. My medical career has provided me with extensive training in several transferable skills essential to the Magistrate Court, including professional problem- solving, maintaining strict timeliness, and upholding high standards of professionalism. I also feel that my background in mental health will help me to further understand some of the cases which come through the court, as I know society is currently facing a mental health crisis. Ultimately, I structure my life around several core values, and can summarize my approach to life in one statement: I believe in God, equality, and honesty.

3. 1.) To ensure an accurate system of checks and balances, I will require that all future transactions be processed digitally.

2.) I will implement new office hours that include remaining open during the lunch hour. This adjustment will allow working residents to conduct their business without needing to take time off from work.

4. 1.) I will strengthen first appearance processes to ensure fair bond settings, and this will significantly protect taxpayer dollars. Reducing the duration of incarceration for 'bondable' individuals directly minimizes costs to our community.

2.) I intend to ensure that every resident is treated equally through practices that are fair, firm, and consistently applied. To support this goal, I will remain readily available to provide improved guidance and resources for selfrepresented litigants. Board of Commissioners District 5 Leland Adams (Incumbent) 1. I am a life long resident of Montgomery County. A 1975 Graduate of Montgomery County High School. Retired for Plant Hatch and currently own and operate Uvalda Hardware Store.

2. I am currently serving my third term as Commissioner for the 5th district and wish to continue this service 3. Changes that we will have to work with will be in property tax mainly Homestead. The Georgia legislature work on several bills to change property tax including adding a one cent sales tax to be applied toHomesteadproperty. I am sure that next year the legislature will again work on changes to property taxes. The county commission will have to work with theses changes to provide services to the citizens of the county.

4. Goals for the next term will be to continue to serve the citizens of the 5 District and Montgomery County. I will attend training and updated on laws as provided by ACCG and other sources. Matthew Taylor Dykes

1. 2004 Graduate of Montgomery County High School Currently pursuing bachelor's in finance from WGU Kasey Dykes-wife Tucker Dykes-son Tymer Gillis- son I have worked in the maintenance field since 2010. Currently working at Southwire in Douglas, GA Member of The National Society of Leadership and Success 2. I am running because I feel like some changes need to take place. Taxes are going up and things are getting worse such as road maintenance. I believe that if you have people elected that are willing to sit and talk and make those tough decisions, things will start to get back on the right track. What qualifies me is the love I have for my community and my willingness to collaborate with the other commissioners to come up with game plans to start addressing this crisis affecting so many people in our community.

3. If elected, I want to look into budgets and work with the other commissioners on cutting unnecessary spending within the county. This could free up some of the burden felt by so many residents of the county regarding higher taxes. I also want to be able to work on restructuring the road department. I believe too much money is wasted on grading roads that are in good condition. Instead, focus time and resources on building up the roads that are in desperate need of maintenance not maintaining.

4. First and foremost, I want to work with the other commissioners on finding ways to cut unnecessary spending to free up some of the financial stress felt by so many concerning taxes. I would like to work on making information more available to the public. So many people throughout the county do not have access to information discussed in meetings. Restructuring the road department will be another goal I would like to work towards. There are a lot of roads that need serious attention. I believe that by restructuring, more time and resources can be spent on these roads.

Board of Education District 4 Eugene “Pete” Ward (Incumbent) 1. My name is Eugene “Pete” Ward, Sr. and I am a native of Montgomery County. I graduated from Montgomery Training School in 1967. My other educational experiences are graduate of Brown Business and Barber College in Atlanta, Georgia and Wright Real Estate in Atlanta, Georgia. I am the owner of Pete’s Barber Shop and co-owner of Chase & Pete Trucking Company. I currently serve as the Vice-Chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Education and am a Vietnam veteran. I am a Steward at St. John AME Church. Patricia Ward is my spouse and we have three children, a daughterin- law, and two grandchildren.

2. I am seeking reelection because I am passionate about serving my district and seeing that all of our students are top priority. I have a high expectation for student achievement and quality instruction. I have been on the board for several years and I understand the rules and regulations of a governing school board. I have attended required training for the board and am always willing to learn new innovative things to improve our school system. I have strong ethical values and integrity, collaborate with my fellow board members and constituents.

3. I feel the issues which are facing right now are hiring more diverse teachers and hiring more certified teachers. We can obtain this by committing to attend college teachers fairs at various locations. Also, there are paraprofessionals who would like to become certified educators. I believe having a program that provides additional training for them that leads to certification would be wonderful.

4. If re-elected, I will continue to have a working relationship with the administrators and teachers to ensure that the students of Montgomery County Schools are top priority.

Sylvia Moore

With a heart for service and a foundation rooted in faith, longtime community member Sylvia Moore has announced her candidacy for School Board District 4. Bringing over 25 years of professional experience and a lifetime of connection to the community, Moore says her campaign is guided by both purpose and a calling to serve.

A proud graduate of Montgomery County High School, Class of 1980, Moore has deep roots in the district she now seeks to represent. Her journey has come full circle—from student to parent to advocate— as she steps forward to help shape the future of local education.

For the past 25 years, Moore has worked as a Certified Dietary Manager, a role centered on care, accountability, and the well-being of others. She believes those same principles— paired with her faith—have prepared her to lead with compassion, integrity, and wisdom.

“As I’ve prayed about this decision, I truly believe this is more than just a campaign—it’s a calling,” Moore said. “I want to be a voice for our children, to stand in the gap for families, and to serve this community with honesty and love.”

As a single mother who raised two sons through the Montgomery County school system, Moore understands the challenges families face and the importance of strong schools. She credits her faith as a guiding force throughout her journey and says it continues to shape her vision for leadership.

“My life has taught me perseverance, faith, and the importance of investing in the next generation,” she shared. “Our children deserve not only a quality education, but also encouragement, support, and a community that believes in them.”

Moore’s platform focuses on strengthening relationships between schools and families, supporting teachers, and ensuring safe, positive learning environments. She is also committed to preparing students for successful futures while fostering values such as respect, responsibility, and compassion.

“I believe when we lead with faith, integrity, and a genuine heart to serve, we can build stronger schools and a stronger community,” Moore said.

With her deep ties to Montgomery County, professional experience, and faith-driven approach to leadership, Moore hopes to bring both vision and dedication to the School Board.

Kimberly Wiggs

Leland Adams

Matthew Taylor Dykes

Pete Ward

Sylvia Moore