Episodes

  • Wendell McNeal: Workhorse, Not Show Horse | Candidate Conversations — Episode 87

    Wendell McNeal: Workhorse, Not Show Horse | Candidate Conversations — Episode 87
    May 5 2026
    In this episode of The Town Square Podcast, Trey Bailey sits down with Wendell McNeal, candidate for Georgia House of Representatives District 114, as part of the ongoing Candidate Conversations series.District 114 includes all of Morgan County, portions of Newton County, and part of Walton County, including communities such as Mansfield, Newborn, Social Circle, and areas near Good Hope. As the district continues to experience growth, development pressure, tax concerns, and shifting political boundaries, this race carries significance for voters across several communities.McNeal is running in the Republican primary for the open House seat against Brett Mauldin, who has also appeared on The Town Square Podcast as part of the Candidate Conversations series. As with every episode in this series, the goal is not to endorse a candidate, but to give voters direct access to the people asking to represent them.For McNeal, that story begins long before politics.From Gordon to MilledgevilleWendell McNeal was born in Gordon, Georgia, a small town south of Milledgeville. He described growing up in a 975-square-foot house — what people today might call a tiny home — before tragedy changed the course of his childhood.When McNeal was eight years old, his parents were involved in a car accident. His father did not survive, and his mother was left handicapped. After that, the family moved to Milledgeville, which is why many of his bios list Milledgeville as his hometown.But McNeal was quick to clarify the full story.He came from Gordon. He carried lessons from Gordon. And those early life experiences helped shape his worldview.Throughout the conversation, McNeal returned to themes of resilience, common sense, hard work, and learning how to figure things out when no one hands you a blueprint.Learning the Legislative ProcessBefore building his business career, McNeal spent time working around state politics. After moving to Atlanta to work for a candidate running for statewide office, he was later connected to an opportunity with the Georgia House of Representatives.That job placed him with the House Judiciary Committee.McNeal said he told the committee chairman that he was not a lawyer. The chairman already knew — and apparently viewed that as part of what made him interesting for the role.That experience gave McNeal an early understanding of how legislation works, how laws are developed, and how important it is to understand the process before trying to change it.He said one of the most important lessons he learned is that disagreement does not have to become hostility.If someone disagrees, McNeal said, his response is simple: tell me why.That approach — asking people to explain their position rather than dismissing them — became one of the recurring themes of the conversation.Building a Business From ScratchMcNeal eventually decided he wanted to go into business for himself.He did not inherit a family business. He did not come from a built-in business structure. He simply decided to start.With a background in electronics, McNeal opened a Curtis Mathis store in Covington’s Newton Plaza. Many longtime Newton County residents may remember the store, especially from the days when renting a VCR was still part of normal life.Eventually, McNeal moved the business to a building on Highway 278 and expanded into Conyers. Over time, he grew the business to four stores and approximately 50 employees.That experience, he said, taught him how to read financial statements, manage operations, handle lenders, understand cash flow, and make decisions based on facts.McNeal talked about being required to prepare individual financial statements for each location, then a separate financial statement for the home office, then consolidated financial statements for the company as a whole.He described it as a crash course in business discipline.If financials were not ready by the fifth of the month, he said, the credit line could be cut.That kind of pressure taught him how to manage carefully, plan ahead, and avoid making decisions without understanding the numbers.Property Taxes and the State BudgetWhen asked what he believes is one of the most important issues facing District 114, McNeal quickly pointed to property taxes.He said many residents have seen property taxes double or even triple, especially as home values have increased and assessments compare properties against nearby renovated homes.McNeal specifically raised the issue of homestead exemptions. He noted that Morgan County’s homestead exemption is $2,000, while Newton County’s is $4,000, and questioned why those numbers have not been significantly updated over time.But he also cautioned that tax policy cannot be handled casually.Change one part of the system, he said, and it can affect something else.For McNeal, tax relief must be approached carefully so it does not harm school systems, public employees, or essential services.He described attending legislative ...
    Show More Show Less
    50 mins
  • Nytravious “Nytro” Smith: Preserving Newton, Preparing for the Future | Candidate Conversations — Episode 86

    Nytravious “Nytro” Smith: Preserving Newton, Preparing for the Future | Candidate Conversations — Episode 86
    Apr 30 2026
    In this Candidate Conversations episode of The Town Square Podcast, host Trey Bailey sits down with Nytravious “Nytro” Smith, candidate for Newton County Board of Commissioners District 4.For longtime listeners, Nytro may sound familiar. He previously appeared on the podcast for a conversation about the state of the church in Newton County, alongside Pastor Justin Adams. This time, he returns in a very different role: as a candidate asking District 4 voters to consider his vision for county leadership.Smith describes himself as a lifelong Newton County resident, raised in the Green Acres and Nelson Heights communities. He is a graduate of Eastside High School and the Newton College and Career Academy, a product of Newton County Schools, and an advocate for the public school system that helped shape him.He also points to the Washington Street Community Center as a major influence in his life, crediting its leadership and programming with showing him what meaningful community investment can look like.Today, Smith serves in multiple community roles. He is an ordained minister at James Paschal Baptist Church, a community lay coach in Newton County Schools, and has worked in trades including pipefitting, plumbing, and electrical work.Throughout the conversation, Smith returns often to one central theme: Newton County must preserve what makes it special while also preparing for what is coming next.A Young Candidate With a Local FoundationSmith does not avoid the conversation around his age. In fact, he speaks directly to it.At the time of the election, he will meet the age requirement to serve, and he argues that youth should not be viewed as a weakness. Instead, he sees it as part of what allows him to connect with younger residents who are often disconnected from local politics.He shares stories of knocking on doors and meeting young voters who were registered but did not even realize it. To Smith, that is not apathy as much as a lack of information and engagement.He says candidates are often strategic organizers during campaign season — knocking doors, sending mailers, making calls — but he believes that same energy should continue after someone is elected.For Smith, public service is not only about voting on agenda items. It is also about educating citizens, explaining how government works, and helping people see where their tax dollars go.“Preserving Newton. Preparing for the Future.”Smith’s campaign theme is “Preserving Newton. Preparing for the Future.”When asked what he wants to preserve, Smith talks about the charm, identity, and pride of Newton County. He wants the county to remain a place with roots, relationships, and a sense of belonging — not simply become another extension of Atlanta.But he also believes preservation alone is not enough.Smith argues that Newton County must plan for future growth, expand tourism, strengthen workforce development, and create more local opportunities so young people do not feel forced to leave in order to find meaningful work.He talks about the importance of retention — creating a county where graduates can go to college, technical school, or directly into the trades, and still see a future for themselves right here at home.Growth, Development, and Economic OpportunityGrowth is one of the major themes in the conversation.Smith does not describe growth itself as bad. Instead, he says the issue is whether growth is balanced, planned, and beneficial to residents.He speaks specifically about the need for economic development that strengthens the tax base without sacrificing quality of life. He also talks about District 4 as a largely residential district, but one that still has opportunities for thoughtful commercial development.Smith mentions Porterdale and the Oak District as examples of areas with potential. He sees Porterdale, especially, as a place where tourism, recreation, food, and riverfront activity could help create a stronger local economy.Rather than viewing Newton County’s cities and communities as separate pieces, Smith argues for a more unified approach. He wants more collaboration between the county, municipalities, the school system, and economic development leaders.Intergovernmental CollaborationOne idea Smith discusses is the possibility of stronger intergovernmental cooperation.He talks about creating more structured conversations between different local entities so leaders can better understand how one decision affects another part of the community.For example, if the county approves development, how does that affect schools? Roads? Water? Municipalities? Workforce needs?Smith says he is not trying to replace or interfere with the Industrial Development Authority, but he does want more conversation and cohesiveness between the various groups shaping Newton County’s future.His goal is not simply to get a “piece of the pie,” but to help the county “bake the pie together” so everyone can benefit.Data Centers and ...
    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
  • Ryan Millsap: Outsider, Builder, and a Fighter for Georgia’s 10th | Candidate Conversations — Episode 85

    Ryan Millsap: Outsider, Builder, and a Fighter for Georgia’s 10th | Candidate Conversations — Episode 85
    Apr 27 2026
    In Episode 85 of The Town Square Podcast, Trey Bailey and Gabriel Stovall continue their Candidate Conversations series with Ryan Millsap, Republican candidate for U.S. Congress in Georgia’s 10th District. The seat is currently held by Congressman Mike Collins, and with voters preparing for another important election cycle, this conversation was designed to help listeners better understand one of the candidates asking for their vote.As always, the goal of The Town Square Podcast is not to create uniformity, but to create understanding. In that spirit, this episode gives Ryan Millsap room to tell his story, explain his worldview, and make his case directly to the people of District 10.What follows is a candidate who is anything but conventional.A Candidate with an Unusual BackstoryAt first glance, some listeners may assume they know who Ryan Millsap is based on campaign rhetoric, short clips online, or the forceful style he brings to a room. But this conversation quickly revealed a far more layered personal story.Millsap was born in southern Missouri, where his father’s family had deep roots going back generations. His mother grew up on a cattle ranch in northern Nebraska, and that upbringing — wide open land, hard work, and a culture of toughness and independence — clearly shaped the values Millsap still talks about today.His father was a recon Marine in Vietnam, a Purple Heart recipient and Bronze Star honoree who returned home carrying the scars of war, including PTSD. Millsap described growing up in a home shaped by both discipline and intensity, with a tom-boy mother who loved college football and a family environment that felt more like a locker room than a quiet suburban home.The family later moved to Phoenix, Arizona, and then to central California, where Millsap says he spent his teenage years in a deeply conservative farming community. That blend of Midwestern roots, Southwestern grit, and West Coast business exposure became an unusual but formative mix.More Depth Than ExpectedOne of the most surprising turns in the episode was hearing how academically layered Millsap’s background really is.He attended Biola University, where he studied philosophy, and later studied at Oxford, focusing on issues related to time, eternity, and divine omniscience. He also played American football at Oxford and rowed there — experiences that Trey clearly did not expect to come up in what he assumed would be a more conventional campaign interview.After Oxford, Millsap pursued graduate studies at USC in real estate development. From there, he began doing real estate deals at a young age and eventually built a substantial career in apartment acquisitions, development strategy, and complex deal-making.For several years, he even taught real estate at USC as a professor, developing course material designed to teach students what real-world entrepreneurship actually looks like. That detail added another layer to Millsap’s profile: not just businessman, but teacher and thinker as well.Building Wealth, Business, and OpportunityMillsap described himself repeatedly as an entrepreneur — and in the conversation, that seems to be the identity he values most.He explained how he partnered with investors after the 2008 financial collapse to acquire thousands of apartment units across the South at a time when the economy was in chaos. He said he saw that moment as one of the greatest buying opportunities of a generation and used it to build a massive real estate portfolio in Atlanta and surrounding Southern cities.Eventually, that business success brought him to Georgia full time. He moved here in 2014, drawn by both the economics of the region and the opportunities he saw in a growing Southern market.Then came one of the more unexpected chapters of his story: film studios.After recognizing what he believed was an overlooked real estate opportunity in Georgia’s booming movie industry, Millsap built an 850,000-square-foot movie studio inside the perimeter of Atlanta. He later leased that studio to major entertainment companies including Disney, Sony, Warner Brothers, HBO, and Netflix. Films such as Jungle Cruise,Jumanji, Venom, Godzilla, andnTomorrow War were among the projects made on the property.It was a reminder that Millsap did not enter politics from political circles, legislative offices, or advocacy groups. He came from business, development, and entrepreneurship.Why Politics? Why Now?That is where the conversation took a more urgent turn.Millsap said plainly that he never expected to run for office. In fact, he claimed he had little real interest in politics until a long-running conflict involving land he owned in DeKalb County changed the course of his life.He recounted a years-long land swap deal with DeKalb County that eventually left him in possession of property next to the area now associated with Atlanta’s police training center, often referred to by critics as “Cop City.” According to...
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 13 mins
  • Richard Wright: The Limping Rapper, CPA, and Moderate Democrat | Candidate Conversations — Episode 84

    Richard Wright: The Limping Rapper, CPA, and Moderate Democrat | Candidate Conversations — Episode 84
    Apr 23 2026
    There are some interviews where you can feel within the first two minutes that the conversation is going to be different.That was this one.In Episode 84 of The Town Square Podcast, Trey Bailey welcomed Richard Wright, Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, into the studio for a conversation that was funny, thoughtful, policy-heavy, personal, and refreshingly unpolished in the best possible way. Wright’s campaign describes him as a financial professional and community-minded leader running to bring “common sense leadership” to Georgia. By the end of the episode, listeners got a strong sense of what that means in his own words. This episode is part of The Town Square Podcast’s ongoing Candidate Conversations series — a public-service effort to help voters hear directly from candidates in a long-form, less combative setting. Rather than sound bites, gotchas, or rehearsed talking points, the format invites candidates to explain who they are, what shaped them, and how they think.Richard Wright did exactly that.A statewide race with a very personal storyThe office of lieutenant governor is a big one in Georgia. The position presides over the State Senate and helps shape the flow of legislation in a meaningful way. As Trey noted early in the episode, this is one of those offices that most citizens know is important, but many couldn’t fully describe day to day. Wright’s candidacy is for a statewide seat, and that alone made this conversation significant for your audience in Newton County, Rockdale, DeKalb, Jasper, Morgan, and beyond. Georgia voters will choose their next lieutenant governor in the 2026 cycle, with the primary scheduled for May 19, 2026. But Wright didn’t begin by trying to impress listeners with credentials.He began with a story.And it is a story.He told Trey that he moved to Atlanta from North Carolina in 1997 with no real career plan beyond trying to make it in music. He came to the city hoping to become a rapper and, if that failed, maybe walk on at Georgia Tech. It already sounds like an unusual opening chapter for someone now running for lieutenant governor, but the story got even more memorable as Wright explained how he injured his ankle playing basketball just before moving, arriving in Atlanta not as a rising star, but as what Trey jokingly called “the limping rapper.”The humor worked because Wright embraced it. He laughed at himself, talked about his old rap names, and let listeners hear the messiness of the journey before the success.That matters.In a political environment where too many candidates sound polished to the point of lifelessness, Wright came across as someone who actually remembers where he came from.From dropped out student to CPAOne of the strongest parts of the episode was hearing the arc of Wright’s educational story. He openly said he dropped out of high school. He also described the jobs he worked, the instability of those early years, and the influence of his mother, whose prayers and persistence clearly helped redirect his life. Eventually, he went to college, earned an undergraduate degree, later earned an MBA, became a CPA, and also attended Georgetown Law School, all details that line up with how his campaign presents him publicly as an experienced financial professional rather than a career politician. And that’s one of the central contrasts he seems to want voters to notice.Richard Wright is not running on the claim that he has spent years climbing a partisan political ladder. He is running on the idea that his life experience, financial background, and ability to talk to ordinary people give him a different kind of credibility.That theme surfaced again and again throughout the episode.He framed his CPA background not merely as a résumé line but as preparation for governing. He talked about budgets, tax structures, incentives, and return on investment in a way that felt natural. Whether listeners agreed with every proposal or not, there was no mistaking that this is a candidate who enjoys thinking through how money moves and how policy affects real people.A “moderate Democrat” in the messy middleAt several points, Trey and Wright locked in on one of the themes that has become central to both The Town Square Podcast and this campaign: the political middle.Wright describes himself as a moderate Democrat. His website makes the same case — that Georgia needs leadership centered on “common-sense solutions,” collaboration, and helping working families rather than feeding the loudest extremes. That opened the door to one of the best stretches of the interview.Trey, who often speaks from that “messy middle” perspective himself, noted that many people on both the left and the right would hear the phrase “moderate Democrat” and wonder if such a thing even exists anymore. Wright leaned into that tension. He argued that the far right and far left often dominate attention, fundraising, and ...
    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
  • Alan Fowler: Jobs, Hobbies, and Hope | Candidate Conversations — Episode 83

    Alan Fowler: Jobs, Hobbies, and Hope | Candidate Conversations — Episode 83
    Apr 21 2026
    In Episode 83 of The Town Square Podcast, Trey Bailey and Gabriel Stovall continue their Candidate Conversations series with Alan Fowler, Republican candidate for the Newton County Board of Education District 5 seat. With current board chair Abigail Coggin retiring from the position, Fowler will appear on the November ballot, and this episode gives listeners an opportunity to hear directly from him about his background, philosophy, and vision for public education in Newton County.For many in the community, Alan Fowler is already a familiar face. After all, he spent 26 years at Eastside High School, where he served as band director and helped shape generations of students. But this conversation goes much deeper than résumé lines or campaign language. It offers a look at the heart of a longtime educator, husband, father, music leader, and community member who believes deeply in public schools and the people they serve.The episode begins with Fowler sharing the personal foundation of his life: his family. He describes himself first as the father of two daughters and the husband of his wife, Susan. That opening set the tone for the rest of the discussion. Before Alan Fowler is a candidate, he is a family man whose life in Newton County has been built over decades of service, relationships, and roots.Fowler and his wife moved to Newton County in 1995 after graduate school. He took a job at Salem High School, while Susan began teaching at Livingston Elementary. Not long after, the band director position at Eastside High School opened, and Fowler moved there the following year. That transition would become one of the defining turns in his life and career. What started as a professional opportunity became a long-term commitment not only to one school, but to an entire community.One of the more charming stories from the interview involved the couple’s first introduction to Newton County. While looking for a house, they picked up a copy of The Covington News and read about a July 4th concert by the community band on the Square. Fowler recalled that one of their earliest experiences in the county was attending that celebration, meeting local people, and seeing the community gather around music. Looking back, it feels fitting that his introduction to Newton County came through the arts and public life—two things that would define his years here.Listeners also got a fuller picture of Fowler’s background before Newton County. He was born at South Fulton Hospital, spent part of his childhood in Delaware, graduated from North Clayton High School, and later attended the University of Georgia. Both he and Susan were involved in the Redcoat Marching Band, though they somehow never met until their senior year despite overlapping in the same organization for three years. Their eventual connection, sparked by a key to a storage room and followed by a whirlwind early romance, made for one of the most memorable and warmest parts of the conversation.As the conversation shifted toward education, Fowler offered a thoughtful reflection on what he learned over more than three decades in the classroom. He described three major lessons that shaped him.The first was that leadership is not about the individual—it is about the team. He traced that lesson all the way back to his early days at Eastside, when he was tasked with building a marching band program from the ground up, with students who had never marched before and without much funding. He quickly realized that success would require teamwork from students, staff, helpers, graduates, and the broader community. That mindset clearly still guides him today.The second lesson came through fatherhood. Fowler spoke candidly about how becoming a parent made him a better educator. When his oldest daughter was born, he said he immediately understood with greater clarity that he was teaching other people’s children—their “little babies”—and that realization carried a new weight of responsibility. Later, when his daughter moved through the school system and eventually joined the band program, the work became even more personal. His students were no longer just young people he was helping along their journey; they became part of his own journey too.The third lesson may have been the most philosophical and perhaps the most revealing. Fowler shared how deeply he had been influenced by the statement often heard from Principal Jeff Cher at Eastside High School: “There’s no such thing as an unimportant person or an unimportant day.” Over time, he came to believe that the statement was even more powerful without the limiting phrase “at Eastside High School.” In his view, there is no unimportant person or unimportant day anywhere—not at Eastside, not at Newton, not at Alcovy, and not in any school or community. That belief seemed to capture the heart of his public service philosophy: people matter, every day matters, and every school matters.When asked how those ...
    Show More Show Less
    57 mins
  • Alana Sanders: Ready on Day One | Candidate Conversations — Episode 82

    Alana Sanders: Ready on Day One | Candidate Conversations — Episode 82
    Apr 16 2026
    In Episode 82 of The Town Square Podcast, Trey Bailey and Gabriel Stovall continue their Candidate Conversations series with Georgia House District 113 candidate Hon. Alana Sanders. Representing a district that now covers only Newton County, Sanders joined the show to talk about her story, her preparation for state office, and the issues she believes matter most to local families.As with the best Town Square conversations, this one was not just about policy. It was about purpose, pain, perseverance, and public service. Sanders shared a deeply personal story of loss, a strong vision for Newton County, and a clear message to voters: she believes this role is not a place to learn on the job, but a place to arrive prepared and ready to work.A story shaped by family, education, and lossSanders begins by sharing her roots. Originally from Louisiana, she moved to Georgia in 1999 and to Newton County in 2007. She comes from a family of educators. Her father was a history teacher and band director, and her mother taught economics and social studies. Education, she said, was never optional in her household.That foundation shaped the course of her life, but so did tragedy. Sanders lost both of her parents when she was still very young—her mother around the time of her high school graduation, and her father about a year and a half later. She described a frightening head-on collision the night of graduation, the emotional weight of her mother’s terminal diagnosis, and the painful reality of walking through those seasons while still trying to become an adult.Those experiences, she explained, forced her to grow up quickly. They also deepened her sense of purpose. Rather than becoming defined by grief, Sanders chose to carry forward her parents’ legacy of service, advocacy, and investment in young people.Why Newton County became homeThough she first purchased a home in Henry County, Sanders said a friend introduced her to Newton County in the early 2000s. After visiting and seeing the area for herself, she made the move and has now spent years raising her daughter and serving the community here.That long local connection has shaped the way she sees public service. Over the years, residents have known Sanders in a variety of roles: commissioner, professor, lobbyist, organizer, and community advocate. Throughout the conversation, that wide range of experience came through clearly. She did not speak like someone new to public life. She spoke like someone who has spent years learning how systems work and how decisions affect everyday people.A leader built in many roomsOne of the most interesting parts of the interview was hearing Sanders describe how her different roles have prepared her for higher office. Before serving locally, she worked behind the scenes in political organizing and on campaigns for state representatives. As a lobbyist, she has spent time at the Capitol fighting for issues, navigating legislation, and building relationships. As a professor and trainer, she has taught and presented on policy, technology, and leadership.She said all of those experiences have prepared her for what would be a different level of public service in the Georgia House. Unlike county government, where a commissioner works with a small board, the legislature requires navigating far more personalities, more competing interests, and broader coalitions. Sanders argued that because she has already been in those rooms and already worked on legislation, the transition would not be a dramatic learning curve.That readiness became one of the recurring themes of the episode.People over politicsAgain and again, Sanders returned to a phrase that captures her political philosophy: people over politics.For her, the biggest issues facing families are not truly partisan issues. Housing affordability, mental health, Medicare, education, and property taxes are not just Democratic or Republican talking points, she argued. They are people issues.That framework fit neatly with the spirit of The Town Square Podcast, where Trey and Gabriel often talk about the messy middle—the place where disagreement does not have to destroy relationships and where public conversation can still be civil. Sanders echoed that same posture, saying that elected officials should be able to fight hard for their districts and still sit down together afterward. Politics should not be personal. It should be purposeful.What success would look like in the Georgia HouseWhen asked what the most important responsibilities of the job would be, Sanders focused first on communication and accountability.She said state legislators should host pre-session and post-session town halls so constituents understand what their representatives are supporting, how they are voting, and what actually happened during the legislative session. In her view, representation is not just about casting votes in Atlanta. It is about keeping residents informed, educated, and engaged.She also ...
    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
  • Everton Blair: A New Generation of Leadership | Candidate Conversations — Episode 81

    Everton Blair: A New Generation of Leadership | Candidate Conversations — Episode 81
    Apr 14 2026
    The Candidate Conversations series continues on The Town Square Podcast with a conversation that widens the lens beyond local races and into the national arena. In Episode 81, Trey Bailey sits down with Everton Blair, a Democratic candidate for the United States House of Representatives in Georgia’s 13th Congressional District.For listeners in Newton County and across the district, this conversation offers something the modern political cycle rarely provides: time. Time to hear a candidate explain not just what he believes, but why he believes it. Time to hear the story behind the résumé. Time to move beyond campaign signs, social media posts, and party talking points into a fuller picture of a person asking to represent hundreds of thousands of people in Congress.Blair enters the race with a background that combines public education, local governance, and community-rooted leadership. He is not new to public service, and he is not unfamiliar with the pressures that come with leadership during turbulent times. In fact, some of the most compelling moments in the episode come when he reflects on serving on the Gwinnett County Board of Education during the pandemic and how those years shaped his perspective on what it means to lead during uncertainty.A Homegrown Story Rooted in Family and CommunityOne of the first things listeners learn is that Everton Blair’s story is deeply rooted in metro Atlanta. Born and raised in the Snellville and Stone Mountain area, Blair is the son of Jamaican immigrants who made their home in Gwinnett County during a very different era in the county’s history. As he describes it, he grew up watching a community change and diversify around him.That experience clearly shaped his identity.He attended Shiloh Elementary, Middle, and High School and describes himself as both a high-achieving student and a student leader. He was the kind of kid teachers noticed — the kind of student whose path was made possible in part because educators believed in him, challenged him, and opened doors for him.That early support mattered. It gave him both opportunity and perspective.From there, Blair went to Harvard, an experience that widened his exposure to ambition, talent, and influence. But instead of following many of his peers into finance or consulting, he chose a different route. He came back home and became a high school math teacher at KIPP Atlanta Collegiate. In the episode, he describes that work as both his most difficult and his most rewarding job.That detail matters, because it reinforces something listeners hear throughout the conversation: Blair’s public identity is not built primarily around political ambition. It is built around service, systems, and a desire to make institutions work better for ordinary people.From Public Education to Public LeadershipBlair’s background in education is central to the conversation. Trey, as a fellow public education advocate and school board member, is able to engage him in a way that opens up some of the most substantive moments in the interview.Blair explains that he was first elected to the Gwinnett County Board of Education in 2018, a historic moment in several ways. He became the youngest person ever elected to the board, its first person of color, and its first openly gay member. He was not just entering office; he was entering as a symbol of change in one of the largest and most diverse school districts in the state.But as he notes, being first is not always easy. The “first” can quickly become “the only,” and being the only often comes with pressure, scrutiny, and weight that others do not have to carry.Still, he stepped into the role.And then, just a few years later, he found himself in one of the most difficult leadership contexts imaginable: chairing the board during the COVID-19 pandemic.For listeners who served in public leadership during those years — especially in education — this part of the conversation will resonate. Trey reflects on his own experience during that same period, and both men acknowledge something many in the public still may not fully appreciate: just how difficult those decisions were.School boards were making choices that affected children, families, teachers, budgets, safety, and the emotional well-being of entire communities. In Gwinnett’s case, that meant making decisions for roughly 185,000 students. Blair talks about the pressure, the uncertainty, and the importance of using federal relief funds to provide hotspots, laptops, meals, and flexibility for families and staff.He also expresses confidence in the decisions he and the board made, even when those decisions were unpopular. That willingness to stand by difficult choices is part of the leadership profile he brings into this congressional race.Why Congress? Why Now?One of the clearest themes in the interview is Blair’s argument that Congress needs generational change.He does not dance around that point.He argues that ...
    Show More Show Less
    49 mins
  • Brett Mauldin: Faith, Freedom & Local Control | Candidate Conversations — Episode 80

    Brett Mauldin: Faith, Freedom & Local Control | Candidate Conversations — Episode 80
    Apr 9 2026
    The Candidate Conversations series continues on The Town Square Podcast with Brett Mauldin, Republican candidate for Georgia House District 114. Covering Morgan County and parts of Newton and Walton counties, House District 114 includes communities that are deeply shaped by agriculture, small-town identity, conservative values, and growing concerns about development, taxation, and the future of local control.For many listeners in Newton County, this episode may have served as their first introduction to Mauldin. Trey Bailey and Gabriel Stovall opened the conversation by helping listeners understand exactly who he is, where he comes from, and what motivates him to run for office. What followed was a candid, often personal conversation about family, faith, business, public service, and the kind of government Mauldin believes Georgia needs.A Small-Town Background Rooted in FamilyMauldin described himself as a “small town guy,” someone who grew up around Greene, Putnam, and Morgan counties and who still identifies deeply with the country mindset and rural values of the region. He comes from a small-business family and says those experiences shaped the way he sees money, responsibility, and leadership.He also spoke warmly about his family. He and his wife, Candice, recently celebrated 20 years of marriage. They have three children, and throughout the conversation Mauldin returned again and again to the importance of family life, raising children well, and creating a future worth passing on to the next generation.His story included a year of football at the University of West Georgia, time at Lee University near Chattanooga, and a few laughs about his rugby days. But beneath the humor was a clear theme: his life has been shaped by discipline, teamwork, faith, and a willingness to work hard.Leadership Shaped by ListeningOne of the more interesting parts of the conversation came when Mauldin reflected on how different perspectives have shaped him. He spoke about the influence of his wife, noting that she came from a different socioeconomic background than he did. That experience taught him that leadership requires openness, humility, and a willingness to listen.He shared a line from a mentor that captured his philosophy well: “Minds are like parachutes. The only time they work is when they’re open.”That outlook has informed both his personal leadership style and the way he runs his business. Rather than surrounding himself with “yes men,” Mauldin said he values challenge, input, and honest disagreement. In his words, if all he wanted was agreement, he could just buy a parrot.That idea carried throughout the episode. Even while articulating strong convictions, Mauldin presented himself as someone who believes leadership is strongest when it is accountable, participatory, and rooted in listening to others.Business Experience and Decentralized LeadershipMauldin currently leads his family’s cabinets and countertops business, which travels throughout the Southeast. He discussed the company’s journey, including the hardships of the Great Recession and the lessons learned through navigating both challenge and growth.The company was recently recognized as a Family-Owned Small Business of the Year, but Mauldin was quick to redirect praise to his team. He described his leadership style as “decentralized command,” emphasizing that not every decision should run through one person. Instead, he believes strong organizations invite participation, encourage buy-in, and empower others to lead.That same principle showed up repeatedly in the conversation as he described how he thinks government should work. In business and in government, Mauldin believes the closer power is kept to the people affected by it, the better the results will be.Why He’s RunningMauldin said the opening of the House District 114 seat created an opportunity for someone new to step forward and serve. But for him, running is about more than filling a vacancy. He believes good people must be willing to step into public life, especially when politics feels frustrating, divisive, or dirty.He argued that one reason many good people avoid politics is because they do not want to deal with the messiness of it all. But in his view, that is exactly why strong, grounded men and women should be willing to step up. He believes public service should not be left only to the ambitious or the loudest voices, but should include people with real-world experience, strong values, and a desire to serve.Throughout the episode, Mauldin emphasized that disagreement is not the problem. In fact, he sees disagreement as healthy. What matters is whether leaders are willing to challenge ideas honestly while still working toward the common good.Protecting the VulnerableOne of the strongest recurring themes in the interview was Mauldin’s belief that a just society protects its most vulnerable people. He connected this conviction both to his Christian faith ...
    Show More Show Less
    47 mins