Liberty Co. businessman challenges longtime incumbent for Georgia House seat

HINESVILLE, Ga. (WTOC) - For the first time in 23 years, Liberty County could have a new voice at the Georgia State Capitol. Kevin Remillard, a Republican, business owner, and member of the Liberty County Board of Assessors, wants to be the next Georgia state representative for District 168.

Remillard is a former soldier and former police officer.

Property taxes

Walking through downtown Hinesville, Remillard said winning the election would allow District 168 to be more accurately represented.

“So what could happen for District 168 would be that we vote in a way that would more appropriately represent our issues as well as our population and what their needs and desires are,” Remillard said.

Remillard said high property taxes are one of the most pressing issues for most people. He said residents who live in their homes lock in a homestead exemption, so their taxes would not go up. He said reducing taxes for elderly residents would shift more of the tax burden to investors who own rental properties in the area.

“Which, to be honest, I’m okay with because I myself have properties, but I can write that off as a business expense,” Remillard said. “But I would rather live with that expense than think of possibly disrupting, you know, an elderly individual, either man or woman, from their home.”

Government spending

As a member of the Liberty County Board of Assessors, Remillard said the government needs to audit its budgets and stick to them.

“The number one thing, no matter how many times you raise the taxes, it’s never going to get under control unless you control the spending,” Remillard said. “The budget. I have a budget. You have a budget. Everybody at home has a budget. But for some reason, when others, such as the government, have an inability to operate within that budget, they just go, well, we need more budget.”

Remillard also pointed to tax breaks given to outside companies that move into Liberty County.

“When we get these multi-million dollar companies that come in here, and we give them tax incentives, tax abatements, you know, to where they don’t have to pay taxes for years, well, we pay those taxes, the little guy,” Remillard said. “So it’s not free. And what we get from it is we get a large export of dollars. Because when you spend money at those conglomerates, that money leaves Liberty County and it doesn’t come back. So all you get for it is, you know, a handful of low-paying jobs in a shell of a company.”

Remillard said he supports companies locating in Liberty County but believes local small businesses should receive more support.

“I am a hundred percent open for anyone coming here. I just think that we could do better with our locals and with our small mom-and-pop shops,” Remillard said. “Because if you’re going to give three, five years, seven years, 10 years tax abatement, well, why are we taxed on everything?”

His platform

Remillard outlined his positions for voters.

“My stance is lowering taxes. My stance is pro-Second Amendment. My stance is betterment of Liberty County, but also participating in the betterment of Georgia as a whole,” Remillard said. “My stance is also to try to get some legislation going that it’ll actually benefit the population versus just control the population.”

Facing a longtime incumbent

Remillard is a political newcomer running against longtime state Rep. Al Williams. Remillard said he believes it is time for a new generation in the role.

“A lot of people believe that there’s time for a new generation to step into these roles,” Remillard said. “So with that, I would be bringing a different voting pattern to this position. And with that, you know, my vote will equal just as much as his vote ever had. You need both sides. You need the yin and the yang. And you need that rotation and the different views because it’s what brings the beauty to the world.”