Interview

How does your job differ from the expectations you had of it before you started?

It takes time. I came from the “news” world where everything unfolds very quickly and there’s always a deadline. Public Relations doesn’t necessarily work that way. You have to very carefully craft a statement, get it approved, consider how it might be interpreted, etc.

There’s also a decent amount of marketing that’s required with my job that I wasn’t expecting. Not only do I deal with the press, but I also deal a lot with the public and keeping them informed through promotional materials such as advertisements, brochures and flyers.

What is your favorite thing about your job or a favorite task?

I really like working with reporters. I was a reporter, so I have a soft spot for them in general. I also think I’m a more helpful and efficient PIO because of that background. I feel like I’m able to put that experience to good use by getting reporters accurate information on a deadline.

What has been the most difficult story/task to deal with?

There was a controversial story that was brewing in the fall regarding a landfill in Hall County and its supposed ties to Gov. Deal. The press was very tough on Hall County officials, and it was hard for me to watch them get lambasted in the press---especially since I feel like it’s part of my job to protect them from that kind of thing. Of course, bad press is a part of being a politician, and I know it’s something that I’ll probably have to go through again. Hopefully, I’ve developed some better ways to manage bad press since then.

How do you balance all your duties?

There are always a lot of balls in the air at once, so I try to make sure to write everything down on my calendar that I possibly can. Being organized is incredibly important!

What's the best tip for successfully managing people?

I think it requires two things: delegation and hard work. I always try to involve other people in the projects that I am working on by giving them very specific tasks. It takes some pressure off of me and gives them a purpose. I also think it’s important to work alongside the people that you’re managing. If you’re not working hard, they’ll be less likely to require that of themselves.

What's your policy on handling controversial topics?

I think two minds are always better than one. Before responding to the press about any inquiry that may be controversial, I like to run my response by several of my colleagues so that it can be refined and improved several times over before it hits the press.

How do you deal with stress?

Exercise. J I also have very level-headed bosses, so that takes a lot of stress off of me.

What do you consider essential requirements for your job or a government job.

I think any job in government requires a dedication to service. You have to have a desire to serve citizens if you want to work in government. Of course, public speaking, creative thinking and patience are also good characteristics to have.

Do you feel like your job directly affects decisions made in Hall County? By the commissioners?

No. My job doesn’t—and shouldn’t—affect policy on any level. My job is to support and promote the commissioners’ decisions whether or not I agree with them politically. How I present their decisions, however, could potentially affect whether or not they get elected again, so I guess it has a small effect on decisions made by Hall County voters.

Have you ever disagreed with something you had to defend? (for example let's say you disagreed with the friendship road name change and it's passed so you have to defend it) How did you deal with it?

I think my job is all about seeing the bright side of things. Even when the commissioners disagree on a subject, I can usually understand why each one of them votes the way they do. They all are trying to do what they think is right for their constituents—they just may have different ideas about what the right thing is. As I mentioned before, once the vote is made, I have to be on board with whatever it is. The key is understanding why it passed and what the positive points of it are. After that, I’m responsible for sharing those positive points with the public.

 

 

I have decided to create a website answering the question- Why should we care about local government? Many young people ignore local government and believe it doesn't have as big of a role in their lives as the federal government. That is obviously incorrect. Local Government actually has a more direct effect and should be studied just as much as federal government. I really want to emphasize the citizen to official relationship and how close it can be at the local level, so I decided to interview Ms. Crumley. She gave me exactly what I wanted to know. I was immensly interested in how she is able to handle everything, since politics is a people career. What most impressed me is the loyalty she has to the county. I think that is something that everyone should know. Local officials loyalty is to the people and the county/district, not to lobbyists, entire states, or to political games that will get them reelected. My favorite thing she said is that rather then representing people local officials work alongside the people. I also asked questions about how to keep everything in order because the most important role of government is to serve people. If she led an unorganized stressful life, she would not be able to serve effectively or portray the authority needed to make citizens feel at ease.