In Service to Community

Mark Letson decided to run for Chairperson of Jackson County Commission in 2020 after attending the Citizens Academy, where he received an in-depth look at county government's functions. “I was serving on multiple boards within the county and felt it was the next logical step. The experience and knowledge I gained by serving on those boards helped to prepare me for larger, broader issues that face our county's elected leadership.”

He lost that race by a handful of votes but was undeterred. He ran again in 2022, defeating incumbent candidate Brian McMahan.

“It was not difficult to run again,” said Letson. “I knew I could do better and reach more people without being hampered by Covid-19 restrictions. Win or lose, I was able to meet and connect resources from this experience. I gained friends and watched them flourish in their fields. I helped expand our community’s resources through these connections, which is invaluable.”

The election process for the Jackson County Chairperson is unique.  Residents elect a commissioner from their respective districts, and then the commissioner body elects a chairperson from that group. The chairperson has numerous responsibilities, including setting the county’s agenda.  Letson explains his role this way, “I listen to the other commissioners, county staff and the citizens to guide that process and ensure that the items we feel are needed get added to the agenda.”

“Most recently, the early declaration of a state of emergency from Hurricane Helene ensured we had all the aid in place before the storm’s arrival. This allowed Jackson County Emergency Director Todd Dillard and his staff to open shelters, get Swiftwater teams in place and pro-actively apply for federal aid.”

Development in Jackson County is an important and ongoing issue that can be heated. Regardless of constituents’ views on any development, Letson sees a need for balance, and the positive aspects of development and growth should not be overlooked. The county’s annual budget relies heavily on an occupancy tax paid mainly by visitors. This keeps property tax rates low.

According to Letson, “Development in Cashiers is a good thing in that we are consistently one of the lower tax rates in the state. While some approve and some oppose these developments, affordability built into our tax system and rate drives the interest of potential buyers and businesses.”

Development on and off the plateau helps keep that rate steady and funds parks, greenways and non-profits across the county that consistently attract visitors. We generate money because of the county’s iconic natural assets, which have minimal tax impact on Jackson County residents.

Lower tax rates and additional funds through occupancy tax sound great, but Letson said there needs to be a balance.

“It’s tricky because we do not want to have the Wild West scenario we saw in the late 90s and into the 2000s. We need our growth to be measured and positive. We do this by conducting charrettes, public hearings and creating small planning councils throughout the county that help people come and connect and have their voices heard. While there are pros and cons to both, we can all agree that communication is key to the success of Cashiers. Too much growth strains our infrastructure and housing, which triggers another conversation: too little growth. We look back to the tax rate and maintaining everything the county needs to provide for the citizens. It is a balancing act; how we prioritize our needs versus our wants comes into the equation.”

Letson would like to see improvements to infrastructure throughout the county over the next 5-10 years.

“Creating and maintaining an independent water system for the plateau would be a game changer in how we grow,” he said. “Creating the local system would help those around the area to provide reliable water and sewer sources. Getting fiber networking to underserved people would also help those working remotely throughout the county. Increasing cell phone reception would also be a huge win for our area.”

Letson lives in Sapphire with his wife, Brandy, and their daughter Ceci, 11.  A veteran of the area’s tourism industry, Mark spent nearly two decades at Trillium Links and Lake Club before joining Design South Builders as Senior Operations and Project Manager. His tourism and vacation home development career began in Hilton Head, SC at Palmetto Dunes following graduation from Louisianna State University.

Brandy Letson is a popular local pharmacist who turned entrepreneur in 2015 when she and her husband purchased Cashiers Valley Pharmacy. They provide an alternative approach to serving the needs of their community with a well-staffed drug store that happily provides curbside service, which began during the pandemic and remains an option. Like her busy husband, Brandy seeks ways to serve her customers and the community better.

Letson has a years-long resume of serving on local boards, working to improve aspects of life in Jackson County. Today, one of his favorite volunteer activities is as Vice Chair of the Summit Charter School Board of Trustees, where his daughter Ceci attends. “Brandy and I are very fortunate, and we love to have. Back-to-school bash is our favorite event, providing supplies to kids who need them, and it truly brings us joy," says Letson

Letson tells us, "I love the people and the sense of community across this county. I think with the hurricane and the issues we had with utilities, communication, and isolation, it would be easy for us to be a ‘me’ society, taking care of ourselves and our families only. Instead, we watched as neighbors helped neighbors, citizens served citizens, and I feel that that is something some of the other communities may not have. ‘We’ society and the community itself helped with our recovery. Leaders stepped up to organize and prepare without recognition as a goal. That’s not the norm in most communities. But it is in Jackson County, and it’s what makes this a special place, the people who reside here.”

He added that caring for one’s community is a team effort, and Jackson County has one of the best teams on earth.

“I am thankful for the county staff,” he said. “They are creative, hardworking, and resourceful regarding your tax dollars. They never get enough credit for their hard work making this county operate smoothly. If you see someone who works for the county, know they are working for you and thank them.”

Mark Letson is passionate about many things, but most of all, giving back. He enjoys bringing his daughter to a wide variety of community events to help her see what makes a community thrive.

“I feel that attending events willingly or unwillingly has helped to shape her as a young woman,” said Letson. “It helps her see the needs people have in Jackson County. She may not like the meetings or the events, but if it is a volunteer opportunity to help, she signs up without hesitation. Brandy and I feel that has helped to cultivate a caring individual and makes us proud of the young lady she is becoming.”