Rockdale County Board of Education member Larry Cox joins The Town Square Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about public education, fiscal stewardship, and one of Georgia's most talked-about development issues: data centers. Joined by guest co-host Dr. Gregory Brown, the discussion explores Rockdale County School's FY27 budget, Georgia's QBE funding formula, superintendent leadership, property taxes, senior tax relief, and the responsibilities of locally elected school boards.

The second half of the episode takes a deep dive into the rapidly expanding world of data centers. Drawing from interviews with engineers, energy experts, and state officials, Cox shares what he learned about water usage, electricity demand, infrastructure costs, noise concerns, and the potential economic impact on local communities. Whether you're interested in public education, local government, or the future of growth across East Metro Georgia, Episode 96 offers a thoughtful conversation designed to inform rather than inflame.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

In Episode 62 of The Town Square Podcast, Trey Bailey and Gabriel Stovall sit down with Rockdale County Chairwoman JaNice Van Ness to explore a story that bridges politics, purpose, and practical leadership. A former Georgia State Senator, founder of Peachtree Academy, and now Chair and CEO of the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners, Van Ness shares how her journey from Capitol Hill to the county courthouse has been shaped by faith, fiscal responsibility, and a passion for servant leadership. She discusses her surprising party switch, her approach to budgeting, and the growing need for community collaboration across county lines.

Whether she’s reducing millage rates, planting churches through her school, or playing pickleball to stay balanced, Van Ness demonstrates how local leaders can drive big change without losing sight of the people they serve. This episode offers a refreshing look at what it means to lead from the middle—where practical solutions matter more than political labels, and where faith and service are at the heart of every decision.