Ward 3 (SE) -  Current term expires December 31, 2011

Dr. Peter Balega is an Ohio native.  He grew up in Cleveland, and then went to Dental School at Ohio State University earning his degree on 1983.  Peter had in-laws in Carrollton, and decided to come south to open his practice.  Dr. Balega simultaneously opened offices in Newnan and Carrollton, but soon sold the Newnan practice.  He preferred living in Carrollton.  He liked the school system and the proximity to the State University of West Georgia.            

Dr. Balega chose dentistry partly because he wanted to be his own boss.  Before long, the young dentist became very interested in the workings of city government.  In the late 1990’s, Peter was seen often at council meetings and other public forums.  

It was something that happened on his street that sparked Balega’s activism.  The traffic pattern was changed without any citizen input.  It was just mandated by the city.  He wanted to know the rationale for the change.  Answers were hard to come by, according to Peter. 

Balega’s father was a career public servant.  For many years, he was a policeman in Cleveland.  Peter says that his father told him that getting involved and becoming effective in public service takes time.  It involves a conscious effort to become aware of what is going on.  Part of the training process includes getting the take of others regarding issues.  Following his Dad’s advice, Dr. Balega said that he became knowledgeable of the issues before running for office.  

In 2003 Balega ran for and was elected to the Carrollton City Council representing Ward 3.  Now, he is trying to abide by other advice that his father gave him.  Always return your phone calls was one thing he was instructed.  And then the experienced law officer said to listen to the many different sides of a story before forming a conclusion. 

As far as his own philosophy  of life, Peter stresses the importance of being flexible.  He asserts that there is rarely just one right or just one wrong.  He believes that leaders must come to the table with ideas, but not be so rigid that they cannot be changed.  Balega says that learning is never a finished product, but rather an outgoing process.

The new Carrollton City Councilman continues to have a high regard for his adopted city.  He is, however, concerned with the kind of growth that is already taking place, and is certain to escalate over time. 

“We must look to the east, see what happened there, and apply what we can learn from their experiences”, Dr. Balega asserts. 

He furthermore feels that the ongoing water wars between Georgia, Alabama, and Florida makes it imperative that the city address long range issues regarding sewage, and the other problems unmanaged growth will inevitably cause.  “We cannot stop growth, but we can be choosy”, Balega maintains. 

Peter’s next priority has to do with city policy.  He says that he has been hard pressed to find manuals with the city’s stated policies in place.  He wants to change all of that.  Some of this concern is about a form of cronyism that the councilman stresses are all too common in small towns. Balega insists that his goal for Carrollton is that all citizens be treated fairly regardless of from whence they might have come. 

In addition, Dr. Balega is firmly committed to a better integration of the state university within the City of Carrollton.  He believes that the institution of higher learning at the city’s edge is the next engine that will fuel the local economy. 

Dr. Peter Balega is also a patron of the arts.  He is an accomplished pianist, and enjoys painting when he gets the chance.  He is a member of the Carroll County Historical Society and the Dental Study Club.  Dr. Balega is a member of the Carrollton First Baptist Church. 

As to what advice he would now like to hand down to the generation below him?  “Keep your word, and treat all people equally,” he said.

Councilmember Balega ran unopposed for the Ward 3 (SE) Councilmember post in November 2007 and was re-elected to an additional term. His new term began January 1, 2007 and will expire December 31, 2011.

Copied with permission from the Carroll Star News February 29, 2004 edition  Written by Larry G. Johnson

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