Like most people interested in local politics, I read Mayor Lenox' letter to the editor in the March 22 edition of The Citizen.

Once I got past the childish name calling the mayor dished out, referring to Councilman Tennant as “self righteous, pompously indignant, and woefully inept,” I was most intrigued with the mayor's remarkable attempt to explain away his dictatorial, unfair and anti-democratic behavior. Lenox would have you believe that he had 30 seconds or less to make a decision as to whether or not to allow a citizen, Steve Brown, to be heard after Mr. Brown had been named in a 13-minute speech by the city attorney.

Here is a direct transcript of what was said immediately after Rick Lindsey, city attorney, concluded his remarks and Steve Brown raised his hand to ask the mayor if he would allow him to respond:

“Lenox: No, I won't. Secondly.

Tennant: Excuse me, sir. May I have a remark? I think it's only fair in light of the speech we just heard that Mr. Brown be heard.

Lenox: That is incorrect. This is my meeting. I am chairing it and unless there are three votes on council who wish to hear from Mr. Brown...

Tennant: I'd like to make a motion that Mr. Brown be heard in light of Mr. Lindsey's...

Lenox: Second.

Tennant: Can I make the motion first?

Lenox: Yes.

Tennant: ...in light of Mr. Lindsey's diatribe that we just heard in the sense of fairness.

Lenox: Second. All those in favor?

Tennant: Aye.

Lenox: Those opposed?

McMenamin: Your honor, I must abstain.

Fritz: Nay.

Brooks: Nay.

Lenox: Motion is denied. Next.”

Thirty seconds to reflect and analyze, Mr. Lenox? Please... how about half a second to blatantly deny basic free speech? The famous line “This is my meeting” clearly illustrates the mayor was more interested in maintaining absolute control than in allowing a man to be heard.

You want to talk about “the real facts,” mayor? Well, there they are. You no more had Mr. Brown's interests at heart by denying him permission to speak (as you claimed in your letter) than I am from Mars. Those lame justifications for your actions that you spelled out in your letter are refuted by the facts, Mr. Lenox. The transcript of the meeting proves your arrogance once again got in the way with any chance you had to be fair, and we citizens are sick or your over-inflated ego.

As the expression goes, you can fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.

The citizens of Peachtree City have had enough of Bob Lenox. November 2001 can't come soon enough.

Kent Sisler

Peachtree City

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