Fulton County Commission Chairman Mike Kenn reacted quickly last week to comments from the governor about Fulton County management.

Barnes told the editors of the Atlanta Business Chronicle that Kenn should realize that he is not going to succeed in changing MARTA's funding by involving the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority or the state.

"Why do they [GRTA] have to get involved with this? If you can't run that county down there, we'll see about doing it," Barnes said.

Barnes added that Kenn needed to focus on his own problems.

"It's almost shocking to me to [hear him] say, 'Listen, we don't want to make the tough decisions we have to do to cut our budget,' and we don't want to go to the people and say, 'Listen, we've run this deficit, and we need to pave roads and other things.' And, by the way, I know that the state of Georgia has built things like the World Congress Center in Fulton County, and has invested billions of dollars and gives assistance to Grady Hospital," Barnes said.

Kenn was quick with a comeback.

"I read Gov. Roy Barnes' comments last week with a tremendous amount of disappointment. I have worked with Gov. Roy Barnes, legislators, representatives of GRTA and the ARC in a constructive and productive manner to find solutions to many of the problems that face the Atlanta metropolitan area.

Unfortunately for all of us, the "skills" that Gov. Barnes exhibited were that of an effective partisan politician and not those of a true leader for the metropolitan Atlanta region. I am shocked that Governor Roy Barnes has resorted to such partisan and anti-Fulton County rhetoric. Quite frankly, I expected more from Governor Barnes," he said.

Kenn said he has always supported MARTA and will continue that support.

"I am, however, working to change MARTA's antiquated and unfair funding structure. And, to represent that the reasons behind my positions on MARTA and Grady Hospital are a reflection of Fulton County's past budget problems is completely false. And, Governor Barnes knows it."

The Chairman said he has told state leaders of the problems and just wants Fulton County treated fairly.

"I have spent a considerable amount of time detailing the drastic financial ramifications of supporting two regional programs used by hundreds of thousands of Georgians each year in meetings with Governor Barnes, Catherine Ross, the GRTA Board and the ARC, as well as in the pages of this publication. The issue is one of fairness for Fulton County's taxpayers.

I am at a loss as to why Governor Barnes would attack Fulton County's government and the overburdened taxpayers that he represents. Maybe he thinks that taking "shots" at Fulton County is a good way to solidify his rural political base. Maybe it's part of some grand re-election strategy. Whatever the motivation, it's clear to me that such partisan and personal attacks will do nothing to solve these problems."