McMenamin, Tennant, Granger considering run for PTC mayor

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

The election is still months away, but speculation is already rampant about who might become Peachtree City's next mayor.

Current Mayor Bob Lenox, who will complete his second term at the end of this year, cannot seek a third term due to term limits.

Who will fill his shoes? At this point, no one has made a concrete decision to step into the fray.

Councilwoman Annie McMenamin has confirmed that she is considering running for mayor, but she has not made a final decision and will consider the needs of her family in making that decision. Councilman Dan Tennant also confirmed he is pondering a run for mayor, though he is also undecided at this time.

Former planning commissioner Willis Granger also confirmed that he is considering a mayoral run, although he has not made a final decision.

Among those saying they won't run for mayor include council members Robert Brooks, Carol Fritz and another rumored potential candidate: Tate Godfrey, who has already re-applied for his current post on the Peachtree City Economic Development Authority, which expires next month.

Local resident Steve Brown and former state representative Dan Lakly have also been rumored to be considering a mayoral run, but neither could be contacted by press time.

Godfrey, who is currently treasurer of the Economic Development Authority and also the Director of Office and Industrial Development at Pathways Communities, said he has no intentions of running for office.

"I have no political ambitions," Godfrey said Thursday morning. "I spend a lot of time with a lot of different organizations, but I enjoy what I get out of it. ... I live in this community and I want to be a part of it. I certainly don't do it for political motivation."

Councilwoman Carol Fritz said she has been asked to run for mayor, but she doesn't want the job and she's not even sure if she will run for re-election (her term expires at the end of this year). Her final decision about seeking re-election to her council seat will be made much later, Fritz added.

Councilman Robert Brooks said he has already decided not to run for mayor even though people keep asking him if he will run. Brooks said he doesn't have enough time in his schedule to perform the duties of mayor.

Lenox could run for council if he so chose, but he has already said he doesn't plan to.

McMenamin said she would be honored to be the next mayor of Peachtree City, but she has two years left on her term in office, as does Tennant. She is also wary of the responsibilities of public office, which often mean putting family second, she said.

Tennant said he will give a possible run for mayor "a great deal of thought" before making a final decision.

"I am certainly thinking about it," Tennant said.

Granger said he has been in contact with several different groups about running for mayor, and he has received a lot of encouragement. Still, he is undecided, he added.

The seats up for election this year are currently held by Lenox, Brooks and Fritz. Brooks can't run for council since he has already served two consecutive terms.

McMenamin and Tennant occupy the only two council seats that aren't up for re-election, so the face of council could change considerably if either or both decide to run for mayor. If so, they will first have to resign their council posts near qualifying time in September.

In such a case, a special election would be scheduled to fill those council seats and in the interim, the remaining council members would appoint someone to those seats, according to the city charter.

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