Wednesday, August 8, 2001

School will be starting this week, and we find ourselves about 13 weeks from the November election. There has not been a lot of talk about the candidates and issues yet, but I am sure it will heat up in the coming weeks as the field of candidates becomes known and the choices narrow. I wanted to take the opportunity that The Citizen offers in these pages to lay out one of the larger issues you should think about as the election nears.

I have stated previously that my first three priorities surround changing the tone of the debate in Peachtree City politics, preparing for the impact of Home Depot and Wal-Mart and introducing more tools for open government in the city. But, today I want to explain what it is I mean when I say we must change the nature of the debate.

When I say we need to change the debate, that is not to say we can't disagree or be firm on a position that we believe in. What it means is that when we do it we must focus on the issues and not the personalities, wealth, race, age or jobs of those involved in the disagreements.

When we attack each other, we stop being able to focus on resolution of our problems and focus instead on revenge or winning at all costs instead of doing the people's business, which is to lead and solve their problems.

Many of the solutions to the issues we face will surface from changing the way we conduct ourselves in the public forum. We are not going to get the Georgia Department of Transportation, business community, hired consultants or any other government organization to work with us if we attack them.

We are not going to get the best ideas from our citizens if they are afraid to speak up and risk being ridiculed for an idea that runs counter to "popular" belief. Civility and respect means hearing all opinions and giving them their fair review. That is what you should expect from someone you elect to represent all of the citizens of Peachtree City.

Finally, we must understand that effective government is a team sport. The mayor cannot unilaterally pass his agenda. He must get two more members of the city council to vote with him. This is not done by disparaging them in public meetings, attacking them personally or smearing their careers or income levels.

You do not want an elected official who is always losing every vote. Being the 1 in a 4-to-1 vote does not accomplish the people's business. We need someone to build a team and to foster cooperation, not dissent.

I must state that many, many citizens have told me they are repulsed by the vilification, innuendo and conspiracy theories being thrown around today in our wonderful city. We have gotten so used to conducting our business in this manner we have forgotten how not to.

It is imperative that we elect officials who can work together rather than against each other. There are so many great ideas out there from voices we have heard from often and from voices yet to speak. If you elect Fred Wellman to be the next mayor, all of those voices will be heard.

Fred Wellman

Peachtree City

WellmanforMayor@aol.com

[Wellman is an announced candidate for mayor of Peachtree City. The Citizen welcomes letters from candidates for all local offices and from citizens commenting on the candidates and issues raised. We will print the letters from candidates and a representative sampling of others subject to standard editing practices for length and conformity to libel laws, until the week before the election.]

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