Wednesday, September 11, 2002

After listening to some testimony at the criminal arrest warrant hearing on Friday and confirming that a breach exists at City Hall, I joined some friends at a local restaurant.

Prior to my arrival, they had been confronted by someone that said he is tired of all the fighting in Peachtree City. One of my friends made an interesting comment concerning the man's statement and I would like to expound upon his thoughts.

Prior to being elected, I had been slammed in every direction by the former administration, including an expensive lawsuit and deceptive tactics. When I announced a run for elected office, they labeled me as "negative" because I raised issues of concern to our community. Interestingly, when they write letters in the newspaper, there is never a problem as far as they are concerned.

They spoke out fervently against televising the council meetings and yet they bring a video camera and tape our meetings. Double standards are the status quo.

Like my friend, I raise the question, "Who is doing the fighting?" There is a group of people that some of us refer to as the government in exile. This band is made up of former elected officials, losing candidates and some of their friends. Worthy of note, they are not all residents of Peachtree City. Mike Smola, a political candidate in Tyrone, is also part of this effort. It appears that Mr. Smola is more interested in Peachtree City politics than Tyrone's (Best of luck to Ronnie Cannon in that race!).

Once the Brown, Tennant, Rapson and Weed team got into office, we decided to put forth an olive branch and select Annie McMenamin as mayor pro tem and show her that we were willing to work with her. Ms. McMenamin burned that branch, spit on the ashes and threw them in our face. Well, we tried. We need to give someone else a chance at the mayor pro tem position now.

I wanted to create a Sports and Entertainment Authority so that the Development Authority could concentrate on economic development opportunities. One tennis center participant dispatched an e-mail full of extraordinary lies to several hundred tennis members and they all went crazy. Since that time, we have lost several industries. We lost one just last week that will cause us to lose an additional $58,000 annually in ad valorem taxes. Guess who makes up the difference on the lost taxes?

Please also remember that neither, Brown, Tennant, Rapson nor Weed has filed an ethics complaint or a criminal arrest warrant against anyone. However, we did hire special legal counsel and he concluded that we had a contractual mishap situation, and he also suggested that we take the matter to the courts. Instead of heading immediately to the courts, we decided to approach the authorities in question and ask them to negotiate with us. Does this sound like fighting to you?

After the criminal arrest warrant hearing, the judge, in Solomon-like fashion, asked the former mayor and me to shake hands. I reached out my hand without comment, and the opposition would not shake hands without a reciting a disclaimer.

Suggestions are being launched that I should sue the former mayor for his latest actions and reap a financial reward. I refuse to go there. Instead, I refer to Luke 6: 27-28, "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

The bottom line is that four out of the five members on the City Council want to get on with business, and we are willing to work with anyone wanting to be involved. We have some exciting things ahead and we are also facing some major challenges that need to be dealt with as soon as possible.

I love being your mayor and I work diligently at doing the best job possible. I am always willing to meet with you or your organization. This City Council listens to and appreciates its constituents. God bless each and every one of you and please know that I am grateful for the support that you all have shown over the last couple of weeks.

Steve Brown

Mayor, Peachtree City

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