Wednesday, November 19, 2003
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Wednesday, November 19, 2003 |
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Low voter turnout
feared for holiday-week runoff By J. FRANK LYNCH More than the usual number of Peachtree City families are expected to hit the road back home to Grandma’s this weekend, taking advantage of the full week of Thanksgiving vacation scheduled for the first time this year by Fayette County schools. But that prospect worries local election officials, who fear city voters will dismiss Tuesday’s runoff between Judi-ann Rutherford and Lee H. Poolman to fill the City Council Post 1 seat. Rutherford has been pushing a “get out the vote” message in the final days of her campaign, sending out a “chain letter” e-mail late last week that supporters were asked to forward to other city voters. “Many of you will be traveling, entertaining family or busy with preparations,” said Rutherford, who recommended three ways to cast a ballot: Vote as usual, vote in advance or vote absentee. Rutherford’s focus has been solely on getting voters to the polls since the city attorney determined that her job with as office manager of the Fred Brown Jr. Amphitheater would not pose a legal conflict of interest if she is elected. That legal opinion, offered by Ted Meeker at the request of City Manager Bernard McMullen, still leaves too many unanswered questions, says Cass Poolman, campaign manager for Lee Poolman. “I have questioned Mr. Meeker’s decision with him and it seems rather speculative, as he is going on the premise that the non-profit will be approved,” said Mrs. Poolman. “What happens when and if the federal government does not approve the non-profit?” she asked. “In my research I have not found a nonprofit run by a city in the state of Georgia.” Approval of an application for federal non-profit status by the new Peachtree City Tourism Association is necessary if the association intends to take the hand-off on management of the amphitheater from the Development Authority on Dec. 1. That request is pending. Meeker determined that Rutherford and other employees of the venues would not become city workers at the time of the transfer, instead remaining employees of the nonprofit. Independent benefits and pension plans will be maintained, as will an outside firm to handle payroll. But that assumes non-profit status is granted. Bill King, a local resident and active tennis center member, spoke up at last Wednesday’s tourism board meeting and warned Meeker and others of the difficulties in fast-tracking a non-profit status request, which Peachtree City needs in hand by Nov. 30 if the transition is to go smoothly. In his legal summary released a week ago, Meeker emphasized the rights of the candidate to seek public office over the potential for conflict if elected. Runoffs have been held Thanksgiving week in the past, but no one can recall a runoff held while schools were closed for the holiday. The 2001 runoff that elected Steve Brown as mayor was held the week after Thanksgiving, on Nov. 27. That vote drew 5,131 voters out of 18,268 registered to vote in the city at the time. Brown defeated Gary Rower for the post with 3,171 votes, representing 61.8 percent of the votes cast that date, but just 17.35 percent of all registered voters. INFORMATION PTC Council Post 1 Runoff Candidates: Lee H. Poolman, budget systems manager for Fulton County, and Judi-ann Rutherford, office manager for the Fred Brown Jr. Amphitheater. When: Tuesday, Nov. 25 Polls Open: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Polling sites: 12 precincts throughout Peachtree City Who can vote: Any voter previously registered, including those who did not vote the first time in the Nov. 4 election. How to vote if you’re going out of town: Advance voting is available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday at the Fayette County Board of Elections office in the Stonewall Village administration complex in Fayetteville. Absentee ballots can be obtained from the Board of Elections as well, but must be returned by Monday. The form for requesting an absentee ballot is available at Peachtree City Hall and online at www.sos.state.ga.us. A link to download the form is also available on the city’s website.
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