Wednesday, April 21, 2004

Mayor Brown should live up to campaign promises

With the election year upon us and so many important issues we must decide, we all look at the candidates and judge them based on what we want in our leaders. Many simply vote party line. Most lean toward a party and agree with the issues.

All of us hope what our candidate says is the truth, but know full well that may be wishful thinking. We debate issues, campaign for our candidate, and exercise our responsibility and vote. In the end we know that on a national level our vote is simply one of millions. On a local level it is much more important.

Local elections are non-partisan. The issues affect our lives directly: For example, school quality, property taxes, direction of the town we live in. We vote (those of us who do vote) based on what a candidate states in his or her campaign. We hope even more that he or she is truthful. We try and hold our leaders to a higher level of integrity. We eliminate in the next election anyone deemed to have not lived up to his or her promises.

However, it is incredibly disappointing when our elected representatives do a 180 on their campaign promises. Sometimes it is a matter of need or law. Sometimes it is a matter of their lack of knowledge during the campaign. Sometimes it is simply that they knowingly lied to us.

Regardless, we are, and should be, unforgiving. It is a candidate’s responsibility to the electorate to KNOW that what he or she promises can be delivered. It is unfortunate and shows a lack of integrity when an elected official tries to excuse or hide actions that are contrary to their promises. This is what Peachtree City is dealing with in regard to Mayor Steve Brown.

As a candidate, Steve Brown stated on his Web site that, “I want to give the power of annexation to the citizens. I want to change the charter so that all annexation requests must be voted on by referendum at the next scheduled general election. If the people want the annexation, they will vote for it.”

I pointed this out in a letter to The Citizen March 24, asking why this promise has never been addressed. Surprisingly, in Steve Brown’s letter in the April 14 Citizen, he stated, “I campaigned for referendums on annexations, and that part is true. However, they are neglecting to tell you that there would have to be a change in state law to allow for a referendum on annexation.”

Since Brown “neglected” to tell us this aspect of his promise, one must ask if Steve Brown was uninformed on a “hot button” issue, like annexation, during his campaign, or did he simply lie to get votes?

His Web site listed as part of his qualifications to hold the office of mayor that “he has attended several development conferences and has read numerous books on issues that affect our city like big box retail, planning, zoning and takings law ... He has been outspoken on the issues of public safety, annexation, traffic, education, ethics and city planning ... He has spent countless hours researching on the Internet, speaking with state and national experts and reviewing decades of government meeting minutes.”

One would be led to believe that he had thoroughly schooled himself in the law and had “done his homework” prior to making so many promises. So how did he miss such an important aspect of the annexation laws?

Out of interest I contacted former Councilwoman Carol Fritz. She stated that prior to Steve Brown announcing his candidacy, she informed him “more than once” that annexation referendums were illegal. Therefore, it appears that by the time Steve Brown announced his candidacy he had already been informed of the law, yet still made a promise that he knew would [get] votes, but he could not keep.

Based on this information it would appear that Steve Brown falls into the category of knowingly lying in order to get votes. If he didn’t know of the law, one must wonder about his claims of attending conferences and reading books.

Surely someone who is working so hard to become the most qualified would at least check the law prior to making campaign promises. If he failed to educate himself or simply lied to win the election, one must wonder how much he exaggerated his abilities as a candidate, and how much he exaggerates his knowledge and ability as mayor.

This leads us to the annexation question. Mayor Brown has been discussing annexing property with no input (that we are publicly aware of) from your elected representatives or our city staff. He states he has put together a group of “experts” to study this.

Who are these experts? Why is he so afraid to propose lifting the annexation moratorium so the entire city staff and entire city council can participate? And why does he write a scathing letter to the editor attacking anyone who dares question him?

On his campaign Web site, he stated, “I am a big advocate of open government and debate ... If you agree with my positions please let me know. If you disagree please let me know. Or if you would like to know my stance on any of the issues please ask.”

Yet when people asked and requested open debate regarding his unilateral negotiations to annex property, his answer was a long letter attacking the debate. Did he again knowingly lie? Is there something he is trying to hide?

Based on this knowledge is this the person you want negotiating with a major developer to secure a major annexation of property? Is this who you voted for when you elected Steve Brown to the office of mayor? Do his public comments promote “open debate” or vicious attack? Has he lived up to his promises when he campaigned?

It is time that the City Council step forward and insist that ALL of our elected representatives and our city staff become involved in this process or the process must end. Why is this such a problem for Steve Brown? One would think he would welcome this request and certainly support the desire by us all to have this done right.

As Steve Brown stated on his campaign Web site, “We are looking for ... We want leadership that stresses open government and a higher ethical standard. We are looking for leadership that demonstrates honesty and truthfulness with all issues. Words must be followed by positive actions.” Perhaps Steve Brown needs to go back and review his own promises.

Jim Stinson

Peachtree City, Ga.