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9-11 survivor: ‘Hang tough, have hope’

It has been four years since I worked in New York at Seven World Trade Center for Citigroup Asset Management.

It certainly turned out to be no ordinary day as I e-mailed my daily spreadsheets to portfolio managers and traders I assisted. I worked on the 37th floor of Seven World Trade Center.

The building shook when that first plane hit One World Trade Center, and as I and a few colleagues glanced out of the window above we could see a huge hole in the side of the building. Debris from the building was falling to the ground below.

As my fellow colleagues evacuated down the stairways we never thought what would come out of this of which many thought was an innocent plane crash. As we reached the ground, we could see those who were trapped at the top floors jumping to the ground below.

As for myself, I took the 1 and 9 subway line to Times Square and walked over to Grand Central Station to catch the last train to Connecticut, back home.

My heart goes out to those families who lost loved ones on that day. I still remember those pictures on that collage of the victims from Sept. 11 when I would pass through Grand Central Station. I don’t believe that collage is there now.

In the four years since Sept. 11 I have gotten married to a young woman from the Atlanta area. We now have a son 8 months old.

Everyone needs to hang tough, as the hurricane disaster in New Orleans can teach us. And, keep hopeful in themselves and the future.

George E. Barthel, Jr.
Peachtree City, Ga.

What would Jesus do for New Orleans poor?

Jesus had a special sense of mission to poor and oppressed people. At the beginning of his ministry, sometimes referred to as Jesus’ mission statement, Jesus stood up in the synagogue at Nazareth and read from the prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)

You will find the biographies of Jesus depicting him as repeatedly reaching out to those at the bottom of the social pyramid: poor people, women, Samaritans, lepers, children, prostitutes and tax collectors.

Jesus was also eager to accept people who were well-placed, but he made clear that all, regardless of social position, needed to repent. For this reason, he invited the rich young man to sell all of his possessions and give the proceeds to the poor. (Matthew 19:16-30, Luke 18:18-30, Mark 10:17-31)

Our government in Washington D.C., has aligned themselves with the religious right. If they truly want to represent Christians, like myself, then they should “walk the walk.”

The people hit hardest by the biggest tragedy to face this nation were poor, just like those that Jesus was an advocate for.

The storm was no surprise. The possible levy break was no surprise. Yet, yesterday, there was one doctor helping 15,000 people trapped in the convention center and he was a volunteer.

But, then again, these poor people probably won’t vote.

Susan Knapp
Peachtree City, Ga.

Blame spin shameful

The editorial appearing in The Citizen on Sept. 7 should be required reading for the mayor of New Orleans, the governor of Louisiana, and FEMA leadership.

It has been shameful to watch the shifting sands of politicians in the greatest natural disaster in the past 100 years, and the greatest evacuation of Americans since the Civil War.

Also shameful has been the attempted “blame spin” of elements of the elite media (and they wonder why they are losing subscriptions and viewers).

Jack C. Wheeler
Fayetteville, Ga.

God & Katrina, part 1

On the television screen it appeared only as a 4-inch-diameter swirling red mass. But the reality was that it was a category five hurricane named Katrina.

Its outermost cloud bands gave it coverage of hundreds of water-churning, land-buffeting miles. It came ashore early in the morning on Aug. 29 with the eye-wall slightly east of New Orleans.

It slammed into the Gulf Coast with a deadly ferocity. Homes, stately live oaks, barges, and bridges were demolished and pushed around like a child’s toys.

But this was not child’s play. Thousands of people have had their neighborhoods blown away or washed to who-knows-where.

All storms have an unsettling nature about them. We may like to watch them from a distance and even be exhilarated by the wind, thunder, and lightning. But to be caught in the middle of nature on a rampage can make even the strongest weep.

Is there anything to be learned from such a catastrophic storm as Katrina?

The television networks are filled with angry victims and politicians blaming everyone but themselves. Why didn’t relief come sooner? How could there be such seeming ineptness in the richest nation of the world?

Debates rage over the future of the city of New Orleans. Should it be bulldozed or restored to its historic charm?

However, there is a story behind this storm and all storms that goes relatively untold.

Centuries ago King David of Israel watched a monstrous storm in his own land. It was so overwhelming that the moods of the mind could only be expressed in poetry.

With his God-guided hand the psalmist penned a song that could be entitled, “The Lord of the Storm.” It tells a story that transcends low pressure systems, gale force winds, and ground-shaking thunder. It is a poem about God, His power, and where to take refuge when hurricanes take over.

Psalm 29 opens with an unrelenting call to worship the Lord. David was so impressed with the power of the “forces of nature” that he calls for worship of the King of creation (verses 1 and 2). He even calls on the angels to assist in offering praise to the Lord of the storm.

The declaration of God’s greatness is the only sane thing to do when rain, wind, thunder, and lightning overwhelm the senses.

A subplot may also be found in this appeal to give God credit for His glory and strength.

The Canaanites interpreted the weather in terms of their god Baal, the alleged storm god. Like Mother Nature to moderns, Baal was a figment of the imagination. It is the true God, not a fictitious god like Baal, to whom our will and mind are to be subordinated.

David proceeds with his riveting, poetical account of the march of the wind and devastation. One can almost hear the thunder roll in the repetition of “the voice of the Lord.”

Storms communicate eternally valuable lessons. God is in absolute control over all of nature. Not one rain drop falls without His permission. “For God is the King of all the earth” (Psa. 47:7).

What we call disasters execute God’s infinitely wise purposes (Isa. 45:7; Amos 3:6). The champions of unbelief may scorn “Intelligent Design” as contradicted by the massive destruction of Hurricane Katrina, but in doing so are pitiful in their attempts to challenge the Maker of heaven and earth (Job 38:1-3; 8-11).

The majesty and power of the God of the universe should leave us awestruck. The peals of thunder echoing across the land reminded the sweet psalmist of Israel of the actual voice of God “which is infinitely beyond it.” When God speaks, the earth trembles.

As one commentator has said, “The storm is not an outbreak of meaningless or hostile forces, but the voice of the Lord, heard in all His works” (Derek Kidner).

Many are reluctant to associate storms with the judgment of God. One does not want to appear insensitive to human misery left in the wake of storm surges and violent winds, but the fact remains, hurricanes tell us that the world is under the judgment of God.

We live in a sin-cursed world that is dying. What we see in nature is not the way things ought to be. The rebellion of the first Adam plunged the human race into the mire of moral and natural evil.

Nature is groaning, longing for its redemption. It “waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God” (Rom. 8:19, 22).

Hurricanes tell us that God is calling sinners to repentance (Lk. 13:1-7). Jesus made no bones about it. We all deserve to die. Judgments in this life are God’s last effort, so to speak, to bring sinful human beings to Himself for the eternal joy of fellowship with Him.

As God ruled over the universal flood of Noah’s day, He continues enthroned, offering the grace of forgiveness to those who repent and come to Jesus Christ for eternal life.

Where did David’s storm leave him and the rest of us? God’s power is available to benefit those who trust in Him (Psa. 29:10). He alone can enable hurricane-weary people to live hopefully. God’s peace is available to those who trust in Him.

There is a greater storm that is coming when the wrath of God breaks upon the earth in the great and terrible day of the Lord (1 Thess. 5:3). The Lord of the storm offers His people shalom.

Peace with God can be ours because the howling winds of God’s wrath fell upon His beloved Son, in whom He was well-pleased. Because of the refuge that is in Jesus Christ things can be as they ought to be in this life and in the world to come.

Dr. Howard E. Dial, pastor
Berachah Bible Church
Fayetteville, Ga.

God & Katrina, 2: Where is He?

The generation that I am a part of will be remembered for many things. The last few days has added poignantly to that list.

Perhaps above all the other stories that I shall tell my grandchildren, none will be more vivid in my memory as the tales of devastation and suffering that our generation has witnessed.

This weekend marks the fourth anniversary of 9-11; nothing will erase the memories of the horror of that day from those who saw it in real time.

And now, Hurricane Katrina, by all observations, will be remembered as the most overwhelming natural disaster in American history. The coincidental timing simply amplifies the extreme heart-wrenching images forever etched in our memories.

Amidst all the chaos, questions naturally arise, not the least of which is, “Where are you when we need you?”

From the government to relief agencies, even to Almighty God, this query is posed.

First of all it is important to acknowledge that asking these questions is as natural as the shock and awe we feel when we see the devastation. But deeper thought gives an attempt to answer these earnest issues of the heart.

When all is said and done, all but the never-satisfied extremists will look back in admiration and praise as the government, relief organizations, and our fellow Americans will have risen to the occasion and met the task in an effort that shows the enviable fiber and grit of the beloved red, white, and blue.

Again, Katrina relief will show the goodness of humanity as the aftermath of 9-11 and other hardships have portrayed. Again we will look at our efforts and swell with pride and say, “I am proud to be an American.”

But what of that question often left to only the philosophical if not theological elite: Where is God?

In the midst of all the destruction and horror, how can anyone find hope in a God who is characterized as loving and always present?

At first blush, if you only look at things on a surface level, the question at least seems plausible if not a defining moment of faith, but consider things with me at a level that goes beyond only what the television can depict.

The usually theological discussions of God’s causative versus His permissive will shall certainly float around some circles.

Debates will be offered as to whether this was some sort of punishment from the hand of God. Some will deny His compassion and others will just move further into skepticism. But what can we really see in the wake of Katrina?

Overwhelmingly, I have witnessed compassion. Common, ordinary people pressed once again into heroism. Utility workers, truck drivers, nurses, computer operators, telecommunications specialists, ministers, retirees: the list goes on an on.

They are standing in the back of trucks, standing in line at Wal-Mart, even standing in waist-deep water, all in an effort to do something to help.

Perfect strangers working side by side. Different races paying no attention to skin color. Denominational lines going unnoticed. Rich and poor, black and white, Republican and Democrat, here we are, America at our best once again.

Is it possible that in the faces of humanity as we reach out with genuine compassion to our fellow man, we can see the face of God doing His work?

Is it possible that while the ebb and flow of life goes on and things like weather and economy and politics swirl their never-ending storms of life around us, that our ability to exist, cope, aid, and even thrive again, is in fact the never departing presence of God?

My theology is such that I believe that God does His work through His people here in the world today.

Every time I turn on the TV I see it. People loving people, giving to people, serving and risking and tiring and winning and at times even losing. Why? Because it’s what we do!

In the image of our Creator we give, we support, we promote compassion and we make our way through this maze we call life. And guess what, the next time around we will do it again. Why? Because it is what we do!

Years ago, apologist and theologian Francis Schaeffer posited about the omnipresence of God, “He is there and He is not silent.”

When asked the inevitable question of where is God at times like these, I just tell folks, “Look around, take a look at His children, His creation; they are doing what He would have them do.”

God is here. He is in the hands of the weary police officer standing vigil on the New Orleans street. He is here in the arms of the relief worker and the eyes of the black child clinging to his white neck in knee deep water as the rescue boat driver is ready to hoist them both to safety.

He is here in the doctor who goes without pay in the makeshift triage unit under a highway overpass. He is here in the Red Cross shelter, in the FEMA soup line, in the Wal-Mart gift card purchase, in the factories filling the water bottles, in the prayer meetings and the hats that are passed. He is here and He is not silent!

And when it happens the next time, He’ll be here still. Why? Because that’s what He does! I plan to tell this to my grandchildren one of these days, too.

Dan Roberts, senior minister
Fayetteville Christian Church
Fayetteville, Ga.

Taking store property, blacks tagged as ‘looters,’ whites as survivors

While I am neither agreeing nor disagreeing with Mr. Linville’s assessment of rapper Kanye West, I would like to shed some light on why Mr. West may have felt the need to make the comments he did.

Last week, two photos, taken by two different news agencies, appeared on the Internet. The photos were sent to me via Yahoo News.

One photo, with credit to Agence France-Presse (AFP), shows a white male and female wading through chest-deep water with a bag of groceries. The caption read, “Two residents wade through chest deep water after finding bread and soda from a local grocery store after Hurricane Katrina came through the area in New Orleans, Louisiana. (AFP/Getty Images/Chris Graythen)”

The second photo, credited to The Associated Press (AP), showed a black male also wading through chest-deep water carrying a fridge pack of Diet Pepsi along with a black garbage bag. The caption on this photo read, “A young man walks through chest-deep flood water after looting a grocery store in New Orleans on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2005. Floodwaters continue to rise in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina did extensive damage when it made landfall on Monday. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)”

These photos were also the topic of discussion on ABC’s Nightline last week. It was on this show that Ted Koppel reported that the caption had since been changed. Also when I went back to Yahoo News to retrieve the first photo, the following disclaimer had been posted at the second photo: “Since the controversy began, the supplier of one of the photos, AFP, has asked all its clients to remove the photo from their databases. Yahoo News has complied with the AFP request. Yahoo News regrets that these photos and captions, viewed together, may have suggested a racial bias on our part.”

So it seems that Kanye West wasn’t making outrageous or paranoid allegations, but speaking to actual news coverage. My point to Mr. Linville is while you and I may not think in racist terms, that is not the case for the entire population. Also “assumptions” made by different groups of people sometimes contain racist undertones which may or may not be accurate. Does the definition of looting change based on the color of one’s skin?

Lastly, news junkies who are limited in where and how they receive the news are just as misinformed as those who incorrectly misinterpret the same.

April Conley
april.conley (at) acs-inc.com

Westmoreland voted NO on aid: Why?

I noted that there were 11 U.S. Congressmen who voted against President Bush’s second appropriations bill of $51.8 billion to assist in the rebuilding of people’s lives and cities damaged and destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

One of those who voted against it was our own Georgia congressman, Lynn Westmoreland [of Sharpsburg].

I requested a reason from his office as to his reasoning, and have as yet received no answer. Perhaps someone else in the readership of this newspaper, and maybe closer to Mr. Westmoreland, can tell me and the rest of the community why he voted this way.

Juan Matute
Peachtree City, Ga.

Would white N.O. mayor get a pass?

I’m disgusted by the finger-pointing and the charges of racism by the usual subjects in their transparent attempt to discredit and embarrass President Bush.

New Orleans has a population almost 70 percent black and poor, so of course there were thousands of blacks who were victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Even moral leaders like Sharpton and Jackson (who’s now touring through Louisiana, but was, by the way, in Venezuela embracing President Chavez as this massive hurricane moved toward New Orleans) should realize that.

The truth is that if the incompetent mayor of New Orleans was white, these intellectual giants would all be screaming for his head.

Ralph Suchomel
Peachtree City, Ga.

Evacuate Free Speech

Last week was the first time in a long time that The Citizen has lived up to the title “newspaper”: No Free Speech!

It’s sad that it takes a disaster like Katrina to bring out the quality that still swims under the surface.

Get rid of Free Speech. Go back to real reporting. Forget the attacks. Report both sides.

Remember when reporters presented a balanced view and not a mission statement based on the editor’s views and personality.

Eliminating Free Speech is the first step in the right direction. I hope to pick up this week’s paper and find out it is permanently gone.

Jon Diggerly
Fayetteville, Ga.

Mayor: old DAPC acted illegally

The DAPC was clearly in violation of state law. Even the bonding attorney that represented the city during the Lenox era states the DAPC was in violation of state law.

In addition, the state law clearly separates the city from the responsibility of the autonomous governmental authority; for good reason: to protect the citizens. The Georgia Supreme Court had several rulings this year that confirm my point. The materials obtained through the discovery process of the lawsuit have produced some things that probably shatter the old power circle for good.

Interestingly, in the Group VI lawsuit, Group VI has refused to turn over the invoices, materials sheets, statements and such from their subcontractors for the tennis center expansion project. Why?

That information is certainly germane to the lawsuit so why would they not want anyone to see it?

The city and our risk management agency has already spent over $50,000 making repairs to the new building. The risk management agency had an engineering report performed and it was critical of Group VI.

We know that certain portions of the project were not constructed to the plan specifications approved by the City Council. It appears that our risk management agency may go after Group VI.

he Group VI lawyer came to us saying that they would turn over the information on the expansion project if we signed a confidentiality agreement to remain silent about what they give us. This certainly begs the question, “What are they wanting to hide from the citizens of Peachtree City?”

In the other lawsuit, Peachtree National Bank’s attorney also wants us to a confidentiality agreement to keep us silent. In both cases, the City Council said “absolutely no” because our citizens have a right to know about what people are doing that affect them in a negative way.

Both the bank and Group VI are desperately hoping that some of us do not get re-elected so that new incoming officials can force a taxpayer payoff of their deceitful actions. The people of Peachtree City and Fayette County have a right to know what these people were doing to us behind our backs.

When the information that we have requested is finally released, the former power circle will lose the little credibility that they have left.

Our citizens are not buying into the hired political action committee nonsense. Group VI hired Rex Green (Direct PAC chairman) and the PAC then announces that they are going to file a state ethics complaint against me in January; what happened to it? All they can do is try to intimidate others even if they have to hire people to do it.

Steve Brown, mayor
Peachtree City, Ga.

Lenox trying to rewrite PTC history

In Clintonesque fashion, Former Mayor Bob Lenox attempted to rewrite history in his opinion letter published in The Citizen: Aug. 24, 2005.

Attempting to discredit our current Mayor Steve Brown’s statements in a previous letter to the editor, Lenox stated, “First, Neither Fred Brown nor any other former mayor ever campaigned against Steve Brown.”

A simple review of letters to the editor campaigning for the then-mayoral candidate Gary Rower on Oct. 31, 2001 [was] written by none other than former Mayor Frederick Brown in his article titled “Rower is ‘solutions oriented high achiever.’”

If that is not campaigning against Steve Brown, I do not know what is.

What would the readers of The Citizen call former Mayor Lenox’s own consistent series of frivolous complaints and unsubstantiated criminal accusations of Steve Brown over the past five years?

While it might not be signs in the yard, and flyers in the mailbox, I would call it a personal ”campaign” against our current Mayor Steve Brown.

Lenox goes on to say, “The next lie is a doozy. When Mr. Brown took office he inherited a balanced budget, extensive cash reserves, an excellent credit rating, very little debt and a consistently low millage rate.”

Examining articles in the The Citizen archives over 2001, just before our current Mayor Brown won the mayoral election, I found Lenox’s statement to be inaccurate. Please refer to The Citizen articles [of] Oct. 24, 2001: “Tax Woes: 10 percent of PTC budget frozen by Council”; Oct. 17, 2001: “Cuts unveiled for PTC budget shortfalls”; and Oct. 10, 2001: “PTC: Budget cuts ahead.”

In those news articles, one would find that the revenue situation of Peachtree City was very precarious at the time our current Mayor Steve Brown took office.

One would find that Peachtree City had rapidly expanded the city budget with the hiring of additional city staff positions.

You will find that revenues for sales tax and hotel-motel taxes were constrained.

One would also find that much of our city reserves were used to plug budget shortfalls.

All of this was under the watch of our former Mayor Bob Lenox.

As far as former Mayor Lenox’s other accusations about extravagant office renovations by our current mayor, if you call a fresh coat of paint and a computer desk extravagant, then he’s got Mayor Brown on that one.

Whatever happened to respect coming from former office holders for current office holder in withholding criticism? Just as former President Bill Clinton consistently criticizes our current President George Bush, former Mayor Bob Lenox is attempting to master the Clintonesque ability to rewrite history. Citizen readers, beware.

Robert Rothley
Peachtree City, Ga.

PTC plays loose with hotel-motel tax

It appears Mayor Steve Brown, with his cohorts Councilmen Steve Rapson and Murray Weed, has turned the Tourism Association into a vehicle to scam hotel-motel tax money.

It came to light at the last council meeting when Weed reported that the Tourism Association is giving back $150,000 to the city this year. Rapson chimed in that the association gave back $200,000 last year.

In accordance with state law, Peachtree City had imposed a 5 percent tax on lodging and the Brown Administration in 2002 raised the tax to 6 percent with the intent of lowering it back to 5 percent.

By state law only 3 percent can go directly to the city for their use. Everything over the 3 percent must go to an authority for tourism, convention or trade show expenditures.

Brown, Rapson and Weed voted to form the Tourism Association and the General Assembly enacted it. The first board members [were] Rapson as president, Weed as vice president, the city manager, the city finance director and the city recreation commission chair.

The City Council has oversight of the Tourism Association. The state Ethics Commission expressed some concerns when informed about that arrangement.

The scam is [when] Mayor Brown with Councilmen Rapson and Weed agreed to transfer to the Tourism Association hotel-motel tax money the city would not be entitled to legally.

The Tourism Association, under former President Rapson and current President Weed, then agreed to return some of that money to the city under the guise of cart path improvements for tourism.

John Dufresne
Peachtree City, Ga.

Mend relationships with other officials

One of the greatest challenges facing Peachtree City is its relations with other governmental agencies and entities. During the past four years relations have soured with the surrounding communities, the state, and state agencies, such as the Department of Transportation, upon which we rely for help with traffic challenges.

Strained relations hurt the city because the city relies on other organizations for resources the city needs to go about its business. Like the unpopular neighbor, beholden only to himself, Peachtree City imposes undue burdens upon itself as a direct result of what other officials view as an arrogant, self-serving, posturing city government.

Last year Fayette County passed a special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) for the purpose of addressing traffic throughout the county. In the county commissioners’ view, for years they had supported Peachtree City by funneling the lion’s share of tax revenue into Peachtree City’s roads programs.

This made sense because Peachtree City had the greatest need among the towns in the county. The commissioners now believed it was time to spend on the other towns.

The mayor of Peachtree City disagreed and fought the commissioners rather than cooperating and compromising. The end result was a loss totaling $6 million of SPLOST money that Peachtree City would have received had the mayor worked with the commissioners.

So our mayor enjoyed his blood sport and we taxpayers lost money sufficient to buy a fleet of Bentleys.

When mild-mannered commissioners such as Peter Pfeifer storm out of meetings with our mayor, you know that’s a bad sign. When our mayor describes Newnan as “the problem” you know that’s a bad sign. When state officials duck phone calls from the mayor of Peachtree City you know that’s a bad sign.

Years ago, upon my moving to Peachtree City, a friend who raised his grown children here described this city to me as “the womb.” Sometimes it seems that way because this is such a haven from so many of the challenges facing other communities throughout our nation.

But despite our separation, we are not in isolation. We need to be able to work with the Fayette County commissioners, with Coweta County and Newnan authorities, with Tyrone and Senoia, with our state representatives and state agencies.

Unfortunately, Peachtree City has earned a reputation of selfishness, intransigence, and pettiness.

We all know from our day-to-day lives that we need to be able to work with others to get optimal results. This isn’t a revelation. It’s common sense.

Disagreement is not reason for vituperative personal attacks and smears. It’s reason for communicating better and intensifying efforts to understand each other.

That’s how disputes are resolved and conclusions reached that may not be optimal for any one party, but which are adequate for all parties.

We ask those running for election or re-election: If elected to be one of the leaders of PTC for the next four years, what actions will you take to mend our broken relations?

This and other issues can be seen on www.directpac.org.

Rex Green, chairman
Direct-PAC
Peachtree City, Ga.

PTC mayoral candidate Thompson: ‘I am not a politician’

A friend of mine recently inquired with me as to why I wasn’t campaigning with some of the other mayoral candidates during the events at the Peachtree City Amphitheater.

For those of you who don’t know, under Peachtree City ordinance a candidate running for office cannot post campaign signs until after qualifying for the election (qualifying begins Sept. 12 and ends on Friday, Sept. 16).

I believe the ordinance, by intent and spirit, discourages political promotion taking place on any property, let alone property owned by the taxpayers of Peachtree City, until the qualification deadline has passed.

It is crucial for a successful campaign for me to share my message with as many voters as possible. I could do this by positioning myself at the amphitheater’s entrance along with other candidates. I’ve decided, however, that this is simply not the right thing to do.

First of all, I honor and respect the patrons’ right to privacy. The concert series at the amphitheater is entertainment for which individuals pay their hard-earned money to enjoy a Friday or Saturday evening with family and friends. I think that the last thing a patron wants to do on the way to a relaxing evening is run a gauntlet of politicians trying to promote their agenda.

Secondly, and more importantly, if you are a Peachtree City citizen, you are paying for the amphitheater with your tax dollars. As a mayoral candidate I simply cannot and will not promote my campaign on the taxpayers’ dollar, so that is why you will not see me politicking on the grounds of a taxpayer-supported facility.

It would be difficult to claim that I am conservative on fiscal issues then let the taxpayers of Peachtree City throw my party, by supporting my campaign through their tax-dollars.

My number one objective as mayor is to cut needless spending and lower taxes, while adding value for taxpayers. To demonstrate my commitment to treating tax dollars as if they truly belong to the taxpayer, I am not and will not exploit public facilities to become mayor. Instead, I am spending funds that are mine or have been given to me to support my campaign.

To further demonstrate my commitment to the community, I pledge that if I fail to lower the millage rate that is currently budgeted I will return my salary as mayor to the city. I believe in getting paid only if my service provides value for the taxpayers of Peachtree City. If I can’t add value by lowering the price you pay to live here, then I will return my paycheck to the city. I guarantee it.

Dar Thompson
mayoral candidate
Peachtree City, Ga.

Rapson on re-election: ‘I’m a regular guy, your neighbor’

I am seeking re-election for the City Council seat I was appointed to in March of 2001. My experience serving the city as a council member for these past four and half years has given me a further awareness of the issues and concerns of the residents.

For those of you who do not know me, perhaps I can provide you with some background information: I am a 15-year resident of Peachtree City, a United State Marine Corps veteran, a certified public accountant with more than 17 years of extensive financial, management and administration expertise.

Much of that time, I have worked in the area of financial services for governmental entities. I have just recently accepted the position of chief of staff to the chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.

Prior to this change I was responsible for the $2 billion budget for Fulton County, and in the past, I have served in a financial capacity for the Fayette County Board of Education as well as the city of Peachtree City.

Additionally, I have worked for Wachovia Bank, a law firm and for private industry.

As a returning City Council member, I have an extensive internal knowledge of the challenges that face the various city departments. I know Peachtree City: the internal processes, the senior management, the financial structure and day-to-day operations.

I am not a politician and I have no hidden “agenda.” I simply believe that I have the necessary sensitive and dynamic leadership to handle the complexities associated with governmental operations.

Through my work experience and community activities, I have established professional relationships with many of the elected officials and department heads within Fayette County and the Fayette County School System. Those relationships provide me with a unique platform from which to address citizen concerns.

However, perhaps most importantly, I am an active participant in the Peachtree City and Fayette County lifestyle. I am the treasurer of the Fayette County Special Olympics. I was a board member of the Fayette County YMCA and a past treasurer. I am actively involved with my church.

I’m just a regular guy; I’m your neighbor. I run on the cart paths. I have coached baseball, softball and soccer teams. I accompany my children to their band performances, school field trips, swim meets, dance recitals, Boy Scout activities and gymnastics lessons. And, I “shop Fayette first” to borrow terminology from the Chamber of Commerce.

I am married to Kristi Rapson and we are the proud parents of Andy and Sarah Beth who attend McIntosh High School.

I seek to return to this council seat because I want to make a positive difference in the lives of the city’s citizens, and in the city that is the home of my children. What better way to affect your quality of life than to be, in effect, on the board of directors that makes the decisions?

I know it may sound “corny,” but I truly believe that each individual resident deserves representation and I want to make sure the concerns of the average resident are heard. I bring to the position the ability to get people to work together.

I talk to people. I use the experts on the authorities and commissions to make better decisions. I do my homework and research the issues before I vote. I have the ability to sift through the data and make a decision, explain it and implement it. I am blessed to live in this community and I will to work to protect that lifestyle.

Peachtree City needs expertise as we continue the transition from a “growth oriented” city into a “stable, built-out” community. Redevelopment is becoming a focal issue in the coming years.

Our “growth” is not keeping pace with our capital improvement program. Accordingly, we have and will continue to need to change the way we plan and budget.

I think General Colin Powell said it best, “The essence of leadership is the willingness to make the tough, unambiguous choices that will have an impact on the fate of the organization.”

I believe that the citizens of Peachtree City expect their City Council to make those hard decisions. We are stewards of the public money and we need to live within our means.

Leadership is needed to provide the direction and vision that Peachtree City needs for the future. This quality was instilled in me in the Marine Corps.

I promise to provide the direction and vision that Peachtree City needs for the future. Leadership is often the critical ingredient that determines whether or not a community overcomes its limitations or remains mired in its own problems.

I am familiar with the issues facing council in the next four years and the issues and concerns of the residents. I know what the workload and time constraints are for the job.

I will not promise what we can not afford. I will not promise what the law will not allow and I will not promise what I can not deliver.

I have always been the place where the buck stops and as a council member, that will not change.

We are entering a crucial time in the final development and destiny of our city. Please take the time to contact me and let me know how I can serve you, your family and neighbors as we cast Peachtree City’s future. I look forward to continuing to serve the residents of Peachtree City.

Steven A. Rapson
Councilman, Post 3
Peachtree City, Ga.