Enough is enough.

I decided to run for city council here in Peachtree City for one major reason; I believe firmly in the idea of ordinary citizens with no special interests serving their community, and I felt called to serve, plain and simple.

There are three men running for the seat I am seeking. Two of these men are going to lose. But win or lose, I have conducted myself honestly and ethically, and I have made my stand on the issues very clear and easily discernible. I have zero difficulty looking at myself in the mirror each day knowing I have handled myself and my campaign honestly, ethically, and with dignity and respect.

The same cannot be said of one of my opponents. I received a very disturbing phone call this evening from my campaign manager telling me he had just received a phone call from a “consulting firm” inquiring as to who he planned to vote for in the upcoming Post 2 city council election.

When my campaign manager, Kent Sisler, answered, “Dan Tennant,” the caller then said, “Would you still vote for Mr. Tennant if you knew his largest campaign contributor was a large builder/developer in Peachtree City?” Kent then replied, “I know for certain that is not the case,” whereupon the caller said thank you and hung up.

What total complete nonsense! I ran against a large builder/developer in 1995 as a write-in candidate because I believed he had a major conflict of interest in serving on city council, particularly when it came to rezoning and density issues.

To absolutely make crystal clear the facts about my largest campaign contributor, allow me to put my cards on the table. Indeed, I have a good friend named Coll Bowen, a successful businessman who lives in Atlanta, that contributed $1,000 to my campaign. Coll is a fellow Republican who believes in good government, and was happy to help me. I know CoIl because he owns a cemetery in Atlanta and is a customer of my employer's products, namely, bronze memorials.

Mostly, he is a social friend — we have played golf together, dined together, hunted together, and shared many laughs together. In no way does he have any influence on anything that goes on in Peachtree City, and most certainly wanted nothing in return. He simply wanted to help me as a friend. To my knowledge, the only thing Coll has ever “developed” is a new garden for his cemetery.

Besides Coll Bowen, a lot of my friends have helped along the way with what they wanted to give. But I haven't collected a dime from anybody who even remotely is associated with the development, real estate, or building industry, other than a good friend, Jeff Brown, who owns his own small hardwood flooring business here in Peachtree City (hardly the largest developer in town!)

And neither he nor anybody else is looking for any political favors, because I do not accept any contributions from anybody who even remotely might stand to benefit from a contribution. The simple fact is I am blessed with many good friends who want to help me.

Ladies and gentlemen, I knew I was in for a little competition when I got into this race. I suspected there might be some inaccurate reporting, and I even allowed for the possibility that I might be on the receiving end of some kind of personal attack along the way. Unfortunately, that happens in politics.

But I wasn't prepared for bold face lies fabricated by one of my challengers and telemarketed to Peachtree City voters.

Let's get real. This is a city council election in Peachtree City, Ga. This is a town of around 33,000 people. This is not a congressional or gubernatorial race, or even a state senate race (not that the level of the race justifies irresponsible behavior — unfortunately we have grown accustomed to smear campaigns in such elections).

This is supposed to be a small town municipal election. Who ever heard of hiring consultants to conduct polls in such a race anyhow? At what point does one dare go so far as to have his consultant fabricate bold face lies about his challenger? And for what reason? Why are “they” so concerned about a guy who simply wants the average family to be well represented on city council? Could it be my stand against annexation and higher density has rattled the wrong cage just a tad too violently? Or could it simply be an out-of-control ego who will try to win at all costs? How can it be possible that forces this sinister have infiltrated our special community?

Well, trust me, they have. And I am totally and completely disgusted by it. You want to know why people hate politics? You want to know why it's difficult to field good candidates? You want to know why people are so cynical about government? Because of this kind of stuff. That's why. What sane person would ever want to put themselves through such turmoil?

But the story doesn't end here. Oh no, not by a long shot. Because I am more determined than ever to get my story told. I am more determined than ever to serve my community honestly and ethically. I am more determined than ever not to lose to anybody who resorts to these disgustingly low standards and tactics.

Is it possible these “forces” can win? Absolutely. Well, they can win the election, that is. But they cannot win in the game of life. They cannot look you in the eye and say they played by the rules. They cannot say they were honest and relied on the facts. And they most certainly will have a difficult time sleeping at night.

When this election is all said and done, life will go on. But for me, life will go on with my dignity intact. The same cannot be said of one of my challengers.

By the way, in case you are wondering, my challengers are Dr. Bruce Perlman and Chuck Lehman. Lehman has raised about $2000, over half of it his own money. I have known Chuck to be highly ethical throughout this campaign. Perlman has raised over $13,000 and displayed in his financial disclosure report that he has so far paid Landmark Communications of Duluth, Ga., over $1,000 in “consulting fees.” This is the same Landmark Communications that has polled voters in other recent telephone interviews here in Peachtree City. Draw your own conclusions.

Sorry, Doc, I don't think they have a prescription available for a guilty conscience.

Daniel R. Tennant
Peachtree City

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