Brown says Logsdon would have won anyway

Incumbent Peachtree City Mayor Steve Brown got an uneasy feeling Tuesday when he became a roadside attraction while waving to potential voters near the intersection of Peachtree Parkway and Crosstown Road.

Brown said “multiple” cars pulled alongside, stopped, and the drivers rolled down their windows to criticize him on the naming of the city’s Christmas tree, which was dubbed “The Grand Tree.” The city has been criticized for not calling it a Christmas tree, through Brown insists it was not done for political correctness but instead as a comment on the tree’s splendor.

After the encounters with upset motorists, Brown knew the election returns weren’t going to be in his favor. Then again, he admits to knowing he didn’t have much of a chance to win anyway, regardless of the tree-naming issue.

“He would have outpaced me, no doubt about it,” Brown said of political newcomer Harold Logsdon’s showing in the election.

Still, the tree issue caught Brown off guard. Especially when he got some phone calls and e-mails from several supporters about the issue.

“They said, ‘You lost my vote because of the Christmas tree,’” Brown said.

Brown said he is particularly proud of his work with the youth and senior citizens in the community, and in particular the annual Community Action Day event where volunteers band together with support from local businesses to help neighbors in need and spruce up several areas of town.

Brown also hopes the ordinance changes focusing on quality of life, such as the big box regulations, “stand the test of time.”

As for what’s next, Brown said he’s looking forward to some time off for the holidays, and he plans to spend some time with his family.

"I’ve had to put a lot of stuff off for them, especially the girls,” Brown said of his two daughters. He wants to paint their rooms, which is something they’ve wanted him to do since he took office almost four years ago, he said.

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