It was not development and density. It was not sewer. The main campaign issue in Tyrone’s upcoming municipal elections nearly morphed into a non-issue issue Monday night as candidates for mayor and council posts 1 and 2 responded to the many questions posed to them. The main campaign issue is town manager Barry Amos.

Topping the list of questions were those, whether directly or indirectly, relating to Amos, his job performance and service on behalf of citizens. Yet within their remarks, candidates took a largely circumspect posture, insisting that the job performance of any or all town employees should be assessed fairly. Other long-standing issues came through clearly Tuesday night. Those involved the hot-button topics of future growth and development and, directly tied to it, the question of sewer. And again, while candidate responses were sometimes divergent, their answers often took a similar tack, along with the perspective that citizens must be involved in decision-making and that elected officials should ensure their inclusion.

Though Amos’ name was never spoken at the forum, it was no mystery that a bulk of the questions involved town actions in which his management role held significant impact and responsibility. One of the questions posed to mayoral candidates Mike Smola and Don Rehwaldt concerned their visualization of how downtown Tyrone might look in five years and again in 10 years. Smola said development downtown should be done along the lines of moderate density. With a build-out population projected at 9,000, Smola said the town should preserve open space with a slightly denser core downtown. Wall to wall retail exists from Peachtree City to Fairburn, he said. Smola advocated for keeping open spaces other than in the town center area.

Addressing the question, Rehwaldt said the downtown area and future development will likely be stymied due to a lack of sewer. Without sewer it can’t continue on, he said. Rehwaldt added that business owners are wondering what course the town should take. And everyone wants the town to look better, he said.

A question posed to all candidates, concerned a town ordinance that “took away so many business land uses.” Candidates were asked if they would vote to repeal the ordinance. In response, Post 1 candidate Ken Matthews said he would vote to repeal it. Post 1 candidate Tracy Young said he would repeal it, adding that he would ask businesses what they want. Post 2 candidate Eric Dial said ordinance might have gone too far toward inverse condemnation, something to which he objects, adding that the ordinance be re-visited prior to any decision. Post 2 candidate Jesse Nascianceno virtually agreed, saying that the ordinance should be re-visited and that citizens should be engaged in the process. Post 2 candidate Gordon Shenkle said the ordinance should be seriously examined along with all town ordinances. Rehwaldt said the council should look at a review while Smola, a current council member, said the council had not acted to disenfranchise residents and had gone through proper channels in passing the measure. He agreed that the ordinance could be reviewed.

Another question said, “Tyrone officials often talk about the 313 responses to the downtown redevelopment survey as being representative of the citizens’ desires. Would you consider a petition with more than 313 names to change the town’s management to also be representative of citizens’ desires?”

In his response, Matthews said the council should determine the issues involved and verify all signatures. Young said everyone should be allowed due process and the town should provide appropriate follow through, adding that the council should review the type of management citizens might request. Dial said the town must follow the law, making changes if reasons warrant such a change in management. Nascianceno said he did not know the extent to which a change is desired and that such a move would require review. Also responding, Shenkle said the number of signatures cannot be ignored but must be validated. Town leadership might be being denied due process in the same way residents are saying they are being denied due process. Shenkle added that charges of abuse by town management would require review.

Responding to the same question, Rehwaldt said such a petition would be considered and would have to comply with the law. The council would look at the job description and job performance and go from there, he said. Also responding, Smola said the city manager’s position is a thankless job, with accountability to everyone. You have to live it, he said. The council should never get rid of someone out of hand and must determine if the town is functioning as it should, Smola added.

One of the questions that did not relate to Amos, development or sewer capacity dealt with a recent topic at the town council, the sale of beer and wine at local restaurants on Sundays. The town council has the option at some point of having the measure included as a referendum item. Dial was first to respond, saying he would have to be convinced to have the measure included on the ballot, and that he was not yet convinced. Nascianceno said the council is here to help local businesses grow and that he would consider the initiative. Shenkle said he did not currently know how many businesses wanted Sunday sales.

Also responding, Young said a lot of people want Sunday sales while others do not. Young said he wanted citizen and business input more than his own before making a decision about a referendum. Matthews had mixed feelings on the issue, but was insistent that if put to a vote, the measure should not be allowed to cost taxpayers money. Rehwaldt supported a referendum, adding that the hands of business should not be tied behind their backs. Smola was also in favor of a referendum, noting that Sunday sales would provide a way for residents to eat locally instead of traveling to other cities. If approved for a vote, the measure should be placed on a regularly scheduled ballot rather than a special ballot to hold down the cost to taxpayers, he said.

Perhaps the most controversial question came from audience member Mark Darrow who asked Rehwaldt to respond to an article published in the Atlanta Journal Constitution nearly five years ago. The article quotes Rehwaldt as not being sure that Jesus rose from the dead and referring to much of religion as “folklore.”

Rehwaldt said it was interesting the issue was brought up five years later and he was running for a public office, not a religious one.

“The Bible was written by men, not by God,” he said.

All in all, the candidate’s forum was one of those events you had to attend to fully appreciate. The forum was sponsored by the Tyrone Business Association and The Citizen Newspapers.

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