Logsdon got $2K from state senator

Given the results by which Peachtree City Mayor Steve Brown was defeated at the polls, it should be no surprise that in the month leading up to the runoff election, challenger Harold Logsdon far outpaced him in the campaign finance department, too.

Brown, who lost on a 70-30 percent split, raised $4,550 compared to Logsdon’s $11,741, according to reports filed by both candidates from Oct. 25 to Dec. 1. But perhaps more surprising to some was that the largest commercial developer in the city during Brown’s tenure, Doug McMurrain of RAM Development, gave $1,000.

Brown was known for criticizing the actions of past developers, who he still says “ran the city” until he took office. But in this case, the $1,000 contribution from McMurrain — who developed the commercial area including the Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Best Buy and other stores along Ga. Highway 54 West — is different, Brown said.

“The things Doug did were amazing,” Brown said, praising McMurrain for working with the city to implement design guidelines in the area and spending more money to make the area look nicer than the city could have required. Brown also noted that once the widening of Hwy. 54 is finished, RAM will install its landscaping to make the area look even nicer.

Brown contends he has never been anti-development, but he just wanted a higher quality of development.

Brown’s other top two contributors were QK4 Corporation, which is the city’s traffic engineering consulting firm, and from Ecological Solutions Inc. The money from QK4 came in at the last minute in Brown’s campaign, and he said he felt the money was a gesture along the lines of a thank-you even though it was pretty clear, at least to Brown, that it would be a significant coup for him to beat Logsdon after the general election results.

Another telling contribution is on Logsdon’s campaign disclosure list. State Sen. Mitch Seabaugh, who formerly represented Peachtree City until his district lines were redrawn, gave Logsdon $2,000 from his campaign fund. Seabaugh and Brown often clashed on several issues, including the extension of TDK Boulevard into Coweta County.

Logsdon also got $1,000 donations each from Doug Mitchell of Pathway Communities, Peachtree CIty resident Vern Darley and Fayetteville resident Tim Anders.

Other contributions of $101 or more reported by Brown include: Cynthia Freeman, $300; Glenn McMillin, $200; and Barbara Swafford, $400.

Logsdon’s contributions of $101 or more include: Anthony Armstrong, $250; Richard and Judith Bearden, $500; Scott Bradshaw, $500; Dan Gibbs (from his campaign account for city council): $615.22; Dan Gibbs $250; Rex Green, $101; Michael Gribble, $250; Tom and Bonnie Hundley, $200; Jack Miller, $200; Ed Potts, $250; Jerry Robinson, $250; Ken and Lark Shaw, $200; Michael Velsmid, $200; and Edwin Wetherington Jr., $200.