“If you get in there, then just do the right thing.” A gentlemen I met this weekend at a neighborhood block party said this to me and I thought, “I will, I will,” but how do you convince someone you just met that you will do right by this town and its citizens if you have the honor of being elected?

That is not easy. It is easier to believe that once elected, corruption will set in, that a person will be influenced by the wrong people, they will become selfish in their motives, that they will not be strong and instead succumb to the many pressures that face elected officials.

The only way to convince someone that is NOT the case is to be placed in office and see how they respond, OR to look at their past involvement and relationships with others and see how they handled it.

In my case I have never been in office, so one can only look at my past involvement with the city and how I conducted myself.

I am a practical person. If something does not make sense for the city after looking at it from all angles, I will not do it.

For example, the West Village annexation — I know I refer to this often, but it remains a thorn in my side.

In May 2007, the city agreed to annex this property and add 1,125 dwelling units to be combined with Wieland’s 89 acres already in the city where the most recent proposal shows another 321 units amongst a power station and adjacent to railroad tracks. This totals 1,446 single family units that are accessible by one major road, MacDuff Parkway.

How were the developers able to gain annexation at this density? By building the road.

This is not practical, it does not fit the step-down zoning of the comprehensive plan, and no matter how nice the homes are or how great the road is, that density, accessible by one road, is not up to Peachtree City standards.

I stood up countless times and objected to the annexation at this density, but the developers said they needed that density to afford the road, so the council let him have it. We sold out big time there.

Practically speaking, we should have never given a special use permit to build Line Creek.

Countless times I stood up in planning commission and in council to state that there was absolutely nothing “special” about the plan.

What was Peachtree City as a town getting out of it that warranted granting a special exception to build a big box — $500,000 as payment for the road that would enable the project?

Give me a break. Another example where we sold out for a short-term gain.

Now we are stuck with another big box in Peachtree City, with nothing but a measly $500,000 pay-out.

What about building the golf cart bridge over Ga. Highway 54 West that is in our Hwy. 54 overlay plan? What about deeding some of the remaining green space that fronts Hwy. 54 West to the city so that it cannot be built on, ever?

The majority of the citizens of Peachtree City hate big boxes. Why should we as a government that represents the people enable their development? We should not.

Being practical means listening to the citizens and placing their expectations and desires for the city above anyone or anything else, and using common sense. It means looking at all sides of all issues. It means following the original plan for the city and not deviating from it unless the benefit for the city is overwhelming.

I have always stood up and vocalized on behalf of the citizens as a member of the Peachtree City Civic Association and as president of Kedron Hills [Homeowners Association].

Find out about the candidates. Talk to those who know them, look at their history of involvement. Most of all, I encourage everyone to attend one of the forums this month and determine who you believe will “do the right thing” for the betterment of all of Peachtree City.

Ask yourself who will be practical and stress preservation and positive governing. Who will be strong, and who will lead us down a path that will make you proud?

“Well done is better than well said.” — Benjamin Franklin

Beth Pullias

Candidate Peachtree City Council Post 1

www.pulliasforptc.com