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Candidates, skip the fluff and get to the specifics It happens every year: emails and phone calls asking for my advice on whom to vote for in the upcoming election. I do not mind the queries, but it really is an indication that people are not keeping up with local current events. Most of the candidates are going to make statements like Scott Rowland’s quote, “I believe the council must have good people who understand the principles and fundamentals that make Peachtree City such a special and safe place for all of us to enjoy.” While such pronouncements sound good, they are absolutely meaningless. Look candidates, we all know “Peachtree City is a great place,” and most people “want to protect what makes the city great.” Skip the fluff and get to the specifics. It never ceases to amaze me how the virtual unknowns come out of the woodwork when it is time to qualify for elections. Most of these unknowns wait until the qualifying period to complain about the current administration’s actions, but the big question is where in the heck were these people when the offenses occurred? They did not go to council meetings, no letters in protest, silent all the way through. Really, should we ever consider voting for someone who never attended a single City Council meeting until they announced to run for elected office? One of the tactics I absolutely loathe is some of the candidates joining a specific large church in order to haul in their votes. Prostituting the church for political gain is atrocious; yet, some have turned such acts into an art form. So, ask yourself who has been there for the citizenry when others were defying our ordinances and violating our plans. One woman in the running has been a very noticeable force on various issues and homeowner advocate. Another woman has been vocal on local education issues. A certain incumbent has a very common sense, by-the-book voting record as a City Councilman. On the other hand, two other incumbents have acted as though our ordinances and land plans never existed. One man is a perennial candidate who has taken several pro-development stands in the past. In contrast, a certain political newcomer has been active for a year, attending meetings and voicing some candid views on the issues. Do you know the people I have just described? For the sake of Peachtree City, I hope you do. As for the election in Tyrone, do not change a thing! Tyrone Mayor Don Rehwaldt and his Town Council colleagues have returned political power to the people in the land of the shamrock. Caldwell and Furr are no-nonsense, citizen-first incumbents and I do not expect them to become too big for their britches if re-elected. Conversely, I have had several Fayetteville business owners ask me what it would take to secure a government that listens in the heart of the county. But I am not sure most of the Fayetteville voters care. Turnout is historically poor in Fayetteville. Surely, 40 members of the local Moose Lodge can topple any election there. The Fayetteville City Council has a schizophrenic act going on where they keep allowing more office and retail developments while claiming to push re-development of older shopping centers. Their disingenuous efforts are crushing the small, locally owned businesses, turning older areas into retail ghettos. Fayetteville has the most entrenched, developer-friendly council in the county, demonstrated by their unconditional support of the $50 million SPLOST developer windfall called the West Fayetteville Bypass or the Developer FREEway. Honestly, there are alternatives on the ballot and the change would do you good if you decide to vote. Keep reading your newspapers in the month of October as things are going to get pretty interesting. *** In a sharp but important change of direction, keep First Lieutenant Robert J. Huefner in your prayers. He is another local boy who received his Eagle Scout award from Troop 175 along with Infantry Lt. Dan Berschinski. Robert and Dan played together on the McIntosh High School soccer team. Dan went to West Point and Robert moved on to Harvard, but they were reunited at Fort Benning in the same Ranger School class. Lt. Huefner is heading to Iraq this week. I know from his participation on the Peachtree Youth Council, he is young man of strong character, and will most certainly make us all proud. [Steve Brown is the former mayor of Peachtree City. He can be reached at stevebrownptc@ureach.com.] login to post comments | Steve Brown's blog
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