I feel I must respond with what I know about Mr. Mack. I have had the unfortunate circumstance of dealing with Mr. Mack on several issues where is true "color" shone bright. Mr. Mack has shown that he only cares about the color of one's skin and will judge someone at a glance simply by their opposite and lighter skin color. He is a racist, as is evident in the way he carries himself in his personal affairs. He believes if you are black, you should only deal with blacks and that if you are black, you are automatically "owed something" for nothing. He is rude, arrogant, and will lie to get his way. He behaves this way in front of his children, which is extremely unfortunate. Knowing the example he is setting for his children in his personal life, I cringe at the possible negative affect he would have on this county as a whole if he were given ANY type power. He needs to realize all people, regardless of skin color, are EQUAL, and that everyone is responsible for paying their own way and that NO ONE OWES HIM ANYTHING!!

you saying we should ignore black Mack? Good, that's what I expect most in Fayette County to do anyway.

No sir, I am not suggesting that at all. I would hope no one judges anyone on the color of their skin. That is what Mack's biggest problem is and this county does not need any more people like him. Mack should be ostracized by all good and decent black people for his racists views and his goal of keeping the races separate. He is an angry, bitter man who needs to concentrate on supporting his family and raising his kids to be honorable and hard working citizens. Until he loses the bitterness and holds himself accountable for his wrong-doings and drops the "you are only against me because I am black" attitude, he definately does not need to consider trying to be in charge of anything.

I am assuming by the tone of your blog that you expect people to ignore Mack just because of the color of his skin... Rod Mack should NOT be elected based on his character not his skin color. The color of his skin should not be an issue, but he and people of his mind-set make it an issue. Not only is he a racist but he is also a bigot and is raising his children to be the same. Lifelongfayette is right on the money and I feel your pain. Mack needs to be shown that you can't bully for years and then expect to run for a public office. But of course, he is probably only running for an office not to win but to "piss people off" (his words) in Fayette County.

I don't know anything about or even who Jack Smith is but I can tell you that Rod Mack is the last person you would want representing you for anything. I don't know what he has listed as his "qualifications" but I can assure you that they can not out weigh his bad judgement and use of legalities to abuse others. Be forewarned against voting for him.

Perhaps I can avoid the work this year of studying actual issues and the positions taken by candidates. Is this a reliable method? I look at the ballot, determine whether someone is a challenger or an incumbent, and I vote for the challenger.
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"Every time I'm in Georgia I eat a peach for peace."
--Duane Allman

Your plan will need a little tweaking. There are two challengers for Linda Wells' seat and (I believe) at least two challengers for one of the school board seats. (We'll have to see how the appeals come out - there may be more than that.)

You would vote in challengers. I guess that means that you would prefer a fast growth,and high density development, because I believe that is what these commission challengers are wanting. Would that not increase the burden on the schools, the roads, the services?
Why would you want that?

No Janet fast growth and high density is not what we want.

We also don't want anymore expensive lawsuits so your husband can flex his ego. We don't want the Sheriff picked on anymore. We don't want a Chairman who harasses the Constitutional Officers for sport. We don't want a Chairman who uses the Marshals to arrest his political foes. We don't want expensive parks in bad areas. We don't want someone who can't get along with the cities. We don't want a Chairman who micro manages county employees to the point that long time professionals walk off the job. We don't want a Chairman who "spins" everything in his favor. We just want the truth.

PS (I don't like Ps's but you do sooo...) We don't want anymore of your spin either so we are hoping if we vote him out you'll go away too.

None of the challengers has announced that they prefer fast growth and high density development, that is a tag your trying to place on them. Janet, you and your husband need to realize that is one of the many problems voters have with both of you. That spin you try to put on things to deceive the public and get control of them. I use the word spin because lie is such a harsh word but most voters in Fayette County are intelligent enough to recognize spin for what it is. If you and Dunn want to run for office do it with truth and honesty and just tell what you stand for without trying to label others to get them out of your way. I'm sure that fell on deaf ears and the truth and honesty concept has become too foreign for the two of you to grasp.

You are mistaken. Sam Chapman in letters to the editor published in the Citizen on 5/2 and 5/9 clearly indicates he is in favor of more development and higher taxes to pay for more amenities in the county.

He has aligned himself with Eric Maxwell and is very public in his efforts to do so.

Jack Smith is a very nice guy who has said nothing at all.

How is that untruthful in any way?

And I am not Janet Dunn.

There is nothing in either of the letters you credited Sam Chapman with that indicates he is in favor of growth. How bout you back up what you say with facts?

And after you discover you can't do that, how bout you stick to the truth and stop trying to spin. It won't wash.

If you cannot see that someone is in favor of growth when he states it clearly in the letter then let me suggest that you take a further step. Go find Sam Chapman and ask him. That is exacatly what I did today in Fayetteville. He said, he is in favor of more and faster growth. Ask him yourself.

Our problem is the same as many counties in Georgia have. We can't get good candidates to seek the job of county commissioner. It pays nothing. It requires constant attention. There is no reward for service. The only people who usually seek it are ego maniacs.

This is a unique election. We have two candidates who may be an exception to that rule. Jack Smith and Eric Maxwell. Two seemingly good guys who apparantly just want to make things right around here.
I'm encouraged!

We can't get good candidates because good people do not want to be labelled as politicians. It's worse than being a used car salesman or a trial lawyer. Local politicians campaign in houses of worship. Local politicians join churches and civic clubs coming in the front door and going out the back.

I used to have contempt for people that don't vote in local elections. Many vote in the Presidential elections but not in the local elections. Most people even in affluent Fayette County know nothing about the issues or who represents them. I would bet that less than 30% can name their Congressman and 2 US Senators and less than 10% can name the County Commissioners and School Board members. Why ? Because the average person thinks that who we elect is of little significance at the local level. Politcians at all levels profit, even in very subtle ways. The local politician suddenly gets invited in to the right clubs and the right investments. People like Tommy Irvin file bankruptcy but then become Agriculture Commissioner and miraculously become millionaires are a couple decades of public service. Inaugurual Survivor Champ Richard Hatch doesn't pay taxes and literally goes to prison. Governor Perdue fails on paying taxes for two years and gets re-elected. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney and District Attorney Paul Howard physically assault police officers and walk. Think what would happen to you and me if we took a swing a police officer at the airport !

Janet. Your expecting us to believe that you actually walked up to Sam Chapman and asked him about growth. And you further expect us to believe he answered you. I have no commentary on Sam Chapman as a candidate but I do find that hard to believe. I believe that about as much as I believe that is the way to spell exactly.

Do you actually read and comprehend things before you post your comments? I really wonder after you state "There is nothing in either of the letters you credited Sam Chapman with that indicates he is in favor of growth". Oh really? Then please explain the tag line given Chapman's first letter in the May 3 edition of the Citizen: "Chapman: Less fighting, more growth needed"

Still in doubt? Then how about this from the body of the letter:
" The current commission has prevented growth".

Another example: "We can quit fighting and start building."

There's no doubt what Chapman means in his letter and, Robert, no matter how hard you try to malign, its you that is the spinner here. Except to spin, you have to take the truth and shape it in a way that's most favorable to you and your viewpoint. As evidenced in Chapman's own letter, in this case, you don't even have anywhere near the truth on your side and what you're saying is what really won't wash. But then again, that seems to be the pattern with you and your blogs in the past. How bout next time, you read before you post. You'll look alot less foolish.

PS Since I know you will immediately accuse me of spinning, why don't you go under the Letters section of the website. There you can find Chapman's first letter and you can read it for yourself. All that I quoted is all there in his own letter, from the horse's mouth, as it were.

None of those quotes lead to the conclusion that Chapman wants growth in terms of row housing. It just ain't there, you're trying to read into the letter "favors growth" and I don't see it. Looks like you're the one doing the spinning.

When Chapman says " I want growth" I will concede, not before.

Now just why would not a banker, a real estate family, and a lawyer want considerable development? If you were one of those wouldn't you? It takes all kinds to work in our government but the secret of success is why they are there. Although I'm not going to criticize the candidates, you should consider possible reasons. Do you really think that the original developers and those that followed didn't get very wealthy and at the same time would want 300,000 citizens in Fayette if it were possible. By the way all of these people are devout religious people, not that there is anything wrong with that!

Doppler. Some of these bloggers here try to paint a self serving picture of the candidates and know virtually nothing about them or where they stand on issues. Growth is inevitable, but control is a vital part of getting what we want from growth. The USSC ruled in the 50s that a property owner has the right to the "highest and best use" of their property and sometimes that equals growth.

Still, I can't read into Chapman's letter the insinuation that he "wants" growth per se, even though he mentioned it several times.
justaskin and the other bloggers read what they want to from the posts.

I have never seen anything in print even alluding to Maxwell wanting growth for Fayette County.

"I am not Janet Dunn." Okay, okay your right your not Janet Dunn. Actually I am Janet Dunn and I want to know, who the hell are you and why are you spending so much time with my husband?

I can't answer for Harvey because I don't know him but he's not on line to answer you so I will respond to your post. You just proved Harvey right.

You posted "He has aligned himself with Eric Maxwell and is very public in his efforts to do so." That doesn't mean Maxwell has aligned himself with Chapman. That's a spin. You did it again!!!

You just tried to align Maxwell (Dunn's oposition) with Sam Chapman.

I'm with Harvey. I'm looking for something we may never find. An honest politician who doesn't try to mislead me.

Do you know what you are saying. Did you not hear me say that I am not Janet Dunn? But do you realize that if you were to poot in front of her that Linda, Greg, Janet, and Peter would all smell it cause we're all grouped together that closely? So if I'm not really Janet (which I am) then by calling me her you have hit the target close enough. Do you realize your futile attempts of smearing us? Hasn't the point sunk into your head yet that we know better than you what is really happening here? If you want the truth then just listen to us. Who are you? Where do you live? Where are my marshalls?

Yeah,what he said!

Can't speak for the cat, but that's my opinion. Challengers are less likely to act like king in their first term. Can't satthat about Greg.