On Tuesday, July 15, 2008 we will get to do what so many of our fellow citizens take for granted – vote. This year is a particularly important for DeKalb County voters since we will finally say good-bye to a CEO who can be described at best as a disappointment. (At worst words like misogynist, ego-maniac, salacious, morally repugnant seem to float through my head.)

I am often asked “Who do you support?” So I am making it easy this go round, and placing it on my website so everyone who wants to, can read my thoughts, at least on the ballot choices we will have. I am only showing races that I have know personally about and are contended. 

The candidates are based on what my neighborhood will be seeing when we go to cast our ballot, but as you will see many of our selections will be much broader than what my neighbors and I will see on out ballot. Remember this is simply my opinion…you certainly don’t have to agree with it. And of course it’s me so it’s very, very long.

CEO DeKalb County

There are five candidates running for CEO. In my mind there are only two viable choices…Burrell Ellis and Stan Watson. Both have long distinguished resumes for public service and it was difficult for me to choose, both helped us on the Avondale Mall/Wal-Mart issue. It’s this issue and seeing them in the debate that I am basing most of my recommendation on.

My recommendation is going to shock many of you I am sure. My recommendation is Stan Watson.

So why Stan? Well it’s simple. Stan doesn’t have all the fancy degrees and such as his major opponent, but Stan has a heart for the people. Every month for years Stan has held a community breakfast for citizens from his area. He offers a free breakfast and then has a program every month. The programs revolve around critical issues for citizens for the county. Every month statewide elected officials, state reps, school board members, county department heads, county commissioners, come and take questions from ordinary citizens and spend time educating community leaders. He doesn’t have to do this but keeping in contact with his constituents on such a frequent and personal level speaks volumes in my mind.

On the Avondale Mall issue Stan sat down and took personal time away from his family and had a late night dinner with me where we discussed the missed opportunity of the plan and how we could try to get it on track. He wrote a letter for us and stayed in contact as we moved through the process. I was allowed to distribute literature at the cabinet meetings to help draw support.

Stan took personal time from a very busy election and had a detailed conversation with me twice on the green and sustainability piece so dear to my heart. He didn’t have to take my personal phone call. He could of handed it off to a staffer like his opponent but he didn’t. He took my call and committed to having a sustainability and green initiative in place if he is elected.

Stan has also met with all the mayors and has good relationship with the School Board. And let me tell you the biggest obstacle to DeKalb moving forward is the School Board and the system it runs. Until we improve the school situation companies will continue to choose other metro counties to locate their businesses.

Why not Burrell? I think Burrell is very smart and well qualified. Degrees from Wharton and all the other places prove that he is well qualified from his educational background. He has served on many sophisticated national committees for ACCG. He was also the first politician who was willing to sit down and meet with us on the Avondale Mall concern. Well, he didn’t sit with us but his assistant sat with us. I am grateful for that.

However, while other politicians were willing to actually write letters and communicate with us as we moved through the process Burrell never got in touch with us again directly and when the critical vote came along he did vote for us which was our one chance in the process to get the developers back to the table to talk about a broader mixed-use development but he didn’t say anything. Kathie Gannon was left to take the charge. Burrell voted and sat back. Here was a time to really stand up and fight for many DeKalb county residents since we are right in the heart of DeKalb and 5 out of the 7 commissioners districts are within a one mile radius on the Avondale Mall site. We got quiet, unobtrusive support but when a State Rep asked him what was happening, his only comment was Wal-Mart won’t meet with me and did nothing else. When he finally decided to run for CEO that’s when he got motivated to confrontational with the current CEO.

Secondly, while listening to the debate at DeKalb Tech a couple of weeks ago, Burrell kept on speaking about his leadership role in a national county leadership group. He mentioned a trip to Washington several times. Granted he just returned from the trip but my fear was if he is so plugged into his role with that organization, how plugged into us the citizens of DeKalb County? We have spent eight years with someone who made unilateral decisions without citizen input and my true fear is can we afford another eight years of remote leadership?

One of the resounding things I hear is it’s impossible to get in touch with him. My own personal experience is the same. I left several messages for him on his home phone offered on his website in May. One of the critical items missing from his agenda is how DeKalb will move forward toward reaching green and sustainability issues. His campaign manager finally called me backed. I spent fifteen minutes on the phone with her explaining what sustainability and green issues were (she was completely clueless and didn’t understand even after the explanation) and was told by her to contact another staffer. At that point besides being totally frustrated, I was like is this shades of things to come? People trying to get in contact with the CEO’s office and being sent through an endless shuffling of contact this person or that. We need a leader who will be respondent to directly helping citizens. That doesn’t mean being personally available but having staff who will take responsibility. The campaign manager should have been like I can’t help you but I will have so and so call or e-mail you back. Yes, I do believe it should be that transparent and easy.

County Commission District 6

There is only one option — Kathie Gannon. It’s simple. She was our staunchest, most supportive ally during the Avondale Mall/Wal-Mart issue. She was vocal. She was present and worked for us. She has remained present and connected to our area post the Avondale Mall/Wal-Mart. She continues to be present, vocal and a strong advocate for all the neighborhoods she represents. She has taken on the leadership role on the commission and proven a reasoned and judicious leader in her role as commission chair.

Sheriff

I can’t imagine why Thomas Brown has anyone running against him. He has served our county well for two election cycles and will continue to do so. Under his leadership he took a broken mess of a jail system and has stabilized it. He also has spent time educating whoever wants to learn about the jail system. You too can take a tour of what has been dubbed the “Hotel Hilton”, DeKalb County Jail. You want to understand how the judicial system works then going to the jail will open your eyes. It’s made possible by Sheriff Brown’s accessibility and understanding of how to run a jail system. We are no longer faced with news about this that and the other about our jail system. How nice is that?

US Senate

My pick is Jim Martin. Long proven history of leadership in state reps. Narrowly lost to Casey Cagle for Lt. Governor. Best hope to beat Saxby Chamlbiss. He was tapped by the national party when the National party wanted to put our strongest candidate forward in the fall elections. Notice it didn't like the current field and that inlcudes our current CEO…hmmmm.