Gwinnett Democrats try to use anger over stadium

Don Shaw hasn’t voted for a Democrat in his life.

On Nov. 4, Shaw says, that will change.

Shaw plans to vote for Democrat Vincent Passariello in the County Commission chairman’s race. It’s a protest, he says, against Republican incumbent Charles Bannister and the County Commission for spending $31 million in cash, and borrowing millions more, to pay for a new baseball stadium.

Such statements have become more frequent since Aug. 29, when Gwinnett County officials revealed their new stadium would cost nearly 50 percent more than originally planned — $59 million instead of $40 million.

The question is whether the issue has enough staying power to turn the election for a poorly funded Democrat in a heavily Republican county where conventional wisdom heavily favors GOP candidates.

The answer is likely no, said Bob Griggs, a Republican activist and blogger. Griggs has been supportive of the stadium, but recently blogged that he was “officially ticked off” about the additional $19 million expenditure.

Despite his concern over the spending, Griggs said he thinks most residents won’t see any downsides.

“In the grand scheme of things its not all that big of a deal,” Griggs said. “Most people consider it a feather in Gwinnett’s cap. It’s something else to do.”

It’s true that the stadium hasn’t generated widespread public outcry. But those who are angry about it are seething.

“I’d vote for anyone other than Charles Bannister,” said Lawrenceville resident Steve Grant said. “I’m just furious about the stadium deal.”

That’s a sentiment Democrats are counting on, said county party chairman Michael Berlon, a Loganville attorney.

“I’ve had a number of people say the stadium issue is the final straw for them,” he said.

Passariello, a political newcomer who works as assistant county engineer in Newton County, said county officials should have demanded more explanation and asked the Braves to contribute to the work or restructure their contract with Gwinnett to give the county more stadium revenue.

“If I’m going to put more money into it, I’d like to have more revenue,” he said.

Bannister said he doesn’t think many voters will make their decision based on the stadium alone, no matter how upset they may be.

“I think Gwinnett County is bigger than a single item issue,” he said.

Berlon knows unseating an incumbent Republican is a tall order in Gwinnett County, where Democrats hold no countywide offices. But discontent over the stadium can’t hurt, he said.

“I don’t think this issue is in and of itself enough to push it one way or another,” he said. “But it’s enough to push it in a direction.”