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DEL.ICIO.USWhat happens in Vegas sure does reek in Gwinnett
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Man, leave town for a few days and all hell breaks out.
Well, I’m back.
So let me delve right into the political fray, starting with Las Vegas Ken. In March, Gwinnett County Commissioner Kevin Kenerly took a six-day trip to Las Vegas. He spent more than $26,000 to bring his family, friends and lawyer along. He has provided statements and records that show he paid his own way. Who paid isn’t the issue, though.
In the South, we’re used to government and big business co-existing cozily, almost incestuously. It’s practically unavoidable in places like Gwinnett where good ole boys — and those smart enough to keep one foot in the network — reign supreme.
You know how it goes. Commissioner “A” went to school with Developer “B.” Maybe they’re kin. They might be deacons in the same church. Sons and daughters play the same sports and date each other. All these things, generally, are circumstances and situations residents have learned to live with, to accept.
Then something alarming turns up. Like Kenerly’s trip.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with Kenerly’s treating family and friends to a vacation. To our knowledge, nothing illegal transpired. The developers apparently traveled to Vegas independently of Kenerly. They just happened to book the same week in March that Kenerly chose to gamble in the Caesars Palace casino.
Yeah, right.
Seeing video footage of a Gwinnett commissioner gambling alongside local developers doesn’t make for a pretty postcard. It gets one’s mind to racing and thinking sordid stories. It paints a picture of impropriety, even when it’s nonexistent. It portrays a developer-official snugness and smugness exclusive of average people and their concerns.
How could you think differently?
What kills me, though, is this worn-out explanation we get fed when elected officials are busted with poker chips in hand.
“I paid my own way,” they all say to silence critics.
It’s what Charles Bannister, our county commission chairman, said in February 2005 after he joined developers on a gambling excursion to the Golden Moon Hotel & Casino in Philadelphia, Miss. The trip had been organized by Precision Planning, a Lawrenceville-based engineering and architectural firm that had done work for the county.
Bannister, who had been in office one month, said he paid for his travel, lodging and meals.
It doesn’t matter. Participating still shows poor judgment, arrogance and abuse of a privilege bestowed upon office-holders whom we elect.
Las Vegas Ken, who faces two challengers in the July 18 primary, told AJC Gwinnett News reporter Ben Smith that the developers shown in the video didn’t pay for his hotel room, gambling, meals or other vacation expenses. He also said he lost $10,000 gambling. Chump change for a high roller.
Voters should ask themselves a question:
How much do you stand to gain by returning this man to office?
Comments
By LB
June 20, 2006 08:13 AM | Link to this
I will not vote for any Commissioner who is tight with a developer. Over development is why many of the existing elected officials were voted out last time. If the person who is elected is not for the people then no vote from me next time. Developers are enemies of Gwinnett’s quality of life. I don’t consider it development but distruction of trees. It is a slap in the fact of the people who are trusting their decisions, for an official to make friends with the people’s enemy.
By Dennis
June 20, 2006 09:01 AM | Link to this
So according to Rick: *No Gwinnett elected official is allowed to go to Vegas. *If a Gwinnett elected official does insist on taking his family to Vegas, then he definitely isn’t allowed to sit at the same table with a developer.
Yeah, right.
Rick if you don’t like Kevin, please be honest enough to just say so.
Actually this episode would insure that I did vote for Kevin Kennerly if I was in his district.
By RH
June 20, 2006 09:25 AM | Link to this
This story is nothing new. Politics and business have always been intertwined. It is the successful (often rich & well contected) businessmen that run for a political office. The majority of the time, nothing underhanded is taking place. It is only in recent history that our liberal media has a field day with these stories. Americans have been spoon fed what to think and in turn believe all businessmen and politicians are evil. Not to mention it is so in vogue to hate the rich and well connected for being what we have not had the guts to persue or obtain.
By Orlando
June 20, 2006 10:09 AM | Link to this
As a voting resident of Gwinnet Co, I will not be voting for kenerly. Anyone who waste time and money at a casino, is not the correct person for a commissioner seat. Just think what he is doing with our tax dollars, letting it ride like his bets. Dennis, take off the blindfolds, this man is reeking.
By Julie
June 20, 2006 10:27 AM | Link to this
A Vegas trip is not the only reason to dump Kenerly. Have you seen www.kevinkenerly.com?
By Joe Camp
June 20, 2006 10:47 AM | Link to this
We all need to vote this Kenerly fellow out of office next month!!. How about an “Anybody but Ken” campaign?
Voting this scumbag out of office will- hopefully- send a clear message to our elected officials. Kevin Kenerly’s behavior explains a lot of the seemingly illogical development that I have seen in our county. The roads are gridlocked and our schools are oversaturated with students. Still you see these massive swaths of land clear cut to red clay and sowed with cheaply built, machined homes laid like so many locust’s eggs. These “neighborhoods” are spreading like a kudzu vine.
Don’t forget to vote!!.
By jim d
June 20, 2006 12:17 PM | Link to this
Sorry Joe,
While I assure you my vote will be cast for “Mr. Anybody but” I don’t believe the message will get through to the others.
Let’s face it; should we vote one good ol boy out, what will we be voting in?
By Woodie
June 20, 2006 12:35 PM | Link to this
There is no proof of anything wrong that happened in Vegas. You can’t just assume some problem without any proof. This is how innocent people are persecuted everyday. Minorities are probably the most frequent targets of this kind of dangerous assumptions. I say, if there is no proof here, this should not be used to damage someone’s career. I suspect this whole affair is politically motivated. Very suspect.
By Janet_G
June 20, 2006 12:40 PM | Link to this
We have personal experience in our district in how pro-development Mr. Kenerly really is. He speaks out of both sides of his mouth, one thing to his constituents and something completely different behind the scenes with developers. Her personally engineered an overly-dense development in my area over and above the objections of all of the surrounding residents, while stating that he had our best interests at heart. He does not care about the future of Gwinnett, what kind of county will be living in 20 years from now or next week. He cares about one thing and one thing only….money.
The best thing that ever happened to my neighborhood was when we were drawn out of his district. Thank goodness we now have a commissioner that is responsive to his constituents. I feel for the constituents in Kenerly’s district. It is frustrating to elect someone who then turns around and laughs at you behind his back, while filling his pockets with development and real estate profits.
By Coach
June 20, 2006 12:49 PM | Link to this
Sounds like Rick probably supports the decision not to indict Cynthia McKinney, the heavyweight champion of DeKalb County, too.
Get off of your soapbox.
By Coach
June 20, 2006 12:51 PM | Link to this
By the way…
Wayne Hill just sold his wife’s land to Wal-Mart in the Hamilton Mill area a while back.
I don’t think they had a problem approving zoning for that considering Wayne’s position in the local government.
Have you attacked him for this yet, Rick?
By Sabrina
June 20, 2006 12:54 PM | Link to this
Ken is keeping the wrong kind of company and will not get my vote. I don’t care who paid for the trip.
Thanks for the article Rick.
By RH
June 20, 2006 03:07 PM | Link to this
The majority of the comments here may be against Kenerly, but the majority of Gwinnett could care less. Most voters will see this is for what it really is, a smear campaign by the opposition. This kind of press (where there is no real proof of wrong doing) is actually making Kenerly look good and the opposition look sneaky and underhanded, not the other way around.
By Bruce Wilcox
June 21, 2006 12:29 PM | Link to this
“Most voters will see this is for what it really is, a smear campaign by the opposition.” Can you expain the difference between Kenerly and McKinney? A Grand Jury could find no wrongdoing on McKinneys part, yet her name dragged through the mud, Kenerly parties up with Gwinnett developers in Vegas and to some there is nothing wrong or shady about it? Seems like a double standard at play.
While we’re commenting on gambling, has Ralph Reed figured out who paid him yet or why?
By Dave
June 21, 2006 04:39 PM | Link to this
Rick you are right on the money with this Kenerly “Dude.” His occupation says reams about how he probably does public business in Gwinnett County. I have no proof that he is a crooked politician, but if I lived in his district, unless I was his Dad, a family, or a Developer, he would never in hell get my vote. He now reeks of foul income from the Developers, and this stigma, whether true or false, is upon him for life. All I can say to this “Dude” is “you made a horrible political mistake by taking a trip to the big “V” and surrounding your self by Developers at a gaming table.” Anyway, I can only hope, for his sake, that all this stuff is just sour grapes from his opponets. Duh!!!
By Harry Lime
June 21, 2006 07:20 PM | Link to this
Explain how when Kenerly first ran for office he had neither a pot nor a window, but now he lives outside Gwinnett in a mansion that would make Jed Clampett pea-green with envy and has enough cash to play High Roller in Vegas. Harry Truman once said it was impossible be honest AND get rich in public office. Draw your own conclusions.
By Bill
June 21, 2006 08:11 PM | Link to this
Dear Rick, Remember the “rain tax” Kevin voted in as a “fee”….
By Library Patron
June 21, 2006 08:37 PM | Link to this
I am voting against Kevin Kenerly if for no other reason his appointment of Margaret Tiller, to the library board. She voted for Jo Ann Pinder to be fired without cause at her first board meeting. That decision has cost Gwinnett taxpayers $127,000.00. Kevin why this decision? I know the commissioners do not want to get involved and want to hold the library board responsible as a taxpayer I hold you responsible.
By KL
June 21, 2006 11:26 PM | Link to this
Although there is no proof of wrongdoing on Kenerly’s part, it does make me wonder. Why would someone go all the way to Vegas for some precious vacation time with family and then spend that time with…people from work? Does Kenerly enjoy the company of these developers so much that they actually planned a trip Vegas together just for the heck of it?
By Paul
June 22, 2006 10:23 AM | Link to this
I would wholeheartedly recommend meeting ALL of the candidates for District 4 before voting (wow - what a concept, eh?). After having tried to deal with Kevin for several years now, I am absolutely certain that he’s NOT the one for the job - right now Butch Poss is looking really good. Hmmmm - I seem to recall that at least two excellent new commissioners came into office under the same voter apathy radar - hopefully this will happen again.
I wonder how Kevin’s fellow commissioners feel about him having told them that he was heading to Disney World (oh, no - not Vegas), and I wonder where his family actually went (didn’t see them on a video)? Losing large amounts of money gambling while cavorting with developers isn’t what we need on the commission. Incidentally, the article didn’t mention Cynthia McKinney.
By GodHatesTrash
June 22, 2006 11:26 PM | Link to this
Redneck politics in action. Forget all about even the appearance of ethical behavior.
Trash.
God and decent people hate trash.