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DEL.ICIO.USBowen close to state DOT seat
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gwinnett homebuilder David “Rudy” Bowen is poised to claim a seat on the state Transportation Board Thursday.
State lawmakers from the 7th congressional district are scheduled to elect a new board member after the Georgia Legislature adjourns Thursday. Barring a last minute entry by another candidate, lawmakers say the job will go to Bowen, a 65-year-old Duluth resident.
“Since there’s nobody else in the running, it’s kind of hard to say he [Bowen] isn’t going to win,” state Rep. Clay Cox (R-Lilburn) said.
County officials and legislators representing Gwinnett say it’s important for the state’s second largest county to have its own representative on the board. But the district also includes portions of Walton, Barrow, Forsyth and Newnan counties, so Gwinnett isn’t guaranteed its own representative.
Gwinnett developer Emory Morsberger had also sought the post. But in late December, Morsberger withdrew because of a potential conflict of interest between the DOT board and the so-called “Brain Train,” a proposed Athens-to-Atlanta commuter train Morsberger is helping to promote.
“I want to keep everything on the up and up,” Morsberger said. “And it would be difficult for me to do that [promote commuter rail] and be on the board at the same time.”
Morsberger threw his support behind Bowen, even though he’s not certain where Bowen stands on his favorite cause.
“He’s basically getting into it and figuring out what’s what before he makes any commitments,” Morsberger said.
Bowen couldn’t be contacted for comment Wednesday afternoon. Several calls to his office and his home were not returned.
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By David P.
January 11, 2007 09:19 AM | Link to this
I am not in any way a tree hugger, but if Bowen gets a DOT Board seat, Georgia will be doomed. Bowen clear cuts and scapes any hint of vegetation from the land before he builds his substandard crackerboxes he calls homes. I hate to think what damage he could do to whats left of our quality of life while on the DOT Board.