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Sunday, January 21, 2007
Bannister picks up a few brownie points
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gwinnett Commission Chairman Charles Bannister may have scored big political points by voting against pay raises for county commissioners last Tuesday.
He just may never get a raise of his own.
Prior to last week’s 3-1 vote, Bannister was a strong advocate of pay raises for himself and other members of the board. In 2005, he lobbied state lawmakers hard but failed to convince them to come across with raises for the commissioners. Bannister changed his mind after Commissioners Mike Beaudreau, Lorraine Green, Kevin Kenerly and Bert Nasuti cut $6 million from Bannister’s 2007 budget.
Commission raises don’t come around often. The last time board members were voted a salary increase was in 1989 — and then it was by the Georgia Legislature.
The commissioners now have the authority to increase their own salaries, so Bannister could revisit the issue when he feels the time is right.
But after getting popped by the chairman on the pay raise vote, would his colleagues go along with that?
“That’s a good question,” Kenerly said. “He said pretty much he didn’t want a raise. If he says he didn’t want one, then I guess he won’t get one.”
Now for a little perspective.
The raises don’t go into effect until Jan. 1, 2009. Bannister faces re-election in 2008. So whether he had voted for the pay raises or not, he wouldn’t be getting one before his term ends. His salary remains $56,000.
Neither will Green or Beaudreau, whose seats are also up for re-election in 2008, collect these raises during their current terms.
Only Nasuti and Kenerly are assured of seeing their salaries double — from $14,500 to $29,000.
Their terms end in 2010.
I’m sorry, she got a what from who?
We didn’t know there was an award for such a thing.
But Gwinnett finance director Lisa Johnsa (pronounced John-Say) last week won a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association.
OK, so we’ve never heard about GFOA’s annual DBPA before.
The organization certainly knows Johnsa. She’s won this award 14 years in a row.
“Our budget is larger than the budgets of some entire states,” Johnsa said in a prepared statement, “so it takes a lot of teamwork to present it in a way that is proficient in all categories. We have an excellent team and I’m very proud to accept this award on their behalf.”
We’d like to add our congratulations, also.
Berlon in running for Democrat chairman
Michael Berlon, current chairman of the Gwinnett Democratic Party, is in the running to succeed Bobby Kahn as state party chairman.
Kahn is stepping down. The election for a new state Democratic chair takes place on Jan. 27.
This one’s worth watching, not just because there’s a local guy in it, but because it could prove to be a pivotal moment for the Dems.
This time, there are no big names in the running. There are no high ranking ex-state officials; no well-heeled, nationally connected Atlanta lawyers; nobody who’s hung out with Bill Clinton. Such is the state of the
That said, Berlon makes an interesting choice. He comes from one of the few areas in Georgia where Democrats are gaining ground.
It’s a widely held belief that if the party hopes to make a comeback, it must win the Atlanta suburbs.
And Berlon is quite familiar with that turf.
It’s time for the state of the county speech
It’s that time of year again when local pols, bureaucrats, business and civic leaders flock to a hotel ballroom to hear Gwinnett’s top elected official talk about how the county’s doing.
That’s right. Commission Chairman Charles Bannister is scheduled to deliver the annual State of the County address on Thursday at the Atlanta Marriott — Gwinnett Place hotel.
The event is scheduled to take place from place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission for Chamber members is $35. Everybody else pays $55.
For info and to RSVP, contact Laurie McKenzie at laurie@gwinnettchamber.org.
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