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DEL.ICIO.USWhy go to a movie when you can watch Snellville politics?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sometimes we feel like getting a bowl of popcorn when we read the latest Internet screeds from the Snellville mayoral race.
Last week, Joe Anderson, the political activist — or gadfly, depending on your point of view, complained of harassment from the Bruce Garraway campaign.
Anderson, you may recall, is a supporter of Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer, the incumbent Garraway wants to toss out of office. Last week, Anderson’s cellphone was flooded with calls from residents who’d been transferred to his line by an automatic voice message dialing service.
The callers told Anderson they’d just received a recorded telephone message from Garraway telling them about Anderson’s “inappropriate relationship” with the mayor.
In an Oct. 17 letter to the Snellville City Council, Garraway called on the Council to investigate that “inappropriate” relationship.
We’re not quite sure what that meant. But Garraway thought it was inappropriate for gadflies and elected officials to plot political strategy and then go out and say mean things about their opponents.
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Comments
By Brenda
October 28, 2007 8:47 PM | Link to this
For an educator who teaches history and government at Killian Hill Christian School, mayoral candidate Bruce Garraway’s ignorance and immaturity is appalling.
Joe Anderson isn’t your ordinary gadfly; he was also a Snellville City Councilman. Unlike Bruce Garraway, he read the City Charter upon installation into office and understood what his responsibilities were as an elected official.
From the AJC Stacks, November 1999:
GwinEtc.: Snellville’s new official sworn in Date: November 30, 1999 Publication: The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution Page Number: JJ2 Word Count: 1057
Snellville has a new City Council member. Joe Anderson, who won last week’s runoff election, was given the oath of office Monday night by Mayor Emmett Clower. Anderson defeated Herbert Fowler for the Post 3 seat vacated by mayor-elect Brett Harrell. The swearing-in ceremony preceded a council meeting called to amend the city budget to enable continued funding for the new Snellville police headquarters.
It should be noted that at that time the pay for a council member was about $3,000 a year. Anderson spent approximately $3,500 on his campaign while Herbert Fowler spent about $75,000 on his failed campaign.
We all know it’s about power. The question Snellville residents must ask themselves is “Do I want elected officials who see themselves as public servants and will “use” that power appropriately and with discretion?” or “Do I want a former elected official, Bruce Garraway, as Mayor of Snellville who has a history as a councilman of abusing his position, threatening employee’s and citizens?”
By John Dunn
October 29, 2007 8:30 AM | Link to this
Snellville politics is always fun to watch. But Garraway has clearly crossed the line of campaign decency by directing calls to Anderson’s cellphone. That is just nasty. Bruce Garraway simply needs to understand that not everyone is going to support him. Accept that and move on, Mr. Garraway. You should start thinking about those kids you teach who look up to you when you make campaign decisions.
By Bannish Bannister
October 29, 2007 11:12 AM | Link to this
Yes, their politics stink all the way to Lawrenceville, but the bright side is that one can’t smell it over the stink of their own.