Cobb chairman candidates paint Braves deal differently
The Atlanta Braves’ move to Cobb County has been the centerpiece of this year’s race for chairman of the Cobb County Commission, with the $400 million public investment in the new stadium being painted differently by each of the three candidates.
With no Democrats in the race, the May 24 primary election will likely determine Cobb’s next chairman. The job pays $135,000 annually.
Incumbent Tim Lee portrays the Braves deal as an important part of the county’s rebound under his leadership from the Great Recession. Lee says he has more work to do in continuing to reduce property taxes, eliminating the controversial practice of transferring revenue to the county from the water department, and ensuring the county fulfills a voter referendum to spend $40 million on new parkland.
“I’m not a politician, I’m a leader,” Lee said during a recent debate.
Retired Marine Col. Mike Boyce says the Braves deal is a primary example of the county leadership’s lack of transparency, and favoritism of vested business interests over citizens. He says that will change under his leadership by imposing new restrictions that require a referendum before the county takes on debt. Boyce says he would also revamp the budgeting process to be more inclusive for both commissioners and the public.
“If citizens can vote on a $40 million park bond, why can’t they vote on a $350 million stadium bond?” Boyce said.
And retired businessman Larry Savage, who has raised very little money and started his campaign late in the process, contends it was illegal for the county to issue $376 million in bonds for stadium construction without a referendum. It’s an argument Savage and two others lost at the Georgia Supreme Court. Savage said his leadership is necessary to restore Constitutional protections on tax issues.
“Just a promise to do better is not enough,” Savage said. “We need to get our Constitutional protections back in place.”
Kerwin Swint, chairman of the Department of Political Science and International Affairs at Kennesaw State University, is a close observer of county politics. Swint said the race is shaping up to be a delayed referendum on the stadium.
“It’s been the dominant issue … (and) will certainly be the single biggest issue voters will use to make up their mind,” Swint said of the stadium. “Lee wants them to consider is it a good thing; Boyce wants to focus on process — was it handled properly?.
“Boyce has done a good job of running his campaign based on an alternative in tax policy and spending on public projects. Tim Lee has a big story to sell called the Atlanta Braves. In general, incumbents have an advantage and Tim Lee certainly has a financial advantage. They’re going to have take it away from him.”
About the Author
Dan Klepal is editor of the local government team, supervising nine reporters covering county and municipal governments and metro Atlanta. Klepal came to the AJC in 2012, after a long career covering city halls in Cincinnati and Louisville, Ky. He has covered Gwinnett and Cobb counties before spending three years on the investigative team.
