Fulton candidates seek common ground

District 3: Bernard “Bernie” Tokarz (R), Lee Morris (R), Cory Ruth (R), Alexander Palacios (R)

District 4: Joan P. Garner (D) (i), Eddie Lee Brewster (D)

District 5: Brenda J. Muhammad (D),Johnnie Gordon (D), Advis Dell Wilkerson-Byrd (D), Kwame Thompson (D), Marvin S. Arrington Jr. (D)

District 6: William “Bill” Edwards (D) (i), Emma I. Darnell (D) (i), Abraham Watson (R)

District 7 (countywide): John H. Eaves (D) (i), Robert L. “Robb” Pitts (D) (i), Earl L. Cooper (R)

In-Depth Coverage

Georgia’s largest county is at a crossroads. All seven members of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners are up for election. Redistricting and retirement mean there will be at least three new commissioners – the most turnover in a generation. North Fulton residents, who have long felt shortchanged by county government, will have a bigger say in Fulton affairs. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has been highlighting some of the county’s key issues and personalities leading up to Tuesday’s primary election. Today, the newspaper examines the different priorities of candidates in north and south Fulton, as well as possible areas of common ground.

North Fulton candidates for the board of commissioners talk of cutting waste, downsizing government and repealing a tax increase some consider illegal. South Fulton candidates want to protect or expand social services, revitalize their community and, in some cases, maybe even raise taxes to pay for it.

The new board that Fulton County voters will elect clearly has the potential for the kind of north vs. south conflict that has set the tone of county politics for decades.

But, beneath the surface, there is common ground among the 20 candidates running for seven County Commission seats in Tuesday’s primary election. In interviews and campaign forums, talk of efficient and effective services can be heard from north to south in Georgia’s largest county. Many candidates also agree Fulton County government could be more transparent, more responsive, and its commissioners more collaborative.

“If we find issues that are common to all Fulton County residents, we should be able to united behind those issues,” said Marvin Arrington Jr., one of five Democrats running for commission District 5, which includes southwest Atlanta.

Though campaigns for Georgia governor, U.S. Senate and other races have received the most attention, the Fulton commission races arguably will do more to reshape government for the county’s 984,000 residents.

Redistricting and retirement will mean at least three new commissioners – the biggest turnover in a generation. Republicans, who currently have two of the seven seats, are guaranteed to pick up a third and have an outside chance at a fourth. North Fulton – where grievances against county government have sparked tax revolts, the creation of new cities and talk of recreating Milton County – will have a bigger say in Fulton affairs.

Not surprisingly, talk of downsizing government is common among north Fulton candidates.

“The county has an over-staffing and overspending problem,” said Eric Broadwell, one of two Republicans running in District 2, which includes parts of Roswell, Alpharetta and Milton.

Among the candidates’ ideas for reducing the size of government: outsourcing functions like the county payroll, reducing administrative staff and working with local cities to share facilities and reduce costs.

“The county’s a jobs program today,” said Bernie Tokarz, one of four Republicans running for District 3, which includes parts of Sandy Springs and Buckhead.

A priority of some candidates: repealing a 15 percent property tax hike. Though commissioners won’t approve the tax increase until this summer, they’ve already approved a 2014 budget that assumes the property tax rate will rise.

But the tax hike has not been a major issue in the campaigns for Atlanta and south Fulton districts. Candidates there talk more about restoring or expanding services, reducing crime and improving economic development. Johnnie Gordon, a Democrat seeking to represent District 5, said he’d consider raising taxes if it’s required to address pressing community needs like senior services.

But even some south Fulton candidates say Fulton can make better use of taxpayer money. They also talk of making government more transparent and responsive.

“We need to expand (services) in some areas,” Gordon said. “But the only way you can do that is make the best use of the resources you’ve got first.”

Many of the newcomers seeking office said commissioners must set a new tone for local politics. In recent years, commissioners have occasionally squabbled over perceived insults or bullying. Sometimes, commissioners berate department heads at public meetings.

“We’ve had a lot of dysfunction,” Republican District 2 candidate Bob Ellis said at a recent campaign forum. “We have a real opportunity for change going forward.”

Lee Morris, a Republican running in District 3, believes commissioners from different parts of the county can get along and find common ground.

“It takes talking to each other and some real serious communication,” Morris said. “When you really get down to it, most folks want good government. They want safe neighborhoods. They want government that’s effective and efficient.”