Last week: Should Decatur popularly elect its mayor?
Decatur voters are the only ones in metro Atlanta who don’t elect its mayor. It currently appoints the position every year from among its five-person commission.
The issue will become a hot-button topic over the next few weeks with one city commission candidate, John Ridley, running on a platform that calls for a four-year mayor with “appropriate executive authority.”
There remains a strong sentiment within the city to keep the title honorary. Current Mayor Jim Baskett argues that an elected mayor would be driven more by a “personal agenda” than city interest.
But former Mayor Bill Floyd, though he wants to preserve the city manager-based government, has long preferred an elected, four-year mayor. Floyd believes an elected leader would have more authority to represent the city beyond Decatur boundaries and establish relationships with other mayors, other city governments and legislators.
For one week at the end of August, Gwinnett leaders asked residents and commuters to weigh in on transportation in the county through the “GR8 Exchange on Transportation” using social media and an online survey.
When asked “If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing about transportation in Gwinnett, what would it be,” the number one answer was traffic at 20 percent, with MARTA the second highest response at 11 percent.
Digging deeper, the survey asked respondents how they would ideally like to “get around in Gwinnett”. The number one response indicated commuters would like a combination of options. At the top, 42 percent would like to travel by train, followed closely at 39 percent by car, and 28 percent for more bus options.
But the subject of MARTA expanding into Gwinnett is always good for a heated debate. The Gwinnett Chamber’s most recent survey indicated Gwinnett drivers want MARTA, but don’t relish a tax increase to make it happen. Results released this past spring showed 63 percent of 502 potential voters said they supported MARTA moving into the county, but only 50 percent of the respondents would support a one-percent sales tax to pay for the service. Support was highest in cities closest to the perimeter in Norcross, Lilburn and Peachtree Corners with 70 percent support for joining MARTA.
Supporters say MARTA is needed to continue attracting businesses. Opponents worry the commuter rail might not be a cost effective option and worry about safety.
We’d like to know what you think. Is it time for voters to bring MARTA to Gwinnett?
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