Keeping north Fulton in the fold was among the issues discussed at a candidate forum Thursday evening at Northwest Presbyterian Church in Atlanta.
The three county commission candidates who appeared were peppered with questions about finances, ethics and spending, but north Fulton's bid to break away and form its own county drew much of the early attention.
"The reason the people in north Fulton are calling for creation of Milton County is because they're tired of being abused as taxpayers," said Steve Broadbent, candidate for chairman. "They're tired of their tax dollars flowing elsewhere. They're tired of having to sue for county services."
Broadbent said Fulton County needs to be re-formed fiscally and politically to make it whole again.
Incumbent Chairman John Eaves did not attend the forum.
Challenger Lori Henry called out incumbent District 2 Commissioner Robb Pitts for supporting initiatives, such as a $5 million aviation museum in south Fulton, while the county has tapped its reserves for more than $100 million.
"North Fulton is not just tired of money going in the wrong places. They're tired of the way money's being spent," she said. While Fulton County was approving the museum project, there were $59 million in unfunded maintenance requests at existing county facilities, she added.
Pitts countered that the county's finances are fine, adding they still garner a high bond rating.
"Wall Street looks very favorably on Fulton County," he said. "Of the 3,000-plus counties in the United States of America, Fulton County is in the top 5 percent if not higher from a fiscal point of view and a management point of view."
Pitts said the aviation museum had been planned years before he came on the commission eight years ago.
"It was one of a list of projects I supported, and I think that over time it may be successful," he said.
A crowd of about 100 turned out for the voter forum, sponsored by Mt. Paran Northside Citizens Association. The rostrum included candidates for the county commission, superior court, U.S. Representative and State Senate.
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