Response to Dave Richard Article Posted on CummingHome.com on January 23, 2006

By Jerry Bowman
Posted Wednesday, January 25, 2006

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As one of the people who signed the ad referred to by Commissioner Richard in his posting of January 23, 2006, I feel it is important to point out a few important facts to readers of this site. First of all, Commissioner Richard is certainly entitled to his opinions. However, he ignores a large number of facts while expressing his opinions.

I will address a few of these, but before doing so should make sure everyone reading this understands that all this is related to politics, so you need to understand the players:

1. www.cumminghome.com is a great local website. It is owned and operated by Steven Carter, Commissioner Charles Laughinghouse’s son-in-law.
2. Jim Harrell, the only announced candidate running for the commission seat currently held by Jack Conway is an employee of www.cumminghome.com
3. I am actively involved in community service and politics, and as a signer of the ad in last Sunday’s Forsyth County News, am appreciative of the leadership Jack Conway has shown as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners since 2002.

[See editor's note below]

Now for some facts:

1. Chairman Conway was the driving force behind the current SPLOST funding that has focused the vast majority of money collected toward improving county and city roads and intersections. SPLOST has nothing to do with state funding and everything to do with leadership.
2. The current sewer and water expansions are taking place in our county because Chairman Conway took the lead in pushing for them.
3. The Big Box ordinance was initiated by Commissioner Laughinghouse, and thanks are due him for that. However, without Chairman Conway’s leadership on this issue, we still would not have a Big Box ordinance today.
4. Chairman Conway has been, and still is, the leading advocate for extension of the Big Creek Greenway (the major greenspace project in North Metro Atlanta) from the Fulton County line all the way to Sawnee Mountain.
5. Entering year four of Jack Conway’s tenure as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, we are all privileged to live in the County with the lowest property tax rates in all of metro Atlanta, even while the County has made sizeable investments in all areas of infrastructure.
6. It is interesting that Commissioner Richard takes issue with the National Library awards, when his public position taken during the last SPLOST campaign was that the county should provide no funding at all for libraries or parks.

Also, it is important to note that Chairman Conway is not “taking credit” for any of these things. He is being congratulated on providing leadership as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners during a time when all these issues were successfully dealt with by a group of Forsyth County citizens.

Again, everyone is entitled to maintain and express his or her opinions. It is a shame that some, apparently including Commissioner Richard, believe anyone who supports his political enemies must do so only because they expect to, in his own words “rig the government in their favor.” I resent this implication and I would expect better from an elected representative of the people.

I appreciate all of our elected officials. The sacrifices they make financially, personally and otherwise are substantial. I would hope that our political discussions would focus more on policy and plans and a lot less on personal attack.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Jim Harrell, General Manager of Cumminghome.com has announced his candidacy to challenge Jack Conway in his upcoming reelection bid. As of the date of his announcement, Jim has no authority or input into editorial content of this site. As always, we strive to be fair and balanced, and we welcome the opportunity to publish opposing viewpoints. Charles Laughinghouse is not a challenger of Jack Conway in the upcoming election.

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