Gwinnett Commission effectiveness
being harmed by lack of trust
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
Gwinnett Forum.com

July 3, 2001 -- Let's put things in perspective.

For over eight years now, Gwinnett County has had relatively stable government. Part of that came because of unusually smooth workings of our county commission.

In government, just as in private industry, often the best relationships are built on friendships, and from time to time, handshakes. The late Scott Hudgens, in dealing with the major firms anchoring his malls, often used handshakes to get the work, costing millions of dollars, underway. Contracts would sometimes be drawn up months after major construction was started.

Gwinnett's county commissioners have been guided in the past few years by this same type of trust shown by handshakes.

They respected and helped one another, even to the point of allowing "district courtesy" to rule their official proceedings. In effect, this gave the district commissioner sole authority within the geographic boundary of his or her district, with other commissioners rubber-stamping these individual decisions.

Unfortunately, in recent months, there has been a major erosion of trust between the commissioners. No longer is the "district courtesy" relationship in order. So far, the situation has not moved toward a major problem for the county. But this possibility exists because of the new relationships between the commissioners.

The one new twist on the commission is the manner in which Duluth area Commissioner Marcia Neaton-Griggs deals with other commissioners. In effect, it appears that the other commissioners have difficulty trusting Mrs. Griggs. This is brought on, no doubt, because of the criticism and comments about the commission that Mrs. Griggs's husband, Bob, produces on his "Save Gwinnett" Web site.

Having an "independent" Mr. Griggs commenting on actions that the entire (including his wife) commission takes puts the other four commissioners in an awkward position. The other four might wonder if information Mrs. Griggs is privy to during their deliberations somehow migrates to Mr. Griggs' Internet site.

Mr. Griggs and his "Save Gwinnett" site enjoys the rights any individual has. However, his comments put the efforts of his wife at jeopardy, and in one sense, are harming the close relationship that the commission has enjoyed in the past.

The most direct losers in this process are the people in Mrs. Griggs' Duluth-area commission district. She has squandered her election by her actions and those of her husband. It means that her credibility and possible effectiveness as a district commissioner is impaired.

While her district may suffer, it's up to the other four commissioners virtually to govern without meaningful input from Mrs. Griggs.

It amounts to a case where the First Amendment freedoms Mrs. Griggs' husband enjoys have hurt her district and the county. It serves the possibility of eroding Gwinnett's effective and stable government of the past few years. Today's governmental maneuverings are a far cry from the "handshakes" that guided many projects in Gwinnett, and in effect, a far cry from the cordiality that worked in Gwinnett government in past years.

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More on Junk Mail

June 26, 2001
Editor, The Forum:

Look at what I just got from a friend in New Mexico today!

"Hi Cathy,

"Re the bankcard mailings, I've been doing this for several years but I put everything they send in the envelope with a note written in red to take my name off their mailing lists. I'm getting only one or so a month these days."

This is the best mass mailing I've ever sent out in terms of responses!

- - Cathy Jacobson, Atlanta

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

"Yesterday, the greatest question was decided which ever was debated in America; and a greater perhaps never was, nor will be, decided among men. A resolution was passed without one dissenting colony, that those United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States."

- - John Adams, letter to Mrs. Adams, July 3, 1776

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