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TODAY'S ISSUE
Incoming freshman legislator to seek work for
major revitalization of his area of Gwinnett
By Curt Thompson
Nominee, Democratic Party
District 69, Post 1
State House of Representatives
Special to GwinnettForum.com

NOV. 5, 2002 -- When I first ran for the Georgia Legislature in the mid-90's I hoped that together we could prevent a dangerous downturn in this part of the County. I lost that election but continued to "fight the war". Others lose an election and then move away. I stayed. Revitalization remained my agenda. That is why I kept it as the focus of my volunteer work and as platform when I ran this time.

I volunteered over the years with Gwinnett Habitat for Humanity, Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful, Norcross Cooperative Ministries, and AID Gwinnett. Even my job as an attorney allowed me to work on community issues as the lawyer for the union representing a majority of Gwinnett Police Officers.

I am a Gwinnett native who grew up in Lilburn and spent much of my childhood in this area. After law school I bought a home in Hyde Park and have been here ever since. I have seen how the "I-85 Corridor" here changed.

There were signs of "suburban decay": empty shopping centers and rising gang activity. And, our part of the county was often ignored by the local government. Rep. Mary Squires, who lived down the street from me, had begun work on the issues but needed help.

Redistricting opened up a new Senate Seat and Mary announced she would run for it. With her seat vacant - I decided to run again to work on revitalization efforts in the legislature.

I began working with family, friends and neighbors back in October. We met countless times. I knocked on doors and attended many neighborhood meetings in the homes of friends.

The same theme emerged: business incentives to stay and revitalize our existing commercial areas rather than move further up I- 85; incentives to individuals to buy and live here (not rent houses out); efforts to beat the gangs; and more English language programs and teachers in our schools. Some platforms are written by consultants. We wrote ours our self.

I am realistic. I will be a freshmen representative coming into office during a recession. But in spite of that I am optimistic that together we can begin working to revitalize our areas.

* to work on tax incentives for businesses to move into targeted older suburbs, for landlords to rehab and redesign existing shopping centers and strip malls, to encourage developers to take advantage of Gwinnett's new mixed use zoning regulations, to eliminate Georgia's state capital gains tax, and to encourage people to "move in, renovate, and live in" existing homes in our neighborhoods.

* to work to increase penalties associated with painting gang graffiti.

* And I will work to ensure additional money for English programs in and after school so teachers won't have the pressure to dumb down lessons to meet the needs of non-fluent students.

I want to help our businesses form a civic association, and a CID (Community Investment District) so we have a local voice in how our community is revitalized.

I also hope that by working with my friends in other areas of government, we can coordinate our efforts, pool our resources, and concentrate on saving this vital community.

It is a huge task for a "part time job". Problems won't be solved overnight. But I'm optimistic that together our community can accomplish much of this agenda.
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ELLIOTT BRACK
Voters get frustrated when at the polls
because of those constitutional amendments
By Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com

NOV. 5, 2002 - - Watch out; you could get frustrated at the polls today, if you have not yet voted.

One frustration could come as it takes us longer to voter with the new electronic machines. That, however, could be only a one-time frustration, as people familiarize themselves with the new machines.

The serious frustration, one that threatens to continue, concerns what is on the ballot. We're not talking about the candidates or lack of quality of the candidates. We refer instead to the process whereby Georgia voters are asked the approve amendments to the state constitution every two years.

This process may not frustrate you. But it sure bugs me. You see, even though I think of myself as a reasonable person, it defies reason for the layman to understand the verbage tossed at you in the wording of constitutional amendments.

The wording on the amendments, you can be sure, is drawn by skilled bureaucrats in state government. Whatever you deduce that they might be saying...you can nearly deduce that they would be saying just the opposite. The wording on the ballot, and no doubt the total amendment itself, seems drawn to ensure that the voter can very few times make sense out of the proposition.

Such amendments discourage confidence in government. And voters see no reason that they are asked to decide either mundane, or far-reaching, aspects of government.

What happens in some cases, you can be sure, is that the elected representatives of the people, the legislators, simply use amendments to sidestep what we sent them to the Capitol to do. They feel the pressure on some subjects, and decide that their best way out is to "let the people decide." It's a cop-out.

We say "Foo!" on that. If these persons who say that they want to "represent" us can't figure it out, how are us laymen to be wiser? We don't know the ins and outs (especially from the language on the ballot) of such complicated arrangements.

Oh, the legislators say, "We are limited because the Constitution says the people must vote on key issues."

We'll accept some of that. We might understand voting on whether the governor should have two or four-year term, or whether to pass a lottery. Voting on whether we should exempt fishermen from paying ad valorem taxes on their boats and equipment, or whether we should extend a homestead exemption from $750 to $6,000 or some other arcane measure, should be the business of our elected representatives. They should not toss hot potatoes to us, when they can make the decision often themselves.

If the "constitution won't allow it," they should submit to us an amendment giving the legislators more authority. We'll hold them to the fire later for their actions on these "important" provisions. (By the way, most amendments don't' seem all that highly important, but more like a measure to benefit some special interest. It's safe to say that the special interest benefited usually is not you nor I.)

You and I want good government. That's why we elect representatives in our democratic society. It's their job to make these decisions, not ours.

Legislators, do your job. Quit frustrating us. Leave us alone on constitutional amendments. We'll trust you to handle these matters. If you handle them unwisely, we'll publicize your efforts and work to get rid of you with great gusto!

* * * * *

A report on absentee ballots: Elections Supervisor Lynn Ledford says that through early Monday, 7,986 ballots had been processed. Some 1,790 people voted in the office (and that figure will rise slightly from Monday's input. The office had 3,939 ballots returned in the mail, so that means that 72 per cent had been returned by early Monday. And, Lynn reports, "That's about normal." All FYI.

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FEEDBACK:
11/5: Maintains editor's bias was showing last week

Editor, the Forum:

While you are busy pointing out that Sonny Perdue was (note the past tense)
opposed to the lottery and Hope Scholarships, why don't you give equal
space to Roy Barnes past opposition and, in fact, leading role in the
campaign against the lottery and Hope Scholarships? This opposition
occurred at the same time as Perdue's. The quotes are there, the AJC stories
are there - why do you ignore them, and pretend he didn't do it?

Your bias is showing. At least you are consistent.

-- Bob Pociask, Snellville

11/5: Something terribly wrong with this scenario

Editor, the Forum:

Something's wrong somewhere concerning the article in the November 2 Gwinnett section of the AJC front page about the patrol wagon: why the need for more patrol wagons?

Something should be done about the bars giving free drinks to ladies on Wednesday nights. Whether they are free or paid for, the bartender or owner should not allow anyone so much to drink that they can't drive anyway. We have too many drunks on the roads that paid for their drinks.

Now we have to worry about those getting free drinks! Something is terribly wrong with this picture!! The bars need to take responsibility for their actions.

-- Kathy Gestar, Snellville
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SPECIAL SEMINAR
Legal/tax seminar to benefit Leukemia-Lymphoma Society

On November 18 at the 1818 Club in Duluth, a free legal/accounting seminar will be presented with attorneys from Andersen, Tate, Mahaffey & McGarity, P.C. of Lawrenceville and accountants from McClellan, Bridges, Rowland & Company, LLC of Duluth.

While the seminar is free, its purpose is to raise money for the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society; therefore, donations will be accepted. For more information, please call the presenting organizations.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Philosophy about one of the finer aspects of life

"I like life. It's something to do."

-- Ronnie Shakes, via Word for the Day.
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