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Six
Gwinnettians among top 100 leaders
as singled out by Georgia Trend magazine
By
Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com
JAN. 11, 2001 -- Publishing only once each week during the holidays,
we are now a little behind, and put forth this issue of smaller
items to close that gap.
* * * * *
The January issue of Georgia Trend magazine lists six Gwinnettians
among the 100 Most Influential Georgians. The list includes:
- Dan Graveline of Duluth, head of the Georgia World Congress
Center.
- Wayne Hill of Suwanee, currently head of the Gwinentt
Commission, Association of County Commissioners, and Atlanta Regional
Authority.
- Keith Mason of Duluth, chair of the Georgia Ports Authority.
- Ralph Reed of Duluth, head of the Georgia GOP.
- Richard Tucker of Duluth, president of the Gwinnett Chamber.
- Thurbert Baker of Stone Mountain, the state attorney
general.
- Rick Porter, who has extensive housing developments in
Gwinnett and is a former president of the Chamber, is also on
the list. He lives in Tucker.
Also named to the top 100 was Congressman Johnny Isakson,
who represents part of Gwinnett in Washington.
Hats off to these leaders!
* * * * *
Two other issues in Georgia Trend this month got our attention.
First, there was a series of stories about the Georgia Ports, with
one highlighting the new Jimmy Mason Intermodal Transfer Container
Facility, with a picture of Mason's portrait hanging at the facility.
Secondly, Bill Shipp flatly predicted in his column that
"Bob Barr will keep a seat in Congress." That is a bad
omen for his opponent, Cong. John Linder, both Republicans. That
points more than ever to the GOP primary being a dogfight.
* * * * *
Remember your teachers saying that some day you would use algebra?
Most of us may have questioned this idea then, but most of us see
ways it helps us today.
However, some of us apparently need first to learn how to count,
not just use algebra. And you don't need to count very high, either.
Going up to five would help, but counting to three is even more
important.
We refer, of course, to the continual 4-1 votes on the Gwinnett
County Commission, with the lone vote usually cast by Marsha
Neaton-Griggs. Apparently Ms. Griggs feels it is more important
to show that she is opposed to various actions by the commission
than she is to working for harmony and good relations among her
fellow commissioners.
This reminds one of Gwinnett of more than 20 years ago, when the
chairman of the commission at that time, Charles Ashworth,
was often casting the lone vote in 4-1 decisions. After one term
as chairman, he was replaced (by Lillian Webb), and few has
seen much of Mr. Ashworth since.
Being alone in 4-1 votes may salve your conscience, and ensure that
your supporters realize you are on the job. But lots of other people
also realize you are on the job, and causing many decisions to be
more contentious than many ought to be. Casting that lone vote is
a two-edge sword, which works both ways.
* * * * *
It's good to see Lynn Ledford in her new position of elections
supervisor for Gwinnett County. A 14 year veteran of the Elections
Office, she replaces the retiring Norma Lyons, who held the office
for five years. Lynn knows the office backwards and forwards, and
has been administrative supervisor of the department. Lynn recently
had surgery and is recuperating from surgery, with Norma returning
to spell Lynn by the end of the month. Good to have you on board,
Lynn!
* * * *
MOVIE SUGGESTION: Here's our pick of a real sleeper of a movie:
Charlotte Gray, which is just opening. Take a young British
woman, parachute her into Vichy France during World War II as a
spy....well, it moves well from there. We really enjoyed it.
FEEDBACK
1/11: Upset
over Spring Break timing
Editor, The Forum:
I thought Gwinnett County was trying to be part of the rest of
the world. Spring Break school vacation is usually either the first
week or the second week in April.
Cobb, Dekalb, and Fulton Counties have their Spring Break the SECOND
week of April this year. Gwinnett has theirs the FIRST week of April.
No big deal, EXCEPT if you teach in one of those other counties
and live in Gwinnett, then you and your children can't vacation
together.
The Gwinnett School Board must feel that to be in sync with other
Metro-Atlanta counties might be a criminal conspiracy. Or somebody
is really dumb.
-- Allan Hytowitz, Norcross
SPECIAL NOTICE
GOP invites
attendance to hear Perdue
Gwinnett Young Republicans invite attendance at their meeting featuring
guest speaker, Sen. Sonny Perdue, candidate for Governor, on Tuesday,
January 15, 2002 at 7 p.m. at the 1818 Club on Sugarloaf Parkway
in Duluth. For more details, contact Michael Sullivan at msullivan@adtlaw.com.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
About what books do for you
"If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly
are the others here for?"
---George Carlin, through Jim Hood.
SEND YOUR FEEDBACK
Send your thoughts, pet peeves or comments on any
issue to Gwinnett Forum
for future publication.
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