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TODAY'S
ISSUE
Political newcomer
reflects on winning school board race
By
Carol Boyce
Special to GwinnettForum.com
(Editor's Note: we asked Carol Boyce, a political
neophyte, for her views on life as a candidate. She recently won
the Republican nomination for a School Board seat. She will face
Democrat Alfonso Cardenas in the November election.-eeb)
JULY 27, 2004 -- My political debut in the Republican Primary for
School Board District 1 was a fascinating experience. Little did
I realize how all encompassing a campaign could be, almost like
having a baby or building a house. Veterans tried to warn me, but
first-hand experience is necessary for full comprehension.
Last July my focus changed as I contemplated this challenge. The
leadership qualities exhibited by our six children compelled me
to follow them as role models and try for the Board seat. My family
was behind me all the way, and we all honed newly found skills.
My husband, Peter, put his political science major into practice
by analyzing strategies. John Robert, our sign installer, now knows
his way around the county. He also portrayed a dashing six foot
seven Uncle Sam at the Dacula Memorial Day Parade and Gwinnett Glows.
Olivia, our 14 year-old daughter, coordinated driving routes for
poll sign placement and organized neighborhood walks. Geoffrey,
the official campaign manager, shared his previous campaign experience
while helping with print literature. Thomas talked up the campaign
with his Clean Cut Lawn Care customers.
Our sons no longer living in Gwinnett County were active volunteers.
Expecting a restful vacation, Timothy inflated balloons on July
4, while Brandon and his wife, Mandy, were roped into sign duty.
Even out of state guests found themselves active campaigners at
numerous events, but everyone seemed to enjoy the experience.
I found myself stretching with new challenges daily as the campaign
progressed. Tough questions challenged me to question points from
angles I had never considered before. Mandatory word limits on press
questions created succinct answers. Candidate forums, educational
sessions, financial disclosures, sign placements, press interviews,
fundraisers, self-promotion, mailers, pushcards (brochures), gatherings,
and name tags were acquired concerns as I sported my obligatory
red and black uniform with the look of a school composition book.
The people I met were the best part. Recently I took a call from
Mary Faulkner, an 86 year old resident of Lawrenceville, who had
received my mailer. Even though we had never met, she wanted to
tell me that whether or not I won the election, I was a winner because
of my wonderful family. She deduced this only from the family picture
on the front, and then asked about all of my children.
Some of the opportunities I have had while campaigning were unforgettable
such as addressing the Rev. Ron Sailor's Christ the King Baptist
Church. Never before had I visited a predominately African-American
church, and I loved every clap, dance, praise, hug, and amen. Such
warm and welcoming folks were a joy to embrace and made the experience
one I will cherish forever. Mary Faulkner and Rev. Sailor's congregation
are just two examples of how friendly total strangers have proven
themselves to be.
Mostly though, I am thrilled to see how deeply most people care
about education. Even though some folks have different approaches,
everyone wants the very best for our students. People have been
so gracious, generous, and kind; and I genuinely appreciate the
support the community has shown for educational improvement.
Now, I'll rest a bit before beginning again for the November election.
ELLIOTT
BRACK
Bob
Wood known to be stubborn in good sense of word
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
JULY 27, 2004 -- You had to say that the late Bob Wood loved the
campaign trail. After all, he ran often for office, for school board,
for chairman of the county commission, for representative, for governor
and for the U.S. Senate. And he was running again for the county
chairmanship when he died recently unexpectedly at age 65. Fittingly,
he was buried the day of the Georgia primary.
 Bob
was one of my favorite persons in Gwinnett, perhaps because of our
back-and-forth personal debates on politics and other matters. I
came to know him early on, just as he was starting his real estate
schools in Gwinnett. From this came my recommendation for him to
put a thumbnail picture in his advertisements. That was 30 years
ago, and with that picture in his ads, and with his real estate
school and offices, he became one of the most familiar faces in
Gwinnett.
His real estate venture became highly successful, today numbering
700 agents, and selling perhaps 1,000 homes a year, from today's
five offices. .
His real estate school was the first for Gwinnett, Bob understanding
the need for the county to have a school of its own, without driving
into Atlanta. When Bob offered free tuition if agents placed the
licenses with his firm, the Real Estate Commission objected.
His brother, Frank Wood remembers: "The Real Estate Commission
said that he couldn't do it that way, and Bob knocked heads with
them. He figured he was running the school with his own money, and
he could do what he wanted. It was part of his giving back to the
community." Eventually, the Real Estate Commission agreed.
Frank Wood says: "Bob's philosophy was that as long as it
was legal and ethical, there was nothing wrong with it."
But that tenacity was Bob Wood. When he believed in something,
he stuck with it. Daughter Tonya Bothe says he father ran for offices
"because he wanted issues brought to the public's attention.
He felt every little guy should have a voice, and that it served
them best if they knew the issues."
During his race for governor, Bob once walked out of a meeting
which was not open to the public. "He was stubborn in a good
way," Tonya says.
During his four years on the School Board, he worked alongside
Louise Radloff, who recalls two special interest issues: "First,
his belief in what schools ought to be, and second, his concern
in developments where old cemeteries were on the property. He was
strong willed in his beliefs." She adds: "He would be
pleased today to see the State has implemented some of his thinking
on ethics."
She also recalls at one board meeting Bob offered to pay her fee
if she would enter the governor's race. "I never knew if he
wanted to see me win, or wanted me off the School Board."
Usually one or two days prior to many elections, Bob and I would
talk. We would discuss the possibilities on the ballots, people
and issues. We traded views, and far often, Bob had an uncanny ability
to predict the election outcome. He seemed to know what issues touched
the people in a real sense, what mattered to them, and how they
would react to possibilities.
Real Estate was his vocation; politics was his passion. He was
a distinct character secure in what he was doing, being gracious
and smiling.
Bob Wood, 1938-2004: may you rest in peace.
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NEWS
7/27: Congressman Scott
to open Lilburn office on Aug. 5
Congressman David Scott (D-GA) announces a new congressional district
office to be in Lilburn in Gwinnett County. This new office will
open Thursday, August 5th and will be located at 127 Main Street
in Lilburn.
 "This
new office will join with our other 13th District office in Jonesboro
to expand our services and bring them closer to our constituents,
especially the counties in the northeastern part of the district,
in Gwinnett, Rockdale, Newton, and Walton Counties," said Congressman
Scott. "The 13th District also covers parts of seven additional
counties: Butts, Clayton, DeKalb, Fayette, Fulton, Henry, and Spalding,
making for 11 of the nation's fastest growing counties."
"I invite all constituents of the 13th District to join me
at the grand opening of the Lilburn Office on Thursday, August 5
from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Lilburn," added Scott. His
online address is www.house.gov/davidscott.
BOOK
RECOMMENDATION
7/27: From Pat Mitchell
of Greenville, NC.
Former Gwinnett School Board member
"Current: Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss.
Reason: as a previous English major and a professor who has to read
student writing - I find it an interesting and comical look at grammar
- and it appears to have created a badly needed conversation about
grammar (the New Yorker had a scathing critique of it!)
"Next Read: Measuring America: how an untamed wilderness
shaped the US and fulfilled the promise of Democracy by Andro
Linklater. A book inspired by observing patterns of land use as
seen by an airplane passenger."
- An invitation: What books have you enjoyed? Send us
your best recent book along with a short paragraph as to why you
liked it, plus what you plan to read next. --eeb
ENCYCLOPEDIA
TIDBIT
7/27: Tifton Station
concentrates on row crop farming
The Coastal
Plain Experiment Station, located in Tifton, is south Georgia's
agricultural and environmental laboratory. Scientists with the University
of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences use
the station's land and facilities to study, learn, and teach the
most effective and profitable ways to protect natural resources,
raise livestock, and farm crops in this area. The station is located
in the hub of Georgia's row crop agricultural region.
At the beginning of the 20th century more and more south Georgians
began to till the soil and raise livestock in the Coastal Plain.
They quickly learned that profitable agriculture in this area was
a challenge. The long growing season, hot summers, and sandy, loamy
soils required different crops and farming practices from those
used in central and north Georgia.
In 1918 the Georgia Land Owners Association, led by Captain H.
H. Tift and William Stillwell, successfully lobbied the state legislature
to create an agricultural experiment station in this area, to be
affiliated with the state's land-grant College of Agriculture at
the University of Georgia in Athens. In 1919 the station began operating
on a 206-acre tract of land donated by Tift. Research at the station
focused mainly on such cash and feed crops as cotton, tobacco, peanuts,
corn, forage grasses, and wheat.
Farmers in the Coastal Plain now produce more than 80 percent of
the row crops in Georgia. The growing season in south Georgia lasts
about 205 to 275 days, and many farmers produce crops year-round.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
How y ou should get
rid of a temptation
"The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it."
-- Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900)
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