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Issue 10.24 | Tuesday, June 22, 2010 | Forward to your friends!


WINNERS:
The IMPACT! Group has presented Franzén and Salzano, PC with its Platinum Award in recognition of its significant contributions to fighting homelessness in Gwinnett County and Metro Atlanta. Founding partner Therese G. Franzén, left, serves as pro bono counsel to The IMPACT! Group and formerly served as president and a member of the board of directors. She is shown with Tom Merkel, Impact! president, who says: "Terry has played a significant role in advancing The IMPACT! Group's mission to strengthen our community. She has used her contacts both as a community advocate and as an attorney to fight for the benefit of all families in Gwinnett County." The Platinum Award is given by The IMPACT! Group to community supporters who have made the highest levels of contribution to the agency. Franzén and Salzano's law practice is based in Norcross, and concentrates on representing the consumer financial services industry in regulatory compliance and enforcement, litigation, corporate, and employment matters. Additional information about The IMPACT! Group can be found online at www.theimpactgroup.org.


ELLIOTT BRACK'S PERSPECTIVE

:: Endorsements: Gwinnett legislative races

FEEDBACK
:: Letter on candidate spelling

UPCOMING
:: PCOM, Duluth hospital; SPLOST

NOTABLE
:: Bowen to chair DOT; more

ALSO INSIDE

_:: IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Meet a sponsor

_:: RECOMMENDED: "Outliers"

_:: GEORGIA TIDBIT: Wanderer

_
:: TODAY'S QUOTE: On eccentric opinion

_:: ARCHIVES: Read past commentaries


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EDITOR'S NOTE

With today's lengthy endorsements, there will be no other major contributing author in today's GwinnettForum.

EEB PERSPECTIVE
Our endorsements in legislative races affecting Gwinnett
By ELLIOTT BRACK
Editor and publisher

NORCROSS, Ga., June 22, 2010 -- The big crop of candidates that Gwinnett has produced this year often bring high-sounding ideas, all aimed at getting the attention of the voter. All too often, however, what the candidates say doesn't bear any relation to what they can really get accomplished as a legislator at the Gold Dome of Georgia.


Brack

For instance, some are against President Obama's health care plan, and act as if they could change that direction. We doubt it. Others come out strongly for the so-called Fair Tax, at best a national issue, though some hold out hope of using something like it to replace Georgia's current property tax system.

We're pleased to see the many candidates running for elected office. It gives the voters more choice, and speaks of more of a participatory democracy. Candidates without primary opposition are not listed in the endorsements, for obvious reason.

So we say to voters: examine what the candidates say, such as in answers to the questions we put to them, asking 100 word answers, which are to be posted on the right column of GwinnettForum. See if you think they can live up to what they promise on the campaign trail.

* * * * *

Now after listening to these candidates, and analyzing their responses, we offer these endorsements in the July 20 primaries.


Balfour

State Senate District 9: In the two contested Senate races affecting Gwinnett, there are only Republican candidates, so the winner of the primary will take office. Don Balfour, 53, is in our opinion the best candidate in District 9. He has served for 18 years in the Senate, and now chairs the powerful Rules Committee. The Waffle House executive has worked relentlessly for major improvements in Gwinnett, particularly for higher education and hospitals, and has created a better atmosphere for business development.


Millar

State Senate District 40: Former Rep. Fran Millar, 60, of DeKalb County is our choice to represent this district, which includes Peachtree Corners. His experience of 12 years in the House, plus his understanding of the area, makes this insurance executive a worthy candidate. He has also said he will work diligently to ensure the Hope Scholarship remains sound and workable to Georgia's best students.


Rice

House District 51: This race pits two Republicans, both saying that they are in sympathy with the Tea Party. Our choice to retain this seat is Rep. Tom Rice, 69, who has served in the House for 14 years. He has worked closely with the United Peachtree Corners Civic Association in seeking to craft a solution to possible city-status for the area, and promises the voters will decide the issue. No Democrat seeks this post.


Mitchell

House District 88: This is another district with a small portion in Gwinnett, and most in DeKalb County. Two Democrats seek the post, and our choice is the incumbent, Rep. Billy Mitchell, 47. His record includes getting bills passed in each of his eight House years. He continues to focus on foreclosure reform in the state, something badly needed. The cable television executive is also a former Stone Mountain city councilman.


Dickerson

House District 95: The current Democratic representative, Tony Collins, seems out of touch with voters. As an example, he would not meet with GwinnettForum, nor respond to repeated overtures and questionnaire. He has two opponents, and our choice to succeed him is Pam Dickerson, 57, of Conyers. She proposes to be fully committed to the district and to stay in better touch with voters through constant town hall meetings. She is concerned about public safety and home invasions. This New Orleans native has lived in the area for 27 years, and will be a vocal delegate to the House. This district is composed of portions of Rockdale and Newton counties, and a portion of Gwinnett south of Snellville.


Mock

House District 96: We support a fresh face in this Democratic race, Brian Mock, 41, in his effort to unseat Rep. Pedro Marin. We feel Mock, a hotel manager, will bring a broader representation to the district, and is more of a bridge-builder and consensus maker than the current officeholder. He also campaigns on the need to bring constant pressure on businesses which are illegally operating out of homes in this district. The district centers around Norcross.


Hill

House District 98: The area of North Gwinnett will be well served with the election of Wayne Hill, 68, as its representative. The former chair of the Gwinnett Commission has a wealth of knowledge and friendships through the area and Georgia, and will be able to start impressive work on the first day in office. Known to speak his mind, this small businessman, a former cabinet maker, will put his experience to great benefit for the county and the state


Brockway

House District 101: A former GOP party chairman in Gwinnett, Buzz Brockway, 43, is our choice to represent this district located in the center of the county. The Georgia Tech graduate wants to work to make Georgia as business friendly as can be. He also recognizes Gwinnett's superlative school system, wanting to ensure its continued success. He's also an advocate for transparency in government, a commendable trait for any candidate.


Allen

House District 102: Three Republicans seek to represent this area near Mountain Park. From the field, Steve Allen, 58, a retired Georgia Power executive and lobbyist, appears to be the best candidate and most qualified. With his years of working the hallways to influence legislation, he should be able to know his way immediately around the Capitol, and be effective his first year. The UGA graduate and Lilburn resident has contacts throughout the state from living in several Georgia communities.


Casas

House District 103: For eight years, Republican David Casas, 38, has represented this diverse Gwinnett district near the DeKalb border. His experience and understanding of the area are two reasons he deserves another term at the Capitol. A Cuban refugee who came to this country while very young, he is a graduate of Georgia State University and Luther Rice Seminary. His focus is on education and parental freedom.


Clark

House District 104: Three Republicans seek this legislative post. The best candidate, in our view, is retired school principal Valerie Clark, 60, of Lawrenceville. She promises to work relentlessly for the district, with a focus on education, since "Graduating everyone matters." She also sees the need for additional job creation, realizing that Gwinnett, with its technical businesses and colleges, is a plum for development as a more advanced technology hub.


Auld

House District 106: The continuing bickering in Snellville has now spilled over into a House race, as two political enemies face one another. Former Snellville Mayor Brett Harrell and former two-term Councilman Warren Auld are opponents. While both could possibly serve with distinction, our choice is Warren Auld, 58. He wants our state to re-think how to do government in broad terms, a commendable, forward-thinking idea with the state facing severe budget restraints. He also seeks to restore public trust, and to make the Evermore CID a beehive of activity, even to extend its boundaries to Loganville. Auld, an attorney, is also a Tea Party sympathizer.

* * * * *

Additional endorsements on Friday will address both the two Congressional races affecting Gwinnett (4th and 7th Districts), and the Gwinnett County Commission races.

Statewide endorsements will begin on Tuesday, June 29.

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS
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The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Asbury Automotive Group is one of the largest automobile retailers in the U.S. Asbury is publicly-traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ABG. Built through a combination of organic growth and a series of strategic acquisitions, Asbury currently operates 80 retail auto stores, encompassing 107 franchises for the sale and servicing of 38 different brands of American, European and Asian automobiles. Asbury offers customers an extensive range of automotive products and services, including new and used vehicle sales and related financing and insurance, vehicle maintenance and repair services, replacement parts and service contracts. Headquartered in Duluth, Asbury's local dealership group is Nalley Automotive Group with 12 locations across metro Atlanta. Visit asburyauto.com or nalleycars.com for more information.

FEEDBACK
Responses cause this voter to cut down on his choices

Editor, the Forum:

I have just started reading the candidates responses to your questions. Living in District 7, I have a number of candidates to choose from for the Republican primary.

Assuming that you have printed their questionnaire responses verbatim, I have decided that to cut down on my choices. I will not cast a vote for any candidate who used improper grammar and had words misspelled.

I figure that if they don't have the attention to detail to check their answers for basic proper English and spelling, they likely won't have the attention to detail we need in a representative. That will at least narrow my choices down and I can focus on how they related to the questions and the issues we face.

Thank you for doing the interviews and publishing the questionnaires.

-- David Barker, Lawrenceville

Dear David: You are right. We didn't do any editing at all for content or proper English. All we did is check to see if in any answer the candidate violated answering in 100 words or less. When this happened, we cut after 100 words and put in the symbol "(100)" to let readers know that this candidate cannot count, either. --eeb

SEND YOUR LETTERS: We encourage readers to submit feedback or letters to the editor. Send your thoughts to editor at elliott@brack.net. We will edit for length and clarity. Make sure to include your name and city where you live. Submission of a comment grants permission to us to reprint. Please keep your comment to 200 words or less. However, if you write 500 words, we'll consider it for Today's Focus.

UPCOMING
PCOM, Duluth hospital cooperate on teaching partnership

Gwinnett Medical Center-Duluth has begun a medical student teaching program in partnership with the Georgia campus of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (GA-PCOM) in Suwanee. The program is designed to provide hospitalists for GMC-Duluth while giving the students ideal medical experience. A hospitalist is a hospital-employed physician devoted exclusively to the care of inpatients.

Alan Bier, executive vice president and chief medical officer of Gwinnett Medical Center, says: "For several years, medical students have been rotating through the hospitalist service at GMC-Duluth for their core internal medicine rotation. As the service has become more utilized, our hospitalists have had a strong desire to maintain the program but have had less time to devote to teaching."

To address this issue and develop a more comprehensive approach to the teaching program, GA-PCOM has employed a physician to fill the position of director of Osteopathic Medical Education. Daren Wannamaker, DO, an assistant professor of internal medicine at GA-PCOM and a hospitalist, will oversee the new program.

Paul Evans, DO, dean and chief academic officer of the osteopathic medicine program at GA-PCOM, says: "This partnership marks a new phase in a growing relationship between Gwinnett Medical Center and the Georgia campus of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine."

SPLOST improvements include 3 new road projects

Five Forks Trickum Road will get major improvements, Patterson Road will get a new bridge and Head Elementary School will soon have a new sidewalk to nearby neighborhoods from action by the Gwinnett Board of Commissioners recently. Funding of projects comes from the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST).

Three intersections on Five Forks Trickum Road will get turn lanes and full pedestrian access at Pounds/Garner Road, Winchester Drive and Cole Drive. The project will add a center turn lane and sidewalks on both sides for its full length from Cole Drive to Garner/Pounds Road. Construction will take about a year. C.W. Matthews Contracting Co., Inc., submitted the lowest of 10 bids at about $1.17 million.

Patterson Road will close for about five months while crews replace a bridge over Pew Creek, realign the roadway and improve the road shoulders. The project includes a new sidewalk on Hewatt Road from Corral Way to Head Elementary School that is to be completed by fall. C.W. Matthews was the lowest of eight bidders at about $1.3 million.

NOTABLE
State DOT Board picks Rudy Bowen as its new chairman

A Gwinnett businessman is the new chairman of the board of the State Transportation Board. Rudy Bowen of Suwanee was elected chairman last week. He represents the Seventh Congressional District and joined the Board in 2007. He was re-elected to a five-year term in April by a caucus of state representatives and senators from the District. Johnny Floyd of Cordele is the new vice chairman.


Bowen

Following the meeting, Bowen, who succeeds Bill Kuhlke of Augusta as chairman, said he looked forward to working with Department staff. "We have much work to accomplish. The budget remains constrained and we have to do more with less. We've been doing that, but we have to be more innovative with policies and planning."

In other business the Board approved the July bid letting which includes a project to convert 15 miles of existing High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes to High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes on I-85 from Chamblee Tucker Road, just south of I-285, north to Old Peachtree Road in Gwinnett County. Assuming acceptable bids are submitted in that letting and a contract awarded, construction on the conversion project is scheduled to begin in mid-August, with the HOT lane opened to traffic in mid-summer 2011.

The I-85 Express Lanes is a demonstration project funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation Congestion Reduction Demonstration (CRD) Program Grant, awarded to Georgia in November, 2008. The CRD allows for the conversion of the existing HOV lanes to HOT lanes. Different from HOV lanes that allow carpoolers to shorten their commute times, HOT lanes offer all motorists, even Single Occupancy Vehicles (SOV), more reliable trip times for the cost of a toll to use the lanes. Tolls will vary based on the number of vehicles using the HOT lanes to keep the lanes free-flowing and provide reliable travel time. Innovative technologies will be used to assist with HOT lane operations and enforcement. The project also includes $122 million for construction of new park and ride lots and purchasing new commuter buses to be operated by the Georgia Regional Authority (GRTA).

Once completed, the I-85 Express Lanes project will provide more options for commuters and serve as a key transportation alternative to help relieve congestion on one of metro Atlanta's major corridors.

Lawrenceville recognizes 25 with Golden Hammer Awards

More than 20 completed projects in downtown Lawrenceville have been recognized with the fourth annual Golden Hammer Awards by the Lawrenceville Tourism and Trade Association (LTTA) and Downtown Development Authority (DDA). These awards recognize individuals or businesses for renovations, remodeling, and new construction projects in the Lawrenceville area as well as significant contributions to the promotion and revitalization of historic downtown Lawrenceville. The 25 individuals or businesses that were recognized have invested over $250 million in improvements within the last year.

Rebekah Cline, LTTA Marketing Director, says: "The Golden Hammer Awards represent an opportunity to celebrate the local individuals and businesses that have impacted the revitalization and evolution of Lawrenceville. During the past four years, the Golden Hammer Awards has highlighted a total of over $340.6 million invested in the Lawrenceville community."
The 2010 Golden Hammer Award winners are:

AfricArt
Aristeacrats
Bubble's Dog Grooming
College Nannies & Tutors
Dance Fusion & Fitness
Jack Brown's Cafe
Little Barn
The LONA Gallery & Gifts
Niko's Wine Corner
Oyster Bay Seafood Cafe
Peters Path
Pura Enchilada
Sparkle!
Studio Z Salons
Sweets on the Square
Ty-J's Handbags & Boutique

Upscale Resale Consignment
First Baptist Church of Lawrenceville
Kaiser Permanente Medical Offices
Tom M. Wages Funeral Service
Georgia Gwinnett College Library &
__Learning Center
Georgia Gwinnett College Student __Housing
Gwinnett Medical Center, North __Tower
City of Lawrenceville Police __Department
City of Lawrenceville's Mayor Jule __Oakes House
Rodney Lee Camren (Lawrenceville __Community Trolley Tours)

Braselton honors Mayfield Dairy Farms and two groups

It was a night of honors as the Mayor and Council of Braselton cited a business and two community groups for outstanding service to its citizens.

Mayfield Dairy Farms was honored for its 100th anniversary in business, having been started in Tennessee and now having a milk production facility in Braselton.

The Northeast Georgia Council of Boy Scouts was honored for its national recognition serving more than 26,000 youths in the region.

The Tri-County Amateur Radio Club was cited for its contributions to civic safety and preparedness.

RECOMMENDED BOOK
Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell

"It certainly is one of the most compelling books of the year, Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. If you have every wondered why two students in the same grade seem to develop at different speeds; or wondered why Asian children excel at math and science; or why most good hockey players are born before June 30; or why many players in the computer world were born about 1955...this is the book for you. Popular culture writer Gladwell, on the staff of The New Yorker, has also written two previous books, The Tipping Point and Blink. He's a good storyteller, who writes so that you can speed through his topics....learning something every step of the way. ("Outlier" is a scientific term to describe things or phenomena that lie outside normal experience.)"

--eeb

  • An invitation: What Web sites, books or restaurants have you enjoyed? Send us your best recent visit to a restaurant or most recent book you have read along with a short paragraph as to why you liked it, plus what book you plan to read next. --eeb

GEORGIA ENCYCLOPEDIA
Slave ship Wanderer began service as luxury sailing yacht

The Wanderer was the last ship to bring slaves from Africa to Georgia and one of the last to smuggle bondsmen to American soil. On November 28, 1858, the Wanderer arrived at Jekyll Island, where its crew smuggled ashore 409 slaves acquired in West Africa.

The incident is especially noteworthy because the Slave Importation Act, passed in 1807, had officially banned the foreign importation of slaves into the United States. News of the Wanderer and its cargo quickly spread across the country and contributed to the sectional tensions between the North and the South that would soon lead to secession and the Civil War (1861-65).

Late in 1857 Colonel John D. Johnson, a New Orleans, La., sugar baron who was also a member of the prestigious New York [City] Yacht Club, commissioned a 238-ton luxury sailing vessel to be built on Long Island for his personal use. Upon its completion, the Wanderer was considered to be one of the world's most impressive privately owned pleasure crafts. Of particular note was the ship's ability to achieve high speeds; its streamlined design allowed it to sail at a maximum of 20 knots per hour.

Despite the ship's attributes, Johnson, for whatever reason, did not keep the Wanderer for long. In 1858, while on a voyage back to New Orleans, Johnson sold the vessel for $25,000 to William C. Corrie in Charleston, S.C. Corrie, a prominent South Carolinian with strong ties to political circles in Washington, D.C., and to the elite business community of New York City, hoped that the purchase of the Wanderer would afford him admittance into the New York Yacht Club and catapult him into some of the city's most exclusive social groups.

(To be continued)

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© 2010, Gwinnett Forum.com. Gwinnett Forum is an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible social, political and economic approaches to improve life in Gwinnett County, Ga. USA.

TODAY'S QUOTE

Even eccentric opinion finally
comes around

"Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric."

-- Philosopher Bertrand Russell (1872-1970)

CANDIDATE PROFILES

For the 2010 primary season, GwinnettForum asked all candidates facing primary opposition in Gwinnett County to provide answers to a few questions. You can read their answers below by clicking on the links.

Candidates with no primary opposition are noted. They'll be asked in the fall by us to fill out issues surveys, which we'll publish before the November election.

PROFILE KEY

  • (DNR) indicates a candidate did not respond to our survey
  • (+) indicates a candidate has received GwinnettForum's endorsement. Statewide and commission endorsements will be published in forthcoming issues.

2010 FEDERAL CANDIDATES

U.S. Congress, District 4

Democrats

U.S. Congress, District 7

Republicans

2010 STATEWIDE CANDIDATES

Georgia Governor

Democrats

Republicans

Georgia Lieutenant Governor

Democrats

  • Tricia Carpenter McCracken (DNR)
  • Carol Porter

    Republican Casey Cagle faces no primary opposition.

Georgia Attorney General

Democrats

Republicans

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture

Republicans

Democrat J.B. Powell faces no primary opposition in the Agriculture Commissioner race.

Georgia Commissioner of Insurance

Republicans

Democrat Mary Squires faces no primary opposition in the Insurance Commissioner race.

Georgia Labor Commissioner

Democrats

Georgia Secretary of State

Democrats

Georgia State School Superintendent

Democrats

Georgia Public Service Commission

Republicans

Democrat Keith Moffett faces no primary opposition in the race for Public Service Commission.

2010 LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES

Georgia State Senate, District 9

Republicans

Democrat Rashid Malik faces no primary opposition in this Senate race.

State Senate, District 40

Republicans

State Representative, District 51

Republicans

State Representative, District 88

Democrats

State Representative, District 95

Democrats

State Representative, District 96

Democrats

State Representative, District 98

Republicans

State Representative, District 101

Republicans

State Representative, District 102

Republicans

Democrat Porter D. Deal faces no primary opposition in this House race.

State Representative, District 103

Republicans

Democrat Allan Burns faces no primary opposition in this House race.

State Representative, District 104

Republicans

Democrat Lee Thompson faces no primary opposition in this House race.

State Representative, District 106

Republicans

Democrat Steffini Bethea faces no primary opposition in this House race.

2010 GWINNETT COUNTY CANDIDATES

Gwinnett County Commissioner, District 2

Republicans

Democrat Robert Lee Byers faces no primary opposition in this commission race.

Gwinnett County Commissioner, District 4

Republicans

MORE EEB PERSPECTIVE

8/17: Civility and society

8/13: Good ole boys got pick

8/10: GGC opens new facilities

8/6: Sophisticated scam

8/3: Howington celebrates

7/30: Humor in books

7/27: Runoff endorsements

7/23: Looking beyond primaries

7/20: What price freedom?

7/16: Early voting concerns

7/13: UGA headline-maker

7/9: On Bannister incident

7/6: On classic movies

7/2: Malcolm Gwinnett

EEB index of columns

MORE RECENT COMMENTARY

8/17: Morrison: Artistic collaboration

8/13: Pirello: Culinary center

8/10: Mock: Sharing worthwhile

8/6: Sherman: Opp zone

8/3: Morrison: Brenau's plans

7/30: Heaven: Federal tax info

7/27: Nelems: Media surveys

7/23: Urrutia: Fish vaccines

7/20: Paul: Norcross group

7/16: Stilo: Aurora's 15th season

7/13: Jackson: PCOM's new school

7/9: Jones: Energy audit

7/6: Callina: Vacation rentals

7/2: Williams: Gwinnett Place

 

ABOUT US

GwinnettForum.com is a twice-weekly online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible social, political and economic approaches to improve life in Gwinnett County, Ga. USA. Contact us today.

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