The forum is scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight in the meeting room of the Board of Commissioners at 100 Cherokee St. in Marietta. Bacon is being challenged for re-election by Donna Woodham and Alex Backry. All three candidates previously confirmed their attendance.
In an email sent Wednesday afternoon to Elizabeth Melville, co-president of the LWV Marietta-Cobb, Bacon said he would not attend, citing a family conflict. But he also asked for the forum to be rescheduled in Smyrna to draw more residents and for Smyrna City Council candidates to be included.
On Tuesday night, the Smyrna Business Association hosted a political forum for city mayoral and Council candidates. Most of the Council candidates attended, but Bacon was the only candidate running for mayor who showed up.
"I would like to bring to your attention that Tuesday evening (last night), the Smyrna Business Association hosted a candidate forum for all 19 candidates that was well attended by over 100 Smyrna residents at Brawner Hall in Smyrna," Bacon wrote in his e-mail.
"At this forum neither of my opponents showed up. I would hate to have the citizens drive all the way to Marietta and same thing happen again. Would it be possible to reschedule this forum (to include council candidates) in Smyrna where we could receive a larger audience? It makes sense to have a Smyrna forum in Smyrna."
In an emailed response, Melville said the group's board felt it would "unprofessional" to cancel the forum a day before it is scheduled to take place.
She also said the event would still take place in Marietta.
"We are having it in Marietta due to the fact it can be televised on the local channel," she wrote. "We feel it is important to have it televised so that as many voters as possible may be able to be a part of the event. Many people might not be able to attend personally in the evening due to illness etc."
Backry could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Woodham said she had expected Bacon would not attend the forum because he didn't answer submitted questions to candidates posed by the LWV in late September.
"For him not to show any interest in the League of Women Voters says a lot to women voters that would like to hear all three candidates' platforms and visions," she said.
"So maybe he doesn't have a platform; maybe he doesn't have vision. We'll never know it because he's not going to show up."
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And the political forum in Smyrna last night? Well, I live in Smyrna and knew nothing about it. So, it would seem it was kept on the down low so only supporters would show.
I have lived in Smyrna for 6 years, and I am tiring of Max's antics. His attitude is that he can pretty much do what he wants and say what he wants with no consequences. Alas, Smyrna is no different than Marietta with the old family ties and the status quo staying in place.
I am not sure the opponents are the answer, but it is time for a change.
However I must say I am EXTREMELY disappointed in Bacon's unwillingness to participate in the televised event. In this case actions speak louder than words. I will be reconsidering my support.
Max Bacon has been the mayor for 30 years & the Bacon family held power in Smyrna 39 years.
Smyrna needs term limits.
Every bit of information is city contrived & city controlled.
There have been many questionable events such as arrests of citizens , city apartments purchases & unfinished projects in & around the city in the last 3-4 years.
Like I said in the Patch last nite, "If the mayor believes responding to the citizens of Smyrna in an open, honest, public debate, is 'beneath' him, then he needs to do some serious soul searhing on his seeking another term as mayor of Smyrna".