For this MDJ reader, not personally active in Cobb politics, but interested, Jon Gillooly helped clarify matters regarding candidates for Cobb Commission chairman.
It became clear from Gillooly’s recent story about the Atlanta Regional Commission’s influence on local government that at least one candidate (Bill Byrne) is building his case by appealing to those voters who prefer not to be closely associated with Atlanta and other metro counties. That’s a view some find irresponsible and lacking in vision for a better-than-ever future for Cobb. In other words, this candidate, and perhaps two others (Mike Boyce and Larry Savage), appear content for us to be an island by itself, no longer providing significant leadership to the region as a whole.
The other candidate for the chairmanship, the incumbent, (Tim Lee), has had to deal with the criticism that often results from true leadership. Leadership involves making decisions and taking positions not always popular and often misunderstood. And, on occasion, decisions prove not successful. However, this candidate, not always spectacular and apparently unwilling to engage in gutter politics, has stood up for what his knowledge and values called for in responsibly executing his duties. He appears to be “looking forward,“ not only for the betterment of Cobb citizens, but is not afraid to keep this county in the mainstream of leadership for the whole area — an area whose progress has had a great deal to do with Cobb’s growth and progress over the yeas.
What a difference! Looking backward to the past while advocating a narrow and arrogant provincialism for the future. Or looking forward in dealing with Cobb’s special concerns, while also supportive of regional partnership in an important metro area — dynamic in the past with a dynamic future when there is courageous and visionary leadership throughout the region.
Richard Hodges
East Cobb
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Cobb was denied an Olympic venue due to it.
Then Byrne and his cronies crammed the composting facility down the taxpayers throat, a one of a kind facility that never did work, not one pound of compost was ever sold, and it made the Water System take it over so the water revenues could fund it.
You people that support him better take a look back at his prior 8 years of dictatorship, arrogant attitude and good old boy system between him, Hankerson, Charles Kastner, Bob Terrell, and several other developers.
Also you may want to take a look at his embellished accomplishments and his legal residency.
Byrne was bad, but Lee is worse.
Every time I see one of his campaign signs I have to LOL.
Serious Leadership
More accuratelI know the two I am NOT going to vote for.
Now all I have to do is hold my nose and vote for one of the remaining two candidates.
Leadership. Seriously?
So true! You are forgetting "The Sacred Art of Russia" debacle and the battle for the "Ten Commandments". Cobb County needs Bill Byrne and Gordon Wysong to return Cobb to the nineteenth century.
Brink back Bill Byrne! He's a true republican who'll stand up to the democrat politicians in Atlanta.
What you obviously have missed concerning your county property tax bill is that the tax rates DID go up. Unfortunately, the value of your homestead fell substantially too. The net result is that the amount of dollars they paid in property taxes may have gone down (even though the tax rate very definitely DID go UP).
To the uninformed, the mysteries of math my have them thinking that their tax rate went down. They will not understand that they really are just a lot less wealthy than they once were...but are now having their wealth (property) taxed at a higher rate.
Oh, and that rail line to Cumberland, perhaps you missed that it is only going as far as Cumberland...barely 1/10th of a mile into Cobb County. The rest (a lot more than just 1/10th of a mile) will be in Fulton county. What a deal, you say?
His TSPLOST does not fix the Interchange of I-285 and I-75, our very worst intersection that is used by all Cobb voters.
His tax increase in the middle of a deep recession.
I haven't decided who I am going to vote for yet, but I know who I am going to vote against.
Tim "The Buffoon" Lee!!
Not only does he lack leadership qualities he has the spine of a Amynthas. That's an earthworm for those of you in Smyrna.
His enthusiastic willingness to be a shill for the Cobb Chamber and the ARC, regardless of the idiocy of some of their policies and initiatives, is self explanatory.
The only thing Tim Lee has done is push forth the Agenda 21 driven development agenda of the Cobb County chamber big wigs. The chamber has promised to support Lee by throwing their big budgets to supporting his campaign...because they benefit greatly from the massive (wasteful)government spending that Tim Lee has proposed and is trying to (deceptively) move forward with.
Stop the poppycock blather about leadership and forward thinking. The only thing Tim Lee represents is a hijack of Cobb County by the big money special interests (i.e. big money welfare queens) of the Chamber of commerce who will benefit from the billions of dollars they will receive to build roads, buses, trains and who knows what else courtesy of the Cobb taxpayers.
BTW, Mr Hodges, do even you realize the traffic congestion solutions that Tim Lee and Faye Dimassimo have been pushing for the past two years will not do anything to actually relieve traffic congestion? Ask the chairman of the ARC...who recently publicly admitted such to be the case. Why is "leader" Tim Lee pushing us to spends billions on things that will NOT reduce congestion/commute times?
Lecture over. Go take your shill song to another corner, please. Fulton county (or New York city)is probably a better fit for you.
Oh, please tell us just what LIES were posted in the comments above?