Sadly, there are many

things going on around here that demand at least one

council member represents the best interests of our

citizens. So far that has meant being the only council

member to support privately sponsored child care at no

cost to taxpayers so that young parents can come to

council meetings.

It has meant being the only

council member to vote against the lifting of the

annexation moratorium, which now opens the door for

higher density, worse traffic, more pressure on police

and fire services, and overcrowded schools, just to name

a few.

It has meant being the only

council member to protect taxpayers by voting for a more

experienced city judge who was willing to work for half

what the current judge proposed. And it has meant being

the only council member to vote to protect a citizen's

right to respond to council after he had been verbally

abused by a city official.

Well, it hasn't been easy,

but there has not been a single vote or remark I have

made that I regret. You see, I don't work for the mayor

or any member of council. My bosses are the citizens of

this community, and that is who I am accountable to.

Unlike Mayor Lenox, I do believe the meetings are for the

people, not the council. I believe that even at the local

level, this is a government of the people, by the people

and for the people.

But as Steve Brown learned,

if you rattle the wrong cage in this town, you are going

to incur fear and intimidation.

But wait, Steve, you have

company! I too have rattled the wrong cages in town and

find myself in the position of defending myself against a

frivolous politically motivated ethics complaint. Isn't

it just great how the power structure in this town

handles dissent? Sue them, scare them, intimidate them,

or accuse them of a crime. But like Mr. Brown, I sort of

doubt if there will be much success in silencing this

critic of injustices and poor policy decisions. Just a

hunch.

If you want a council where

every vote is 5-0 rubber stamp, you have elected the

wrong man to the job.

To be sure, some votes

rationally pass 5-0. The recent Lexington Commons vote is

a good example. It was a great representation of the good

things that can happen when government and private

enterprise work closely together for the benefit of all

citizens.

But if I lose every vote

for the next three years and nine months by a 4-1 margin

where my vote is to protect civil liberties, provide

fiscal conservatism, guard against overdevelopment or

protect our families, I will have done so with honor,

integrity and a commitment to do what is right. My

friends, with God's help, we have only just begun.

Dan Tennant

Council Member

Peachtree City

[email protected]