'PTC

Council member dismayed by Mayor, City Attorney actions'

PTC Council Member

Dismayed By

Mayor and City Attorney

Actions

Just so there is no

confusion, I have titled this letter myself.

Considerably before my

election to the Peachtree City Council in November 1999

and certainly subsequent to having won the election, I

have read with great interest the news that affects our

daily lives, particularly in the local arena. Almost

without fail, I read the letters to the editor in local

newspapers because I am intrigued with the opinion,

insight and concerns of Peachtree City residents.

Several months ago, I took

note that one particular citizen, Mr. Steve Brown of 148

Terrane Ridge in Peachtree City, was published on a

relatively regular basis in The Citizen. I had found Mr.

Brown's letters to be entertaining, informative, well

thought out, and routinely well documented, so I decided

to give Mr. Brown a call because I was interested in

gaining his support in the upcoming municipal election.

Since that time, I have

come to know Steve Brown reasonably well. I have found

his high regard for the truth, his energy and enthusiasm,

his moral principles and ethical conduct, and his overall

character to be refreshingly genuine. I have also found

that he has a great passion for what is good for the

development of Peachtree City, and I believe he has an

enormous desire to raise his family in the environment

that currently exists in Peachtree City.

Based on these reasons, I

asked Steve to be one of two representatives I was

entitled to select on the newly created Peachtree City

Board of Ethics, and he heartily and humbly accepted the

challenge.

One of the items on the

agenda at the City Council meeting on Thursday, March 3,

was the appointment of City Attorney, which has been

filled by Webb, Stuckey and Lindsey of Peachtree City for

most of the past decade.

It is clear from his

letters to the editor that Mr. Brown, through significant

and time consuming research, believes there is a genuine

possibility of a conflict of interest in having Webb,

Stuckey and Lindsey represent the city of Peachtree City

in its legal matters.

This is neither the time

nor the place to discuss in specifics what Mr. Browns's

research led him to conclude, but it is quite clear he

does not believe the city's best interests will be served

attorney.

At the March 2 council

meeting, just after the appointment of city attorney

agenda item had been raised, Mr. Rick Lindsey proceeded

to make a very lengthy and impassioned speech which,

among other things, labeled Mr. Brown's statements in his

letters to the editor as libelous and outrageous. I am

uncertain as to the precise length of Mr. Lindsey's

remarks, but I would guess his speech to have lasted

about 10 to 15 minutes, and he essentially concluded his

remarks by stating that his law firm had filed a lawsuit

for libel against Mr. Brown, The Citizen, and its

publisher, Mr. Cal Beverly.

You are now essentially up

to speed. But wait 'til you hear the rest of the

story....

When Mr. Lindsey concluded

his remarks, Mr. Brown raised his hand and asked Mayor

Lenox for the opportunity to respond to Mr. Lindsey's

comments, since Mr. Brown was in fact named in the suit,

and was the primary target of Mr. Lindsey's remarks.

Mayor Lenox crassly and

assertively answered "No," adding shortly

thereafter, "This is my meeting." At that

point, in the interest of fairness, I asked the mayor to

allow Mr. Brown to be heard, and I proceeded to make a

motion to that effect, which the mayor (disingenuously as

it turns out) seconded.

However, when the vote was

immediately taken as to whether or not Mr. Brown should

be heard, not one council member other than myself voted

to allow Mr. Brown to speak.

My friends, what we

witnessed was not only a gross and sickening travesty of

justice, but it was downright frightening. On the one

hand, we have the city attorney filing a lawsuit against

a citizen of our community for libel, even though the

so-called libel took form in letters to the editor of a

local newspaper, based upon what I believe were well

thought out and well documented opinions.

Then we have the mayor

refusing to allow this same citizen, Steve Brown, to be

heard in his own defense immediately after Mr. Brown was

verbally reprimanded by the city attorney.

I am not sure which issue

is more outrageous or more scary, but allow me to address

the two points briefly.

As to the city attorney's

lawsuit, I have read virtually all of Mr. Brown's letters

to the editor since last summer. Not one time did I read

a letter which I felt was libelous in any manner, yet

there is no question in my mind that Mr. Brown's comments

had to have inflicted some embarrassment and uneasiness

on Webb and Lindsey.

So what do they do? Rather

than contact Mr. Brown or counter each and every letter

Mr. Brown wrote to the newspaper with a letter of their

own, which they had every right to do, they choose to

file a lawsuit against Mr. Brown, The Citizen, and its

publisher.

What we are seeing here is

Don Coryell football... the best defense is a good

offense. What we are seeing here is a deliberate attempt

to intimidate Mr. Brown, and others like him, who, when

they feel compelled to express their views on news

matters publicly, write letters to the editor.

It is a sobering and

chilling thought to think one can be subjected to a

lawsuit for expressing opinions and concerns [about]

public officials in the newspaper. At least, that is what

some might want you to fear.

But the last time I

checked, this is still America, home of the brave. And

the same America that thankfully has a Bill of Rights

guaranteeing free speech and freedom of the press. Free,

unless you happen to step on the wrong toes, in which

case it isn't so free.

Mr. Brown, a great patriot,

thinker and communicator, is now faced with a potentially

enormous debt just to defend his honor and right to

express his views, let alone keep a roof over his

children's head.

And I am amazed, perplexed,

disappointed and ashamed that Webb and Lindsey have

chosen this course of action. I, for one, will be happy

to make a contribution to Mr. Brown's legal defense fund,

should one be established.

Then there is the matter of

Mayor Lenox, the same mayor who told us last fall that if

you don't vote, you don't count. Now it seems that if he

doesn't want to hear what you have to say, whether you

voted or not, you still don't count.

I believe this is

disgraceful and unfair, and I told the mayor that in no

uncertain terms. Understand, I have to work with Mayor

Lenox to insure that all citizens' rights are protected

and that we do everything we can to keep Peachtree City

the special place it is. So, believe me, I get no

satisfaction or glory in having to make these remarks. In

fact, making these comments will only make it harder on

me.

But I cannot and will not

stand by idly when I believe fundamental injustices

occur. I simply will not allow these matters to go

forward unchallenged.

There has been plenty of

hard-fought American blood spilled over the past couple

of centuries to insure that each of us retains our

precious rights that are granted in the first ten

amendments of the Constitution. If you think I am going

to let that blood be spilled in vain, you are very sadly

mistaken.

This office I hold and

political ambition I might have is wholly inconsequential

when compared to what is at stake here. And I will gladly

defend the honor of anyone whose rights are abused than

to go along for the sake of getting along.

If you love Peachtree City,

and more importantly if you love America, I implore you

to stay as actively involved with your community as you

can. Make a difference, get involved, and let your voice

be heard. And when you see injustices and unfairness

abound, don't just shrug and say "Oh well...."

Because then we will be

living in an America that has lost something very central

to her long-term viability, and that is the freedom of

expression without intimidation, or in the case of Mayor

Lenox, freedom of speech, period.

Daniel R. Tennant

Council member

City of Peachtree City