In one section of your article

you say, "In the case of the Wal-Mart store, the land (use in) question

was set by the Land Use Planned in 1972..." which you later refer

to as the "...rules of the game under which the Peachtree City Council

must function". In the very next paragraph, after making a statement

meant to convince all readers of the irrevocable rule of law you say,

"However, in 1998, the federal government changed the 'rules of the

game.'"

Now I understand you are investigating

changing the PTC charter! Guess the rules aren't so irrevocable, are they?

Yes, the feds changed this,

and for very good reasons. Pollution due to uncontrolled growth coupled

with irresponsible local authorities in many of the Atlanta area communities

has reached critical stage. Sound familiar? Is the shoe too tight or does

it fit?

You see Mr. Mayor, this was

done to get your attention. It has a very clear message. It is, in case

you don't get it, Grow, but grow responsibly! Your actions in PTC affects

many people: PTC residents, other existing businesses already paying taxes

and serving PTC, and yes, even non-PTC citizens.

It is a serious responsibility

which you and the PTC Council appear to have overlooked, Dan Tennant excluded.

Your oath of office to uphold the laws does not mean to do so at the cost

of reason and the benefit of the community. That kind of thinking led

to millions of Jews being incinerated in Europe during WWII.

If laws were irrevocable and

did not bend and change with circumstances, women and blacks would not

be allowed to vote. It would still be illegal to be a witch in Salem,

and all male youths at 18 would be subject to a military draft! Those

laws were changed, yes, Mr. Mayor, by the majority. They affected the

minority, but it was indeed a majority rule.

Zoning laws are indeed complex.

But, with changing circumstances, some laws need to be changed, amended,

even removed altogether. The authors of the charter of 1972 had no concept

of what we have grown into today. This is why the Constitution of America

has amendments.

Are you saying we cannot alter

this Land Use Plan of 1972? Sorry, I don't buy it. Neither do many of

your reluctant constituents. If indeed we are helpless to change things,

why, Mr. Mayor, do we need you and the council? Is it not the function

of any administrator at any level in government or private enterprise

to work to change things for the betterment of the general welfare of

the majority? This principal lies at the very foundation of the democratic

system. Though not perfect by any means, it is fundamentally sound.

As you can see, I have written

a rather lengthy reply to your article, yet only covered the first few

paragraphs. Shall I continue?

In a little over one year your

seat will be vacant. I do not envy the man or woman who accepts this seat.

Your heritage to them will bring them years of pain and conflict due to

no fault of their own.

If you plan a further political

career, I strongly suggest you not only select another community, but

another country. The U.S. democratic system, with all its faults, does

not fit with your form of administration.

Rest assured, your reputation

of protecting the rights of the developers at the expense of the taxpaying

citizen majority will follow you wherever your political ambitions may

lead you. Your motto to me for all future political positions will forever

be: "Bob Lenox: Protecting the few special interests from the 'tyranny

of the majority.'"

Rick L. Gauthier

Peachtree City

[email protected]