Round three: The mayor tried

to force our state legislator to sponsor legislation on another tax increase,

the CID. This one was for business and property owners on Ga. Highway

54 West. The mayor blames Representative [Kathy] Cox for not doing his

bidding, yet she has stated that not a single business owner of the affected

properties contacted her to support the legislation.

The mayor blames Councilwoman

McMenamin for being the sole dissenting vote. The mayor viciously attacked

Rep. Cox in his letters published locally yet failed to present a factual

justification for the legislation. He also attacked Councilwoman McMenamin

for her vote, yet she did speak with business owners who did not support

the legislation. This change would have meant higher taxes for the businesses

passed on to you, the consumer. The legislative session ended without

the tax increase.

This brings us to Round Four.

Last week the council was asked by this year's airshow director for the

money to provide the extra police and firefighting services required by

the city. The proceeds of the airshow go to nearly 40 nonprofit organizations

in the community. These include the Scouts, booster clubs, veterans organizations,

Kiwanis and many, many more. In effect, all the proceeds end up benefiting

the residents of Peachtree City.

The airshow, which is arguably

the finest in metro Atlanta, attracts more than 20,000 visitors every

year. While here for the airshow, they also dine and shop, increasing

the benefit to our city. The mayor, never a fan of the airport or the

airshow, has tried to shut it down. He is trying to deny the police and

firefighting protection required for the event. He will use cost as the

reason for denial even though the airshow has agreed to repay the city

out of the profit should there be one. If this passes, the airshow may

die or move elsewhere.

There is a pattern here. The

mayor, who wants change, wants to change the things that make this a great

place to live. Rather than being constructive, it seems he is bent on

tearing down everything that is good and everything that makes us proud

of Peachtree City.

If you voted for change, are

these the changes you wanted?

Gary Rower

Peachtree City

[Editor's note: Gary Rower

was defeated by Steve Brown in the race for mayor last November.]