Dan Tennant, who appeared to

be the lone man running in the race for Peachtree City Council for six

months, now finds himself in the race of his life as campaigning enters

the final days before the Nov. 4 election.

Tennant announced his intentions in April to seek reelection to his Post

2 seat and faced no announced opposition until Stuart Kourajian qualified

in early September.

But keeping pace with Tennant all that time, tripping him up if not officially

running against him, has been Mayor Steve Brown, who this week stepped

up his unrelenting campaign to discredit the incumbent.

Brown claimed he was doing Tennant a "courtesy" when he fired

off an e-mail over the weekend threatening to release "data"

to metro Atlanta news outlets about Tennant's voting and attendance

records and campaign contributions.

The single-page, three-paragraph communication, widely circulated around

the city since it surfaced Sunday morning, goes on to declare Tennant

is to blame for the "grinding debacle" the city has faced in

its relationship with the development authority, and concludes with an

admission by Brown that "I know, firsthand, how it feels to have

someone go to the press and to tear you apart."

Brown concludes: "I know how it feels to be set up so I'm telling

you ahead of time what I am doing."

An incredulous Tennant fired off a rebuttal e-mail almost immediately

Sunday, calling Brown "dangerous" and "conniving"

and asking the community to pray for the mayor.

"I honestly believe he doesn't realize the damage he continues

to inflict on our city and its reputation," wrote Tennant.

On Monday, Brown dismissed the e-mail and the tone of the words he chose,

saying he just wants Tennant to be "truthful" in the campaign's

final days. He denied having plans to "set up" Tennant, or turn

over documents to the local or Atlanta media. "This material is all

available for public review," he said.

Brown defended his choice of language this way: "The term 'set

up' denotes maneuvering to harm without the other knowing it. I was

being up front and avoiding the set-up. I was letting Tennant know that

I will tell the truth in public."

But Brown's interpretation of the truth is clearly opposite his own,

Tennant said, and the timing is suspect.

"I proudly stand on my four-year voting record," Tennant declared,

calling Brown's "obvious attempt" to discredit him a week

before the election "a long known political tactic employed by those

who have little regard for fairness or accuracy. It is yet another bomb

Brown feels compelled to drop."

Countered Brown, "I find nothing dirty about being honest. I always

cite my references and present my case clearly. Tennant is setting himself

up to lose the election with his actions."

On the sidelines, but clearly not forgotten, is Tennant's opposition.

Stuart Kourajian has managed to remain relatively above the fray while

the two political foes, who at one time were admitted allies, battle it

out week after week. In fact, Tennant claims to side with Kourajian on

some key issues.

"We're not that different, and in the month I've known

him we've become great pals," Tennant said at the Oct. 21 candidate

forum hosted by the Rotary Club.

Where that leaves Kourajian remains to be seen, but the first-time politician,

a projects manager with SunTrust Bank who has lived in Peachtree City

15 years, is using the Tennant-Brown spat to his advantage.

Peachtree City's elected officials "conducted themselves with

professionalism and respect" until recently, he said. "We are

entering some interesting times. We need to have leaders in place that

can address the issues and that have the energy and the passion to continue

the standards that we've come to expect."

If the two men whose names appear on the ballot do, indeed, have something

in common, it's evident on the Internet, where both maintain campaign

Web sites. That's in contrast to the Post 1 candidates, none of whom

have claimed receiving contributions.

Kourajian doesn't seem concerned that in some circles, the Post 2

race is shaping up as a campaign for or against Steve Brown's influence:

Vote for Tennant to send a message to Steve Brown, or vote for Kourajian

and give Brown what he will, no doubt, interpret as a political victory.

Indeed, Brown has avoided coming out in support of Kourajian, instead

choosing to focus on what he perceives are Tennant's weaknesses.

And while Brown has made it no secret that he wants Tennant off the council

to try and break the no-majority vote tallies on development authority

business, there has been no indication that Kourajian would vote any differently.

"Kourajian appears to be more principled; however, the proof is in

the pudding," Brown said earlier this week. "Tennant's

pudding has spoiled."