With the Barrow County Chamber of Commerce providing questions to the candidates a week before Wednesday night's political forum, there should have been few surprises.
But the unpredictable Jim Cooley, a candidate in Winder’s Ward 2 race, surprised the audience at the Winder Community Center by walking out after answering only one question.
The first of the three planned questions for the candidates in his race was, “How do you think your position as councilman should relate to the Office of Mayor?”
Longtime incumbent Charlie F. Eberhart responded first, saying: “It is just as important to consider the mayor as it is for the mayor to consider council. The council needs to go by city hall and see what’s going on and look into things and find out what is going on with the city and see what they are facing. There are situations you don’t know about because you are not going there…. We need to go by there and let (employees at city hall) know we are behind them. That’s the way I ran the last 20 years. I ran on doing what’s right.”
Cooley then took the microphone and read this prepared statement:
“Well, I can tell you how it's not going to relate. It will not relate to corruption. It's sad to say that is what we are facing right now, from someone trying to fix an election, to a councilman who doesn't live in Winder, a city clerk who tried to get me removed from the ballot when she should've been getting my opponent removed, an entire city council who covers up the corruption and doesn't realize it's going to come back and bite them.
Ward 2 incumbent Charlie F. Eberhart and challenger Jim Cooley at the Oct. 26 candidate forum sponsored by the Barrow County Chamber of Commerce. Photo by Susan Norman
So instead of hearing about what really matters the content of the forum we read about something no one wants to hear anymore of!! Let’s stop placating a few and hear what matters.
Mr Buffington - Remove anonymity and your blog will immediately improve.
Wouldn't vote for him even if he was the only person on the ballot, BUT he DOES have a valid point.
Until we rid Barrow County and Winder politics of the social network, the status quo stays the same and we will never move beyond.
I plan to vote for you, but I am pretty sure you won't win due to "Good Ole Boy" politics. Don't give up on helping this county though! Thay are scared of anyone that thinks outside of THEIR box! LOL
I would like to see you run for Commission Chairman, and WIN!
I hope you realize that I'm on your team. But you are making it difficult for those of us who are young and responsible to choose to give you our votes. Show us what you've got. Hold it together!
DuWayne
Cooley, you are on task and do not give up the fight to end corruption.
Remember, this is Barrow County, where the voter apathy runs high.
I wouldn't worry about the ~75 people who attended the forum. Yes, they will probably vote and as it stands right now, be the few that do.
What you and further candidates need to focus on are the other 99.9 percent of the population that are not voting.
If he will walk out after 1 question, what can the voters expect of him if he is elected.
Like it or not, personal integrity is an important part of what voters expect from those who run for public office win or lose.(Except you of course).............
DuWayne
Sorry it bothers you so much that you can't keep up anymore, or get any sleep. Your frustration is starting to show GOB............be careful! You wouldn't want your buddies to think you are slipping...........now would you?
DuWayne
You have some good ideas. The problem is the same things you are saying here should have been said in the forum, so everyone there would know where you stand. Candidate forums are the ideal place to discuss your political platform, and are designed to allow your message to get out to the voters. Hard to do that when you walk out after the first question. It raises a lot of red flags with voters who just want facts, not drama.........
DuWayne
Give it a rest. That forum is about as important as standing on the street corner, bible held high. Only a select few listen
By the way...... cheap shot using the Bible as a crutch..... didn't care for it at all. Inappropriate at best.........
DuWayne
Councilman Morris, as Chair of the Planning & Zoning Committee, and Mayor Thompson have decided not to hold a called meeting of the Planning & Zoning committee as you have requested. Your email dated Oct. 21, 2011 with building code violations regarding Mr. Eberhart’s apartment will be addressed by our Planning Director Barry Edgar.
Just a note....not one phone call from Barry Edgar
DuWayne
DuWayne
DuWayne
You just don't get it do you. I would explain it in plain English but you still won't understand.
That forum is nothing more than a GOB get together and I said what I had to say. Why weren't you there if you care so much.
If you spent more time going to events/meetings then you're opinion would mean something.
I like how people talk and talk but, when do you take the time to care. Caring is not posting on a blog, its getting out there and doing something.
If I didn't care, I wouldn't be running. If I didn't expose the corruption, who would? Be a man, not a crybaby on a blog. Remember the 3 monkeys. See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil!
DuWayne
As your next city Councilman for Ward 2, if I ever walked out of a Council meeting I would resign as Councilman. I plan to sit in that seat and take care of business. I could care less about a Candidate forum that meant absolutely nothing; I am sick and tired of talking about it..how about just letting it go? Unlike the Mayor & Council now, I will allow citizens to talk at Council meetings whenever they feel like it. Citizens voices at Council meetings are very important to me; as long as I'm Councilman no citizen will ever be stopped from speaking. I'm actually glad not everyone is on my side; lets keep if fair and balanced.
DuWayne
DuWayne