Pat Graham announces candidacy

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Wednesday, January 18. 2012

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Former Braselton mayor Pat Graham announced Tuesday that she wants to be the next chairman of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners. "I am seeking the office of Chairman to provide the positive leadership our County needs in order to secure a brighter future for our citizens,” she said in a press release.

Barrow County needs “effective, professional and stable leadership" in order to compete for the region's jobs and businesses, and the next chairman needs to implement the 2013 change to a county manager form of government without increasing the overall cost of government, she added.

“As Barrow County approaches its centennial anniversary in 2014 we need to ensure a prosperous future for our community,” Graham said. “Our citizens signaled their readiness to embrace a positive future, and I am ready to serve.”

For the full story, read the Jan. 18 edition of the Barrow Journal.

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#1 Thank You Pat Graham on 01/17/12 at 06:16 PM [Reply]

I am SO LOOKING FORWARD TO VOTING FOR YOU

#2 Longtime in Barrow on 01/17/12 at 07:08 PM [Reply]

Pat, You will need to PROVE to ME and the 70,000 plus OTHER BARROW COUNTY CITIZENS that YOU can provide US with effective leadership more than just the little BRASELTON Portion in the NW Barrow corner that you have represented in the past.

Braselton has NOT been led in a way that has BENEFITED the other BARROW COUNTY Citizens, but in a selfish "FOR BRASELTON ONLY" way.

Braselton has historically, since it's very recent rise from the small Jackson County town, to its ridiculous sprawling Annexation across FOUR Counties, has made choices that are seemingly HARMFUL to the rest of this County.

One example is the ridiculous "Round About Traffic Circles proposed on GA211" for the Braselton further European feel, NOT for the rest of us trying to get on I-85 like we have done for decades before Braselton was ever there. Braselton wants to create an access road on the west side of the Interstate to parellel GA124 on the eastern side then dump it all out at the I-85 Ramp Southbound into a newly created traffic circle,--- That is crazy, dangerous and will not benefit Traffic, are these the ideas you will support as our Commissioner?

I will not even start with the Hospital fight.

I am against any further Braselton annexation South of GA124 in BARROW anyway; it’s getting out of hand.

HOW WILL YOU REPRESENT THE MAJORITY OF US?
How can we feel you will not FAVOR BRASELTON, Ms Former Mayor? Tell us why YOU would do a better job.

Are you going to SERVE US ALL or get elected to RUBBER STAMP EVERYTHING BRASELTON WANTS?

I might be looking for the days past Mr. Yearwoods administration, for several reasons, BUT I will have to hear your answers before YOU GET MY VOTE.

I am sick of voting for the lesser of two evils.

#2.1 Down Boy Down on 01/17/12 at 07:37 PM [Reply]

Spoken like a true GOB member.

#2.2 Vern on 01/17/12 at 08:05 PM [Reply]

The random use of CAPITAL letters is SILLY, but I agree with your sentiment of being weary of voting for the lesser of two evils. Perhaps there will be several highly qualified individuals to choose from and voting for whoever has less baggage won’t be a concern. Personally, I would choose someone who is not a former politician who appears to be trying to climb the political ladder.

#2.2.1 Robert Lanham on 01/17/12 at 08:24 PM [Reply]

We don't need another Danny Yearwood - "someone who is not a former politician" - we need a leader.

#2.2.2 Longtime in Barrow on 01/18/12 at 05:15 PM [Reply]

I will accept the the "Random Capital" words maybe a little over the top or silly as you put it (I wanted to emphasize some key points) but it is the message that you and many others have noticed and received that was very important.

Most are not in favor of four more years like the last four, so how will Pat make that any different than Yearwood? Yearwood did the one-man battle with everyone, made some bad choices but Braselton's track record is pretty poor in these regards, so we appear to be in a trade for a someone whose town history is being in the pockets of developers and decisions were and are being still made without regard for anyone else but Braselton.

Braselton wants a cutesy traffic circle for looks and to further itself and to heck with the Thousands of Barrow County Citizens who travel GA211 NW daily to their jobs (outside of Barrow County where over 50% are employed), so we must suffer worse traffic and decreased safety for their industrial park profit and beautification projects.

So do you trust her? Who will Pat be loyal to? I must hear what she has to say before I vote in another politician for their own political gain or another version of what we already have.

I want someone who LOVES BARROW COUNTY (opps, more capitals!) and is a person called to serve because they love it; they want to fix it and see it prosper, to fight for our county and have a strong loyalty to it. I want someone has some history here as well (this where I get the "GOB" comments), I am not saying vote in a do nothing local only, but I, We, need a reluctant statesman doing it to better the place they love and their fellow citizens not for themselves.

Pat, Why do you want this job?

(Oh, and did your Liquor store deal fall thru or what?)

#2.3 Anonymous on 01/17/12 at 11:41 PM [Reply]

Braselton is a part of JACKSON county. At least it was until, for tax purposes, it poached and glommed onto the ungodly monstrosity Chateau Elan (a haven for snobs and phonies). Since Braselton is the sum total of this woman's credentials, I, a true Barrow county resident, will NOT vote for her.

#2.3.1 Down Boy Down on 01/18/12 at 05:42 AM [Reply]

Go in any direction away from barrow / Yearwoow, You will find economic growth and opportunity.

How is he working for you?

#2.3.2 Sybil on 01/18/12 at 05:54 AM [Reply]

If I remember correctly, Barrow County was the one who dropped the ball on Chateau Elan and building up that corner of the county. The administration at that time acted as though CE wasn't even there, rather than take advantage of the opportunity. I do know that Braselton has increased its tax base and brought in new business. I will be researching Ms. Graham's administration and looking for facts about what she did and didn't do before making up my mind, but right now she looks like the best choice so far. If it's a choice between Ms. Graham and Mr. Yearwood, I won't even have to do any research.

#2.3.2.1 chateu ELAN!! on 01/19/12 at 09:59 AM [Reply]

they let go most the employees, cut py and transferred ownership for a reason!!! that place is in trouble built in area unable to sustain it!!

#2.3.2.1.1 Anonymous on 01/19/12 at 12:43 PM [Reply]

Really? Can you provide some more details? Who owns the resort now?

#2.3.2.1.2 Anonymous on 01/19/12 at 12:43 PM [Reply]

Chateau Elan was built as a rich man's tax dodge. Panoz gave up his American citizenship and maintained residences in Bermuda and Ireland. The winery never made money, and, in fact, most of the wine manufactured there came from grapes grown elsewhere (since the vineyards on property were a joke). The real estate arm generated revenue, and the golf courses fed off of that to some extent. The entire operation was a white elephant, which is why it was always for sale.

#2.3.2.1.2.1 well on 01/19/12 at 01:20 PM [Reply]

he may have given up his but the rest have dual citizenship, like myself not one of the panoz, but a growing number of Irish making sure when the economy here turns we have refuge in europe

#2.3.2.1.2.2 Anonymous on 01/19/12 at 01:43 PM [Reply]

I think if you check, he still owns all of his resorts and race tracks.

#2.3.2.1.2.2.1 owned on 01/19/12 at 02:43 PM [Reply]

in name only since private company owning twenty percent while giving 80 percent to someone else does not really mean owning it.

#3 Anonymous on 01/17/12 at 08:03 PM [Reply]

Great post longtime in Barrow!

#4 YES!! on 01/17/12 at 09:59 PM [Reply]

Ms. Graham, you have 5 YES votes from our family. Thank you so much for your desire to serve Barrow County. We need your professionalism. Yearwood is a goofball.

#5 Anonymous on 01/17/12 at 11:52 PM [Reply]

She certainly does not have my family's vote. What has she done except run a little communist gestapo town? This is nothing more than annexing more of Barrow into Braselton.

#6 DuWayne Anderson on 01/18/12 at 05:44 AM [Reply]

Ms. Graham's announcement to run for Commission Chair offers a clear alternative for the citizens of Barrow County, to the current Yearwood administration record of failed political policies, which have cost Barrow Taxpayers plenty. Barrow now has a legitimate option to look at,which is always a positive. As a fellow Republican, I appreciate Ms. Graham offering to serve the citizens of Barrow County.
DuWayne

#6.1 GOB on 01/18/12 at 06:08 AM [Reply]

DOOOOOWAYNE, you are just upset this cleary ruins any chance you had. My bad, you never had a chance anyway.

#6.1.1 DuWayne R. Anderson on 01/18/12 at 07:15 AM [Reply]

Oh Steveie Boy....... Time to come home.......

#6.1.1.1 GOB on 01/18/12 at 07:25 AM [Reply]

DOOOOOOWAYNE, dont be upset. You can gain work somewhere else. Maybe

#6.1.1.1.1 DuWayne Anderson on 01/19/12 at 05:32 AM [Reply]

Oh Stevie boy........... time to come home.....

#6.1.1.1.1.1 GOB on 01/19/12 at 06:13 AM [Reply]

DOOOOOOWAYNE get a job, your family is getting tired of floating you.

#6.1.1.1.1.1.1 DuWayne Anderson on 01/20/12 at 05:45 AM [Reply]

Oh Stevie Boy.........Time to come home......

#6.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 GOB on 01/20/12 at 07:10 AM [Reply]

DOOOOOOWAYNE, cant. Someone has to work to pay your bills.

#6.2 Please no on 01/21/12 at 02:26 PM [Reply]

As another republican, please do not offer her support with name attached to it in public. We would like a real chance here Mr Anderson. I am sure you understand. Thank you in advance for your understanding in this matter.

#7 Got to love the "she aint from around here" on 01/18/12 at 06:14 AM [Reply]

attitude. Terms I've heard from Barrow County Elected and Appointed officials.

Newbie (got to teach that newbie how things are done here in Barrow)

Snob (You rich B#####)

EDUCATED (Don't need uppity educated people here)

Aint from here (go back where you came from; just git on down the road)

We NEED someone who HAPPENS TO BE FROM BARROW, but is EDUCATED and HAS A PROVEN TRACK RECORD.

What we don't need is ANOTHER USED CAR SALESMAN, who should have been able to, but could sell a lemon of county in a down turned economy.

What we don't need is ANOTHER REALTOR/DEVELOPER getting rich off the backs of hard working citizens.

Pat has my vote

#7.1 Are You Kidding? Really?? on 01/18/12 at 11:24 AM [Reply]

What we don't need is ANOTHER REALTOR/DEVELOPER getting rich off the backs of hard working citizens. --WHAT??

BUT then you said "Pat has my vote"

Apparently YOU have been under a rock, that is what it's all about in Royal Braselton, They are in bed with the REALTOR/DEVELOPER Crowd, and they annex around the "Undesirable" properties and take in any land their developer cronies want (they run that town), then circumvent those counties regulations and grab those taxes. Your statement shows you have no clue or are a hypocrite, which is it?

#7.1.1 on 01/18/12 at 03:43 PM [Reply]

No I don't mind development, what I do want is another realtor/developer who does not develop, but uses their position to sell/zone/do a land grab by using condemnation for private enterprise.

Pat Graham has show that she can bring real development into Barrow but what she has already done in Braselton.

What we don't need is yet another fast food chicken place -- wait I think we already have them all. Winder -- home of the fast food chicken

#7.1.1.1 Whatever on 01/18/12 at 05:21 PM [Reply]

Need a Mrs Winners to complete the collection.

Winder also has value, but it is an older city, everyone loves the "new and shiney" stuff, Braselton was a few hundred people in a 1/2 mile circle, next to the bigger town of Hoschton, now its all over and new... Now it"s the "new" because when people say Braselton, they dont think of that little actual town, they think of all the annexed in sprawl everywhere and the new high dollar houses.

#7.1.2 Anonymous on 01/19/12 at 04:11 AM [Reply]

Please explain "grab those taxes".
County property taxes go directly to Barrow County not Braselton. The growth over there has increased the property tax revenue to Barrow county and the school system. That's not a bad thing!

#8 jim on 01/18/12 at 07:11 AM [Reply]

Hang on just a little longer everybody. Help's on the way.

#8.1 on 01/18/12 at 03:48 PM [Reply]

Yep, you are right help IS on the way. Pat Graham!

#9 Anonymous on 01/18/12 at 07:25 AM [Reply]

I certainly would not be so quick to commit to one person unless you are a family member or a serious friend. We know very little about Graham except she was a mayor of a small town.

I imagine there will be a lot of choices this go around because of the charter change. The Chairman's position is no longer a full time job, therefore will hopefully attract a number of qualified people.

You can look for this paper to push hard for Graham because of her roots in a Jackson county town...where the roots of this psper is.

Don't buy into that...let's vett all the candidates and choose the right one this time. Our future depends on it.

#10 Observer on 01/18/12 at 08:00 AM [Reply]

Glad she is running. That makes at least one quality candidate for the position.

#11 Melvin Turples on 01/18/12 at 09:48 AM [Reply]

She will be a welcome competitor to Jack Legg in the upcoming election.We have not included Ms. Graham in our pre-election straw polls before and it will be interesting to see where she stacks up. It is very clear from those results in the past that an overwhelming majority of registered Barrow County voters believe that jack Legg could do a better job as chairman than yearwood.Can Pat Graham also beat Yearwood or more importantly can she best Jack Legg ?

#11.1 Anon on 01/18/12 at 09:55 AM [Reply]

Why dont you introduce to Jack Leggggg, other than a fake name. Or perhaps help him with his website!!!

#12 TickedOff on 01/18/12 at 09:57 AM [Reply]

Glad Ms. Graham is in the race. But I warn all of you Danny haters don't vote for someone just to to keep Danny out of office. Thats what happened with Garrison and seems as if the majority is unhappy with the result. The statement "anybody is better than Yearwood" simply isnt true. Voters should do their homework and the lesson plan surely isnt on this blog.

#12.1 on 01/18/12 at 12:19 PM [Reply]

That's right, Ticked. Having "Nobody" for chairman would be an improvement over Yearwood.

#12.2 Sheesh on 01/18/12 at 03:30 PM [Reply]

Right on the money TickedOff.

If you ride in a helicopter over Barrow and surrounding counties, Barrow looks like a donut-hole of undeveloped land in the center of high growth territory.

Investors looking to locate here are making career decisions and are trained in economics 101 to always avoid the donut-hole because it is usually land owned by grand kids who want 10 times what grandpa's unprepared property is worth -(no pad, no water, no electricity, no access, no sewer just a big pricetag).

#13 Big John on 01/18/12 at 04:41 PM [Reply]

Pat Graham will make a great chairman. I can't wait to go to work helping her get elected.

#14 TickedOff on 01/18/12 at 05:15 PM [Reply]

Again, Im not sure if Graham is the choice. others may join the race and give us many good choices.(and I hope they do.) Barrow County is situated to grow inspite of itsself. We have 316 right thru the heart, a piece of 85, and many other arteries connecting counties that are growing the right way. We need folks that can foster that growth and put restore Barrow Co. to a place folks want to be. Can't fault Pat on her efforts in Braselton. She made great strides in the city. It looks a heck of a lot better than most of Barrow Co.
Im just looking forward to seeing things improve around here. Danny is not to blame for everything. He can take responsiblity for his bad disposition. But this county was gutted, then put in debt by the former administration. Better days are ahead.

#15 Anonymous on 01/18/12 at 06:22 PM [Reply]

Why hell....why don't we just call off the election for chairman this year. Sounds like some of you are already bowing to the Graham alter.

I have not read the print edition...has she even said what party she will be representing?
And remember, if she does not have the support of the good ole boys as y'all say, she doesn't have a chance to be elected.

#16 Fortitude on 01/18/12 at 07:25 PM [Reply]

Congrats to Pat and I would vote for you, since you left Braselton, that whole place has been all but ruined (look at the PD, their cars are falling apart and cannot afford to fix them or hire new officers) and I hope you can bring fresh blood into the county

#16.1 Anonymous on 01/18/12 at 09:27 PM [Reply]

Yes, by all means, equip the nazis with brand new fast cars, all the better to run down & intimidate the weak & powerless. Remember, if you aren't cop, you're little people.

#16.1.1 Sheesh on 01/19/12 at 02:49 PM [Reply]

This is our community not a movie.

#16.2 how on 01/19/12 at 02:37 AM [Reply]

many ex Braselton officers have been released from other depts for performance and ethics issues, I know of two?

#17 Jack Legg on 01/19/12 at 08:01 AM [Reply]

The big thing here is that yearwoods days are numbered,because either myself or pat graham will be sitting inthe chair next year.Maybe other people will choose to run also and many different ideas for barrows future can be bantered about. Thats what democracy is.
I challange graham and yearwood to a series of debatesn right here on an open forum. What say you both ?
get a leg up in 2012

#17.1 Sheesh on 01/19/12 at 02:52 PM [Reply]

And here I thought it might actually be a contest. Now, JL just gave her the job.

#18 DuWayne R. Anderson on 01/19/12 at 08:17 AM [Reply]

I look forward to seeing the actual photo of "Jack Legg" when he/she is paying the qualifying fee and filling out the required registration paperwork. I hope the Barrow Journal will run that picture in that weeks edition. By the way, we know who Pat Graham is and what she looks like. I wonder if Mr./Ms. Legg will include a real photo of him/herself with the next post on this website? I have no doubt that all of Jack Legg's fans from all the informal straw polls that have been conducted here in Barrow County would actually like to see what he/she looks like..........and who they voted for........ :-)

#18.1 you might be all by yourself on 01/19/12 at 09:28 AM [Reply]

I think most people who have taken the polls and most everyone who is from Barrow County knows who Mr. Legg is, what he stands for and what he looks like(although your wanting to see hios picture paints a pretty shallow picture of who you are). Pat would win in a beauty contest but yearwood would still finish last in said "anderson beauty contest" for the chairmanship of barrow.
grow up dwayne and get a leg up in 2012.
sincerly ,
Melvin Turples
chairman of Citizens for Jack Legg.

#18.1.1 Sheesh on 01/19/12 at 02:55 PM [Reply]

Are you kidding!

JL is harder to find than taxable income on a republican's tax return.

#18.2 Anonymous on 01/19/12 at 09:40 AM [Reply]

DuWayne, you know Legg is just pulling everyones leg. He has no intentions of running. He's just trying to get a raise out of everybody.

No way he will qualify.

#18.2.1 First he would have to be a real person on 01/19/12 at 07:03 PM [Reply]

not some made up name.

#19 Anonymous on 01/19/12 at 04:59 PM [Reply]

Jack Legg was at the airport authority meeting tuesday night. He didint speak ,just took a lot of notes. I know because I satr right behind him.

#20 Intheno on 01/20/12 at 06:25 AM [Reply]

Hold onto your vote until you see who may be runnning for BOC, there are a lot of bones hanging and you better take a good look before you make a decision.

#21 Cromwell on 01/21/12 at 02:09 PM [Reply]

Barrow County beware of this person. Her allegiance will not be unto her constituents, but rather unto her handlers which have interests just a little south down I 85.

#22 Concerned in Barrow on 01/27/12 at 07:28 PM [Reply]

NOTICE that this story got pushed off the HEADLINES rather quickly...

Alot of negative comments and could it be that Pat is the Barrow Journal's candidate of choice?

Either way I hope Pat will learn of the rest of Barrow County's concerns about her candidacy.

Of Course, with Yearwoods very polarizing term, it is a good time to run, as many might consider an "anyone but.." vote. -Not So Fast Pat.

I hope you will understand what those posting (not the ones filling space like Dewayne & GOB, commenting with each other) but the serious comments, I hope those make it to you.

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