Airport issue a political ‘red herring?’

Good grief...here we go again. I really hoped this divisive battle was settled, but apparently revisionist history is the new normal in Barrow County politics.

I was a member of the "CCBC" that helped fight the proposed runway expansion in 2007-2008. As a member of that group I researched the issue using the best tools available: old newspapers, web links and discussions with dozens of folks (some of which were informative, and some of which were kooky). In essence, I used the same tools as journalists with this newspaper and reputable publications everywhere. If I was going to support a cause (which I have always been loath to do publicly), I wanted to ensure my facts were correct. Perhaps it's a by-product of being a graduate of the UGA Grady School of Journalism, but I knew nothing was more discrediting to a cause than blatantly publishing false information.

I also spoke with those on the "other side" of the issue. Specifically, Chairman Garrison, Commissioner Brown (my district representative), COC President Tommy Jennings and other community leaders. We discussed the information I gleaned from my sources and their views of the issue. We also invited each of them to attend the CCBC informational meetings that were held during that period. Commissioner Brown and Mr. Jennings did attend at least one meeting, and were both offered the opportunity to speak and field questions at these events. To their credit each man did, which required fortitude before an unfriendly audience.

Some may find this surprising, but the conversations I had with these officials were professional and cordial. Although I'm sure they were annoyed by the perceived nuisance the CCBC caused, our discussions were civil and respectful. Even if they did all end with varying degrees of "agreeing to disagree". I hold no personal animus for these gentlemen, or any others who supported the proposed runway expansion.

However, for those on the "other side" to now cast aspersions on the findings of the CCBC is disturbing. And blatantly wrong. I understand the truth is twisted much too frequently during political campaigns, but if members of the former BOC and Airport Authority now claim that plans never existed, meetings were never held and land was never purchased with the stated intent of lengthening the runway, well...then they are simply being intellectually dishonest.

The plans DID exist. The CCBC was not comprised of a bunch of peasants with pitchforks who suddenly all awoke one day and all decided through some sort of “mind melt” to invent this issue. The Barrow County News, Braselton News, Gwinnett Daily Post, Athens-Banner Herald and other media outlets did not all spontaneously conspire to make up the story of the runway expansion and visions of a second Atlanta airport. This was not a political conspiracy to oust Chairman Garrison, Commissioner Brown and Commissioner Lampp from office. Rather, in my opinion, the CCBC represented the most American of ideals which we celebrate this week: Freedom. A group of people, representing a disparate social and economic spectrum, coalesced around a cause and eventually did the unthinkable: prevailed against the government and special interests.

I really hoped we were passed this. I’m especially baffled this issue is being resurrected by the same politicians it helped doom 4 years ago. Perhaps I’m a wild-eyed dreamer, but I’m more concerned with plans for the future of Barrow County than anything that occurred in the past. If the platforms of current candidates include supporting the runway expansion, I would like to know now so we can have a healthy debate on the topic and let the voters decide if this is the most prudent allocation of precious taxpayer dollars.

In closing, while the CCBC website that gave links to every one of their sources is long dormant, I still have that information along with other documents. I’m sure that the CCBC, and me personally, will be discredited in subsequent posts by those who still seek a different future for Barrow County. But that’s okay. It’s always easy to kick the little man, but I know the truth is with us. If anyone is interested, I’ll be happy to provide every bit of evidence we uncovered during our research.

Then you can decide for yourself whether this is a “Red Herring”. Or more aptly, a political “Scarlett Letter”.