Filename: J5-GWINNE-GWNS0507-GWNEWS created: May 6 2006 Username: SPEED10 GWNS0507 Sunday, May 07, 2006 GWINNETT 5 GWNS 5 Cyan Magenta Yellow Black The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ajc.com Sunday, May 7, 2006 J5 5 Cyan Magenta Yellow Black GWNS Filename: J5-GWINNE-GWNS0507-GWNEWS created: May 6 2006 Username: SPEED10 GWINNETT INSIDER DUANE D. STANFORD BEN SMITH 770-263-3644 770-263-3827 GWINNETT Wilbanks: I bonding with rating No wonder Alvin Wilbanks is ticked off. A week before the Gwinnett schools chief publicly chastised Gov. Sonny Perdue and the Legislature for repeatedly cutting state education funding, a New York bond-rating company warned that the school triple-A rating could be headed for a tumble. Why? of the impact of reduced state funding as well as depleted reserves and pressing capital reported The Bond Buyer in its April 6 edition.
The newspaper, which covers public from Wall Street, reported that Investor Service had changed its outlook for the school bond rating to A lower bond rating could cost the system money in future interest charges. reduced funding to the district has forced it to raise property taxes so much that it has almost reached the state-imposed the newspaper stated. addition, the district has had to tap its reserves, which are not expected to rebound over the near To those confused by this gobbledygook, the school AAA rating is still intact. But possibly not for long if its outlook improve. It also bolsters complaint that repeated education funding cuts under Perdue could harm the largest public school system.
Wilbanks says the possible bond-rating change had no bearing on his decision to go public with his complaints. He said already started planning his remarks when the possible change was reported. But he says the rating is important. are, of course, concerned about the potential that our bond rate could be he said in an e-mail Friday. to be clear, warnings such as this do not mean that our bond rating will be lowered, just that the potential is there should our condition not improve.
school system has a sound, responsible structure; one that we work very hard to maintain. We will continue to make sure our legislators are aware of the impact of continuing state budget Ex-school-board candidate counts chickens before they hatch Garry Rhodes of Grayson had planned to challenge Gwinnett School Board Chairman Robert McClure for his seat this year. Rhodes changed his mind, telling Gwinnett Insider the timing was bad for his family. Rhodes went on to say that McClure probably would have stepped aside for him had he jumped in the race. That comment stopped us cold.
Since 1995, McClure has been a member of the board that runs what is considered one of the best school systems in Georgia. Rhodes ran for the state House last year and placed third out of three candidates. account of his discussion with McClure: The two met the week before qualifying to talk about the race. McClure realized he and Rhodes were close McClure told Rhodes he would consider stepping aside because he felt comfortable with Rhodes and was ready to move on now that his children were out of high school. Rhodes left the meeting convinced McClure thought he was vulnerable, given stronger-than-expected in the race for House District 106 the year before.
The two decided to pray about their decision and McClure agreed not to qualify until the two talked again. Rhodes said he bowed out, however, because a Democrat for the seat, which meant he would have to campaign through the fall. As one might expect, version of the meeting was different in two key ways. He says he never agreed to step aside and he was not concerned about his ability to beat Rhodes. McClure said he always tries to meet with potential opponents.
He agreed Rhodes shared his belief that individual schools should have the to largely manage themselves. But he said he never considered making his run for re-election contingent on anything Rhodes did. McClure also dismissed talk that he would have been vulnerable in the race. I gave him that impression, I guess humbler than I ought to be in that he said. Only a true zero can win Rep.
Pedro Marin, you be getting a free lunch from us. When you told us last week, owe me a did you think we check whether entitled to one? Our offer, if you recall, was to take to lunch any Democrat from Gwinnett who once get treated to anything by a lobbyist during the 2006 General Assembly. You almost made it. State records show you got treated to lunches and Gold Dome receptions at a total cost of $44.50. pathetic, especially when you consider that most powerful Georgia lawmaker, State Sen.
Don Balfour (R-Snellville), raked in $1,177 in meals, Sugar Bowl tickets and a box of pastries from Highland Bakery, among other things paid for by lobbyists. We thought about bending the rules a little, Rep. Marin, and taking you to place, House, where a vice president. But then we your other colleagues Reps. Hugh Floyd (D-Norcross), Brian Thomas (D-Lilburn) and Sen.
Curt Thompson (R-Norcross), who fare much better with lobbyists than you might get jealous. Besides, this could be a campaign plus for you. Maybe your current bottom-ranking on the lobbyist-spending list should be highlighted in your for If you score a zero with lobbyists next year, talk. While talking about the poor, pitiful Democrats a stunner: Democrat Brian Thomas, the freshman representative from Lilburn, managed to take in more lobbyist treats than two of his GOP colleagues. State spending records show Thomas received $191.41 in lobbyist-funded meals.
State Sen. David Shafer (R-Duluth) collected a mere $187.80 in lunches and dinners. And Rep. David Casas (R-Lilburn) received just $145.95. Casas also took in less than Democratic Rep.
Hugh Floyd of Norcross. Floyd garnered $185.87 in lobbyist freebies. peanuts compared to Rep. Donna Sheldon (R- Dacula), Sen. Renee Unterman (R-Buford) and Rep.
Mike Coan (R-Lawrenceville) for whom lobbyists shelled out $1,055.85, $777.73 and 675.92, respectively, during the 2006 session. Well, he says a Democrat A political newcomer named Tony Lentini is running as a Democrat to unseat incumbent state Rep. Melvin Everson (R- Snellville). The trouble is, no record of Lentini ever casting a Democratic vote in Georgia. In fact, Lentini, a BellSouth collections representative, voted nine times in GOP primary elections between 1996 and the present.
explanation: are all we had on the quite plausible. Looking for a Democrat on a Snellville-area ballot is like looking for a country Baptist at a barn dance. Besides, any Republican who thinks do better running as a Democrat in those parts would be crazier than a Snellville city councilman thinking he or she could bring peace to the Middle East. Jodie Elizabeth Rosser, where are you? We really hate to jump to conclusions, but we think someone is ignoring us. Gwinnett Insider has tried in vain since April 28 to reach Jodie Rosser, who to run against Gwinnett Commissioner Kevin Kenerly in the July GOP primary.
But you be the judge: On Friday, April 28, we left a message on her cellphone. On Wednesday, we left another message on her cellphone and sent an e-mail. On Thursday, we left messages at her and on her cellphone and sent an e-mail. On Friday, we spoke with her husband, who said he is managing her campaign and that she would try to call back. He said Rosser, an attorney, got our messages, but had been busy with work.
All we know about campaign so far is she says she will focus on the growing pains in the face of rampant development. We learned that from a press release and telephone interview the day she April 27. Maybe annoyed because we brought up the fact that her father is a major residential developer in Gwinnett. We also brought up the fact that she only recently moved to District 4. Or maybe she really is just busy.
Rumor of the week been rumored that Bill McKinney, longtime friend and former business partner of Gwinnett Commission Chairman Charles Bannister, is running Jodie campaign against incumbent Commissioner Kevin Kenerly. also been rumored McKinney talked with Butch Poss about running his campaign in the three-candidate race for the seat Kenerly holds. McKinney created a controversy in 2004 when he dropped name during a couple of meetings with county after Bannister won the GOP primary for chairman and was on his way to a landslide in the general election. County wrote memos saying they felt McKinney was attempting to use his friendship with Bannister to twist their arms over a department hiring and a development project. McKinney denied he bullied the McKinney said this week he is not working for either Rosser or Poss and that the rumors are untrue.
Poss, who has been cagey on the subject for weeks, would say only that he has met with McKinney. He refused to say who asked for the meeting. As for Rosser, well, we wanted to ask, but (see above). AC 0)I BC 0)I OFF expires 5.31.06 HWY 124 Regan Ronald Next to Michaels Behind CVS UPER TORE INALLY A FFORDABLE ABRIC RINGE 2340 Ronald Regan Pkwy. Snellville, GA 30078 678.344.9004 NELLVILLE ABRIC ART LOOK FOR OUR INSERT IN PAPER IN THE FOLLOWING ZIP CODES 30236 30238 30260 30274 30349 30354 30296 30297 Little Giant FARMER'S MARKET.
