(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column of those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Augusta Press.)
So once again, Augusta mayoral candidate Steven Kendrick has been caught in a – I would say “lie” – but I will be less harsh and say “deception for the sake of confidentiality.”
That’s basically it, but a lie by any other name is still the same.
Kendrick has said repeatedly that the Augusta Economic Development Authority was not involved in the Regency Mall redevelopment project that he announced at a press conference two weeks ago. But the opening sentence of a letter he sent to the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia last year states, “The Augusta Economic Development Authority currently represents a developer client with whom a multi-phase project is underway.”
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The letter The Augusta Press newspaper’s publisher Joe Edge obtained through an open records request was written on the authority’s letterhead, but Kendrick said the authority he chairs did not represent the project developer, who is none other than Regency Mall owner Alan Cardinale. You remember him, don’t you? The New York millionaire who tried to take Augusta to the cleaners with his hard bargains when Mayor Hardie Davis was pushing the mall site for a new James Brown Arena in 2018?
Well, that’s beside the point now, I suppose, because the issue is Kendrick and his unorthodox maneuverings and behind-the-scenes wheeling and dealing, which once again have put him in a bad light and make people wonder if he’s what they want in a mayor for the next four years.
After the press conference announcing the new Regency Mall project that the developer purportedly could spend as much as $500 million on, Kendrick held two town hall meetings to talk about it some more. But I wonder whether the town halls were informational meetings or campaign events. The lines are blurry.
We’ll see what voters say about a tax increase
Incumbent District 10 Commissioner John Clarke, who received 49 percent of the vote in the May 23 election, and former District 8 commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle, who received 32 percent, face each other in the June 21 runoff.
Last week, they faced each other on WJBF TV’s Means Report where both exaggerated their roles in making every good thing happen in Augusta, which would have happened anyway, with or without them. And they both proposed something I’ve never heard any other candidate even hint at before an election – a tax increase. It was in relation to financing a new James Brown Arena.
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Clarke said, “What I would like to see, like they do in other cities, have a tax attached to the motel rooms, say, $2 a night more on the motel room tax, and have that money especially dedicated to the monies involved with the James Brown Arena.”
Guilfoyle said, “If we look at SPLOST dollars, which is the 1-cent sales tax on the people in Augusta, probably pays 44 cents on every dollar. So, it’s not an impact directly on each citizen. So, if we increase SPLOST 1 cent, go from 8 to 9 cent, the four years, you’ll have enough money to cover the arena, which is $235, $240 million.”
Means seemed taken aback by that, seasoned TV journalist though he is.
“All right, let me move …,” he said. “That’s a lot of money. Quarter billion dollars. But I hear what you’re saying about an extra penny on the tax. But that takes us to 9 percent. We’ll see.”
Napoleon needs to grow up
Augusta’s hot tempered Mayor Pro Tem Bobby Williams needs to get a grip. For the second time in less than a month in two separate incidents, Williams has skirmished with and verbally assaulted someone, continuing a pattern of clashing with citizens and fellow commission members.
The latest incident was at a mayoral and candidate forum at Mount Canaan Baptist Church on June 1. Williams came in and was shaking people’s hands, said retired Richmond County school teacher Maggie Hill.
“When he came to me, I put my fist up to bump his like we’ve been doing since Covid,” Ms. Hill said. “And he got up in my face and said, ‘You don’t have to shake my hand.’ And then he said ,’F— y– .’
“I mean he was up in my face,” she continued. “It took a toll on me. I didn’t know what he was going to do. I just looked at him and said, ‘Bobby.’ I just sat in my chair. I was so appalled that an elected official would talk that way with no respect for the church grounds. You know, using that language on the church grounds.
“I think he has Napoleon Syndrome. I worked with him at Glenn Hills High School when he first started teaching, and he wanted to jump on students. I told him, ‘Bobby, you can’t do that.’
“I have two witnesses, and they were appalled too,” she said. “Rod Pearson said, ‘You don’t insult my friend like that.’”
Hill said she had to start taking anxiety medication again and that she wasn’t going to let Williams get away with treating her that way.
“I’m 76 years old, and I don’t expect anybody to disrespect me like that,” she said. “I tried to get a restraining order at the courthouse, but I couldn’t because they told me there had to be more than one incident.
“I’m not going to stop my life, going to concerts and events. I’ve seen him at different functions. And I’m going to do everything I can to make sure he doesn’t do this to anyone else.”
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In May, Williams got into a fracas with Dayon Walker, owner of Jetski Augusta, after an Augusta Commission meeting.
Walker punched Williams, Williams shoved Walker, and the city got another black eye.
Walker was charged with misdemeanor simple battery for punching Williams who walked up and began pulling Mayor Hardie Davis Jr. down the hall when Walker was asking Davis why he wouldn’t let Clarence Thompkins, chairman of the Augusta Port Authority, speak on behalf of the authority during the meeting.
At the time, Walker said he was trying to have Williams arrested, too, because Williams shoved him and called him a punk.
And in April 2020, an Augusta subcontractor filed a formal complaint against Williams, contending he used his office to retaliate against him after a dispute over a damaged mailbox.
A truck driver with Mealing Ventures, a subcontractor of Reeves Construction, ran over a mailbox in a south Augusta subdivision. A big fuss ensued after Williams, who lives across the street from the mailbox owner, decided to come out and criticize the Mealings’ replacement job and call a city superintendent to the scene.
Williams has also had confrontations with his colleagues, both behind-the-scenes and during meetings, the latest incident being last week when commissioners were discussing finding more money to complete the $8 million construction of the Henry Brigham Community Center which is in the district Williams represents.
Commissioner John Clarke asked whether the project could be scaled back, which set Williams off about how bad the original Brigham Center construction was.
“And now we want to give them something sub-par,” he said, becoming agitated. “We’ve got $10 million (American Rescue Plan dollars). It’s got to go somewhere. Might as well let the people enjoy it instead of sitting around trying to save money for your project. Don’t sit up here and try to pull a room out of the Brigham Center, or give them less weights in the weight room. If we’re going to do something, let’s do it.
“Never said sub-par work, Commissioner,” Clarke replied. “Never said sub-par.”
Williams said he was getting emotional, and Commissioner Sean Frantom told him there was no reason to get upset when people were just asking questions.
“My main question is, why did this go back to bid when there was no scope change?” Frantom said.
“I don’t see why you’re sitting here doing this,” Williams protested.
“I can ask a question, Sir,” Frantom replied, as Williams continued to fuss.
“Please calm down,” Commissioner Catherine McKnight implored.
“I’m just asking a question,” Frantom said. “Why did we rebid a project when there was no scope change for an additional million dollars?”
The answer was that in the past, rebidding projects often resulted in lower bids, but in today’s climate the bids are higher.
A snake in the grass causes pains in the neck (no Augusta politics involved)
Saturday, a week ago, a small copperhead moccasin bit our Goldendoodle Gracie in the neck under her chin, and we almost died. For the next three hours we were much worse off than she was because we couldn’t find an open emergency veterinarian clinic. I called St. Francis and Blue Pearl in Augusta. They were both closed until Monday, which is ridiculous. What is the point of having an emergency clinic that’s closed until Monday when you have an emergency Saturday evening? I also called the clinic at UGA, and they couldn’t take another animal. Same thing in Columbia where at one there was a six to eight-hour wait. We weren’t going there anyway because it was dark, and we can’t see to drive that well at night, especially to unfamiliar places.
I have no words to express our desperation. So, I went on Facebook and asked whether anybody out there could help. Within minutes, people started responding with recommendations of clinics in the area they thought might be open. I called a few, and they weren’t open. Then I got a response from Rhonda Holliman who ran the library at The Augusta Chronicle when I worked there. She’s an owner of the Batesburg-Leesville Animal Hospital, and she offered to have someone see Gracie, something I will always appreciate.
Meanwhile, I had found Dr. Gary Wilkes’ cell phone number and called. It was the greatest relief just talking to him. He said to give Gracie Benadryl and reassured me that he thought she’d be alright. I did, and she was.
I received more than 200 responses to my Facebook posts, and I just want the kind people to know I appreciate every one of them.
John Hart wrote: “Doesn’t answer your question, but I went through this on Monday before we lost Chipper. Lack of affordable emergency veterinary care shouldn’t be an issue in a city the size of Augusta.”
Lance Danko wrote: I feel your frustration. We had the same problem on Saturday as well and called most of the same places. Either their offices were closed on Saturdays or the vet was out-of-town. Our dog was very sick and had to be euthanized. Fortunately after trying all day, we were able to find a vet in Aiken with an after-hours number and a vet on-call that could help. Hard to believe there aren’t more good resources in our area.”
Ernie sad he couldn’t understand a shortage of veterinarians because there’s a vet school right up the road in Athens. But Rhonda said a lot of people left the industry during Covid. Other people said the clinics can’t get people to work. But I believe they could if they paid them just a reasonable percent of what the clinics charge for their services. On the other hand, the federal government is ruining everything by paying people not to work.
Sylvia Cooper is a columnist with The Augusta Press. Reach her at sylvia.cooper@theaugustapress.com
