Mayoral candidate Steven Kendrick’s press conference announcing a development project at the Regency Mall site was ill-advised will likely prove harmful to his campaign for mayor.
Add this to his other recent missteps, and it all adds up to the fact that Kendrick, if elected, will be plagued with the same kinds of controversies that are bedeviling the current mayor.
Mayor Hardie Davis Jr. made a grave error in trying to facilitate a backroom deal on Regency Mall between the Cardinale family and the city. The result was an ethics investigation that is ongoing and a lawsuit filed last week by The Augusta Press seeking documents related to the mayor’s machinations regarding the Regency Mall property.
Most of the mayoral candidates worked hard during the campaign to demonstrate that “We are not Hardie Davis Jr.,” and Kendrick was no exception. Now, by affiliating himself with Cardinale and Regency Mall and touting some supposed development project, he’s starting to look like a Davis clone.
Cardinale is a business whose goal is to make money off its real estate investments. The notion that they are going to develop the property is improbable given how long they’ve owned the property and done nothing with it.
Time will tell, but if history serves as a guide, but Kendrick’s press conference came across as nothing more than a publicity stunt or political theater staged to bolster his runoff campaign.
Kendrick only invited the media a few hours before the event was scheduled. Kendrick invited part, but not all, of the Richmond County Commission. He included only those commissioners who are backing him in the runoff. No members of Augusta Development Authority were present, which is particularly telling given that Kendrick is chairman of its board and this project would be right in its wheelhouse.
And Cardinale doesn’t look any better, either, for not participating in the event. Appearances count, and it appears that Cardinale is hedging its bets that the voters in Augusta will elect a Hardie Davis Jr. clone who they can manipulate into a questionable deal for the city. The company clearly understand that a successful businessperson like Garnett Johnson would be too wise to bamboozle.
Kendrick has made multiple mistakes in this campaign season. The job swap controversy with Chris Johnson could have easily been avoided had Kendrick been transparent and made his intentions clear from the beginning. His reasons for continuing in the city’s employ might have even helped his campaign.
Then, there is the issue of the C4 Live campaign contributions. Had Kendrick had good counsel, he would immediately have sought refunds for those who’d purchased tickets. That way, he would have looked like he was promoting transparency and accountability rather than secrecy and greed. Strike three is the Regency Mall controversy.
Kendrick’s multiple missteps show that he is just not ready for the job he seeks. Serving as Augusta’s mayor involves more than hosting a reception during Masters week, chairing commission meetings and serving on community boards. It means being the face of Augusta. It means having integrity, being trustworthy and being committed to public welfare and service. Kendrick may well be all these things, but his constant missteps have eroded his credibility. He needs to step up, do the right thing honestly and with integrity so that voters can make the proper choice at the polls in June.
