(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column of those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Augusta Press.)
A week ago, a horse with an 80-1 shot at winning surged out of the pack to win the Kentucky Derby.
So, it’s possible that a long-shot candidate with no money might win the Augusta mayor’s race. But I don’t think so. Neither do the folks donating big dollars to the top candidate for fundraising – Steven Kendrick.
Kendrick is running his campaign on other people’s money, but Garnett Johnson is running mostly on his own money, which makes him unique among politicians, actually putting his money where his mouth is. And I’ve noticed through the years that it’s what politicians do with their own money, as compared with taxpayers’ money, that tells you what they’re all about.
Former mayors Bob Young and Deke Copenhaver seldom traveled on the taxpayers’ dime. In fact, Copenhaver paid for his trips out of his own pocket, except for hotel rooms at Georgia Municipal Association conferences. And during his third election campaign in 2010, Copenhaver asked people to donate to local charities instead of to him. He ran with a $5,000 campaign war chest and won in a landslide.
Young said he paid for some of his trips, and the city paid for some, but the city never paid for his wife to travel with him.
MORE: Column: Upcoming city elections warrant more attention
Of course, the first mayor of the consolidated government, Larry Sconyers, seldom, if ever, traveled, but that was because he was busy smoking pork butts at Sconyers Bar-B-Que.
On the other hand, Mayor Hardie Davis has spent untold amounts of taxpayers’ money globetrotting during the past seven-and-a-half years to no good purpose for the people who elected him.
Anyway, the latest campaign donation report shows that Kendrick received donations from several developers and concerns who probably hope to continue their developing by doing business with the city with help from the Mayor’s Office.
To date, Kendrick has received $200,377 in campaign contributions with $92,356 coming since the last reporting period, according to the April 30 campaign donation report, which unfortunately does not have all of the required information filled out, such as the donor’s occupation and employer.
He could make a rich strike, too
Since Kendrick’s campaign war chest is overflowing, it only seems right and proper that he should return the $6,000 he received from C4Live, the Las Vegas company responsible for scheduling big-name concerts at Lake Olmstead during Masters week; then canceling them shortly before the tournament. That $6,000 would reimburse quite a few folks who bought tickets to the shows only to learn at the last minute there would be no shows.
A week ago, Kendrick said he was unaware that refunds from ticket sales hadn’t been refunded and would get right on it. C4Live leases the stadium from The Augusta Economic Development Board, which Kendrick chairs, and he was very involved in the advertisement and ticket sales for the concerts.
“It’s his concert,” said former Mayor Young. “It’s the Kendricks Concert Series. He promoted it. He told people to buy tickets. He should say, ‘Hey, look I’ve got $6,000 of their dollars. Bring me your tickets and I will give you your money back.’
“I don’t think he and the Development Authority can simply be hands off and say, ‘We didn’t sell the tickets.’ They’re the ones who brought this scheme to town and promoted people buying tickets. The other question is who’s going to go to Olmstead Stadium and cut the grass? The Development Authority has leased it. They should take a lawnmower and go out there and cut the grass.”
Heading for the stretch with money to spare
Anyway, this reporting period, Kendrick’s largest donors included GWL, LLC of Greensboro, which donated $3,000; as did Weissman PC of Atlanta; Dr. William Hagler; and Christopher Walker, executive, SEU. Jennie Loop made a $3,000 in-kind donation.
Augusta attorney John Bell donated $2,800, as did Kathleen Brittingham of Berkley Drive.
Those donating $2,000 were James Hull, developer; retired businessman H.M. Osteen; Terry Treadwell, executive, Doctors Hospital of Augusta; and business owner and former lawman Lewis Blanchard. Investor T.R. Reddy, PE donated $2,500.
Appraiser Fred Sims donated $1,500 as did AD Max Advertising.
Eighteen people made $1,000 donations including Augusta Judicial District Attorney Jared Williams; attorney Chris Nicholson; Louis Wall; Michael Green; Andrea Bryant; Pilcher-Hardy Rentals; Elmer Pickett, MAU; Carol Hargrove, consultant, Better Choices; Jan Burch; and Soultry Sounds.
Forty-one people donated $500 each. They included developer Mark Ivey; banker Cameron Nixon; D. Shepherd Construction; Scott Williams, engineer; John Markwalter; developer Charles Hock; Cedrick Kendrick, contractor; Augusta Commissioner Francine Scott; and Enoch Tarver donated $500 twice.
Trying hard to catch up
Candidate Johnson reported contributions of $153,000 to date, including a $125,000 loan to himself.
Donors contributing the most money to Johnson were Mark and JoAnn Herbert, $2,800; Mike and Jill Brown, of Evans, $2,500; Kevin Wilder of Evans, $2,500; Augusta architect Nick Dickinson, $2,000.
Johnson received four donations of $1,500 each from Mason and Jane McKnight of Augusta; Bellinger Moody of Augusta; James Andrews; Signature Speech Services; and Holly Chapman, all of Augusta.
Johnson received $1,000 donations from Thomas Poteet & Son; Gardelle Lewis Jr.; Malone Office Equipment, all of Augusta; and Leonte Benton; and Chris Walker of Atlanta.
Donating $500 were James and Nancy Davis; Robert and Mary Bovard; Amanda and W. Lee Bennett III; James and Mary Anne Plunkett; Southern Family Medicine, all of Augusta; and Steve Sanders of Columbia, S.C.
Sucking wind
Candidate Marion Williams reported contributions of $9,744, and individual donations of $200 from S.D. Greene of Hephzibah; and $125 from William Gilyard. Dr. Edouard Servy made an in-kind donation of $981.75 in yard signs and former Mayor Bob Young made an in-kind donation of $128-worth of stickers.
Candidate Charlie Hannah reported total contributions of $23,605, which included $2,000 from J.G. Maintenance of Hephzibah; $1,700 from Charlie Hannah; $220 from Vetra and Jeff Key; $150 from Richmond County School Board member Patsy Scott and $200 from former member Barbara Pulliam.
MORE: Michael Meyers: Augusta mayor’s race is hottest of them all
Candidate A.K. Hasan reported total contributions of $3,089 and a $10,602 loan to himself. He also reported a $1,000 donation from Metropolitan Waste; $500 from Infrastructure Systems Management; $400 from A-1 Sanitation; $250 from Rick and Mandy Toole; and $200 from John and Benita Long.
Candidate Lucas Johnson reported total contributions of $3,500 and a $2,000 loan to himself. Paul Johnson donated $1,000; Steve Dekle donated $200; Donald Tharpe and Nathan Salyer donated $100 each.
Bringing up the rear
Candidate Robert Ingham reported a $20 contribution.
Candidate Lori Myles reported no contributions as did candidate Donald Bradshaw on his January report.
Endorsed
Former Mayor Deke Copenhaver endorsed Garnett for mayor during a press conference at the Augusta Common last week.
“I felt like we needed a mayor that was focused on bringing people together on common ground,” Copenhaver said. “I know that’s the type of leadership we’re going to get from Garnett Johnson. The mayor is here to serve everybody.”
The Rev. Clarence Moore, pastor of Good Shepherd Baptist Church, which Johnson attends, also endorsed Johnson, saying, “He is a man of integrity, truth and honor.”
Garnett, who was appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp to the Georgia Department of Economic Development, said Georgia continues to break records in economic development and that Augusta hasn’t received its share of that development in the past but that that was going to change.
“I’m going to be sure I’m Augusta’s biggest cheerleader,” he said.
Former Mayor Bob Young endorsed Marion Williams weeks ago, saying he met the “Three
T” requirement. Williams is trustworthy, truthful and transparent, Young said. And he knows how the government and mayor’s office works, Young said.
“More broken stuff”
Lee Powell sent a picture captioned “More broken stuff on Riverwalk.”
“I was riding my bike on Riverwalk on April 29, and there was something going on at the east end of the Port Royal building as there was a big box truck, a 4-door pickup and a SUV all parked up on Riverwalk most of the afternoon,” Powell wrote. “If the city allows large trucks up there, they will never keep it nice. Nothing larger than a “mule” (a little larger than a golf cart) should be allowed as those vehicles had the entire Riverwalk blocked.”
Well, here’s the question: Do city officials, administrators, department directors and their seconds-in command take any responsibility for the upkeep of city properties? First it was the Aquatics Center that had to be closed for awhile last year because of major mechanical and other disrepairs; then, there’s Diamond Lakes, a regional recreational gem, with dozens of Portolets now dotting the landscape for the public to use because the restrooms are unusable; damaged brickwork at Riverwalk; and last week we learned the city’s Boathouse is deteriorating due to neglect.
All I can say is, thank goodness, Augusta commissioners are going on a tour of 10 of Augusta’s parks next week. I’m sure that will make a whopping big difference. And even if it doesn’t, it will be a good public relations event for them with TV cameras and serious journalists following them around to capture their wise and wonderful words for perpetuity and make people think they’re doing something. You know, being proactive. Oh well, a little late for that. But they’re talking about maybe closing some city parks. I can’t wait for that. The commissioner who promotes it had better be in the final months of his term if he doesn’t want to lose the next election.
And whoever talks of divesting Pendleton King Park is out of his mind.
Straw poll
Members of The Committee for Good Government voted in a straw poll on candidates in the May 24 primary elections Tuesday after each candidate introduced himself/herself and spoke a few words. The committee originated from the Fourth Ward of the old city of Augusta, and many members were from Harrisburg. Today, a majority are from west Augusta, according to chairman Richard Isdell.
Here are the results:
Mayor
Donald Bradshaw, 0; Charlie Hannah, 0; A.K. Hasan, 0; Robert Ingham, 1; Garnett Johnson, 67; Lucas Johnson, 3; Steven Kendrick, 22; Lori Myles, 1
Commission District 2
Leroy “Ray Montana” Crew, 3; Charles Cummings, 3; Cleveland Garrison, 2; Ralph Gunter, Sr., 1; Von Pouncy, 28; Stacey Pulliam, 52
Commission District 4
Alvin Mason, 68; Betty Reece, 20
Commission District 6
Jeremy Johnson, 51; Tony Lewis, 28; Mario Taylor Sr., 6
Commission District 10
John Clarke, 53; Robert Cooks, 11; Wayne Guilfoyle, 30
Magistrate Court
Carletts Sims Brown, 21; Katrell Nash, 74
State Court Judge, Watkins
Evita Paschall, 56
Ashanti Lilley Pounds, 40
Judge, Superior Court of Augusta
Laverne Lewis Gaskins, 7
Ashley Wright, 89
Judge, Superior Court of Augusta
Charles H.S. Lyons III, 29
Jesse Stone, 69
Sylvia Cooper is a columnist with The Augusta Press. Reach her at sylvia.cooper@theaugustapress.com
