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Aug. 4-10, 2016 » Page 12A
Bradshaw refutes stolen valor claims
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Steve Bradshaw. File photo/Carla Parker
by Horace Holloman
horace@dekalbchamp.com
It was an intense race
between Sharon Barnes
Sutton and opponent Steve
Bradshaw for the District 4
Commissioner seat. Sutton
withheld no punches during
her campaign, claiming
Bradshaw was supported by
racist groups, was backed by
Republicans and attempted
to hide his wife from the
general public.
However, through each
jab, Bradshaw said he took
the high road. The strategy
seemed to pay off as
Bradshaw defeated Sutton
in a runoff election July 26,
receiving 79 percent of the
vote.
Now, Bradshaw is again
refuting claims lobbed at
him—this time about his
military service.
On July 25, a day before
the election, Sutton accused
Bradshaw of changing his
story about his military
service during a radio
broadcast with veteran and
civil rights activist Amos
King.
King said Bradshaw
tried to embellish his military
background.
“He’s told me that he was
a company commander and
now he goes on to talk about
the best thing is when he is
leading troops into battle or
into war, but he tries to make
it appear to be that he has
great leadership skills,” King
said. “I believe it’s stolen
valor. Mr. Bradshaw has a
play on words. He was a
platoon leader. A platoon
leader is not a company
commander.”
In an interview with The
Champion, Bradshaw said
he has cleared up the issue.
On Bradshaw’s official
Facebook page, he wrote,
“I have repeatedly stated
in various settings that 'I
was formally trained as a
tank commander’ which
is absolutely true. I am a
graduate of both the Armor
Officer’s Basic Course
and the Armor Officer’s
Advanced Course. And I
have the certificates to prove
it. I have also personally
been assigned to command
tanks. My first assignment in
Germany was as a platoon
leader. In that role I was in
charge of four tanks and
15 soldiers. I personally
commanded one of those
tanks.”
King said he wouldn’t
be satisfied until Bradshaw
released his DD214—a
United States Department
of Defense form issued on
release from the military.
A day before the runoff
election, Bradshaw did just
that.
In an interview with
CBS46 Atlanta, Bradshaw
displayed his DD214 form,
showing that he was a
platoon leader.
When asked about his
motives, King said he was
not affiliated with Sutton and
is looking out for the interest
of veterans.
Bradshaw said he wants
to focus on the November
elections and try to fulfill
promises he made during his
campaign.
“I have so much gratitude
to the people of District 4.
We’re going to try to bring
consistency to DeKalb
County and so we’re working
together,” Bradshaw said.
“There’s an easier way to
resolve our differences. I’ve
got a general election to run
and the first part of business
is to make sure we finish the
job.”
Westgate Plaza comes down, will be rebuilt
by Carla Parker
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Nearly two years after a fire
damaged Westgate Plaza in Stone
Mountain Village, the plaza was
demolished to be reconstructed.
Construction crews began tearing
down the plaza on July 25. Once the
demolition is complete, a new plaza
will be constructed.
The fire occurred Oct. 24,2014 at
a restaurant in the plaza. Firefighters
were able to contain the flames to the
restaurant, but several businesses in
the strip shopping center sustained
smoke and water damage.
Firefighters at the scene initially
ruled the fire as arson after finding
a gas can, according to witnesses.
DeKalb County Fire Rescue declared
the fire investigation a suspended
case.
Mechel McKinley, executive
director of the Stone Mountain
Downtown Development Authority,
said she is working with the owner of
the plaza and the real estate agent to
bring in tenants.
“We don’t have anyone signed as
of yet,” McKinley said.
Construction for the new
Westgate Plaza is expected to be
completed in February 2017 and the
city will hold a grand opening the
following month.
