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COMMUNITY Candidates’ forum runs short, produces little heat BY DAN WHISENHUNT danwhisenhunt@reporternewspapers.net DAN WHISENHUNT Clean Sweep Candidate Sam Eads, Post 3, answers a question while Post 2 candidate Heyward Wescott and Incumbent Candidate Doug Thompson, Post 3 listen. There was something odd about the candidates’ forum held in Dunwoody on Oct. 6. The organizers of the event at Dun- woody United Methodist Church scheduled it to last two hours, but it was an early night for everyone. The forum wrapped up in just over an hour, even though there were seven politicians shar ing a stage. The candidates had been provided the questions in advance, and several read their answers off cards. The audience sat quietly in the au ditorium as the rain drummed on the roof. There was little spontaneity. No one clapped. No one cheered. No one booed. The candidates answered questions with clockwork precision. On the off chance a candidate overshot the allotted two minutes, the moderator strummed a guitar — playing the theme to “Deliv erance” — to silence him. Two incumbents — Denis Short- al, who’s running for District 1, Post 1, and Doug Thompson, who’s running for District 3, Post 3 — shared the stage, and many awkward looks, with three “Clean Sweep” candidates. Henly Shelton, who’s running for District 1, Post 1; Jim Riticher, who’s running in District 2, Post 2; and Sam Eads in District 3, Post 3, have an nounced they are running as a slate of candidates seeking to oust the incum bents. Heyward Wescott, a member of the Dunwoody Homeowners Association, also running in District 2, Post 2, was described as a political insider by his Clean Sweep opponent, Riticher. In the middle of all this sat William Mercier, a District 2, Post 2 candidate unaligned with either side of the argu ment. He tried to rise above it all, tak ing middle-of-the-road stances, and the Clean Sweep candidates mostly spoke past him to the candidates they accuse of ruining Dunwoody. Another candidate, David Davis, who seeks the seat in District 1, Post 1, did not attend. Clean Sweep candidates are running to join the council and oppose Mayor Mike Davis, who is not on the Nov. 5 ballot. They contend that Shortal and Thompson have backed Davis, nota bly on the Project Renaissance devel opment. They also have a beef with the way council members treated retiring District 2, Post 2 Councilwoman Adri an Bonser. Over the last two years Bonser has been the subject of ethics investigations that accused her of leaking information from closed-door meetings about Proj ect Renaissance. During the forum, Bonser sat near the front row and nodded as the Clean Sweep candidates defended her for ques tioning the mayor’s policies. Serving your community for 15 years Construction, llc Before Construction After Construction www.southernoutdoorcd.com Specializing in Construction, Renovation, Repair & Maintenance • Patios/Pool Decks • Pools & Spas • Outdoor Kitchens • Arbors • Brick & Stone • Chimneys/Fireplace • Decorative Concrete/Pavers • Decks • Driveways • Efflorescence Cleaning • Grading & Drainage • Historical Restorations • Masonry Maintenance Contracts • Retaining Walls • Stone Patio Restoration & Sealing • Stone/Tile Deck Waterproofing & Leak Repair HAVE A STORY IDEA? Tell the Reporter about it. Email editor@reporternewspapers.net Reporter Newspapers www.ReporterNewspapers.net Brookhaven • Buckhead • Dunwoody • Sandy Springs 2 | OCT. 18 —OCT. 31, 2013 | www.ReporterNewspapers.net DUN
