November 7, 2007
Thank you citizens of Flowery Branch!

I would like to a moment to thank a few people who were a key part in my campaign.

First, my wife, Stacy, and children, who I had to spend a large portion of my free time away from while out campaigning. I had no idea how hard it was going to be or how much time it was going to take away from my family, but I believe they understand the importance of their sacrifice. I love all three of you very much!

Second, all the volunteers that helped put out flags, signs, flyers, push cards and talked to their friends, families and social groups. It takes a team to accomplish a victory, not just one person. I can’t express my gratitude enough!

I would like to thank Kellin Dobbs for a great race. Although we were on opposite sides, during the campaign, I truly believe that he is an honorable man. As I stated to several of you, while out campaigning, I do not take politics personal.

Many of you may not know, but Kellin lives down the street from me and we saw each other while we campaigned in our neighborhood and on Halloween Night, and every time we were very cordial towards each other, as gentlemen should be.

I look forward to a positive relationship with Kellin as he continues his endeavors in Flowery Branch. I believe Kellin has an opportunity to leave his mark on Flowery Branch, with future developments, and they will still be standing long after he and I are gone.

I am planning on spending some time with my family over the next few weeks and then I will start my transition as your councilman. I have a lot of catching up on the finer details of some of our issues.

I would also like to thank Mayor Hirling for her congratulatory phone call last night. She made me feel welcomed to the team and pointed out that there is a lot of work in my future.

I will also keep my website up as long as I am in office. I will probably archive much of what has been on the site during the campaign and transition it to an informative site for you to look at.

I look forward to representing everybody in Flowery Branch.

Thank you all once again.

                                                                                                          November 6, 2007
Now I know how a manager of a baseball team feels the night prior to the seventh game of the World Series. There are a million thoughts running through his head as are in mine.

Last night, I wanted to blog my thoughts, but, I was unable to gather my thoughts with all the phone calls and emails. As my family sleeps, and I am getting ready to go to work, I have a few final thoughts that I would like to say, prior to the polls opening.

Have I made decisions that upset people? Yes.

Are there people who will not vote for me no matter how much factual information I present to them? Yes.

Looking back, are there decisions I made that I will do differently in the future? Yes.

There is nothing more I can do. The election is in your hands. Tonight at 7:00 pm the polls will close and you will have chosen who you want to represent you, over the next four years, in Posts 1 & 2.

Please, do not take politics personal. Healthy debate is part of what makes our country great.

Thank you.

                                                                                                         November 4, 2007
I would like to apologize to everybody because I misinformed you on something, and I have said that honesty is what I will stand by. I posted on my October 31 blog,”As of October 25, 2007, my opponent, Mr. Dobbs, has spent $7890 on his campaign”. I was wrong. After further review, Mr. Dobbs has actually spent $8741.72. If I ever say or write incorrect information, I will ensure to correct it as soon as I am able to, and will apologize for any incorrect information.

                                                                                                          November 2, 2007
This is the last weekend prior to the election.

I will be working hard, this weekend, to rally my supporters and, I hope, we can win this uphill battle we have been fighting since day one, of this campaign. I have not spent $7890, as my opponent Mr. Dobbs has, and I am still curious why so many people, that do not live in the city limits of Flowery Branch, have contributed such large amounts.

Time will tell!!

                                                                                                             October 31, 2007
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

I thought I would wait until tomorrow to post, but this can’t wait. I received a copy of Mr. Dobbs’ State of Georgia Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report, which is public record, and anyone can go to Flowery Branch City Hall and request a copy. As of October 25, 2007, my opponent, Mr. Dobbs, has spent $7890 on his campaign. I believe this may be a record for a Flowery Branch election, especially for a position that only pays $4800 a year.

If you think the amount he has spent is unbelievable, how about the fact that he has collected $8125 as of October 25, 2007, and he has contributed only $851.72 of his own money.

You may think that he can rally a base, but what if $3000 of that came from two other companies he owns, per his Financial Disclosure Statement. Another $3325 came from seven other contributors ranging from $225 - $1000 each and, I believe, only one of the seven even live within the city limits of Flowery Branch. The six contributor’s addresses, that do not live in the city limits, are in unincorporated Flowery Branch and Gainesville and, the following is a list of their professions: a business partner with Mr. Dobbs, three are in real estate, a packaging storeowner, a CPA, and an attorney.

I know that anybody can contribute money to a campaign, but why such large contributions from people who do not have a vested interest in Flowery Branch?

Remember, if you would like to see the list of contributors, go to Flowery Branch City Hall and ask for Kellin Dobbs’ October 25, 2007 Campaign Contribution Report for all the details. It will only cost a $1.50 and that may be a wise investment the future of Flowery Branch.

I almost forgot about the other $1400 worth of contributions, less than $101 per contributor, which does not have to be disclosed per contributor – that list would be impressive with names of those contributors.

By the way, I still have $0 of campaign contributions and have spent less than 25% than Mr. Dobbs has.

As I stated in an earlier blog, I like to think of David and Goliath – all I have is a sling and a stone.

                                                                                                             October 30, 2007
I apologize that I missed my blog yesterday, but my daughter, okay I, bought a new game for our Wii game console, Guitar Hero III, and it is a blast. We played for hours, last night, with the television so loud, we could hardly hear each other talk.

Tonight, is pumpkin carving night and this will be the first time my daughter has carved one from start to finish. No dirty, sticky hands for me. I only have to clean up a bit after her masterpiece is complete.

I will not blog tomorrow because, as we all know, that is Halloween!! I want everybody to enjoy watching the children dress up and run around yelling those famous words “trick or treat”. I will take the day off from campaigning to enjoy the time with my family. I wish you all a happy and safe Halloween.

Thursday should prove to be an informative day about the election full of fun filled facts.

                                                                                                             October 28, 2007
This weekend I went to a birthday party, at my daughter’s friend’s house, as well as High School Musical on Ice. The ice show was the first time we took our 22 month old son to this type of event, and he had a blast, although he did have a few, okay, many moments. I watched both of my children laugh, smile, and have fun. It was amazing to watch all the children just be children and not act like adults do when we disagree on things.

As many of you are aware, politics has become a bit, lets say, unfriendly in recent years, at all levels. I do not understand why. Okay, maybe I do. It might be because many political officials use their office to protect interests that they may have currently or future endeavors. Or, could it be they may have friends or family they are trying to protect? And why do these elected officials take politics so personal? Maybe it is because of the previous above statements.

There was a time when elected officials debated and disagreed about the current issues, but at the end of the day they still went to dinner and acquired about their opposition’s family. What happened to this type of statesmanship?
I want to bring fun back to our government. I believe that we can disagree about issues, but, at the end of the day, still be a strong community that will stand together about issues that affect each and every citizen in Flowery Branch.

                                                                                                             October 26, 2007
I usually write my blogs in the evening after a day’s worth of information. Today, on my way into work, I began thinking of what a member of your current government told me about my words. This person told me that I use “strong” words. Was this a compliment or a complaint? I believe it was a compliment because a person who is elected by the people is charged to be a strong leader with a strong voice.

After seven plus years of serving honorably in the United States Army, six months in Operation Desert Shield/Storm, where I finished as a squad leader Sergeant, and through my current position as a District Manager with my employer, I have developed the strong voice a leader should have along with personable communication skills.

I believe in using honest and factual information when I communicate either verbally or in writing, and, if one is given the impression I use “strong” words – then honesty and factual means strong words.

I am a statesman, meaning, “a person engaged in fixing the policies and conducting the affairs of a government”, and not a politician.

                                                                                                              October 25, 2007
Wow! I was just blogging yesterday about how much my opponent, Mr. Dobbs, has spent, and today I get another mailer from him. Remember that a councilperson only receives about $4800 monetary pay per year. Why is it so important for my opponent to win? Well, I guess you can figure that one out yourself.

Mr. Dobbs always puts the word “experience” on his literature, and I ponder what his experience is. I am not aware that he has any more political experience than I do. So, how can one put the word "experience" on political literature unless they have already been in politics?

                                                                                                                   October 24, 2007
O.k. Enough is enough. I am getting tired of my signs being stolen around Flowery Branch.

I believe that my opponent, Mr. Dobbs, has no knowledge of these acts of stealing private property, but I wish that those individuals, who have been stealing my signs, would stop. If one of my sign’s happens to accidentally be placed on property that belongs to someone who does not support me, I would, at least, hope they would contact me and let me know. I would apologize to the landowner for any such act and remove my property, but it appears that people are taking my signs down on their own accord and do not have the fortitude to inform me of my mistake.

I have worked hard to find areas to place my campaign signs that are, either on private property, that I have worked out agreements with the owners, or have placed them on what I believe to be public right of ways. I do not have the full support of the majority of the current council, as Mr. Dobbs does, because Mr. Dobbs’ signs are on the personal property of at least 3 of the current council members.

These signs cost money and I have not received any campaign contributions, as my opponent has. After a review of his latest, public record Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report, he has received $3400 from numerous companies and individuals and has spent $4121.72 on a campaign that the position pays around $4800 a year. I have received zero dollars from campaign contributions and have spent far less than half of what my opponent has.

I do not own a development company, and have not had the ability to get support because of my personal interests within the city limits of Flowery Branch. I do not own 10 properties within the city limits where I can put campaign signs, except my home. I work for a company and asked my boss for permission to become your councilman because I feel that an honest voice from someone who has no financial interest in the redevelopment of Flowery Branch is the better choice.

It is obvious, to me, Mr. Dobbs has the inside track and I have an uphill battle, but I like to think of David and Goliath – all I have is a sling and a stone.

                                                                                                               October 23, 2007
Today, I was reviewing some of the Flowery Branch ordinances, and I came across ordinance 318 (Flowery Branch Ethics Ordinance-Approved), which is posted on the Flowery Branch web site.

If you read the ordinance, Section 4 Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest, it reads how any person, who falls within the guidelines, must act – including elected members of the Governing Authority (AKA Councilmembers).

As I stated in my speech, at the candidate forum, “I will keep my integrity, meaning to adhere to a code of ethics, which is needed by any councilperson to ensure that the council has each and every citizen’s best interests equally at heart. A councilperson cannot have conflicts of interests while serving, you, the citizens of Flowery Branch”. I stand by my statement and ask you to copy my speech and ensure that I follow my words.

How can Mr. Dobbs vote on all the zoning ordinances for new developments and redevelopments, which include zoning districts, variances, permits and certificates, design review, and many other important issues without compromising the citizens of Flowery Branch. With all the projected redevelopment on and around all the property that Mr. Dobbs’ company owns, he will not be able to vote on a large portion of important votes for the city. Thus, not being a strong voice for the citizens of Flowery Branch.

October 22, 2007
I have had a number of you ask me how the Candidate Forum went on October 11 at the Sterling on the Lake clubhouse. I thought it went well.

Remember that my opponent, Mr. Dobbs, spoke prior to me and failed to inform you about his development company and that his company owns 10 properties, in downtown Flowery Branch, as well as that 6 of the 10 properties are within the “high priority” area in the adopted 2025 Flowery Branch Comprehensive Plan and that these 6 properties are at least 75% of the “high priority” area.

I stand by my pledge, that can be found in my speech, that I gave at the October 11 Candidate Forum at the Sterling on the Lake clubhouse. “I pledge to you tonight to never own any property within the city limits of Flowery Branch, other than my personal residence, which is a requirement to be your councilman.”

Please review the Georgia Code of Ethics for Government Service section VIII and click  HERE!!

October 3, 2007                                                                                               I have been preparing for the meet the candidates at Sterling on the Lake on Thursday, October 11 at 6:30 pm.  I hope you all can attend.  It will be great to meet some of you that I have missed while at other events.