A Citizen to Citizen Message about the August 8th
Runoff Election for County Commissioners

We are 301 average citizens who have formed the following consensus of conditions in Forsyth County:

§ Road congestion and travel times are getting worse every year.

§ Temporary classrooms are increasing in number.

§ Re-zonings, new subdivisions and commercial strips increase every year.

§ Clear cutting of trees by developers is close to epidemic frequency.

§ The special interests driving the growth appear to have ever increasing influence at the expense of the average citizen.

Most citizens will agree that un-controlled growth in our county is causing a significant negative impact on their quality of life.

Because of the last 3½ years, GROWTH is the key issue in the runoff election for the two commissioner posts. A recent Atlanta Journal Constitution article reported:

Amos & Conway

§ Conway “viewed as more friendly to growth and… development,”

§ Conway “supporters have been working for Amos,” and

§ “If the development community turns out the most voters… Jack (Conway) wins.”

Laughinghouse & Harrell

§ Laughinghouse “is considered more homeowner friendly and less sympathetic to growth and development interests,”

§ “Laughinghouse and Harrell are… together… share views,” and

§ If they win “the board will shift to a more slow growth position.”

How does the average citizen know which candidates will really slow the growth explosion? Amos and Conway have started using the Harrell/Laughinghouse terms of “smart, quality, and responsible growth.” Don’t be fooled!

Citizens, please assess the candidates' records to reach your own conclusions:

Amos and Conway:

§ In 3 ½ years on Forsyth County’s Planning Commission , Amos has recommended approval for over 95% of re-zoning/higher land usage requests.

§ Conway, who re-appointed Amos to the planning commission, similarly has overwhelming voted in favor of re-zonings and higher density.

§ Conway’s and Amos’ campaign contributions will be in excess of $300,000 with the majority coming from developers/related parties and from entities outside the county.

§ We believe Conway and Amos will continue their development splurge, reversing the desirability of Forsyth County; more gridlock and more taxes, and lower property values.

Laughinghouse and Harrell

§ Supported primarily by homeowners, Laughinghouse and Harrell will end up with about 1/5th the campaign contributions that the “developer” backed pair have received.

§ In his 3½ years as a commissioner, Laughinghouse has voted to deny 111 re-zoning requests and has worked for the commission to reduce density and impacts in our neighborhoods on many other re-zoning applications.

§ Harrell is committed to slow the growth, reduce density, and add higher quality into the development codes.

§ Jim and Charlie plan to improve roads through impact fees and splost funds, and get county control over our water supplies with a deep water intake, and, save the county about $2,500,000 year. The City of Cumming will also benefit.

In summary, if Forsyth citizens wish to moderate the growth, commit to higher quality development and environmental codes, have elected officials responsive to the average citizen, and, get on a path of actual improvements in roads and other services, then please vote for:

Do remember: you can vote even if you did not vote in July - August 8 is the citizens’ day to gain representation!!!

Signed: by 301 citizens of beautiful Forsyth County

Tony & Diane DeMaria, Anthony A DeMaria Jr., Bill & Louise Dickerson, Wayne & Valerie Abbott, Angela & Don Baker, Robert & Michele Baker, Bob & Connie Banks, Deborah Barnette, Skip & Brenda Basey, Nolan Bennett, Kara Bennett, Kara & Tim Berny, Roger & Julie Blackstock, Michael & Ashley Blue, James & Cindy Boff, James Borzak, Thom & Karyn Bosko, Brett & Karen Bower, Graham & Susan Brett, Yen Bristow & Preston Bristow, Jeffrey R. Brock, Cindy Kunath-Brock, E C Brooks, Keith Brown, Charlotte Brown, Linda & Mike Busse, John Caldera, Jim Callison, Brian & Liz Callister, Fred & Rose Carl, Steven & Kimberly Carter, Richard & Regina Causey, Jim & Betty Caviness, Charles P. Chanin, Michele Chisolm, Richard & Elizabeth Cholewinski, Michael Cleaveland, Brad & Sara Collins, David and Amanda Connor, Ruby W. Cook, Jim & Imogene Cook, William J. & Antonia Cook, Tom & Nicole Cox, Jim & Zoe Custer, Tony, Bobby, Lane, Bunny, & Al Darnell, Jim Davies, Don DeBord, Ray & Anne Deeg, Mark & Barbara Dees, Ed Delise, Robin & Tony DeNauro, Robert Dickson, Larry & Sharon Duckworth, Fran Eaton, Mike & Elizabeth Estrada, W.C. Fell, William B. Fell, Lisa Fister, Bob & Shirley Foster, Patrick & Susan Foster, Arnie & Sally Fox, Susan & Charles Ganzer, Jessie Gardner, Tim % Sandra Geiger, Kathy Gibson, Peyton & Pamela Gill, Chris Goldston, Linda & Michael Goodman, Lanier & Charlotte Gramling, Leslie & Steve Greenfield, Dawn & Dever Gregg, Michael & Jill Grinkewich, Tony & Linda Gulla, Emily Hall, Jonathan & Kristi Hall, Jeff & Rebecca Hardman, Amy Harrison, Holly Hart, Will & Polly P. Hart, Larry & Judy Havenhill, Anne Herman, Andrew Hinkle, Matthew Hoyt, Robert Howard, Michael Humber, Perrin A. & Sue W. Inbau, Christine Jacques, Jacqueline N Jones, Jamie & Bill Kaufmann, Cheryl & Randy Kells, Theron Kee, Denise & Allen Kirby, Margo Kirschner, Connie Knight, Ann & Steve Kohler, Douglas & Jackie Koman, Dick & Barbara Korteling, Charles Kvasnicka, Susan & Joseph Kwolek, Nick & Theresa LaCotti, John,Van & Jeri Langdon, Hillis & Jean Lanier, Lesley Linehan, Mark & Debbi Little, Shaw Lokey, Vinson & Lorie Loos, Petra Mademann, James Maier, Mark Maio, Larry & Nancy Mann, Lisa Mansfield, Fred & Joyce Marx, Karen Mastrangelo, Katie & Alex McClain, Maureen McCarthy, Joseph McCarthy, Billy, & Jane McCarthy, Catherine L McClelland, Tim & Sheila McClelland, Teri McClure, Michele & Brant Meadows, Bill & Liz Millar, Len Miller, Ed & Robin Mitchell, Jerry & Cheryl Misurek, Kevin & Alison Morris, Cathy Morse, Peter Moxness, Rebecca, Paul & Michele Murdock, Brendan & Cindy Murphy, Brendan F Murphy, Kevin Murphy, James & Penny Northcutt, Robert & Helen Nycz, Mike & Dianne Perry, John and Tammy Pickering, A.J., Gail, Sarah, & Alex Pritchett, Bo Quinnelly, Dick & Sandy Rahn, Steven Reed, Susan Regan, Barbara Richard, Kristen, & Dave Richard, Paul Romanick, Bill & Rebecca Roper, Joshua Sacca Stephanie & Mark Sanderson, Traci & Eddie Sayer, Bill & Carmon Schmitt, Jeff & Cheryl Scutt, Madeline & Jim Sexton, Penny Shannon, Mike Sherbert, Bob Slaughter, Robert E Slaughter, Eric Sloth, Jim & Judy Smith, Randy & Karen Smith, Jess & Diane Solomon, Mary & Paul Sparwath, Dick Spreen, Cindy Stier, Sig & Renee Stenger, Watson & Bonnie Swope, Rick & Dani Swope, Tammy Tanner, Tom & Lisa Tesmer, Brandee & Strom Thurman, Todd & Debbie Tibbetts, Richard & Marcia Tidwell, Hairy Transue, Jan Tucker, Ernest & Karen Turner, Wilma and George Turner, David & Anne Unrue, Catherine & Brandon Vining, Nancy & Carroll Voss, Richard & Lyn Ward, Amy & Scott Warnke, Major Earl & Ellen Williams, Ron & Jo Williams, Phil & Janet M. Winter, Patsy & Chuck Wright.

Note: the signers of this letter are a diverse group of citizens; from all over the county, with residences on small lots to acreage, we work in our own companies, in public service, regional and global firms, doctors, lawyers, sales, engineers, realtors, construction, internet systems, farms, etc. We are not large mega land owners, developers, or other occupations which benefit from rapid development growth.

If other citizen messages are published, look closely at the names to make sure it is not a special interest group trying to maintain control over the county’s government through falsehoods and innuendos. Examples of “developer/mega land owner charges against Charlie and Jim are below.

§ Against property rights

§ Against water agreements

§ Too much government control

§ Will stop growth

Laughinghouse/Harrell Positions

§ Propose to exclude flood plain from density calculations, and , uphold state/county standards for stream protection

§ Want full county control over water intake and finishing to save $30 million dollars in 10 years.

§ Insist on adequate buffers/setbacks to protect neighbors and quality,

§ Densities per acre will be less, quality better, growth will moderate but not stop!!