DA’s office signals refusal to hand over child porn evidence to Leonard Church’s attorneys
December 03, 2015
Leonard Church
MARIETTA — The Cobb District Attorney’s office is standing firm in its refusal to hand over copies of certain evidence to attorneys representing Kennesaw Councilman Leonard Church, saying the evidence contains child pornography.
Church has been indicted on charges of molesting a 9-year-old boy and possessing hundreds of images of child pornography, according to the prosecution. His trial is scheduled to begin Monday.
On Nov. 23, Church’s attorneys, Jimmy Berry and Reid Thompson, filed a motion asking the court to compel the state to produce a “written forensic analysis report … (based on a) forensic scientific test of computers and media storage devices recovered from the Defendant’s home.”
The motion said the state has “declined to provide Defendant with copies of all discovered materials,” arguing that this amounted to a violation of Church’s right to effective counsel, fair trial, due process and equal protection under the law.
Assistant DA Hannah Palmquist filed a response two days later, stating the law criminalizing possession of child pornography does not include an exception that would allow defense counsel and witnesses to possess the material. “… There is no prejudice to the Defense in this case since they have personally viewed the forensic reports at the District Attorney’s Office,” the response reads. “They have also been expressly invited on multiple occasions to come to the District Attorney’s Office to further inspect the printed version of the exhibits of the forensic reports that the State intends to enter into evidence at trial.”
The response added that all devices have and will continue to be available for an expert of the defense’s choosing to analyze.
Speaking at a hearing in November when Church’s legal team announced its intention to file the motion, Palmquist said child pornography is “kept under lock and key in evidence.”
“We’re not going to go around handing disks of exploited children committing sexual acts against their will to defense attorneys who we have no idea what security they will keep on it,” Palmquist said.
Cobb Superior Court Judge Mary Staley said at the time that she would side with the state on the question of whether the defense should receive copies of evidence containing contraband, as she has in similar cases.
Staley is expected to rule on the motion Monday before the start of the trial.
Last month Church rejected a plea deal that would have allowed him to serve 15 years in prison. Church has been indicted on six counts — aggravated child molestation, child molestation and four counts of sexual exploitation of children related to the possession of child pornography. If convicted of all six counts against him, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison plus 100 years, according to Kim Isaza, district attorney spokesperson.
December 03, 2015
Leonard Church
Church has been indicted on charges of molesting a 9-year-old boy and possessing hundreds of images of child pornography, according to the prosecution. His trial is scheduled to begin Monday.
On Nov. 23, Church’s attorneys, Jimmy Berry and Reid Thompson, filed a motion asking the court to compel the state to produce a “written forensic analysis report … (based on a) forensic scientific test of computers and media storage devices recovered from the Defendant’s home.”
The motion said the state has “declined to provide Defendant with copies of all discovered materials,” arguing that this amounted to a violation of Church’s right to effective counsel, fair trial, due process and equal protection under the law.
Assistant DA Hannah Palmquist filed a response two days later, stating the law criminalizing possession of child pornography does not include an exception that would allow defense counsel and witnesses to possess the material. “… There is no prejudice to the Defense in this case since they have personally viewed the forensic reports at the District Attorney’s Office,” the response reads. “They have also been expressly invited on multiple occasions to come to the District Attorney’s Office to further inspect the printed version of the exhibits of the forensic reports that the State intends to enter into evidence at trial.”
The response added that all devices have and will continue to be available for an expert of the defense’s choosing to analyze.
Speaking at a hearing in November when Church’s legal team announced its intention to file the motion, Palmquist said child pornography is “kept under lock and key in evidence.”
“We’re not going to go around handing disks of exploited children committing sexual acts against their will to defense attorneys who we have no idea what security they will keep on it,” Palmquist said.
Cobb Superior Court Judge Mary Staley said at the time that she would side with the state on the question of whether the defense should receive copies of evidence containing contraband, as she has in similar cases.
Staley is expected to rule on the motion Monday before the start of the trial.
Last month Church rejected a plea deal that would have allowed him to serve 15 years in prison. Church has been indicted on six counts — aggravated child molestation, child molestation and four counts of sexual exploitation of children related to the possession of child pornography. If convicted of all six counts against him, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison plus 100 years, according to Kim Isaza, district attorney spokesperson.
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12/1/15
CHURCH TRIAL STARTS MONDAY DEC. 7TH
Although the run up to this trial has been very subdued things are about to change.
Superior Court Judge Mary Staley, on 11/23/15 approved the WSB-TV "Request To Install Recording and/or Photographing Equipment" to cover the trial.
WSB-TV is part of the Cox Media Group which includes the AJC, the TV station and 5 radio stations. Prior filings with the Court have been for similar coverage by the MDJ.
It is extremely unfortunate that the other elected City officials did not publicaly go on record and demand that accused Pedophile Leonard Church resign from his position on the City Council.
Now the City of Kennesaw will be exposed to national bad publicity for having a sitting Council member and former 2 term Mayor on trial for 6 Felony counts of crimes against children and probably the on the record comments of one former City Council member coming to his defense will also be brought up.
I and other concerned residents have repeatedly brought up the lack of action by the mayor and Council in not demanding he resign. One council member pm'ed me that he had been asked and he refused to resign. Asking this low life to resign in some back room or hallway was worthless, the entire City administration should have demanded in public that he quit. We are well aware that he could not be forced to resign, but the lack of action by publicaly demanding he quit is going to be a major black eye for all Kennesaw residents.
As usual the mayor and Council were tone deaf to the concerns of the Citizens and at least in the case of one Mayoral candidate her defense of Pedophile Church played a part in her not being elected by a considerable margin in her run for Mayor.
THIS MOTION WAS DENIED:
Judge Staley: No delay in trial for Leonard Church
Leonard Church
Mary Staley
MARIETTA — Kennesaw Councilman Leonard Church is still scheduled to stand trial on charges of child molestation Dec. 7 after a Cobb County judge on Monday denied a request from Church’s attorneys to delay the trial.
Superior Court Judge Mary Staley was not persuaded by the defense’s argument that it had insufficient time to examine certain evidence that could help its case.
Church was not present at Monday’s hearing. His attorney, Reid Thompson, said the defense was requesting a continuance in order to allow its expert to examine a Sony PlayStation used by the alleged victim in the case, a nine-year-old boy.
Church, a former mayor of Kennesaw elected to the City Council in 2013, was indicted in January on one count of aggravated child molestation, one count of child molestation and four counts of sexual exploitation of children for possessing child pornography.
Last month, Staley ruled that hundreds of pornographic or erotic images involving children, as well as incriminating search histories, that investigators say they found on computers belonging to Church could be admitted as evidence.
On Monday, the defense did not address the charges relating to child pornography.
Instead, Thompson suggested data collected from the PlayStation could call into question the timeline of events and accusations and “May be extremely exculpatory evidence for us to use at trial.”
Thompson also said his team had been unable to view files that had been copied to a Blu-ray disk.
Assistant District Attorney Hannah Palmquist countered that the defense had plenty of time to examine the PlayStation and other evidence but waited until two and a half weeks before the trial start date to file a request for delay.
“This is information that has been available to them since March,” Palmquist said. “This delay and this time crunch that they now have before trial is their own doing.”
She said that her office had gone “above and beyond” by attempting to copy some evidence to a Blu-ray disk, when the law only required that the evidence be made available for inspection. She ascribed the defense’s inability to access the disk to “user error,” noting that she had successfully opened the same disk herself.
Palmquist also responded to Thompson’s statement that he intended to file another motion to compel the prosecution to hand over additional evidence citing a similar, pending case that challenges the constitutionality of the discovery process in regard to child sexual exploitation.
“Child pornography is kept under lock and key in evidence,” Palmquist said. “The defense is welcome to — themselves or an expert — come to our office at any time, look at it, evaluate it, analyze the original devices at the police department. They have literally the same access to it that I do. We’re not going to go around handing disks of exploited children committing sexual acts against their will to defense attorneys who we have no idea what security they will keep on it.”
Judge Staley sided with the prosecution that the defense had sufficient time to review the evidence.
“I think it’s a stretch to say that the case would hinge on this,” Staley told Thompson, referring to the data that could be pulled from the PlayStation. “The defense has had notice that a PlayStation was involved since March 2015; this case has been specially set for a substantial period of time, and I do not hear any argument … that I find compelling to grant a continuance, so I’m going to deny the motion for continuance.”
The Dec. 7 date for Church’s trial was decided on Aug. 21.
Staley added that she would also side with the state that child pornography is contraband and therefore should only be made available to the defense in a locationsecured by law enforcement.
Church has been out on bond since his arrest in June of 2014 and continues to serve on the Kennesaw City Council.
Judge denies continuance for Kennesaw councilman and former mayor charged with child molestation
Judge Staley: No delay in trial for Leonard Church
Leonard Church
Mary Staley
Superior Court Judge Mary Staley was not persuaded by the defense’s argument that it had insufficient time to examine certain evidence that could help its case.
Church was not present at Monday’s hearing. His attorney, Reid Thompson, said the defense was requesting a continuance in order to allow its expert to examine a Sony PlayStation used by the alleged victim in the case, a nine-year-old boy.
Church, a former mayor of Kennesaw elected to the City Council in 2013, was indicted in January on one count of aggravated child molestation, one count of child molestation and four counts of sexual exploitation of children for possessing child pornography.
Last month, Staley ruled that hundreds of pornographic or erotic images involving children, as well as incriminating search histories, that investigators say they found on computers belonging to Church could be admitted as evidence.
On Monday, the defense did not address the charges relating to child pornography.
Instead, Thompson suggested data collected from the PlayStation could call into question the timeline of events and accusations and “May be extremely exculpatory evidence for us to use at trial.”
Thompson also said his team had been unable to view files that had been copied to a Blu-ray disk.
Assistant District Attorney Hannah Palmquist countered that the defense had plenty of time to examine the PlayStation and other evidence but waited until two and a half weeks before the trial start date to file a request for delay.
“This is information that has been available to them since March,” Palmquist said. “This delay and this time crunch that they now have before trial is their own doing.”
She said that her office had gone “above and beyond” by attempting to copy some evidence to a Blu-ray disk, when the law only required that the evidence be made available for inspection. She ascribed the defense’s inability to access the disk to “user error,” noting that she had successfully opened the same disk herself.
Palmquist also responded to Thompson’s statement that he intended to file another motion to compel the prosecution to hand over additional evidence citing a similar, pending case that challenges the constitutionality of the discovery process in regard to child sexual exploitation.
“Child pornography is kept under lock and key in evidence,” Palmquist said. “The defense is welcome to — themselves or an expert — come to our office at any time, look at it, evaluate it, analyze the original devices at the police department. They have literally the same access to it that I do. We’re not going to go around handing disks of exploited children committing sexual acts against their will to defense attorneys who we have no idea what security they will keep on it.”
Judge Staley sided with the prosecution that the defense had sufficient time to review the evidence.
“I think it’s a stretch to say that the case would hinge on this,” Staley told Thompson, referring to the data that could be pulled from the PlayStation. “The defense has had notice that a PlayStation was involved since March 2015; this case has been specially set for a substantial period of time, and I do not hear any argument … that I find compelling to grant a continuance, so I’m going to deny the motion for continuance.”
The Dec. 7 date for Church’s trial was decided on Aug. 21.
Staley added that she would also side with the state that child pornography is contraband and therefore should only be made available to the defense in a locationsecured by law enforcement.
Church has been out on bond since his arrest in June of 2014 and continues to serve on the Kennesaw City Council.
Judge denies continuance for Kennesaw councilman and former mayor charged with child molestation
KENNESAW, Ga. -- A judge has denied a continuance for a former Kennesaw mayor and current city council member charged with molesting a young boy.
11Alive's Duffie Dixon learned just over a week ago Cobb County District Attorney Vic Reynolds offered Church a plea deal. If Church pleaded guilty to two counts of child molestation he would be sentenced to 30 years in prison, but serve just 15. Church declined that offer.
Church is accused of molesting a nine-year-old boy back in June of 2014. Cobb County Police said the victim told his parents Church showed him pornography and then molested him in the suspect's Dreux Court home.
Next door neighbors say several Cobb County police officers showed up at Kennesaw City Councilman Leonard Church's home on Dreux Court around 1:30 or 2 a.m. Friday, June 27, ,2014 and spent some time there.
"I think everyone was really surprised," neighbor Celine Esmer told 11Alive. "It's something we never really expected from him, especially because his grand kids are always here and, you know, he's a nice guy...so it was shocking," she added.
According to his biography on the city of Kennesaw website, Church was elected mayor in 1999 and served two terms. He was appointed to city council last year. He is also a real estate agent and owns his own business, Church Dental Prosthetics.
Church remains a city councilman despite the fact that many in the community including fellow council members have asked him to resign. He has one year left on his term.
Church has six children and nine grandchildren. If convicted, he faces life in prison plus 100 years.
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11/22/15
Kennesaw councilman should resign for good of city
November 22, 2015 MDJ
With the election of a new mayor and three new council members, the city of Kennesaw is poised to enter the New Year with a slate of leaders excited about the future.
But a dark cloud continues to hang over the city ever since Councilman Leonard Church was arrested last year and charged with molesting a 9-year-old boy and possessing hundreds of images of child pornography on his computers.
Last week, Church rejected a plea deal from Cobb District Attorney Vic Reynolds that would have allowed him to serve 15 years in prison. If convicted on all six counts, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison plus 100 years.
We leave it to the jury to decide his fate (his trial is scheduled for Dec. 7 with Cobb Superior Court Judge Mary Staley presiding), believing everyone deserves his or her day in court and that he remains innocent until proven guilty.
Yet while the legal process unfolds, life in Kennesaw goes on and the matter of having a sitting councilman facing such serious charges is a distraction that tarnishes Kennesaw’s reputation.
Church’s ability to serve his constituents has been severely hampered. A court order prevents him from entering City Hall through the front door, given that children are able to attend council meetings. Instead, he attends the meetings by entering through a backdoor … and exits the same route.
Cobb Magistrate Judge Frank Cox’s order states Church must be separated from the audience “by a long podium and would have no contact with nor interaction with audience members.”
Since his arrest, Church has been reportedly quiet during council meetings, failing to debate the issues of the day. But even if he were to hold forth, his ability to make any convincing argument is overshadowed by the criminal charges he faces.
These limitations make it hard for him to be effective for his constituents or the city as a whole.
Residents have angrily asked council members why they have failed to take action, yet it’s important to note the city charter ties the mayor and council’s hands. The charter allows for removal from office if an official moves out of the city, misses four consecutive meetings without permission or is convicted of a felony, but unless that conviction occurs, they are powerless to act.
Still, there is nothing preventing the council from evaluating a policy change going forward to avoid the type of circumstance it finds itself in.
Mayor-elect Derek Easterling made just this suggestion during a candidate forum in October when he said what was needed was language in the bylaws “just like we have in the police department and in other positions throughout the state … that if you are charged … you may not carry out your duties. You’re on administrative leave or in some other function.”
Easterling went on to say, “Be a man and step down. That’s what I would have done. I would have stepped down and taken the focus off of me, off of Kennesaw, and let the city do (its) job.”
Residents themselves have far more power over Church with a recall effort available to them, and with recall efforts launched against Cobb County officials in the past for such reasons as installing a cellphone tower on school property, it is curious why such a movement hasn’t materialized.
Church, who grew up in Cobb County and graduated from Sprayberry High School, served two terms as mayor before his defeat by Mark Mathews. He was elected to the City Council and took office in January 2014.
His public service suggests he does love his city. If that is true, he would resign from office, get his personal affairs in order and let Kennesaw move forward without this distraction.
KENNESAW, Ga. -- A judge has denied a continuance for a former Kennesaw mayor and current city council member charged with molesting a young boy.
11Alive's Duffie Dixon learned just over a week ago Cobb County District Attorney Vic Reynolds offered Church a plea deal. If Church pleaded guilty to two counts of child molestation he would be sentenced to 30 years in prison, but serve just 15. Church declined that offer.
Church is accused of molesting a nine-year-old boy back in June of 2014. Cobb County Police said the victim told his parents Church showed him pornography and then molested him in the suspect's Dreux Court home.
Next door neighbors say several Cobb County police officers showed up at Kennesaw City Councilman Leonard Church's home on Dreux Court around 1:30 or 2 a.m. Friday, June 27, ,2014 and spent some time there.
"I think everyone was really surprised," neighbor Celine Esmer told 11Alive. "It's something we never really expected from him, especially because his grand kids are always here and, you know, he's a nice guy...so it was shocking," she added.
According to his biography on the city of Kennesaw website, Church was elected mayor in 1999 and served two terms. He was appointed to city council last year. He is also a real estate agent and owns his own business, Church Dental Prosthetics.
Church remains a city councilman despite the fact that many in the community including fellow council members have asked him to resign. He has one year left on his term.
Church has six children and nine grandchildren. If convicted, he faces life in prison plus 100 years.
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11/22/15
Kennesaw councilman should resign for good of city
November 22, 2015 MDJ
But a dark cloud continues to hang over the city ever since Councilman Leonard Church was arrested last year and charged with molesting a 9-year-old boy and possessing hundreds of images of child pornography on his computers.
Last week, Church rejected a plea deal from Cobb District Attorney Vic Reynolds that would have allowed him to serve 15 years in prison. If convicted on all six counts, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison plus 100 years.
We leave it to the jury to decide his fate (his trial is scheduled for Dec. 7 with Cobb Superior Court Judge Mary Staley presiding), believing everyone deserves his or her day in court and that he remains innocent until proven guilty.
Yet while the legal process unfolds, life in Kennesaw goes on and the matter of having a sitting councilman facing such serious charges is a distraction that tarnishes Kennesaw’s reputation.
Church’s ability to serve his constituents has been severely hampered. A court order prevents him from entering City Hall through the front door, given that children are able to attend council meetings. Instead, he attends the meetings by entering through a backdoor … and exits the same route.
Cobb Magistrate Judge Frank Cox’s order states Church must be separated from the audience “by a long podium and would have no contact with nor interaction with audience members.”
Since his arrest, Church has been reportedly quiet during council meetings, failing to debate the issues of the day. But even if he were to hold forth, his ability to make any convincing argument is overshadowed by the criminal charges he faces.
These limitations make it hard for him to be effective for his constituents or the city as a whole.
Residents have angrily asked council members why they have failed to take action, yet it’s important to note the city charter ties the mayor and council’s hands. The charter allows for removal from office if an official moves out of the city, misses four consecutive meetings without permission or is convicted of a felony, but unless that conviction occurs, they are powerless to act.
Still, there is nothing preventing the council from evaluating a policy change going forward to avoid the type of circumstance it finds itself in.
Mayor-elect Derek Easterling made just this suggestion during a candidate forum in October when he said what was needed was language in the bylaws “just like we have in the police department and in other positions throughout the state … that if you are charged … you may not carry out your duties. You’re on administrative leave or in some other function.”
Easterling went on to say, “Be a man and step down. That’s what I would have done. I would have stepped down and taken the focus off of me, off of Kennesaw, and let the city do (its) job.”
Residents themselves have far more power over Church with a recall effort available to them, and with recall efforts launched against Cobb County officials in the past for such reasons as installing a cellphone tower on school property, it is curious why such a movement hasn’t materialized.
Church, who grew up in Cobb County and graduated from Sprayberry High School, served two terms as mayor before his defeat by Mark Mathews. He was elected to the City Council and took office in January 2014.
His public service suggests he does love his city. If that is true, he would resign from office, get his personal affairs in order and let Kennesaw move forward without this distraction.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015
CHURCH REJECTS PLEA DEAL
Accused Pedophile City Councilman Leonard Church has rejected a plea deal offered by the Prosecution.
The deal was for a 30 year sentence with 15 years to serve.
The trial is set to start Dec. 7th
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Kennesaw councilman rejects plea deal in child molestation case
November 13, 2015 07:05 PM | 
Leonard Church
Vic Reynolds
Under the terms of the deal, Church would have received a 30-year sentence with 15 years to serve in prison and the rest on probation, according to Kim Isaza, spokesperson for the Cobb DA’s office.
During an October hearing, prosecutors said Church had hundreds of images of child pornography on his computers, and that a 9-year-old boy reported that Church allegedly showed him pornography and molested him in May 2014.
Church has been indicted on six counts — aggravated child molestation, child molestation and four counts of sexual exploitation of children related to the possession of child pornography. If convicted of all six counts against him, Church faces a maximum sentence of life in prison plus 100 years, according to Isaza.
Plea deals are offered in a vast majority of criminal cases in the county, Cobb DA Vic Reynolds said, especially in cases involving children.
“You want to give all the parties involved some attempt to resolve a case short of taking up court time to try the matter in front of a jury,” Reynolds said. “In cases when you have an alleged child victim who’s going to have to testify, you want to take some opportunity to try to resolve it so that doesn’t have to happen. … In the end, it’s the defendant’s choice to either accept the plea or not. And they have a constitutional right to a jury trial, and we intend on making sure his constitutional right is met in this case.”
Reynolds said if a defendant accepts a plea deal, he or she is accepting responsibility for what they have been accused of. When this happens, the sentence can be reduced somewhat to reflect this acceptance of responsibility. However, if the case proceeds and a jury decides a defendant is guilty, any possible reduction in sentence for accepting responsibility goes “out the window,” he added.
Though plea deals generally offer less of a sentence than what a judge could impose, Reynolds said the punishment must still be substantial.
“It has to be enough punishment that even with an acceptance of responsibility, the punishment level is great enough to make sure of a couple of things: one, that the individual is punished for what he or she did; two, that other people who see that realize that if they do this type of behavior, there’s going to be a certain level of punishment involved; and three, to make sure that the community realizes that this behavior won’t be tolerated.”
Church’s trial is scheduled to begin Dec. 7 with Cobb Superior Court Judge Mary Staley presiding.
Calls made to Church and his attorney, Jim Berry, were not returned by press time.
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TROUBLING POSTS FROM LOSING CANDIDATE
Every 2 years we get folks running for various elected offices in Kennesaw.
What we have not had in my memory of elections over the past 15 years of my tenure here is a losing candidate coming off the rails when they lose.
Generally the loser says something like 'let's all pull together and make Kennesaw a better place to live', or 'thanks to all my supporters - let's move on'.
The losing candidate for Mayor this time has taken a rather bizarre turn on her FaceBook page https://www.facebook.com/ElectDebra/ with some very long and disturbing posts, one goes on to make 12 points about how unfair the race was and in another below seems to blame God.
A few people posted on her FB site, one saying that they had never encountered such a bad loser before, that and other posts were quickly removed. Below is just the top few paragraphs of one of her long posts and frankly I think we pretty much dodged a bullet when we picked someone else as Mayor:
----------------------------------------------------
From FB page of: Debra Williams Kennesaw Community Supporter
"I have struggled these past few days with why would God open all the doors and shut others to move me into running Mayor when I was perfectly happy in my Council seat.
I fought with him constantly every day to find someone else. When I begin getting phone calls from people who said they were praying and were led to call me and discuss it with me and asked me to pray about it, I still refused to pray about it.
After weeks of refusing, not getting any sleep, not being able to hold down food, I gave in and prayed about it. Once I was "obedient" (as someone told me I needed to be) I had peace and I stepped out and ran.
This was my prayer. "Lord, if I am to win, let it be your victory, if it is to expose the source of discourse with our Council or City then here I am, I am yours, use me but Lord, give me strength to allow you to do what is needed and protect me and my team."
I prayed this everyday. He showed up numerous times when attempts were made against me.
As the end got closer, so did he because he knew the evil coming and he did protect me. When the election was over I gave him praise because I had stood firm in my promise to him.
Afterwards the attacks of lies and deceit continued to come and I became angry and even screamed at God, heck, it was over why were they continuing."
----------------------------------------------------
11/12/15
KENNESAW ELECTORIAL LINE UP CHANGES FOR 2016
2 years ago, the 'winds of change' started blowing for the long entrenched Mathews cabal.
This year's elections have finished off the remaining members and a few others for good measure.
While there is an opportunity for new management for the City there is a real possibility that there will continue to be discord on a new front and pit former council members Welsh and Williams against each other.
With the Church seat sure to come up in a 2016 Special Election the chess board of Kennesaw politics still lacks one piece. We will just have to wait and see who takes that seat to see how calm or tumultuous the next 2 or 4 years will be.
For the record, here is the Kennesaw scorecard so far:
1 City Council member resigned and failed in her bid for Mayor, (Debbie Williams)
1 Mayor who did not seek another term, (Mathews)
1 Council member who lost the recent election, (Killingsworth)
1 Council member who did not run for another term, (Welsh)
and 1 Council member who won't be around in 2016 due to his Pedophile case coming up Dec 7th. (Church)
2 years ago, the 'winds of change' started blowing for the long entrenched Mathews cabal.
This year's elections have finished off the remaining members and a few others for good measure.
While there is an opportunity for new management for the City there is a real possibility that there will continue to be discord on a new front and pit former council members Welsh and Williams against each other.
With the Church seat sure to come up in a 2016 Special Election the chess board of Kennesaw politics still lacks one piece. We will just have to wait and see who takes that seat to see how calm or tumultuous the next 2 or 4 years will be.
For the record, here is the Kennesaw scorecard so far:
1 City Council member resigned and failed in her bid for Mayor, (Debbie Williams)
1 Mayor who did not seek another term, (Mathews)
1 Council member who lost the recent election, (Killingsworth)
1 Council member who did not run for another term, (Welsh)
and 1 Council member who won't be around in 2016 due to his Pedophile case coming up Dec 7th. (Church)
==============================================
CASTLE LAKE RESIDENTS - Have Some Minor Satisfaction
Those who followed the last years worth of coverage of how 1,500 retired, low income and Hispanic residents were so poorly treated, not only by the slumlord, and the devious developer but ALSO the City of Kennesaw elected officials, may realize that those elected Kennesaw City officeholders will mostly soon be OUT OF OFFICE.
That may be some minor satisfaction to those agreeved residents of the 52 acres being developed for Whole Foods and other retail stores.
Here is the scorecard so far:
1 City Council member resigned and failed in her bid for Mayor, (Debbie Williams)
1 Mayor who did not seek another term, (Mathews)
1 Council member who lost the recent election, (Killingsworth)
1 Council member who did not run for another term, (Welsh)
and 1 Council member who won't be around in 2016 due to his Pedophile case coming up Dec 7th. (Church)
So those 1,500 former citizens of Kennesaw and residents of Castle Lake, those scattered to other parks, cities, counties and other states, probably will not have a happy holiday season but at least 5 of the 6 elected officials in Kennesaw, who stood by while they were lied to, abused, threatened and cheated, they will at least have some minor satisfaction knowing that those incompetent, uncaring and useless officials will not be running Kennesaw in 2016.
________________________
Minor Blog Update:
On Nov 3rd the long running blog site: mayormathews.blogspot.com was suddenly removed.
It was the victim of Google robots who flagged it as 'spam' and deleted it. An appeal was immediately put in and on Nov. 10th it was restored with an apology from Google for having done this.
In the meantime this blog site was put up with posts rereived via the Way Back Machine. Both blogs will continue but the original blog has more historical material.
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A POOR LOSER IN KENNESAW:
I looked in again at the Facebook page of our losing candidate for Mayor and found that she was still pissing and moaning about how unfair her not winning was.
So I added this to the comment section, where it won't last long before it is removed, but someone has to say it, so I volunteered to do it:
'I almost added this after your Nov 7th post, but decided to let it alone, but since you are still bitching and moaning, here is the comment FYI
"You LOST - get over it. 1,071 people did NOT want you as Mayor.
I voted for Easterling. Not because I like Easterling.
I never heard of him until about 3 months ago when he surfaced as running for Mayor.
I voted for him because I was one of the 1,071 people who did not want YOU for Mayor."'
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11/6/15
RE: CATCHER FREEMAN:
During the recent Kennesaw election campaign one candidate set up a Facebook site under the name 'Catcher Freeman' and made various vicious posts, including the one below in which she called a fellow Black candidate an 'Uncle Tom' and spewed filth on others.
(i am saying this as directly as possible to you Jimmy Dickens Mr. Dickens you are the modern day "Uncle Tom")
Now the election is over, she still owes her former landlord, R. J. Patel, about $100,000, she is still a bankrupt and the Facebook site is still up.
(She says about R J Patel: ". . . you are a fraud and you are not living right yourself! . . . My suggestion to you sir is to stop being a hypocrite and fooling these people of Kennesaw because you are not the man you say you are!")
It is a shame that she got in and now Kennesaw will have to put up with her and her rants for 4 years.
Probably she will remove it (https://www.facebook.com/catcher.freeman.180) , but just in case, one of her vile posts is below just so you can see who she really is:
------------------------------------------------
11/6/15
This happened in the recent race for Kennesaw Mayor where Debbie Williams was astounded to find she had lost.
Expectations were sky high in the Williams camp as the last election when she won her short lived Council seat, she handily won over candidate Riedemann. She expected that she would be a shoo in for Mayor, a post she has always wanted, the Council seat was small potato's, she wanted to be Mayor and she was sure she would be easily elected.
Small logic problem here. When she kicked Riedemann's ass 2 years ago, by 385 votes, she was beating up on someone who was a bankrupt, deadbeat and generally considered to be the lap dog of the incumbent and unpopular mayor who had appointed him to serve out the last six months of a deceased Councilman's seat.
Riedemann never had a chance. But the large win for Debbie Williams then didn't translate into a walk in the park when confronted with someone who wasn't a lame duck going into the race.
If you watch Facebook posts you will see some whining from the Williams sect about how unfair life is when you don't win.
Mrs. Williams had fun beating up the hapless Riedemann but I guess it wasn't all that much fun to be the one getting the beating from a more qualified and able to defend himself, candidate.
Maybe Debbie Williams should have stayed on her Council seat and finished those 4 years instead of biting off more than she could chew in the Mayor's race.
2013 - Kennesaw Council Post 4
2015 - Kennesaw Mayor
----------------------------------------------
During the recent Kennesaw election campaign one candidate set up a Facebook site under the name 'Catcher Freeman' and made various vicious posts, including the one below in which she called a fellow Black candidate an 'Uncle Tom' and spewed filth on others.
(i am saying this as directly as possible to you Jimmy Dickens Mr. Dickens you are the modern day "Uncle Tom")
Now the election is over, she still owes her former landlord, R. J. Patel, about $100,000, she is still a bankrupt and the Facebook site is still up.
(She says about R J Patel: ". . . you are a fraud and you are not living right yourself! . . . My suggestion to you sir is to stop being a hypocrite and fooling these people of Kennesaw because you are not the man you say you are!")
It is a shame that she got in and now Kennesaw will have to put up with her and her rants for 4 years.
Probably she will remove it (https://www.facebook.com/catcher.freeman.180) , but just in case, one of her vile posts is below just so you can see who she really is:
The Fall of Kennesaw:
I have been a resident of Kennesaw, Ga for 12 years and i have seen so much go on here good and bad. For the most part it is a nice city to live and and raise your kids in. Most people see and hear about the good because they only see one side of the fence, but i am here to tell you now that i have seen the bad and very ugly of this city and it has become ridiculous to me because they portray this city to be a fair and equal city, they say it's the best place to live in the state of ga, but what they don't talk about is what matters and that's the people who run this city and the people who are in elections that have campaigns going on right this minute to run this city. Now i am a man who doesn't say much until it's time and right now it is definitely time to reveal what's really going on in this BEAUTIFUL SO CALLED INNOCENT place of Kennesaw Ga!
I am a well known citizen of this place, a lot of people respect me and this place is so small that word travels quickly so the things that i am about to talk about may hurt a few people but the truth has to be told because if nobody knows or people who know are afraid to speak then we will continue to be living in a city that is ran by favoritism and racism! Now my question to you candidates who are running for office is " If you are who you say you are, then why do you have so many secrets in your life? " Now i have done my research on each and everyone of the candidates and i am briefly going to say what i need to say.
First and foremost there is a known racist in this town who has the page name Davey Crockett aka real name "Billy Harris" whom should be banned from Facebook because it is sad for a man with that much hatred against minorities to be allowed to say and do the things that he has said and done on Facebook. The ignorant posts geared towards one the the candidatesYvette Daniel for Kennesaw City Council Post 2 posting her personal information on Facebook, disrespecting her, calling her names because of the color of her skin and being proud of it is flat out ignorant! Lets not forget the Derek Easterling whom he also blasted personal information all over the web about! This is an election to take office of the city who needs to be ran by honest and loyal hardworking equal citizens, so what does a persons past bankruptcy information has to do with taking office and why is he allowed to have personal information like this in his possession? Obviously someone is leaking information out to backstab candidates in this election! Also he talks about Yvette being a stripper because she ran a fitness studio that taught pole classes, which is a great core exercise class that is taught world wide, but because she is an african american, and this man has confederate flags all over his page, with monkeys on his post talking about african americans and other minority races, he targets this woman! This is sad because he shouldn't be allowed to do any of this and the people of kennesaw allow this kind of outrageous behavior to be in this election and city! He then goes on to talk about Yvette owing Mr. Rj Patel money because she leased a building with him and couldn't keep up the $4,500 a month rent due to her being a single mother with a very sick child and having to make a decision between taking care of her family or keeping a building that wasn't very successful in the first place! Now to my understanding Rj Patel is a very religious man so he says, i've met him briefly at the KBA meetings and a lot of people respect this man but a lot of people don't know like this man because they say he is fake and arrogant and doesn't live up to whom he claims he is.
Now since this Davey Crockett, Billy Harris racist is allowed to do his research and blast a few candidates i have mine as well and i am not taking any sides. Right is Right and Wrong is Wrong. Rj Patel you have a forgiving religion correct? So why is it that you are blasting Yvette Daniel so much, talking bad about her and a few other candidates even the one that you are so called endorsing which is a shock Debra Williams for Kennesaw Mayor ? From my understanding you made many comments about this woman on different occasions telling people not to deal with her because she can be very messy and that you only deal with her because you have to. Then you go on to jump into politics when you clearly stated that you would never get involved in politics simply because of how people treat other people and how messy it is and you are not about that. So now i see this post about you endorsing Mrs. Williams and why are you doing this is it because Yvette Daniel is running for city council! RJ Patel this is flat out arrogant, toothfacive, and disqusting! How can you invite thousands of people in your house, say that you have a forgiving heart and religion but slander this woman's name simply because you are mad that she could not keep up the rent at your building? Mr. Patel people go through things and sometimes people fail, but do you beat them down when they are down or do you as you stated about the man you claim to be help them and forgive them and pray for them to do better? Obviously you are a fraud and you are not living right yourself! How would you feel if someone blasted everything that they know about you on this site? Your secrets Mr. Patel? Do you have any? We won't get into them right now, No not today, i will wait for the right time if there is one. My suggestion to you sir is o stop being a hypocrite and fooling these people of Kennesaw because you are not the man you say you are!
Speaking of Hypocrites, as i stated earlier i am not going to take any sides in this matter, now what disturbs me the most is when an african american, plays both sides of the fence just so he can win this election. That's right i am saying this as directly as possible to you Jimmy Dickens Mr. Dickens you are the modern day "Uncle Tom" and this is pitiful on your behalf for you to walk around here in this city like you are a man of God who loves the lord and is doing god's work but you are being the total opposite. You are an african american, be proud of who you are, the color of your skin and stop trying to kiss up to everybody just to get a vote! I am pissed because i know who you are sir, God doesn't like ugly remember that and right now you are very ugly in God's eye! I've been in your Co Owned Barber shop, you have actually tapered my hair and the sad thing about this is you are taking blows at your own race and have no clue what type image you are being seen as! I know you are fooling a lot of people in this city of kennesaw, communities, using God to get votes, donating suits, and doing anything possible to get a vote! This isn't about helping the city this is about you trying to get a pension and some health insurance because as a barber you don't get those benefits, you have to take care of your many children and getting a seat will help you with that because your alcohol problem is taking a toll on your pockets! On your Bio you stated that you have a degree in Barber Science? What University did you go to and and i have never heard of a degree of such! What i am trying to say is stop trying to be someone that you are not, stop trying to be this great man when you are far from it, stop turning against your own race so that you can win an election! I know about you and Mrs. Williams teaming up, and this is sad because i see this type of mess on the TV show "Scandal" and you are definitely a scandal brother! The truth always come to the light when it's all said and done and this city needs people who are going to make a difference! It's hurtful to throw you under the bus but right is right and you don't deserve to be in city council. You are selfish and flashy we need real people who are about the cause, to see you make yourself look like a complete idiot is sickening and i am only trying to help you so y advice to you is stop playing both sides if you want to win this election be you and stop lying to these people because we don't need liars we need the truth in the city of kennesaw.
This whole election is awful, we have people in office who have been in office 8 years and has not made a change yet that's right Tim Killingsworth you just want a pension as well. We don't need people in the office that is going to sit around and tittle their fingers we need people that will make a difference, who are going to be fair and equal, who is going to do right by the city! Tell me what do you have to say you have done for this city in 8 years sir? It's time for you to go, hit the road jack and please don't come back! You are a old and tired and we need a new look we need our city to be about something! The president of the united states can't even run more than 2 consecutive terms but because of you have been in office for 8 years and nothing has changed but your face and pension you are allowed to run for another term? This is favoritism at it's finest, and it's time that this stop!
This is by far one of the worst elections i have ever witnessed simply because this is about Race and Favoritism! This city is going to fall if we keep putting people in office who are about the color of skin and who they know. It's time to vote the filth out of the council and put people in there who are about what this city claims to be Excellence, Greatness, Fairness, and Equality! Honestly i don't care what color you are, if you are qualified and are the best for the seat then you should be in office! We need to stop all of this hatred amongst candidates because at the end of the day we all still have to live hear and our kids have to live here and this will only cause confusion that will end up getting out of control! A lot of you don't see this, most of you see it but don't want to do anything about it! Not me i will be at the voter polls and casting my vote on the candidates whom i think deserves the seat!
We need to cut this mess out and focus on what matters, the well-being of our city! They are arguing over a museum that has confederate flags in it and getting mad because a lot of people don't want to keep putting their hard earned money into a museum that is only for one race! Mrs. Deborah Williams this is your heritage and i respect that but it's not mine and thousands of others who don't want to keep putting our tax money into this museum! This is wrong! Can you explain to me why you think that, this it's ok to make our citizens pay taxes to a museum that is basically racist? This needs to stop! This needs to stop now! It's time to be fair it's time for everyone to really think about what's going on and stop this nonsense so we can make the right decision for our city!
Racism is wrong, Hate is wrong, Favoritism is wrong! I don't want to put everybody's business on blast but if i keep seeing this trash on Facebook how everyone is trying to stab people in the back then i am going to be forced to bring out the good stuff so let's be fair and do what's right! Be who you say you are and stop living a lie!
C. Freeman
11/6/15
NOW AND THEN PEOPLE GET AN INFLATED IDEA OF HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE
This happened in the recent race for Kennesaw Mayor where Debbie Williams was astounded to find she had lost.
Expectations were sky high in the Williams camp as the last election when she won her short lived Council seat, she handily won over candidate Riedemann. She expected that she would be a shoo in for Mayor, a post she has always wanted, the Council seat was small potato's, she wanted to be Mayor and she was sure she would be easily elected.
Small logic problem here. When she kicked Riedemann's ass 2 years ago, by 385 votes, she was beating up on someone who was a bankrupt, deadbeat and generally considered to be the lap dog of the incumbent and unpopular mayor who had appointed him to serve out the last six months of a deceased Councilman's seat.
Riedemann never had a chance. But the large win for Debbie Williams then didn't translate into a walk in the park when confronted with someone who wasn't a lame duck going into the race.
If you watch Facebook posts you will see some whining from the Williams sect about how unfair life is when you don't win.
Mrs. Williams had fun beating up the hapless Riedemann but I guess it wasn't all that much fun to be the one getting the beating from a more qualified and able to defend himself, candidate.
Maybe Debbie Williams should have stayed on her Council seat and finished those 4 years instead of biting off more than she could chew in the Mayor's race.
2013 - Kennesaw Council Post 4
D. Williams 1,142
M. Riedemann 757*
Total Voting: 1,899 (Williams won by 385 votes)
2015 - Kennesaw Mayor
D. Easterling 1,071
D. Williams 834 (Williams lost by 237 votes)
Total voting: 1,905
----------------------------------------------
CASTLE LAKE AGAIN
Probably you did not realize that 12
then current and some former, CLMHP residents filed a civil suit against the
Canadian slumlords who owned the property where the 450,000 sq ft retail center
is now being built.
They did file in Feb. of
this year and the suit continues in Cobb County Superior Court with all the
usual back and forth you would expect in a suit that might result in millions of
dollars in damages to the Canadians.
The case will probably drag on for
several years as such cases normally do. I speak from some experience as I have
been sued twice and sued myself one time. All the cases took a long time, the
shortest was 23 months when a major department store chain sued me for
publishing their 'Security Manual'. The judge eventually tossed it out, the
material and much else was never removed and although now outdated it still is
online in a dozen blogs sites.
So the Castle Lake suit will be out
there for some years to come, whether or now it is given class status, it can
continue with the original 12 plaintiffs. You can keep up with it yourself on
the Cobb County Superior Court site or drop by here every few months to see if
anything of note has been reported.
JACQUELINE LOPEZ, MARY HUIEL, JOHNNY
MILLENDER, DEBRA SPEARS, MARIA TREVINO, NORBERTO MANZANO, LUDVINA MANZANO,
GUADALUPE AYALA LANDA, KARLA RODRIGUEZS, IAN MCGUIGAN, MARIA RIVERA, and ELBERTO
BOYZO,
Plaintiffs,
v.
CASTLE LAKE HOMES CORP., MASAL PARTNERS LTD. LP, and AMAK PARTNERS LP,
Defendants.
Plaintiffs,
v.
CASTLE LAKE HOMES CORP., MASAL PARTNERS LTD. LP, and AMAK PARTNERS LP,
Defendants.
CIVIL ACTION FILE NO.
15-1-1129 - CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
COUNT I: MONEY HAD AND RECEIVED (UNJUST
ENRICHMENT)
COUNT II: BREACH OF CONTRACT
COUNT III: THEFT BY DECEPTION (AS TO THE WATER OVERCHARGES CLASS ONLY)
COUNT IV: THEFT BY TAKING (AS TO THE ILLEGAL FINES CLASS ONLY)
COUNT V: VIOLATION OF THE GEORGIA RICO ACT, § 16-14-4, ET SEQ.
COUNT VI: FRAUD (AS TO THE WATER OVERCHARGES CLASS ONLY
COUNT VII: CIVIL CONSPIRACY
COUNT VIII: PUNITIVE DAMAGES
COUNT IX: LITIGATION COSTS
COUNT II: BREACH OF CONTRACT
COUNT III: THEFT BY DECEPTION (AS TO THE WATER OVERCHARGES CLASS ONLY)
COUNT IV: THEFT BY TAKING (AS TO THE ILLEGAL FINES CLASS ONLY)
COUNT V: VIOLATION OF THE GEORGIA RICO ACT, § 16-14-4, ET SEQ.
COUNT VI: FRAUD (AS TO THE WATER OVERCHARGES CLASS ONLY
COUNT VII: CIVIL CONSPIRACY
COUNT VIII: PUNITIVE DAMAGES
COUNT IX: LITIGATION COSTS
------------------------------------------------------------------
11/6/15
KENNESAW COUNCILMAN CHURCH DEC. 7TH TRIAL - EXPECT A MEDIA CIRCUS
Additional documents from the end of October are now posted at the Superior Court site.
Kennesaw is about to get quite a lot of unwanted publicity and it won't all be local coverage the request is to allow 'pooled coverage'.
One media outlet has filed with the Superior Court:
"The undersigned desires to install photography and a reporter's digital voice recorder equipment in the following locations: Cobb County Superior Court Judge Mary Staley's courtroom, room 7100 . . . the personal who will be responsible for the installation and operation of this equipment during its use are: Marietta Daily Journal Reporters and Photographers."
"The undersigned desires to install photography and a reporter's digital voice recorder equipment in the following locations: Cobb County Superior Court Judge Mary Staley's courtroom, room 7100 . . . the personal who will be responsible for the installation and operation of this equipment during its use are: Marietta Daily Journal Reporters and Photographers."
You can look at individual documents via the direct links below.
REQUEST TO INSTALL RECORDING AND PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT
PLEA AND ARRAIGNMENT
http://images.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.org/web/viewer.html…
http://images.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.org/web/viewer.html…
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE
http://images.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.org/web/viewer.html…
http://images.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.org/web/viewer.html…
DEFENDANT STATUS SHEET
http://images.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.org/web/viewer.html…
http://images.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.org/web/viewer.html…
ENTRY OF APPEARANCE
http://images.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.org/web/viewer.html…
http://images.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.org/web/viewer.html…
MAGISTRATE COURT DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
http://images.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.org/web/viewer.html…
http://images.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.org/web/viewer.html…
NOTICE OF STATE'S INTENT TO PRESENT EVIDENCE OF OTHER EVIDENCE OF OTHER ACTS PURSUANT TO OCGA AND IN AGGRAVATION OF PUNISHMENT
http://images.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.org/web/viewer.html…
http://images.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.org/web/viewer.html…
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
http://images.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.org/web/viewer.html…
http://images.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.org/web/viewer.html…
STATES DEMAND FOR WRITTEN NOTICE OF DEFENDANTS INTENTION TO OFFER A DEFENSE OF ALIBI
http://images.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.org/web/viewer.html…
http://images.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.org/web/viewer.html…
STATES DISCOVERY DEMANDS
http://images.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.org/web/viewer.html…
http://images.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.org/web/viewer.html…
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11/4/15
TIME FOR OUR KENNESAW LEGISLATORS TO GET THEIR REAR ENDS OFF THEIR CITY PAID LEATHER CHAIRS AND DEMAND THAT PEDOPHILE CHURCH RESIGN FROM THE COUNCIL
3 weeks ago a new set of documents were filed on the Superior Court site. At that time they were not 'published' (ie: for some reason they didn't come up on the site). Now they are up and available and you can read them by clicking on the direct links below.
I have said since June 27, 2014 that the City Council/mayor should publically DEMAND that this accused Pedophile resign from the Council.
I get back pm's that they had tried and he refused. That he can't be 'forced off' the council.
Of course he can't be FORCED to resign but you on the Council have let all of us down by not standing up on your hind legs, looking him in the face and telling him that he is a disgrace to the City and he SHOULD resign.
Quietly asking him in some back hallway if he would resign is entirely unacceptable and it counts for NOTHING at all.
A major reason that Debbie Williams lost her bid for Mayor was that she stood up for this asshat and made some stupid statements about him deserving a fair trial. No one at City would publically ask him to quit.
No one has ever said he should not get a fair trial.
The Joe and Jill Sixpacks living here in Kennesaw simply want him off the Council. Anyone with any integredy would have resigned 18 months ago. If he is found not guilty he can run again for office.
I will quote from the first document:
"The above named Defendant stands accused of Aggravated Child Molestation, Child Molestation and Sexual Exploitation of Children. Pursuant to Uniform Superior Court Rules the State serves notice to the above named Defendant that the State shall seek to intoduce evidence of other acts, and other acts where the evidence is relevant to demonstrate the defendant's motive, opportunity, intent, knowledge, modus operandi, and absense of mistake."
NOTICE OF STATE'S INTENT TO PRESENT EVIDENCE OF OTHER EVIDENCE OF OTHER ACTS PURSUANT TO OCGA AND IN AGGRAVATION OF PUNISHMENT
http://images.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.org/web/viewer.html?file=/document/SUCR-20150122315.PDF
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
http://images.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.org/web/viewer.html?file=/document/SUCR-20150121172.PDF
STATES DEMAND FOR WRITTEN NOTICE OF DEFENDANTS INTENTION TO OFFER A DEFENSE OF ALIBI
http://images.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.org/web/viewer.html?file=/document/SUCR-20150121171.PDF
STATES DISCOVERY DEMANDS
http://images.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.org/web/viewer.html?file=/document/SUCR-20150121170.PDF
November 04, 2015 01:
Yvette M.A. Daniel
Jimmy Dickens
Jim Eaton
“I’m elated,” said Daniel, speaking by phone after her close victory over incumbent Tim Killingsworth on Tuesday. “It’s a clear signal that Kennesaw is moving forward; it shows that we’re diverse and we’re embracing that diversity.”
Daniel’s comments resonate in an election that was defined by many issues, not the least of which was a controversial City Council vote to initially deny zoning to a Muslim prayer hall that shined a national spotlight on Kennesaw. The council later reversed its vote when threatened with legal action.
Daniel, a retired deputy with the Augusta-Richmond Sheriff’s Office, said voters wanted a local government that would foster a “community of inclusion.”
Daniel won 51 percent of the vote with 935 ballots cast for her. Her opponent, Killingsworth, captured 48 percent with 894 votes.
For his part, Dickens, a barber, said he did not want to be viewed simply as an African-American man, but added that it was “amazing” the city was becoming more diverse.
Dickens won 40 percent, or 725 votes, against Bruce Jenkins and Jon Whitmer, who received 35 percent and 24 percent of the vote respectively. Kennesaw is unique among most Georgia cities in that the winner need only capture a majority. It does not have runoffs, according to Cobb Board of Elections.
“My priority will be to unify the city,” Dickens said. “There are parts of the city that feel unlinked.”
After a heated municipal election, unification was a dominant theme among newly-elected officials Tuesday.
Jim Eaton, a professor, won the seat currently occupied by his daughter, Cris-Eaton Welsh, who campaigned for mayor-elect Derek Easterling. Easterling and Eaton celebrated together at the 41 Cork & Tap in Kennesaw on Tuesday, while Dickens awaited the results at a house on J.O. Stephenson Avenue with mayoral candidate Debra Williams and council candidate Steve Creason, both of whom were defeated.
“I’m thinking positive and I’m willing to work with anyone in office for the betterment of Kennesaw,” Dickens said.
Eaton struck a similar note, saying he has known both Daniel and Dickens for years and is confident they can work well together.
“I’m too easy-going a guy to pick a fight,” he quipped.
As for his priorities on the council, Eaton said he would like to see the city run “the way it’s supposed to be” run.
“We have a city manager form of government and I really think that we need to let our professionals do the job they need to do and let us provide some of the guidance and the ideas,” he said.
Eaton won 56 percent of the vote with 1,029 against Creason, who captured 43 percent of the vote with 791 ballots cast.
-----------------------------------------------------------
REMEMBER THIS GUY?
His trial starts Dec 7, 2015.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Easterling bests Williams in Kennesaw mayoral race
by Meris Lutz November 04, 2015
by Meris Lutz November 04, 2015
KENNESAW — Former Cobb Sheriff’s Deputy Derek Easterling was elected mayor of Kennesaw Tuesday on a platform of uniting the city after an at-times contentious race with former councilwoman Debra Williams.
“This isn’t for me, this is for Kennesaw and this is for you!” Easterling told a packed room of ecstatic supporters at the 41 Cork & Tap on Cobb Parkway. “I spent the last five months earning your vote … now tomorrow, I’m going to start earning your trust and your confidence.”
Easterling won 56 percent of the vote with 1,071 votes, while Williams captured 44 percent with 834 votes, according to unofficial results posted by the Cobb Board of Elections.
He will replace Mayor Mark Mathews in January, who opted not to seek re-election.
Speaking to the MDJ after his victory, Easterling said his top priority was to bring the city together. Deep divisions have emerged over several issues, including the replacement of the late Councilman William Thrash in 2013; the direction of development in Kennesaw; and a City Council vote to initially deny zoning to a Muslim prayer hall that garnered national attention.
Those divisions spilled over into the campaign, with supporters of Williams and Easterling accusing the other camp of spreading false rumors and making personal attacks.
“That’s behind us,” Easterling said. “Let’s look forward, let’s move forward — always forward.”
Outgoing Councilwoman Cris Eaton-Welsh, who helped lead Easterling’s campaign, said the most important issue facing the incoming mayor will be unifying the city and restoring the public’s trust in local government.
“I think that Derek is exactly the kind of person who can put consensus back together,” she said, pointing to his role on the Parent Teacher Association of Awtrey Middle School. “I’ve seen him first hand take a situation that could have been volatile and have everybody able to live with what the solution was.”
Kevin Bowen, local resident and proprietor of North Georgia Horn Works in Kennesaw who attended the election party, said he wanted to see more business brought to the downtown.
“There needs to be more than just chiropractors and haircutters in Kennesaw,” he said. “We just also need to move forward. There’s been too much sitting stagnant while Acworth, Woodstock, towns around us have grown, and I think we’re behind everybody.”
Another attendee, Trisha Crawley, who works in finance for BANK OF America, said she was impressed by Easterling’s work in the schools.
“I have two children who went to Big Shanty Elementary and he is always there, willing to help, he fixed the parking situation (at the) entrance; it’s something that’s so simple but it just shows how much he does care about the community,” said Crawley.
Crawley predicted traffic and development as Kennesaw expands, especially now that Kennesaw State University has a football team, would be big issues for the mayor to contend with.
“Just (dealing with) the population (growth) and also trying to maintain that small-town feel,” she said.
Khy Chestnut, a KSU student, said he wanted a mayor and City Council that would take Kennesaw to the 21st Century.”
“We’ve been in the national spotlight for some very (negative) things so it’s nice to see some good people who are working to reform the government to make it nicer and more transparent,” he said.
Easterling greeted supporters with his wife, Dawn, and her two children, Brodie, 14, and Ansley, 11, by his side.
According to campaign finance reports, Easterling raised $4,345.92 while Williams raised $6,070.
Williams could not be reached for comment after results were announced, but speaking earlier in the day she said if she lost it would be due to an online campaign of misinformation against her.
--------------------------------------DID MDJ ARTICLE ON PEDOPHILE CHURCH DOOM DEBBIE WILLIAMS RUN FOR MAYOR?
3 candidates for City Council 2 years ago got the unwelcome benefit of a 'last minute' MDJ article exposing the misuse of City funds by elected officials mis-use of their City issued credit cards.
All 3 incumbents were ousted from office in a clean sweep for their challengers.
Now just 11 days from the election the MDJ has another major story, this time about a former mayor and sitting Council member. Additional details about the pending case were what journalists like to call 'breaking news' and those 6 Felony charges now appear 10 times worse than prior disclosures.
Elected City office holders who had steadfastly refused to publicly call on Pedophile Leonard Church to resign, despite efforts of the concerned community, myself included, now appear even more dense and clueless than they had prior to the MDJ story today that Church had over 200 pedophile photos on his various computers and not just the 4 he had been charged with.
(“When it comes to the child pornography counts, we just selected four, instead of presenting a 200-count indictment, which we could have done in this case”)
Who benefits here? Well in a sense no one really 'benefits' as this is an exceptionally sleazy issue, but if you consider that the entire Council and mayor have not only ignored the matter of Pedophile Church serving on the same dais as they did for these past 18 months, then you have to take a close look at one race in particular and both what that current candidate did and said about the matter.
Take your mind back to the July 2nd City Council meeting where local concerned Army vet Anthony De Paola from Legacy Park brought his concerns about the mayor and Council inaction in this Pedophile Councilman issue.
De Paola took to task the mayor and Council in that meeting for their inaction in not demanding that Pedophile Church resign.
As seen on the City video of the meeting, most of the Council and mayor simply hung their heads and had vacant expressions on their faces, I say MOST because then Council member Debbie Williams sprang to the defense of Church who sits beside her on the dias and she said as follows, as recorded on video and subsequently summarized and published in minutes of the Council meeting:
"Williams said she took an oath and swore to uphold the laws of the City and State, therefore everyone is given their day in court and are presumed innocent until proven guilty. She will not circumvent the laws and will not take that right from Mr. Church from having his day in court."
"Williams said she took an oath and swore to uphold the laws of the City and State, therefore everyone is given their day in court and are presumed innocent until proven guilty. She will not circumvent the laws and will not take that right from Mr. Church from having his day in court."
(see quote at: http://leonardchurch.blogspot.com/)
No one throughout the last 18 months has ever said or implied that Church should not get his 'day in court'.
Candidate for mayor Debbie Williams over the course of her few months in office before resigning to run for Mayor has been an apologist for Pedophile Church and this late breaking article simply shifts the spotlight onto her complete lack of comprehension of this important Kennesaw issue and how tone deaf she has been to the concerns of the community.
We will have to wait and see if this MDJ story and its impact on her race is enough to swing the vote against her in the Mayor's race. Up to now it seemed to be going her way but ten days before the last Council election the 3 incumbents probably all thought they were going to be re-elected.
None were.
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KENNESAW RESULTS FYI:
Kennesaw Mayor
5 of 5 Precincts Completely Reported
DEREK EASTERLING 55.99% 1,071
DEBRA A. WILLIAMS 43.60% 834
Write-in 0.42% 8
1,913
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Kennesaw City Council At Large Post 1
5 of 5 Precincts Completely Reported
STEVE CREASON 43.15% 791
JIM EATON 56.14% 1,029
Write-in 0.71% 13
1,833
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Kennesaw City Council At Large Post 2
5 of 5 Precincts Completely Reported
YVETTE M. A. DANIEL 50.68% 935
TIM KILLINGSWORTH (I) 48.46% 894
Write-in 0.87% 16
1,845
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Kennesaw City Council At Large Post 4 Special
5 of 5 Precincts Completely Reported
JIMMY DICKENS 40.48% 725
BRUCE JENKINS 35.40% 634
JON WHITMER 23.51% 421
Write-in 0.61% 11
1,791
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Note: There is no provision for a run off in Kennesaw, the winner is Dickens and he takes office immediately, not in January with the other candidates.
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For Your Information:
On Nov 3rd my blog site mayormathews.blogspot.com was removed by blogspot as 'spam', which of course it is not.
An 'appeal' was put in but there has been no reply to that. The more recent below content of the old site is reproduced via the Wayback Machine for your information.
The years of older posts are no longer available, all because of the stupidity of whoever runs 'blogspot'. They are morons.
The blog title has changed, some of the recent content was reposted and the blog site will continue but with much reduced content.
From this point on, you are looking at saved content via the Wayback Machine.
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Oct. 17, 2015
WHO DID I VOTE FOR IN KENNESAW?
MAYOR:
DEREK EASTERLING
* When asked questions he answered them.
* His prior bankruptcy and 6-7 wives were not major factors.
* He is a 'new' face in Kennesaw politics.
DEREK EASTERLING
* When asked questions he answered them.
* His prior bankruptcy and 6-7 wives were not major factors.
* He is a 'new' face in Kennesaw politics.
COUNCIL POST 1:
STEVE CREASON
* Heard favorable comments about him.
* His opponent is simply a straw man for fromer Council member Eaton-Welsh and we are well rid of her.
STEVE CREASON
* Heard favorable comments about him.
* His opponent is simply a straw man for fromer Council member Eaton-Welsh and we are well rid of her.
COUNCIL POST 4
JIMMY DICKENS:
* When asked questions he answered them.
* He is a 'new' face in Kennesaw politics.
* He ran once before for Council, lost and is back again, clearly he wants to contribute, so I think he should have a chance.
JIMMY DICKENS:
* When asked questions he answered them.
* He is a 'new' face in Kennesaw politics.
* He ran once before for Council, lost and is back again, clearly he wants to contribute, so I think he should have a chance.
COUNCIL POST 2:
BILL HARRIS (as write in)
Sorry, no good candidates in this race, one is simply unhinged and the other is a continuation of the old Mathews Gang and we have had enough of that bunch. To protest I simply wrote in my name. On Oct 2nd I 'called' the race for Killingsworth as winner by about 4 to 1 over Daniel.
BILL HARRIS (as write in)
Sorry, no good candidates in this race, one is simply unhinged and the other is a continuation of the old Mathews Gang and we have had enough of that bunch. To protest I simply wrote in my name. On Oct 2nd I 'called' the race for Killingsworth as winner by about 4 to 1 over Daniel.
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An early tip off as to who I might vote for could be found in my prior statements:
1) If I ask questions and they are not answered I will NOT vote for you, nor will I chase you for answers to those questions.
2) Those 'in office' should be 'out of office' and new people selected. The Country and City got into the states they are in due to those already in office. Let's get some new people, they probably won't be any worse and if they are they can get voted out next time around.
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DECISION TIME APPROACHES FOR KENNESAW ELECTION
Still time for you to get an absentee ballot, mine should be awaiting me at my P O Box.
I have made decisions in 2 of the 4 races.
Council Post 2:
Neither candidate is worth my vote. We have one running who in my opinion is one step away from a mental hospital and the other is the last of the old Mathews cabal. As you might recall, on Oct 2nd I 'called' that race for the incumbent, but neither will get my vote. Possibly I will write in 'Alfred E. Newman'.
Neither candidate is worth my vote. We have one running who in my opinion is one step away from a mental hospital and the other is the last of the old Mathews cabal. As you might recall, on Oct 2nd I 'called' that race for the incumbent, but neither will get my vote. Possibly I will write in 'Alfred E. Newman'.
Council Post 4:
That 3 person race has me marking my ballot for Jimmy Dickens. He has run before and lost so perhaps this time around he will make it.
That 3 person race has me marking my ballot for Jimmy Dickens. He has run before and lost so perhaps this time around he will make it.
The other 2 races are still under consideration and I may just ignore them or write in my own name.
With the minor exception of the nut job running for Post 2, this is one very dull election and I am beginning to doubt my earlier estimate that 2,500 people will turn out to vote (out of 16,000 registered voters in Kennesaw).
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AFTER ALL THE BULLSHIT WITH THE SUFFA DAWAT MOSQUE HERE IS ANOTHER ONE OPENING UP. HOPE IT IS A DIFFERENT BUNCH FROM THOSE LIARS AT THE JILES RD MOSQUE!
New mosque in the works for west Cobb
by Meris Lutz October 16, 2015 Special to the MDJ
WEST COBB — When Amjad Taufique first moved to Cobb from Houston, the entire observant Muslim population of the county could fit in the small office they rented for prayer services.
More than 25 years later, the community is preparing to celebrate the opening of the first mosque constructed in Cobb County.
There are five mosques already throughout the county, but all of them are in repurposed buildings, said Taufique, an active community leader who owns a repair management company.
Named Masjid Al Furqan, the about 45,000-square-foot mosque off Barrett Parkway, not far from the intersection with Dallas Highway, is expected to open early next year.
(Write: Masjid Al-Hedaya, P. O. Box 1893, Marietta, GA 30061)
(Write: Masjid Al-Hedaya, P. O. Box 1893, Marietta, GA 30061)
“The county is growing,” said Taufique. “It’s a good place to live, good for businesses. We’ve got a lot of Muslims who have businesses around here, doctors, we have a lot of them, so that kind of attracts a crowd.”
Fadi Ali, a management consultant who moved to Cobb County from Florida with his wife, a surgeon, and children two years ago, recently bought a house near the new mosque in order to attend prayers there.
Ali said being able to build a place of worship from the ground up is significant for the Muslim community.
“I think it makes a huge difference,” he said. “This is significant especially for me because I can take my children, my wife, my extended family and show them how we put this window here and that there.”
Ali also said it was important to him that the mosque be a resource not just for Muslims, but for the entire Cobb community, and talked about offering classes and activities.
When finished, Al Furqan will occupy a six-acre site that includes two existing houses, one of which will become administrative offices and the other will be available as the residence for the imam, who leads the congregation in prayer. The grounds will be encircled by a landscaped buffer and walking trail, which Taufique said would be open to the public.
The mosque is being built with funds donated by the community and is expected to serve a congregation of up to 300 people. Construction is estimated to cost $1.2 million, Taufique said, adding that the building was designed to blend in with the surrounding neighborhood, with a few nods to Islamic architecture, such as arches in the entranceway.
The property was previously owned by a church and already zoned to allow a religious institution.
“We are going to stick to the code like nobody ever did,” said Taufique. “We know where we are, we know our position.”
Taufique is hoping Al Furqan will be open for services by February or March of next year, and encouraged members of the public who were curious to reach out to arrange a tour.
“We would love for our neighbors to say, ‘Hey I just want to stop by,’” he said.
Construction of the mosque follows on the heels of a heated confrontation in Kennesaw in December that saw protests over a proposed storefront prayer hall in a shopping center. The Kennesaw City Council eventually reversed its vote not to allow the prayer hall after being threatened with legal action.
By contrast, both Ali and Taufique said they were not aware of any negative responses to the new mosque in west Cobb. In fact, they said, all of the neighbors have been very welcoming.
A handful of people have expressed alarm to the local county commissioner, Bob Weatherford, however.
Weatherford said he has received calls from “five or 10” constituents who called to complain.
“You get some that are far out there,” Weatherford said. “I don’t discriminate based on anything as long as it’s legal.”
He went on to say he supported freedom of worship as long as it did not infringe on the rights of others and it was done “peacefully.”
“My opinion of that particular religion is that they have a propensity not to be peaceful,” Weatherford said, adding he was speaking in general terms and not about the Muslim community of Cobb County.
Ali said he was not concerned about the kind of anti-Muslim sentiment that was on display in Kennesaw last year, where protesters held signs that read “ban Islam” and “Islam wants no peace.”
“I believe in our justice system and elected officials,” Ali said.
As a community leader, Taufique has often found himself in the role of ambassador of his faith, especially since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
Several years after the attacks, he recalled reading an article about a young Muslim couple who were interrogated by the FBI after their neighbors reported “suspicious” behavior, which, it turned out, included fixing their washing machine and cooking biryani, a popular South Asian and Middle Eastern rice dish.
“It made me start to think that the neighbors really don’t even know you. They’re just scared (for) no reason, so what can we do to change that?” he asked.
Taufique decided to invite his entire neighborhood association, representing more than 140 houses, to an open house at his home.
“We said, ‘Hey, we understand maybe you guys are a little concerned about who we are, what we are, so come in and see,’” he said.
About 100 neighbors showed up, many of them meeting for the first time in Taufique’s home.
Taufique calls the extra efforts made by Muslims to assuage their neighbors’ fears “the price we pay,” and takes it in stride. Since 9/11, he has built strong connections with local Jewish, Christian and other religious leaders and helps organize an annual interfaith Thanksgiving dinner.
“I built up good relationships with many people after that just because they called and we had lunch together,” he said. “It’s a process of education that we have to really put out there for the community to see who we are.”
Location: Masjid Al Furqan, 3861 Ernest W Barrett Parkway Southwest, Marietta, GA 30064. See: http://wc-ic.org/, and
http://www.atlantamuslim.com/directory/masjid-al-furqan/ for info on existing Kennesaw Mosque see:
http://suffadawa.blogspot.com/
http://www.atlantamuslim.com/directory/masjid-al-furqan/ for info on existing Kennesaw Mosque see:
http://suffadawa.blogspot.com/
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KENNESAW 'WATCH' RETURNS
Gone since early May the Kennesaw Watch returns and can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/TheKennesawWatch?fref=photo
For some years Kennesaw had both AOL's local 'Patch' and also the 'Watch'. Both reported community activities and covered most Council meetings.
Patch never entirely disappeared but was turned over to another company by AOL who could not make it work. It still exists but it has little original content and that is seldom related to Kennesaw but is about Cobb and they usually just reprint MDJ articles.
With the Watch coming back there will be more local news about Kennesaw available to residents. The above link will take you to their FB page.
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10/14/15
This was posted on FB and I thought it interesting enough to repeat it here FYI. I will also attempt to repost it on FB but I am somewhat challenged in these FB things and will probably screw it up, but here it is and while I have chopped it up into more readable paragraphs it is otherwise as posted:
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Note: My site isn't set up for posting comments, but here are a few posted on FB.
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I expect that you can figure out who this is without my help.
But just FYI on some of the above.
I have never spoken or emailed Mr. Patel, my info is confirmed from other sources.
Info on the many many bankrupts in this City come directly from PACER which is a subscription site for reading Federal records, no one is leading info to me it is all public record.
_________________
Cobb County Elections & Registration Problems
Although the top of the pyramid there seems responsive to complaints I have again had problems with this agency.
I always vote by absentee ballot. My theory is that for 49 cents I can avoid driving to and from some polling place, avoid standing in line for who knows how long and avoid having to deal with some governmental flunky who, like KGB border guards, demans to see my government issue ID.
So 2 years ago a batch of absentee ballots went out with incomplete return addresses for the yellow color mail in envelopes. I didn't notice and just put the stamp on the envelope with completed ballot and dropped it in the mail.
After the election I got a letter from the Director saying that my vote did not get to them until 3 days 'after' the close of the polls, thus it was not counted - "sorry it was our error".
It was explained that the State furnished these official envelopes to all counties and they are suppose to then add their POB or street address under the preprinted info already on the envelope which reads that it is going to the Elections Dept, Absentee ballot etc.
Since my one vote would not have changed any Kennesaw race it was unfortunate but no big deal where the election had to be rerun. (Misc: 1 post candidate won by only 32 votes).
This year my application was rejected by an Assistant Absentee Supervisor with a snotty letter saying in part: "The applications (sic) will be rejected because you are not registered with the Cobb election and registration office and the cutoff day for registration upon this election was October 5, 2015."
I sent off my typical letter reserved for such situations which includes the term 'pin heads' and other unfavorable generalizations and suggestions. I also included my registration date and number.
The matter was resolved by the same person with an email saying the ballot would be issued.
I also copied to the Elections Director the exchange of correspondence with my suggestions for improving their service and my disappointment that I was again getting bad service from their department.
A suitable reply came in this morning from the Director with assurances that the ballot was now in the mail, that the wrong 'William Harris' was the one unqualified and that the person involved would be spoken to and policys reviewed.
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10/13/15
A Question Posted by Me on Jimmy Dickens site:
Since Kennesaw had a role in the late War Between The States and the Confederate Flag was widely displayed during that time I would like you to state your opinion on the following:
1) Should the City of Kennesaw via the Museum display the Confederate flag?
2) Should streets (or parks etc) having the name of Confederate Generals or Office holders be renamed to remove those names?
3) Should historical markers or plaques commemorating this State's participation in the Confederacy be removed?
4) Do you support the radical 'Black Lives Matter' group or do you believe that 'All Lives Matter'?
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A prompt reply was given on Facebook, here it is FYI:
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10/13/15
What? Me Worry!
I BELIEVE IN GOOD COMMUNICATIONS, Here is how it is done:
1) Tell 'em what your gonna tell 'em,
2) Tell 'em,
3) Tell 'em what you told 'em
2) Tell 'em,
3) Tell 'em what you told 'em
In that vein here is something that some of you have read before and it is presented 'again' in the hopes that perhaps someone out there in Jill and Joe Sixpack land will press the candidates for some answers.
"I continue to be amazed that our office seekers only seem to speak in platitudes.
Here is one bullet point from a council candidate FYI: "Improve the function of Public Spaces by the creation of family friendly gatherings." Now come on, just what the Hell does this mean?
If you are going to go to the trouble of having some slick door hangers printed up and have your worker walk the neighborhoods passing out stuff then I would think a candidate for actually stand for something and let potential voters know what they want to accomplish and what they will work towards.
There are some general questions below that probably ALL the candidates should cover in their web sites or speeches. For myself, if you don't provide the info that is fine, I won't vote for you, if none of you provide the info, then I write in my own name in protest for that race.
Here are a few things I would expect ANY candidate to give some info on:
1) As Mayor or Councilman will you not only go on record as refusing any pension benefits but also work to eliminate across the board any and all such benefits for ALL elected officials in Kennesaw,
2) Do you support and will you work for any necessary change in City rules/regulations that would suspend any office holder charged with a Felony while that case is before the courts?
3) Do you support and will you work for any necessary change in City rules/regulations regarding term limits, this includes asking voters in any coming election for their votes for or against these limits,
4) Do you support and will you work for any necessary change in City rules/regulations to do away with the useless Council elections by 'posts' and go to a system in which the top vote getters for Council seats get those seats? (FYI: in the last Council election using posts we found that the 3rd highest candidate in votes did not get a seat on the Council and those 3 seats were filled with candidates who got the 1st, 2nd and 4th highest vote totals),
5) Several already elected officials claim to be working on an Ethics Handbook. It is past time for our elected officials to put forward a draft of what they have and open the crafting of such a book or pamphlet to citizens for their comments and suggestions.
6) Extremely poor advice seems to have been given to our various elected officials, both present and past, to the effect that they must not comment on anything pending before the Council and that any such comments may deprive any person or firm with a matter coming before the Council of their 'due process' right.
This is a mis-use of the term 'due process' which only means that an issue is given a fair hearing, not that elected officials must stay Nancy Pilosi silent until it is voted on.
I ask for every candidate to make a positive declaration that while they intend to take the best interests of the City into consideration on each and every vote they take, that they also will make clear to citizens their thoughts and concerns on all issues coming before them and not revert to the current nonsense of saying that they can't comment on this or that matter until they vote on it.
Kennesaw must be the only backwater in the USA that labor under this mis-interpretation of 'due process'.
I believe this nonsense springs from our City Attorney and I have said for years that he needs to be replaced.
------------------------------------------- 10/13/15
10/12/15
- Before going to the trouble of getting an absentee ballot you have to ask yourself if there is anyone running in Kennesaw this year that is worth the 49 cents it will cost to send back the ballot.
ABSENTEE VOTING BY MAIL
ANYONE CAN VOTE ABSENTEE BY MAIL, WITHOUT GIVING ANY REASON.
The first step is to apply for an absentee ballot.
Fill out the application completely. Be sure you fill out all appropriate fields and sign the application.
Send in the application:
FAX to (770) 528-2458 or (770) 528-2519 or MAIL to Cobb Elections, P.O. Box 649, Marietta, GA 30061-0649
DELIVER in PERSON to Cobb Elections, 736 Whitlock Ave., Suite 400, Marietta, GA 30064
SCAN and EMAIL to Info@CobbElections.org
Your application will be reviewed and an absentee ballot will be mailed to your address.
When you have voted the ballot, it may either be delivered in person or mailed to:
Cobb Board of Elections Main Office
P.O.Box 649
Marietta GA 30061-0649
(In person: 736 Whitlock Ave., Suite 400)
10/10/15
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008587503434
KENNESAW CHOICES FOR NOV. ELECTION
Remember you can write in your name, someone eles's name or an editorial comment.
'Mickey Mouse' and 'None Of The Above' are popular write
ins.
ins.
Hello to you folks at Delta Technology*, in Fairburn, Georgia. Thanks for the many 'look ins' on this site. Hope you have found what you are looking for in the many hours you spend here.
(*a subsidiary of Delta Airlines)
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KENNESAW ELECTION WRITE IN CHOICES
So you don't like the choices you have in the 4 November Kennesaw races, what can you do about it?
Well, one thing is to just avoid making any choice in that race, just skip it and go on to the next one, or you can simply write in your name, another's name or just an editorial comment.
Here are all of the 'write in's' for the 3 City Council race of 2 years ago per the
Cobb County Municipal and Special Election
November 5, 2013
AccuVote-TS Write-In Report
Post 3, Church, Jenkins, Washington
Dwight Pullen
Ian Westbrook
John Cagle
Nimesh Patel
Dwight Pullen
Ian Westbrook
John Cagle
Nimesh Patel
Post 4, Riedemann vs. Williams
Anyone else but these
Jimmy Jenkins
Nadine Hardy
Neither of These Dumbasses
Pat F Farris
Scott Housley
Tesfa Taitt
Anyone else but these
Jimmy Jenkins
Nadine Hardy
Neither of These Dumbasses
Pat F Farris
Scott Housley
Tesfa Taitt
Post 5, Duckett vs. Sebastian
Edward Harris
Nimesh Patel
Steen Miles
Edward Harris
Nimesh Patel
Steen Miles
In other Cobb County races 'Mickey Mouse', 'None' and 'None of the Above' were popular.
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10/8/15
KENNESAW BANKRUPTCY INFO FYI
The Bankruptcy information on Charles Derek Easterling is easily found on PACER and anyone can get a free account for this public document site and look for themselves. https://www.pacer.gov/
Note: Several City folks do NOT use their full names, so when you look them up in public records it is important to use their actual name, not just what they choose to call themselves these days.
The first 150 pages of documents are 'free' after that it is 10 cents a page, billing is quarterly. You do have to enter a credit card number but if the quaterly usage is less than 150 pages the card is not charged.
I have used this site for years to look up criminal and civil info on people and have found that A LOT of our elected politicians are bankrupts and that includes mayor Mc Cheese who stiffed 42 people and firms for over one MILLION $.
So go look up Easterling or Killingsworth, both are there along with other Kennesaw politicians. Here is Easterling's cases FYI, I haven't looked into how many wives he is suppose to have had (6 or 7?) as I don't favor either person running for mayor this year so I don't care who wins:
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1 Easterling, Charles Derek (db) ganbke 1:08-bk-61529 7 01/31/2008 06/02/2008 Standard Discharge 06/02/2008
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2 Easterling, Charles Derek (dft) ganbke 1:08-ap-06323 05/10/2008 07/27/2009 Judgment Entered on Consent*
* Adversary case 08-06323. Complaint against Charles Derek Easterling , Fee Collected $ 250 64 (Dischargeability - 523(a)(15), divorce/sep property settlement/decree) 61 (Dischargeability - 523(a)(5), domestic support) Filed by Joy Henderson (Attachments: 1 Exhibit Final Decree of Divorce) (Burn, William)
Consent Order That Plaintiff, Joy Henderson, Is Entitled To A Judgment Against Defendant, Charles Derek Esterling, In the Amount Of $17,475.00, With Settlement Terms. Service by BNC. Entered on 7/27/2009. (related document(s) 1 Complaint filed by Joy Henderson)(jkh)
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KENNESAW ELECTION
Boring!
How about someone doing something. This is like watching paint dry.
Where is all that negative info on Easterling? It hasn't materialized yet, does it exist or is it just a rumor?
Is this our own Yvette? She lived in Agusta and she has a history of stiffing businesses?
Someone could ask her if she is this bankrupt or if she is into R J Patel for about 100K which she skipped out owing him for rental of her exercise studio and pole dancing class.
I could ask and in fact did ask on her FB site, but I checked back a few minutes ago and my inquiry was deleted. I guess that is a sort of answer right there.
Anyway she hasn't any chance to win so it is sorta like flogging a dead horse.
Killingsworth is going to be back with us for another 4 years, but without mayor Mc Cheese to tell him how to vote he will be lost.
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10/6/15
Davey Crockett
A KENNESAW COUNCIL MEMBER WROTE TO ME VIA FB ON THE CASTLE LAKE ISSUE:
"Given we were not obligated (legally) to do anything, we forced the developer to go way beyond what most would consider reasonable. While I do not expect it, I suggest you amend your position publicly."
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MY REPLY WAS:
The Kennesaw mayor and entire City Council were entirely useless in the Castle Lake MHP fiasco.
You allowed Atlanta's Most Controversial Developer to team up with the Ergas family of Vancouver, Canada, who are, were and will undoubtedly continue to be major slum lords, and between them they screwed 1,500 retired, low income and Hispanic tenants and a few owners at the downmarket trailer park.
It took only 28 days from the mayors State of the City speech on the topic of the trailer park to not only annex 52 acres of the larger park to the City of Kennesaw and at the same time change the zoning to allow this large retail development.
The mayor and all of you on the Council allowed the new citizens of Kennesaw to be cheated, harassed and browbeaten by Fuqua and the CLMHP owners.
The only thing coming out of the City was bland assurances that no permits would be issued for development until an adequate relocation package was given. We have seen how well that worked out.
No worthwhile package ever materialized, there is now an ongoing Superior Court suit by 12 of the park tenants/owners who are asking for Class Action status.
You can follow this action by going tohttp://www.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.org/courts/ and looking up the Feb 13, 2015 filing, by case number 15-1-1129, or any of the 3 firms being sued: Castle Lake Homes Corp, Masal Partners Ltd. LP and Amak Partners LP.
You can follow this action by going tohttp://www.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.org/courts/ and looking up the Feb 13, 2015 filing, by case number 15-1-1129, or any of the 3 firms being sued: Castle Lake Homes Corp, Masal Partners Ltd. LP and Amak Partners LP.
The City leadership in this matter (and several others) has been disappointing and I have said and continue to say that the Council is worthless and without question leaderless. You should all be totally ashamed of the miserable jobs you have done on this and other City issues.
You all owe an abject apology to 1,500 people now scattered over several counties, people who you made Kennesaw citizens for a few months and sat on your hands while Fuqua and the Ergas clan threatened, browbeat and bamboozled them.
Shame on all of you!
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The councilman can be reached at: jsebastian@kennesaw-ga.gov if you have comments for him.
All the information on this botched issue can be found at any one of these sites:
http://castlelakemhp.blogspot.com, http://castlelakekennesaw.blogspot.com/
http://castlelakeinfo.blogspot.com/
10/5/15
POST 2 KENNESAW COUNCIL RACE IS CALLED
The winner is Tim Killingsworth, the incumbent Councilman.
See now you don't have to worry about who wins that race.
You might recall the last time the seat was up for grabs, it was 4 years ago and Killingsworth got 1,654 to 1,229 for Jimmy Dickens. That race got 3,042 voters to turn out (19.32% of those registered).
This year is (so far at least) a dull election so if 2,500 turn out it will be about what is expected.
My guess is that Killingsworth will get about 1,900 and Yvette Daniels will get about 600.
Yvette might have gotten a few more if she had left the many videos of her Pole Dancing up on the Internet.
And remember if you don't like anyone in this race, or any of the others, you can skip voting in that race or simply write in 'none', or your own name in the section for 'write in' votes.
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10/3/15
Work on the new Fuqua/Castle Lake retail development continues. This view is from Cobb Pky looking down Barrett Parkway.
9/29/15
KENNESAW ELECTION WORKERS HAND OUT INFO FOR THEIR CANDIDATE
Today I got some info left on my door for 2 candidates.
I continue to be amazed that our office seekers only seem to speak in platitudes.
Here is one bullet point from a council candidate FYI: "Improve the function of Public Spaces by the creation of family friendly gatherings." Now come on, just what the Hell does this mean?
If you are going to go to the trouble of having some slick door hangers printed up and have your worker walk the neighborhoods passing out stuff then I would think a candidate for actually stand for something and let potential voters know what they want to accomplish and what they will work towards.
There are some general questions below that probably ALL the candidates should cover in their web sites or speeches. For myself, if you don't provide the info that is fine, I won't vote for you, if none of you provide the info, then I write in my own name in protest for that race.
Here are a few things I would expect ANY candidate to give some info on:
1) As Mayor or Councilman will you not only go on record as refusing any pension benefits but also work to eliminate across the board any and all such benefits for ALL elected officials in Kennesaw,
2) Do you support and will you work for any necessary change in City rules/regulations that would suspend any office holder charged with a Felony while that case is before the courts?
3) Do you support and will you work for any necessary change in City rules/regulations regarding term limits, this includes asking voters in any coming election for their votes for or against these limits,
4) Do you support and will you work for any necessary change in City rules/regulations to do away with the useless Council elections by 'posts' and go to a system in which the top vote getters for Council seats get those seats? (FYI: in the last Council election using posts we found that the 3rd highest candidate in votes did not get a seat on the Council and those 3 seats were filled with candidates who got the 1st, 2nd and 4th highest vote totals),
5) Several already elected officials claim to be working on an Ethics Handbook. It is past time for our elected officials to put forward a draft of what they have and open the crafting of such a book or pamphlet to citizens for their comments and suggestions.
6) Extremely poor advice seems to have been given to our various elected officials, both present and past, to the effect that they must not comment on anything pending before the Council and that any such comments may deprive any person or firm with a matter coming before the Council of their 'due process' right.
This is a mis-use of the term 'due process' which only means that an issue is given a fair hearing, not that elected officials must stay Nancy Pilosi silent until it is voted on.
I ask for every candidate to make a positive declaration that while they intend to take the best interests of the City into consideration on each and every vote they take, that they also will make clear to citizens their thoughts and concerns on all issues coming before them and not revert to the current nonsense of saying that they can't comment on this or that matter until they vote on it.
Kennesaw must be the only backwater in the USA that labor under this mis-interpretation of 'due process'.
I believe this nonsense springs from our City Attorney and I have said for years that he needs to be replaced.
See also:
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FYI:
Blasting started Sept 28th on the Castle Lake MHP site. Video should be available shortly.
9/25/15
Work continues for the Fuqua retail site.
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Kennesaw City Council candidate, former city police officer dies at 51
by Jon Gargis September 23, 2015 Special to the MDJ
KENNESAW — The city of Kennesaw is mourning the passing of retired police officer George “Junior” Grumbein, who died Monday at age 51. Grumbein was visiting Kennesaw City Hall that morning when he suffered a medical emergency, according to the city.
His son, Adam Grumbein, said the family believes he had a heart attack. Grumbein served in the Kennesaw Police Department for 26 years, according to the city. He recently qualified to run for the Kennesaw City Council seat held by Tim Killingsworth in the November elections.
“He wanted to keep Kennesaw a historical place, to keep Kennesaw in its roots. He lived in Kennesaw for so long, so he knew the way the city had always been, and he wanted to preserve that culture it always had,” Adam Grumbein said of his father’s pursuit of the council seat.
Grumbein’s name will remain on the list of qualified candidates for the seat but will be removed from November’s ballot, said Pam Davis, city spokeswoman. Voters in Post 2 will choose between Killingsworth and challenger Yvette M.A. Daniel on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Previously the pastor of Faith Spirit Church in Kennesaw, Grumbein, who lived in Kennesaw for close to 20 years, was an active member of New Beginnings United Methodist Church in Kennesaw, where he served as men’s minister, Adam Grumbein said.
Grumbein started his career with the Kennesaw Police Department in 1986 and worked through 1989, leaving for work elsewhere for a few months before returning to the department and retiring in 2012, said Kennesaw Police Chief Bill Westenberger, who had known Grumbein since the chief arrived at the department in 2004.
Westenberger said Grumbein, who he knew as “Junior,” was a jail supervisor when he first began but later was moved to code enforcement. “In all the years he served while I was here, he was one of the chaplains, and was always there at a moment’s call,” Westenberger said. “A lot of times, you have incidents of someone having a loss of life in their family, in the community. If they really didn’t know where to turn, we could always call Junior and he was always willing to help.
“He married a few of our officers, many others in our community, and he provided spiritual comfort in tough times. He did some funerals himself and for family members of officers and staff,” Westenberger said. “He was greatly appreciated for all of that work.”
Grumbein leaves behind a wife, June Grumbein; his parents; two sons; two daughters-in-law and one grandchild. Visitation is from 4 to 6 p.m. today and 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home in Kennesaw. Funeral services will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at the chapel at the funeral home with interment to follow at Pine Ridge Cemetery, according to the city.
9/16/15
BELOW TO SEE A LOT MORE
INFORMATION ON KENNESAW
ISSUES:
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