Candidates Meet & Greet Forum Draws Large Crowd

With just a week away before the city's historical first elections are held, excitement filled the room Monday night at the Peachtree Corners Candidate Forum held at Christ the King's fellowship hall Monday night.

Organizers said over 300 voters took the opportunity to meet and chat with the city council candidates one-on-one.

The forum was the fourth and last sponsored by the UPCCA  to give voters a chance to meet each of the candidates personally. The city's first election has drawn 19 candidates into the race for six city council seats. Mayoral candidate Mike Mason is running unopposed.

The excitement has mounted as election day nears as more and more candidate signs have begun to pop up in neighborhoods as the historical day draws closer. Candidates were invited Monday night to set up a campaign table where they could hand out campaign literature and yard signs.

Patch caught up with Deerings subdivision resident Steve Roos who was making his way around the candidates' tables and had stopped to talk with Post 4 candidate Jeanne Aulbach.

"This is important," acknowledged Roos about getting to know each of the candidates. Looking around the room Roos, who worked as a city manager for 22 years, added, "they've got a lot of work ahead of them."

The idea of work hasn't been a deterrent for the candidates, many of whom have spent weekends and evenings out campaigning. This, they all agree, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Forest Hill residents David and Pat Kaemmerling had stopped to talk with Steven Peet, one of the two Post 2 candidates, when Patch caught up with the couple.

Finding a candidate who would be fiscally responsible with tax payers dollars was a major concern said the Kaemmerlings.

"We want to know that the candidate we elect will be cautious with our money," said Pat Kaemmerling. The couple said they would not support plans for spending tax dollars on a city hall building which they felt is not needed.

"I just hope the implementation goes as planned, added David Kaemmerling, "I don't want to see money spent unnecessarily."

Of the 19 candidates who have qualified, 17 participated in the Monday night event.

Present were:

Post 1 candidates Phill Sadd and Joe Sawyer

Post 2 candidates Jay Lowe and Steve Peet

Post 3 candidates Scott Ehrlich, David Proud and Alex Wright

Post 4 candidates Jeanne Aulbach, Robert Byars and Gloria Rucks

Post 5 candidates Lorri Christopher, Brent Johnson and Gray Terry

Post 6 candidates Ray Cobb, Weare Gratwick, David Leader and Brian Stickney

Not participating was Post 1 candidate Nneka Chukwu and Post 4 candidate Robert Indech.

The scene was Americana at its best; balloons of all colors and red, white and blue campaign signs filled the large room. Even the most stoic voter could not help but get caught up in the excitement of the evening. It's not often that any of us get the chance to experience the birth of a new city.

If you were not able to attend last night's forum, there is a plethora of information on the Patch website. Just click here for candidate profiles, voter information, voting district maps and more.