Editorials
The Jackson Herald
March 22, 2000
Tolbert action
rife with conflicts
To say that Rep. Scott Tolbert used poor
judgment in his bid to undermine an important legislative bill
last week would be a vast understatement. Not only did he attempt
to kill the bill, he did so because of his personal involvement
in a lawsuit related to the merits of the legislation.
It was a blatant example of his personal agenda over-riding his
public responsibility and should not go unnoticed by the citizens
he was elected to represent.
We have always questioned the wisdom of lawyers being elected
as legislators. Although attorneys make up only a small part
of the overall legislative body, they hold a disproportionate
number of the key leadership positions.
But even of deeper concern are the hidden agendas lawyer-legislators
often bring to the General Assembly. Few lawyer-legislators will
support a bill that could hurt a private legal client.
Such was the case last Monday when Rep. Tolbert attempted to
gut a bill that grew out of last year's fight between the Jackson
County government and a private sewer firm, Water Wise, Inc.
Concerned about the condemnation powers that would be given Water
Wise, the county government successfully moved to block the firm's
entrance into the county. Not only that, but county leaders prevailed
upon Sen. Eddie Madden to introduce legislation that would require
local government approval of private firms that seek to install
water or sewer lines.
Of course, Rep. Tolbert has had numerous conflicts of interest
related to the Water Wise ordeal. Those who've followed that
controversy recall that for a while, his law firm attempted to
represent both the City of Pendergrass and Water Wise in a maneuver
to get a state EPD permit for a sewage facility. Readers might
also recall the role two of Tolbert's relatives played in that,
and subsequent efforts to do the firm's bidding at the expense
of the public interest.
But even with all of that sordid history, we're still amazed
that Rep. Tolbert would go to the well of the state House of
Representatives in a blatant attempt to represent a private client's
interest. It was not Jackson County's interest he spoke for,
but rather he was speaking for Water Wise, Inc.
Not only did he attempt to gut the legislation for Water Wise,
he played coy when a legislator asked him if he represented the
company, saying only that his "law firm" represented
Water Wise.
It may have been coy and cute, but it was hardly the full truth.
Rep. Tolbert has been a key part of the various Water Wise moves,
a fact he states in a Feb. 22 court filing.
Water Wise didn't elect Rep. Tolbert - the people of his district
did. If he goes to the well of the House for any reason, it should
be to represent those voters, not a private legal client.
What makes last week's action even more puzzling, however, is
that Rep. Tolbert had to know that his motion to gut the bill
would be defeated. Having lost the earlier battles in the Water
Wise maneuvers, why would Rep. Tolbert put himself in the position
of another sure defeat?
We can admire individual loyalty even when the odds are great.
But if Rep. Tolbert wishes to commit political hari-kari in the
well of the Georgia House of Representatives, we want it to be
over the interests of the citizens in Jackson County, not over
some perverted sense of obligation to a legal client.
Rep. Tolbert needs to get his priorities in order: He can either
serve those who elected him, or he can serve the clients of his
law firm. But in the Georgia House of Representatives, he cannot
serve both.
Editorial
The Commerce News
March 22, 2000
'Parent Involvement'
Taken To Extremes
Parent involvement in a school is usually a good thing, but one
Commerce parent doesn't know when to stop. Ever since her son
was denied a letter for wrestling at Commerce High School, Jenny
Harrison has been on a pseudo-quixotic quest.
She clearly thinks her son was wronged, and it is certainly within
her rights as a mother to try to get a wrong righted. But at
the March meeting of the Commerce Board of Education, this mom
vaguely suggested that an unnamed Commerce High School staff
member illegally cashed a check made to the high school on her
son's behalf. That is an accusation of what amounts to embezzlement.
This is a serious allegation, because it strikes at the integrity
of the staff member and the school system. If a crime has been
committed, there is a remedy much more direct than the Commerce
Board of Education. Mrs. Harrison should go to the Commerce Police
Department. For someone who clearly thinks the board of education
is corrupt or prejudiced, going to the police seems like a logical
way to make sure the truth comes out.
The parent has been critical of the board of education for not
investigating, but she herself has apparently done nothing to
ascertain why a check written to the school might be endorsed
(and cashed) for legitimate reasons. Prior to the March 13 meeting,
she had not sought an explanation from the school system administration
or the high school administration. Waving a paper before the
school board is little more than a publicity stunt.
Perhaps most telling is that all the furor is over an athletic
issue. Mom is upset because her son did not get a letter for
participating in a sport, and she can't get beyond it. This is
not an issue that would affect a child's educational career,
have a bearing on his getting into a college or improve his résumé,
but getting that letter and an apology from the board of education
has become her goal in life.
The issue is less about an athletic letter than about a mother
who cannot accept anything less than getting her own way. It's
a sad parody of parental interest.
A Good Influence
Commerce Library Board Chairman Don Fischer
is calling it quits. He told his fellow board members he was
tired of arguing over budgets and that he feared his presence
might have a negative effect on the library. His resignation
is effective May 1.
As the board's chief advocate of fiscal restraint, Fischer's
presence does sometimes generate more argument when it comes
to spending the public's money. So, perhaps board meetings have
become more lively and less unanimous.
That may be Fischer's true gift to the board and the city. A
long-time businessman, Fischer's background is in an arena where
budgets must be justified, costs must be weighed against benefits
and institutional processes must be followed. His presence on
the board, not to mention as its chairman, forces the board to
defend and better articulate members' ideas for spending money
Fischer never forgets belongs to the taxpayers.
Far from being a "negative" to the library, Fischer
is a positive influence. He brings a business person's viewpoint
to the board and, in the conducting of meetings, is the member
who can be counted on to keep the discussion on track.
The library board is unique. Most of its members are appointed
because of their known love of the library, books and reading,
and they can be counted on to promote the library and its goals.
Fischer's business experience brings a measure of balance that
serves well both the library and the city.
It's apparently been a frustrating job, but as Fischer bows out,
it should be with the knowledge that he has had a positive influence
on the Commerce Public Library.
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Column
By Mike
Buffington
The Jackson Herald
March 22, 2000
Why is legislature
involved in high school sports?
If you thought there was a lot of controversy
over the governor's education reform efforts, just take a look
at the reclassification of Georgia high schools. Learning may
be important, but sports dominates the public's interest.
Maybe it's always been that way. For decades critics have charged
that sports gets attention that is out of proportion to the real
world. Many reading this column could name local students who
are athletic stars, but few of you can name this year's STAR
students. You may know how many points your child scored last
week, but don't know your child's academic averages in the classroom.
About the worst example of this duel standard I've seen came
a few years back when a local student won the chance to compete
in the state literary meet. The school refused to pay her expenses
for the trip and she had to raise her own funds in order to compete.
Had that been the school's football team, however, the money
would have come in buckets to pay for a championship game. As
a society, we value athletic success far more than academic success.
The fallout of the reclassification move is another example of
how we focus on sports over academics. Few people, except those
directly affected, understand all the implications of the governor's
education reform legislation. Admittedly, it is a complex bill
that covers a variety of issues. But the only real interest in
that legislation has come from teachers and school administrators
- for the most part, parents have been silent during the debate.
That isn't the case with school reclassification. Everyone has
an opinion about the move and how it might affect competitive
sports.
But why is it that the Georgia Legislature got involved in the
issue? Why do legislative leaders care about school sports?
Admittedly, the Georgia High School Association isn't the most
open or friendly group. Its leaders carry too much power and
wield that power too ruthlessly.
It's also true that some private schools recruit athletes to
enhance their school's programs. But then, many public schools
also recruit athletes as well, although that is done in a much
more subtle way. The playing field is never exactly balanced
and it never will be.
Still, high school sports should be off limits in the Georgia
General Assembly. If House Speaker Tom Murphy wants to have an
impact on public schools in Georgia, he should put his efforts
into raising the academic bar.
Of course, this isn't the only athletic issue pending in the
Georgia legislature. Also being debated is a "gender equity"
effort to force high schools to offer more programs for girls.
That may, or may not, be a problem in some schools, but why is
it the business of the Georgia General Assembly?
Here's what I fear: For all its problems and faults, high school
athletics is a fairly well-run system in the state. If the General
Assembly gets involved, those programs may become like the rest
of the state's public education efforts, which is to say a mess.
After all, who wants Tom Murphy as a high school football commissioner?
Mike Buffington is editor of The Jackson Herald.
Column
Mark
Beardsley
The Commerce News
March 22, 2000
Life After Wal-Mart In The Downtown
Is there life in Commerce after Wal-Mart?
I slipped out to the new store before work last Thursday, figuring
the store would be relatively quiet and I might be able to quickly
survey this new monster business.
It's an impressive and beautiful store.
But the question in Commerce is how will it affect business here?
Wal-Mart is cursed among store owners, because its tremendous
success put so many small businesses out of business and made
it harder for those that are left to make any money. The outlet
stores are a minor inconvenience, compared to Wal-Mart.
With a tire and auto center, eye care center and grocery store
added, will we see new casualties? One has to wonder how long
Commerce Crossing Shopping Center can keep its other tenants
without Wal-Mart. There has been talk of Target or K-Mart moving
in, but my understanding is that Ingles plans a major expansion
into the vacant portion.
Those of us along Broad and Elm streets hope that the absence
of Wal-Mart in close proximity will breathe a little life back
into the main street. Many people say they will not go to Wal-Mart
as often as they used to, but unless they find somewhere more
convenient and not too pricey to shop, Wal-Mart will still get
the bulk of their business. I've heard others say they dreaded
having to go to Banks Crossing to Wal-Mart, but they indicated
they would go just the same.
It may now be more convenient for some people to buy jeans at
Jay's than to go to Wal-Mart; on the other hand, Banks County
residents who used to have to come to Commerce have a closer,
attractive alternative. The same can be said for groceries, auto
service and eye care. The new store has made life a little more
difficult for a number of businesses.
For most of us in the downtown, though, little has changed. We
remain largely service-oriented: newspaper, law offices, insurance,
and retail people whose niche Wal-Mart has not entered. The results
of the recent marketing survey have not changed; to make the
downtown a vital place requires one or more good restaurants.
Unfortunately, the downtown needs to be a bit more of a vital
place before someone is likely to risk opening a good restaurant.
But we do have a few things going for us. We have a marketing
study to provide statistical data to back our need for and ability
to support restaurants. We have a small business incubation center
planned, and the growth around Commerce will help provide the
"critical mass" of people needed to draw business to
the downtown.
The right restaurant can make a difference, as the Blue Willow
Inn has proven. That one business has made Social Circle a destination
for many people, and it does not require the sale of alcohol
to prosper.
Whether or not our downtown prospers has less to do with overcoming
Wal-Mart than with getting the right one or two new businesses.
A good downtown restaurant would be a great first step.
There is charm in this old downtown, and life here that even
Wal-Mart can't snuff out. We've outlasted Wal-Mart in Commerce,
and the downtown will still be here if Wal-Mart ever departs
Banks Crossing.
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