Having the pleasure of serving on the Dunwoody City Council for the last 11 years has given me the unique experience of witnessing a behind the scenes view on those currently running for Mayor as well as opportunities to work closely with the various leaders in the community willing to run for the vacant city council positions. With this election the dynamics of the council will shift, elections have consequences and leadership matters. Vote wisely.
Every Dunwoody citizen will be able to vote for the city-wide elected seats as well as vote on an ethics referendum, which may sound positive on the surface but is really a wolf in sheep's clothing, therefore, I am recommending that you vote no. Finally, the polls are already open for early voting at the Dunwoody Library, Monday - Friday from 8:00 to 5:30 so skip the lines on November 5th and vote at your convenience at the library prior to November 1st.
Lynn Deutsch for Mayor of Dunwoody
I have been a huge fan of Lynn Deutsch for many years, going back to her service working with the DeKalb School System. In 2009, when staffing the first Planning Commission, which is the committee that sees all zoning applications prior to their arrival to the City Council. I nominated Lynn to be my Planning Commissioner as she was the most qualified and dedicated person I could find as she has bachelor's degrees in government and journalism as well as a master's degree in City Planning from Georgia Tech.
Eight years ago, when Lynn decided to run for City Council, I broke from my usually stoic stance of not endorsing any candidates in order to endorse her for City Council. At that time being responsible to assist in leading this city forward, I saw the need to recommend Lynn over her opponent and for just the second time in 11 years, I am again breaking from my shell to inform you that I believe Lynn Deutsch's vision of progressive change mirrors that of myself and that I along with Kristin will be voting for Lynn to be the next Mayor of Dunwoody.
Stacey Harris for City Council District 1
Kristin and I have known Stacey Harris for over 10 years - through kids' activities as well as involvement in numerous community organizations. Stacey and I have sat in countless meetings together both working to make a Dunwoody a better community. Whereas I have always been on the city council, Stacey has been involved with many volunteer boards, including her current position on the Zoning Board of Appeals. Her leadership with the Dunwoody Homeowners Association was instrumental in continuing great Dunwoody traditions such as Light Up Dunwoody and 4th of July parade, and she also collaborated with Red Bird Events and the city to begin Food Truck Thursdays.
We all have kids in Dunwoody schools, and we know Stacey will continue to advocate and collaborate with other groups to push for progress in our schools. As past President of the Dunwoody Homeowners Association, I also know Stacey has a common-sense approach to development in our city. We've seen her question land use attorneys and developers to ensure their plans are the best for the community.
Most importantly, we know Stacey is a leader in our community with a strong desire to actively contribute to making Dunwoody a better place to live and work. The main leadership qualities I see in Stacey after numerous meetings with her are her ability to collaborate with others, followed closely by her integrity, commitment and passion. Kristin and I have enjoyed a friendship with her and Jack for a decade and we look forward to working even closer together in the near future.
Heyward Wescott for City Council District 2
I have also known Heyward Wescott for over 10 years. I met him soon after I got on the Council and recognized he cared deeply about Dunwoody and cared how we were going to make our new city thrive. One of the reasons why I am supporting Heyward is that I have watched him be very engaged in our community for the past two decades. He served on his swim & tennis club board as President and helped them raise their renovated clubhouse. Lemonade Days didn't have a dunk tank until Heyward came along. He thought it would be a great opportunity to raise funds for the Dunwoody Preservation Trust, and he convinced all of the Council to sit in the tank on a very cold spring day. The event raised over $3,000 to help the Dunwoody Preservation Trust. He has always wanted every organization in our community to thrive. Heyward is a leader in the business community and he cares about Dunwoody in many ways that I do. He is very approachable and helps starts community dialog on important issues that affect our community.
This summer I reached out to Heyward because we have a Dunwoody Police officer that lives in Dunwoody with his family. I thought it would be a neat idea if our swim clubs could discount their memberships for officers that live in our community. The next time I heard back from Heyward, he had presented the idea to the Kingsley Racquet & Swim Club board. Not only did he take that idea and run with it, but they expanded on it too. They approved waving all initiation fees ($1,200) for all first responders and active military who live in the community. He also just recently help form the Dunwoody Police Foundation.
In closing ...
Dunwoody is now over 10 years old, and we've seen a lot of community growth therefore our vision of Dunwoody needs to also expand with the needs of that community. We need continued stable leadership on the Council to help make our community the best place to live and raise a family.
Lynn Deutsch is our choice for Mayor, and Stacey & Heyward would be great additions to the City Council, therefore Kristin and I will be voting for this block to ensure that well thought out, sustainable, progressive change happens.
Thanks
John & Kristin Heneghan
Dunwoody North Subdivision
Early Voting Has Started!
Monday through Friday*
Dunwoody Library
8:00-5:30 PM
Through Nov 1st
I'm with you John on Lynn Deutsch - a person of the highest integrity, but I'm voting for fellow USAF veteran Joe Seconder, aside from the fact that his opponent isn't progressive enough and has never bought the second round when I purchased the first at Moondog Growlers. Additionally, I'm going to write in Gary Ray Betz over John Heneghan as with him running unopposed I don't want ol' King John getting too big of a head.
ReplyDeleteI dont remember you buying a beer for Heyward at Moondog. Also, if you buy a guy a beer, it's kinda a dick move to expect something in return.
ReplyDeleteBought the man multiple beers at Moondog before my heart attacks last year, and he never bought another in return. Normally wouldn't care, but it's kind of a character flaw in someone running for office - but I guess in these days of Donald Trump that's what folks want in their politicians, ain't it? Also it's kinda cowardly move for you to retort to me utilizing an anonymous moniker, don't you think?!
ReplyDeleteJust wondering where "progressive priorities" fit into Parks, Paving, and Police. Replacing any of those 3 Ps with progressive policies, such as more low-cost housing and seizing private property for somebody's pipe dream of connected trails under power lines, is not why I cast a vote for creating the city of Dunwoody. Good thing that teleworking gives us the option of voting by contacting Peach State Movers.
ReplyDeleteAs Jim Geraghty puts it:
ReplyDeleteAll around your life, you feel like you’re being squeezed by this unseen force, trying to nudge you into choices that aren’t your own. You don’t need saving from the problems in your life. You need saving from all of the people who say they’re trying to save you [but] who keep creating new problems in your life.
"Oh, what a sweet and soft and healthy pillow is ignorance and incuriosity, to rest a well-made head!" - Montaigne
ReplyDeleteMontaigne is probably not who you should be quoting, considering his denunciations of the arrogance of intellectuals, the so-called progressives of his day: he should not stubbornly persist in proving himself inadequate once and for all.
ReplyDeleteThe quote; nonetheless, is still applicable, and I think if you read Montaigne, I mean really studied him and not just some "Killing Montaigne" revisionist history type of knock-off by disgraced Fox News darling Bill O'Reilly, you would find that Montaigne's life and activism, in reality, emulated his quote.
ReplyDeleteBut I really don't care to exchange witticism (with the wit, I assure you, being solely on my part) with a cowardly troll who posts incendiary comments (yes - "incendiary" - I've read your previous missives) via an anonymous moniker.
"Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife,
Their sober wishes never learn'd to stray;
Along the cool sequester'd vale of life
They kept the noiseless tenor of their way"
Thomas Gray, from his "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard
"Fox News" "incendiary" "cowardly troll" -- thank you for passing along what passes for wit in thy progressive neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteAlas! he gets nothing by that. In our last
conflict four of his five wits went halting off, and
now is the whole man governed with one: so that if
he have wit enough to keep himself warm, let him
bear it for a difference between himself and his
horse ....