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Tuesday, Nov. 03, 2009

New look for Forsyth council after election results

Forsyth City Council will have a markedly different look next year.

With three council seats up for grabs in tonight’s election, only incumbent Michael Dodd will be returning to office, joined by newly elected Jo Anna Banks and Eric Wilson in the other two posts.

Banks led all vote-getters with 593 votes, followed by Wilson’s 509 and Dodd’s 396.

Rosemary Walker, who had served on the council since 1998, finished last among five candidates with 322 votes, trailing Gwendolyn King’s 331.

Councilman Lamar Russell, who held one of the posts up for grabs Tuesday, chose not to run for council this year.

Dodd said having five candidates battle for three seats made it a much more difficult campaign than two or three candidates seeking one seat.

“The dynamics of the race are all over the board,” said Dodd, who won his third term on council. “You don’t know where it’s going. There are different contingents. But I appreciate the support and look forward to the next four years.”

Dodd said that while Banks and Wilson may not have experience on council, both of them bring plenty of experience in other arenas.

Banks served as the city’s Better Hometown director while Wilson, the owner of Go Communications, previously served with what is now the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

“Ms. Banks has a good bit of experience with municipal programs and grants,” he said. “Eric was an economic developer for the state. Both have strong qualifications. I look forward to working with them. But I hate to lose the two council members I’ve been working with.”

Wilson had a clear-cut agenda he hopes to see implemented in the next four years. Among them are job creation and work force development; more recreation opportunities for young people, including building an aquatic center from local option sales tax funds that have already been raised; and bringing business management to the table.

“I also want to cooperate with the other government entities here, like the school board and the county commission,” Wilson said.