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Saturday, Sep. 05, 2009

Barbs traded in race for WR mayor

WARNER ROBINS — Qualifying for elections in Warner Robins ended Friday, but the mudslinging began just before that.

Mayor Donald Walker, speaking last week about his goals for what could be a fourth full term in office, said he cut short a months-long medical leave of absence because “nothing happened” while he was gone.

“I only know what people told me, and they were glad to see me (back early),” said Walker, who was first elected in 1994 in a special election. “I wasn’t active. Just in my office catching phone calls and doing what little bit of business I could. Things weren’t going well. We had department heads mad at each other. Nothing was happening in my office, and that’s where it all goes on.

“To be honest with you, the city needs me.”

It was the mayor’s first jab at City Councilman Clifford Holmes Jr., who also has qualified in the mayor’s race. Holmes, who stood in for Walker during his 70-day absence last year, disagreed with Walker’s statement toward how he ran the city in the mayor’s absence.

And with good reason.

During Walker’s absence, the council approved a contract with Atlanta-based IDI to get the ball rolling on the Georgia-Robins Aerospace Maintenance Partnership. The firm is to assist in developing a cost analysis and financial arrangements for the project as well as a preliminary design. G-RAMP calls for aircraft maintenance hangars and ramps and a taxiway to Robins Air Force Base, all to be built on 544 acres of land adjacent to the base. Headway also was made on other projects, including changing the location of the new animal shelter due to soil issues.

“Nothing was happening on G-RAMP,” said Holmes, currently the councilman for Post 5. “We were just sitting there talking. Nothing was happening because he wanted this to be a city project. What he presented was a private thing, that the city was going to take on this big deal.

“Where were we going to get all these millions from if we didn’t put it on the public’s back?”

Walker said he has a plan for the next term, which includes finishing the sports complex, the law enforcement center and working to enhance the city’s economic stability. A new mayor can’t do that, he said.

“There’s no learning curve with me, and, believe me, there’s an awful lot to learn,” he said. “It takes a minimum of four years to learn how to run this office ... if (the candidate) is capable. They think you go to meetings and the department heads do the work. If I’m not here, the budget doesn’t get done. Development doesn’t happen. We didn’t grow one inch while I was out. It don’t happen by itself.”

Holmes said he and other council members have spent more than a year covering for the mayor, explaining away absences at meetings and public functions that were getting all too obvious for the public.

“I tried to protect the mayor,” he said. “I don’t have anything bad to say about him. But I won’t be his cheerleader, either. He’s done three terms. That’s good. Pass the baton on. There are other people with ideas also. And they’re good ideas.

Emerging unscathed in the battle so far are retired military man Chuck Chalk and pharmaceutical sales representative Chuck Shaheen, the other mayoral candidates in the Nov. 3 election. Chalk, who has said his experience in the Air Force makes him a viable candidate to lead the city, did not return calls seeking comment. While the other candidates go back and forth on each others’ history, Shaheen has said he will be pushing himself to those who matter — the citizens.

“They want a candidate that has experience with their needs, and that’s who I am,” Shaheen said. “I’m a product of our school system. I understand the importance of being a small business owner. “I’m the common person of Warner Robins.”

MANY RACES UNOPPOSED

While the mayor’s race in Warner Robins promises to be entertaining, just under half of the races in Houston and Peach counties feature unopposed incumbents.

Ten of the 22 races in Warner Robins, Centerville, Perry, Fort Valley and Byron are uncontested, including the mayor’s race in Perry, where James E. Faircloth is running unopposed for the job Jim Worrall has said he’ll vacate. All the city council members in Byron up for re-election are running unopposed.

“It could be an indication of several things,” said Martha McAfee, the city administrator for Fort Valley. “One being that the citizens are pleased with the representation that they have. They’ve felt that (their elected officials) are doing a good job, Sometimes, it can signify a disinterest, people being complacent about the community and the direction the community’s going in.”

To contact writer Marlon A. Walker, call 256-9685.