Politics & Government

Snellville Mayor Calls City Council Candidate Forum a 'Political Ploy'

"This debate [is] not meant to inform the public," she told Patch about the forum scheduled for Tuesday.

The Snellville City Council candidate forum scheduled for Tuesday (Oct. 29) has caused quite a stir in local politics, including with the mayor.

"This debate [is] not meant to inform the public," she told Patch in an email. "It is a political ploy."

She claimed that three candidates--former Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Bender, current Mayor Pro Tem Β Tom Witts and Councilman Bobby Howard--scheduled the candidate forum for Oct. 29 knowing that their opponents--Alisa Boykin, Councilman Mike Sabbagh and Dexter Harrison--would be unavailable to attend that night.

Almost two weeks prior to scheduling the forum, Boykin, Harrison and Sabbagh were asked if they could attend on the 29th, the mayor continued. They all said no, but Witts, Bender and Howard supporters went forward with that date regardless.

Boykin has a meet and greet that night, Councilman Sabbagh will be out of town for work, and Harrison has a family matter, Kautz explained.

"Boykin, Harrison and Sabbagh have offered to make themselves available at another time or through a different method (email or blog questions) but the organizer refuse[d] to change it," said the mayor.

Snellville Patch was actually planning to host a candidate forum at a local church Oct. 22, but backed out after the same three candidates said they couldn't attend that date, either.

After invitations were sent out to all six candidates, Bender, Witts and Howard replied saying they could come, but the other three candidates said they couldn't. Patch reached out to the unavailable candidates twice more, asking if any date before Nov. 5 would work, and then again with a different specific date. Patch heard no response to either request, except from Boykin, who again said she could not attend the new date.

Citizens for a Better Snellville and Snellville Neighborhood Alert Program then decided to pick up the forum.

The candidate forum will be held Tuesday (Oct. 29) from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the theatre at South Gwinnett High School, located at 2288 E. Main Street. The public is invited to attend.


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