Familiar faces See us on the back cover
Mayoral race pits Bodker against Miller ►►PAGE 4
Smithsonian Museum Day
Autrey Mill offers free tours Sept. 28 ►►PAGE 14
Making dreams happen Woman gets home makeover ►►PAGE 12
September 19, 2013 | northfulton.com | 73,500 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 13, No. 38
City Council rift going public Split over pro tem vote example of dysfunction, That is part of the Stewart claims dysfunctionality By HATCHER HURD hatcher@northfulton.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – As the Johns City Creek Council draws closer to city elections and the specter of the mayor’s investigation lingers in the background, the tension among the councilmembers grows and has one member saying it is causing dysfunction in the council. STEWART It became apparent at council’s election Sept. 9 of Councilwoman Karen Richardson to be mayor pro tempore. The vote was 4-2 with Councilwoman Kelly Stewart and Mayor Mike Bodker voting against Richardson. The post is largely RICHARDSON ceremonial and designates who will preside over meetings in the absence of the mayor. Usually one nomination is discussed among councilmembers and in normal times, the outcome is assured. The vote is unanimous with no other candidates nominated to show collegial fellowship and a united front on the council. But these are not normal times. At the council meeting, Councilwoman Kelly Stewart pointedly broke ranks with fellow councilmembers and joined Bodker to vote against Richardson for mostly the ceremonial post. Asked after the meeting why she
among the council now, and this is just going to perpetuate that.” KELLY STEWART Johns Creek Council Member made such a gesture, Stewart’s answer put her firmly in Bodker’s camp regarding the City Council’s investigation of him. “I could not support anyone being mayor pro tem who has voted to investigate the mayor when there is nothing to investigate,” Stewart said. “This investigation feels purely political and the taxpayers are funding this. “Typically when you vote for a mayor pro tem, you would pick someone who would support the mayor, work with mayor and be in line with the mayor,” she said. Stewart said she does not believe there is any spirit of cooperation with the mayor and therefore can’t support it. “That is part of the dysfunctionality among the council now, and this is just going to perpetuate that,” Stewart said. She admitted that her vote against Richardson was to make a statement that there is a rift now on the council. “It’s very interesting to me that the person nominated for mayor pro tem is the one who has two opponents in this election,” she said. “I think the investigation of the mayor is politically motivated, and
See COUNCIL, Page 21
HATCHER HURD/STAFF
Tasha Taylor, left, helps Grace Kennedy Harris and Isabelle Kunnian haul a big bag of mulch during Findley Oaks Elementary School’s cleanup of its Kid Garden. At rear is Emily Balfour, part of the Whole Foods Kids Foundation team, helping out.
Findley Oaks gets fall spruce-up Students, PTA, volunteers pitch in for fall cleanup By HATCHER HURD hatcher@northfulton.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Gone are the weeds and grass. What remains are well
mulched and tidy garden beds for the Kids Garden at Findley Oaks Elementary School. A cloud of volunteers armed with rakes, hoes, wheelbarrows and shovels descended Saturday, Sept. 7 at 9 a.m. to wake up Findley’s dormant Kids Gar-
See FINDLEY, Page 24