The purpose of this post is to (eventually) discuss the future direction of the Milton Coalition Blog.  But first, thanks to my many readers.  I appreciate your trust, confidence, and respect . . . that is what has kept me blogging and advocating for citizens.  Thank you! 

Because of you, the MC Blog is more successful than ever.  I have the most ever email subscribers.  Adding a few subscribers here and there over 7+ years translates to a lot of readers.  More importantly, the number of non-subscribers coming directly to the blog has spiked . . . more than doubling previous highs set in run-up to the 2017 election.  Since July 1^st, the MC Blog has received around 14,500 views.  If blog post email opens are added, the number of views climbs to nearly 25,000 total views in the past 4+ months.  Election day alone saw 624 views of the blog, as voters sought candidate information.  This election season, I also sent three emails to my list of petition signers.  Open rates and click-through rates were stratospheric . . . in one case, nearly 72% and 22%, respectively.  I am humbled by this high level of engagement and trust.  Thank you.

Please understand that I also have my detractors . . . and some of them are vicious.  They have tried mightily to impugn my credibility and to smear me, but their cheap shots have done no harm but rather steeled my determination.  Their middle school name-calling and bush-league tactics have only increased the power of the blog.  Each time they mention my blog or my name, blog viewership trends upwards.  (I think they have finally realized this, so now just refer to me as The Alpharetta Blogger.)  These detractors often complain that my blog disseminates “disinformation,” “misinformation,” “false narratives,” etc.  However, NOT once have they written to me to dispute a single fact, despite multiple invitations to do so.  Neither has Council Member Rick Mohrig, who incessantly whines about “lies,” ever reached out.  This silence speaks for itself.

My eight-year political journey has often been arduous and sometimes lonely.  I have invested over $15,000 and 3,000+ hours in my good governance efforts.  I have posted 2 petitions, spoken over 100 times before Milton City Council, and published around 370 blog posts.  I supported Laura Bentley’s bid for council in 2017.  I believe my support was dispositive in her election.  However, once in office, Bentley quickly turned her back on her supporters.  We weren’t needed anymore.  Bentley betrayed her hardline zoning stances to support the granting of 28 variances at Birmingham Crossroads.  Worse, while in office, Bentley employed the same political tactics she had criticized in her 2017 opponent.  Belatedly, I realized there was not a dime’s worth of difference between Bentley and her predecessor Bill Lusk.  Most troubling, Bentley did not deliver on her campaign commitments—especially her promise to shift power to citizens.  Sadly, Laura became just another dissembling politician. 

My endorsement of Bentley hurt the Milton Coalition brand and for several years, I was exiled to a sort of political wilderness.  However, I continued to engage when I sensed opportunities to regain citizen trust.  I stuck to my principles, believing that when citizens were presented with the facts and with logic, they would continue to seek out the blog . . . and my brand would be restored stronger than ever . . . and it has been.  And I had confidence that, untethered from ethics and sound advice, Bentley and Moore would ultimately commit self-destruction that I would catalyze by exposing their misdeeds . . . and self-destruct they did and in quite dramatic fashion.  Please understand that my goal was not revenge, but rather redemption (for myself).  Thankfully, my faith in Miltonites (to see through the thick fog of dishonesty and distraction) was confirmed in your unwavering support and more importantly in your sage voting at election time.

My endorsement of Bentley was my biggest blunder, but also led me to my most important insight about Milton’s politics . . . that huge damage was being done to good governance because of factionalism in Milton.  My goal became defeating this factionalism and convincing citizens to leave behind the destructive politics of the past.  Since the founding of the city, two factions have been battling each other for supremacy:  the Bailey-Bentley-Moore faction and the Lusk-Kunz-Mohrig faction.  In truth, these political cliques differ little in their policy positions and neither cares much about principled governance.  Often, their disputes were positively juvenile and got so bad at one point that an organizational psychologist was engaged . . . but to no avail.  Policy and principles took a back seat to personality politics, with both sides competing to be the coolest kids in city government.  Citizens were the losers.  However, with the 2023 elections, these fractious factions have finally been exorcised from city government.  By the 2023 campaign, Milton’s two political sects found themselves so weakened that they loosely allied to jointly promote Mohrig, enlisting the aid of Milton’s Lunatic Fringe.  Nevertheless, they could barely muster 40% of votes for Mohrig . . . a testament not only to their impotence but also to the wisdom of Milton’s voters.  Citizens have chosen a new path that leaves behind Milton’s long-damaging sectarian politics and its more recent spasm of hyper-partisanship to focus on a better and less fractious future for Milton.  I am pleased about the small role I played in the demise of Milton’s two political factions.  Good riddance!

My political journey has also been an intensely personal journey.  While sometimes difficult, traveling the political high road has been also enlightening.  I have learned a lot about myself and my fellow humans.  I have made many lifelong friendships.  My political sojourn has increased my self-awareness and made me a better person.  My faith in principled leadership has been fortified.  I have made some mistakes, but I have no regrets.  Mistakes are inevitable. What is important is to admit those mistakes, to learn from them, and to soldier on.  That is why I continued my advocacy in the wake of my misjudgments about Bentley (and Moore) and the resulting damage to my reputation and the Milton Coalition brand. 

This brings me to my purpose with this post.  Although now living in Alpharetta, I had unfinished business in Milton.  That business is concluded.  I have been instrumental in defeating both of Milton’s long-warring factions.  Six of Milton’s factional candidates (Mohrig, Bentley, Lusk, Moore, Thurman, and Kunz) have been defeated outright or wisely chosen not to run in the face of certain defeat.  A few other candidates put up by one faction or the other have been defeated.  The Lunatic Fringe has been largely neutered.  With Moore and Mohrig gone, their venom has no outlet . . .  Milton’s radicals have been defanged . . . only their loud, annoying, but harmless, hissing remains.

My work is done.  I have achieved the redemption that I sought.  Other priorities call.  Family, friends, work . . . and my health.  A week from now, I undergo open heart surgery.  Accordingly, I will focus on recovery and not Milton politics . . . and not the blog.  And when I return, I will blog at a much lower volume.  And my focus will shift to 1) political lessons learned and 2) profiling Milton businesses, community service organizations, and difference-making Milton citizens.  If I absolutely must re-direct my blog to Milton politics, I will.  However, I am confident that Milton’s current council will get back to the business of the people and to Milton’s strategic objectives.  I believe that 2023 was likely my last Milton election.  I am happy to advise others, including council members, on politics and governance . . . if they seek me out.  However, I believe my destiny lies elsewhere and my role in Milton will recede . . . that is my wish . . . we’ll see.  My hope is that other ordinary citizens will take up the mantle of good governance.

In closing, thanks again to my many readers.  Thanks for your trust, confidence, and respect.  It is more appreciated than you realize . . . it has been sustaining.

Advocating (as always) For Clean, Competent, Courageous, and Citizen-centric Government,

Tim

Note:  Time permitting before my surgery, I still plan to publish a post “Reflections on Elections.”

(Revised November 9, 2023 to reflect updated vote totals . . . Cranmer and Cookerly did even better than I originally reported, with Cranmer and Cookerly respectively garnering about 1% and 2% more votes than originally reported.)

Yesterday, Miltonites definitively rejected the dishonesty and dysfunction that has plagued Milton city government for the past two years.  Both Phil Cranmer and Carol Cookerly decisively defeated their opponents.  Doug Hene, who ran unopposed on a platform of restoring trust and confidence in city government, will join Cranmer and Cookerly on council.  Cranmer, Cookerly, and Hene were supported in their candidacies by Mayor Jamison and Council Members Verhoff and Johnson.

Even though Milton’s long-warring factions combined forces, their candidates nevertheless fared poorly in both races, with Mohrig capturing only 40% of the vote and Gordon capturing only 35%.  Voters sent a clear message that integrity and accountability matter . . . and that council must focus on citizens’ prerogatives and strategic objectives.  With their vote, Miltonites also resoundingly embraced non-partisanship in Milton’s politics. 

I have always trusted the wisdom of Milton’s voters and once again those voters rose to the occasion.  The election results are provided below.  Clearly, these results are a mandate for change in Milton.  Congratulations to Cranmer, Cookerly, and Hene . . . and best wishes to Rick Mohrig and Helen Gordon.

Advocating for Good Governance and for ALL Citizens,

Tim

Voters, today is Election Day.  I strongly recommend voting for Phil Cranmer and Carol Cookerly. 

I have thoroughly vetted all the candidates.  Cranmer and Cookerly were the clear winners.  Both are committed to ethical and accountable government.  Both are committed to strictly enforcing Milton’s zoning ordinances . . . and that includes NEVER voting to extend sewer (as Rick Mohrig has done twice).  Both are committed to keeping council focused on strategic issues and not delving into petty HOA issues or other minutiae.   Both are committed to honoring council members’ oath to uphold the rule of law.  Both are committed to citizen-centric government.  Let’s bring back sanity to City Hall.  Vote for Phil Cranmer and Carol Cookerly.  It’s not a difficult choice.

Advocating for Good Governance (as always),

Tim

Note: Later today, I will be providing my election analysis and predictions at Bit & Pieces. Click on the following link: Bits & Pieces

Citizens, I know that many of you are coming to the Milton Coalition Blog in advance of voting tomorrow.  Thank you for your trust and confidence in me and my blog.  Please forward this post or the post URL to friends and neighbors. This election is critical to returning some semblance of sanity to Milton’s city government.

My last two blog posts have focused on alleged recent trespassing by Council Member Rick Mohrig.  Following are links to my two blog posts:

Mohrig Trespasses on Citizen’s Property to Conduct “Investigation” . . . Trampling on Basic Rights . . . Express Your Dissatisfaction with Your Vote

2023 Elections Have Become Referendum on Whether Government Protects Our Fundamental Rights . . . Or Tramples Those Rights

Right now, the city seems to be doing what it usually does . . . nothing.  Open Records Requests have so far gone unanswered.  The city’s lack of response prompted me to write the below letter to Police Chief Austin.

Voters, please read my letter and my previous blog posts and ask yourself the following question.  Do I want City Council members coming onto my property and violating my property rights to conduct unauthorized private investigations that violate my basic Constitutional rights, such as protection from unreasonable search (Fourth Amendment), protection from arbitrary or discriminatory governmental actions (Fourteenth Amendment), and right to privacy (established by the Supreme Court in Griswold vs. Connecticut)?  If your answer is NO, then vote for Phil Cranmer and Carol Cookerly for Milton City Council.

Advocating For Your Constitutional Rights,

Tim

Yesterday, I broke the story of Council Member Rick Mohrig’s trespass on the property of a private citizen to conduct an unauthorized “investigation.”  Today, I sent a letter to Milton City Council requesting Rick Mohrig’s resignation . . . and failing that, action by council to discipline Mr. Mohrig.

Voters, the 2023 municipal elections have shifted from electing representatives to council to a more fundamental purpose . . . a referendum on government protecting citizens’ basic Constitutional rights.  The rights at stake include:  protection from unreasonable search; the right to privacy; property rights; and freedom from government threats to one’s safety and security.

When voting tomorrow, ask yourself a simple question:  Would I want Rick Mohrig coming onto my property without permission (or even notification) to conduct unauthorized investigations of me and/or my family members?  If you are fine with such illegal intrusions on your basic liberties, then you should vote for Rick Mohrig.  However, if your answer is NO, then vote for Phil Cranmer and Carol Cookerly . . . both are committed to upholding your fundamental Constitutional rights.

Advocating For Protection of Citizens’ Fundamental Constitutional Rights,

Tim

Stay tuned . . . I will soon be publishing a post debunking Mohrig’s assertion that he has taken $0 from developers for his campaign.  Mohrig has taken money from an individual who recently came to council with a development proposal and plans to return with a revised proposal.  One hint about my future post . . . a rose by any other name is still a rose . . . and a developer by any other name is still a developer.  And it doesn’t matter if development is not their primary occupation but instead a secondary/part-time occupation.

This is as bad as it gets . . .

Yesterday (November 1^st), Rick Mohrig trespassed on a Milton resident’s property to conduct an “investigation.”  He allegedly drove 400 feet onto the subject property with another older male who has not yet been identified.  Attached is a letter from the impacted Milton resident to the mayor providing the specifics of the trespass.  (I highlighted certain passages for emphasis.)  As you read this letter, ask yourself:

• Would you want a city official, especially an elected official, trespassing onto your property to conduct an “investigation” without your consent (or even notification)?
• Why is an elected official even conducting an investigation?  Under what authority?  Can elected officials just launch their own personal/private investigations of citizens? 
• Should elected officials be allowed to circumvent the city manager (in violation of the city charter) to conduct such investigations?
• Why does Mohrig believe he is above the law . . . or maybe more accurately why does Mohrig believe he IS the LAW?
• Who is this other person that Mohrig is bringing onto the property?  Is this standard practice . . . for an elected official to trespass and bring other individuals along as investigators?

Voters, let me be direct.  Rick Mohrig is out-of-control.  For many months, I have been warning citizens and city officials that Mohrig is unfit for office . . . that he poses a serious threat to Milton . . . that he has created such a toxic political environment that death threats are being made against the mayor and his family . . . threats dismissed by his radical supporters as a hoax.  This criminal trespass is just more of the same. 

Through my blog, I have cataloged numerous incidents of misconduct.  This criminal trespass is just the latest chapter in Mohrig’s long saga of misconduct.  However, with this criminal trespass, Mohrig has gone too far and is trampling on citizens’ fundamental rights.   Is the city going hold Mohrig accountable or continue to ignore his misbehavior?  Is criminal trespass sufficient to hold Mohrig accountable?  Is violating a citizen’s right to privacy sufficient?  Is causing legitimate safety concerns sufficient?  Is violating a citizen’s property rights sufficient?  Does this intrusion by a government official constitute a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable government searches?

Citizens, brace yourself for the Lunatic Fringe’s response to Mohrig’s latest scandal.  First, they are going to dismiss the whole incident as “political.”  Second, the craziest of the crazies will gin up some sort of wild conspiracy theory.  Perhaps, Mohrig’s brain—just like his computer–was somehow hacked by his political opponents.

Voters, you have a stark choice to make in the 2023 municipal elections.  You can vote for continued dishonesty, dysfunction, and non-transparency that has permeated city government for the past two years . . . and is incarnated in Rick Mohrig.  Or you can put the city on a path to integrity, accountability, and responsiveness . . . as represented by Phil Cranmer and Carol Cookerly.  It is NOT a difficult choice. 

Voters, please send a clear message to Rick Mohrig that citizens are no longer going to tolerate Mohrig’s assaults on our fundamental rights:  our right to privacy; our right to enjoy our property; our right to feel safe and secure in our homes; our right against unlawful search and seizure; and our right to equal voting access.  Enough is enough!

Advocating For a Return to Political Sanity in Milton,

Tim

Note:  I will continue to provide updates on this latest Mohrig scandal enveloping the city.

It’s Halloween, so it is time for TREATS and for TRICKS!  The treats are email excerpts from Lisa Cauley praising me and the Milton Coalition.  (Yes, I keep my powder dry until it is needed.)  See one excerpt above and one excerpt at the bottom.

Unfortunately, politics is not all treats . . . in fact, what we are seeing from Rick Mohrig’s campaign is mostly TRICKERY . . . never more so than in the attached letter from Lisa Cauley.  Ms. Cauley is a former member of Milton’s Election Feasibility Committee (EFC) and is a hardcore Rick Mohrig supporter. 

It is with great pleasure that I provide Ms. Cauley’s letter to readers because her letter makes a better case for defeating Rick Mohrig than I can ever make.  And if Milton is rid of Mohrig, there is a big bonus treat . . . Milton will also be rid of the hyper-partisan tricksters that have been disrupting Milton’s city government for 2+ years . . . Rick Mohrig’s puppet-masters. 

I am the blogger referenced in Ms. Cauley’s letter.  My opponents—most of them anyway—have smartened up.  They have finally realized that every time they mention “Tim Becker” or “The Milton Coalition,” my readership increases.  The more they try to impugn my credibility, the more my readership increases.  So far this month, my posts have been viewed 5,600 times.

So let’s have some spooky fun and frightful laughs.  Let’s analyze some elements of Ms. Cauley’s letter:

Ms. Cauley laments “low voter participation” in early voting.  Really?  Wasn’t that the intent of the EFC’s election design?  To depress voting . . . at least for certain voters?  After all, voters no longer have the option of early voting outside of Milton.  In past elections, 40% of early voting occurred outside of Milton, especially in Alpharetta.  Early voting days/hours have also been reduced, including elimination of Sunday voting.  And if maximizing voter participation is the goal, then Milton’s early voting location in Crabapple makes absolutely no sense.  Simple common sense would suggest an early voting location in SE Milton (yes, District 3) considering that most voters frequently travel through this area.

It is interesting (hypocritical?) that Ms. Cauley is touting Mr. Mohrig’s experience while at the same time supporting political neophyte Helen Gordon against two-term veteran Carol Cookerly, who has been on council for 5 years . . . longer than the three years that challenger Gordon has lived in Milton.

Ms. Cauley’s comments about staff are especially troubling.  She states that staff’s role on the EFC was simply “to provide support and assistance.”  This is nonsense.  The assigned staff members were (supposed to be) equal participating members in the EFC . . . not servants.  City staff should have been treated as equal and capable committee members, including having a say in and a vote on the final report.  (BTW, citizens should have also been given an opportunity by the EFC to comment on the final report.)  In her letter, Ms. Cauley makes several disconcerting claims without providing any substantiation.  Why?  Because the records (I’ve gathered) do not support her claims.  I wrote an entire blog post on the manipulation of the EFC’s final report that generously references source materials, which are provided at the post.  Click on the following link:  Mohrig Excluded City Staff & Suppressed Elections Findings . . . Violating Committee Standards

Ms. Cauley continues to assert that Milton will save money by running its elections.  I have written 3 blog posts (links provided below) on these mythical savings.  The crux of Ms. Cauley’s argument is this:  City staff are free.  Not a cent of staff costs should be included in the elections business case.  This is ridiculous.  It is standard practice to include opportunity costs in any business case.  And it is standard practice for competent organizations to allocate staff salaries to specific projects.  This is Business 101.  I am quite sure that the Cauley family business allocates its employees’ salaries to specific projects it executes for its customers.  I do the same in my business as do my clients.

Exposing Exaggerated Elections Cost Savings Projections at Milton City Hall

Mohrig Can’t Substantiate Elections Cost Savings Claims . . . Milton Will Pay More For Much Less

Milton’s Projected Elections Costs Now Higher Than Fulton County . . . Taxpayer-Voters Will Be Paying MUCH MORE FOR MUCH LESS

Ms. Cauley asserts that I am “untruthful” and “spreading falsehoods and fabricating a misleading narrative.”  However, despite my invitations to do so, Ms. Cauley has 1) never contacted about any factual errors at the blog nor 2) submitted an alternative narrative that I could publish.  In fact, in the past, Ms. Cauley has had nothing but praise for me and the Milton Coalition blog.  See excerpts of her emails to me and to citizens at the top and bottom of this blog post. 

Ms. Cauley states that Rick Mohrig enjoys the “widespread respect, admiration, and a strong standing in Milton.”  Again, I did an entire blog post about this newfound respect for Rick Mohrig.  Only in the last few years has Rick Mohrig been esteemed by Paul Moore, Laura Bentley, etc.  For over a decade, Mohrig was aligned with Milton’s other political faction . . . the Lusk/Kunz faction . . . and he was despised by the Moore-Bentley-Bailey faction.  Following is a link to my blog post with a letter written by Moore blasting Mohrig:  Paul Moore Blasts Mohrig: “WE WILL NOT TOLERATE YOUR BACKROOM POLITICS.”  Moore’s criticisms largely mirror my posts about Mohrig over the past 6 months.  So what changed?  Well, Mohrig became Moore-Bentley’s patsy.  They are supporting him because they need a puppet on council that they can control.  That is the long-and-short of it.  However, the Lusk-Kunz faction and Milton’s Lunatic Fringe also have their hooks in Mohrig.  So the question becomes:  Which of these three groups—Moore & Bentley, Lusk & Kunz, or the Lunatic Fringe—will control the malleable, lame-duck Mohrig if he is re-elected?  He readily responds to treats but also easily falls for tricks.

Ms. Cauley’s letter mirrors the EFC’s poor-quality process and output.  Ms. Cauley’s letter is just more of the same . . . assertions without substantiation . . . more bias, non-transparency, and poor analysis—for example, hyperlinks to anonymous posts heavy on innuendo and bereft of facts or sourcing.  Please note that I am NOT including the hyperlinks that Ms. Cauley includes in her letter.  Readers know that I adhere to strict publishing standards.  I do not publish communications from untrusted, anonymous sources, especially if such communications make unsubstantiated, poorly sourced, and potentially libelous claims.  Such communications assume voters are morons and can be easily duped.  I hold the opposite opinion.  I believe Milton voters are discerning and accordingly, most will readily reject these anonymous communications as poorly crafted propaganda . . . and nothing more.

Well voters, now that I have debunked all the trickery, it is time to leave you with one more treat (and there are plenty more where these came from) . . . one more email excerpt from Ms. Cauley . . . another email to friends praising me and my objectivity . . . and yes, please forward and share this post with whomever you wish. I encourage it.

Happy Halloween to All!

Advocating For More Treats and Less (Political) Tricks,

Tim

Today, I am posting the sixth and last installment of a six-part series debunking Rick Mohrig’s defenses of his terrible record.  This post debunks Mohrig’s allegations of campaign collusion.  Following is a link to Mohrig’s “Facts Matter” campaign web page.

Mohrig’s Facts Matter

False Assertion #6:  Through pure innuendo, Mohrig implies Cranmer is beholden to Milton Families First, an independent committee, and to MFF’s founders.

This is a serious charge with NO substantiation, only innuendo . . . which seems to be a common theme in Mohrig’s campaign and in his surrogates’ anonymous communications.

Milton Families First (MFF) is an independent committee (not to be confused with a PAC) that was formed in July.  The operative word is “independent.”  Legally, Cranmer’s campaign and MFF must operate independently; they cannot coordinate.  Cranmer has NO control over MFF.  However, MFF and Cranmer do share a common goal of thwarting Mohrig’s re-election . . . a goal shared by me, most of council, and (I believe) a large majority of citizens.  So what?

It is TRUE that Cranmer has accepted campaign contributions from two of MFF’s officers, acting in their capacity as private citizens and participating in the political process . . . as is their right.  These contributions are legal and in no way tie Cranmer to MFF.  Like MFF itself, these two private citizens desire to thwart Mohrig’s re-election bid . . . again a goal they share with Cranmer, myself, most of council, and (I believe) a large majority of citizens.  So what?

Mohrig has accepted a few $1000+ contributions.  I am quite sure he would like more such contributions but hasn’t inspired donors to generously contribute.

Regarding MFF, citizens should judge MFF by its actions.  So far, MFF has enunciated three short-term goals:  to oppose Paul Moore’s candidacy; to oppose Rick Mohrig’s candidacy; and to expose/protest Milton’s corrupt elections design/planning process.  I support all three of these short-term goals . . . as do many Milton voters . . . a large majority, I believe. Longer term, if MFF acts in the furtherance of better governance in Milton . . . if MFF acts as a principled government watchdog . . . then MFF can be force for good in Milton. Again, MFF should be judged by its actions.

A vote for Cranmer and Cookerly is a vote AGAINST innuendo-driven smear campaigns.

Citizens, this post is the last installment in my six-part series debunking Mohrig’s defenses of his record.  As Paul Harvey used to say when signing off . . . now you know the rest of the story.  I am cautiously optimistic that Milton will soon be rid of Mohrig and his dishonesty.  I am confident voters will put Milton’s last political dinosaur out to pasture.

Speaking Truth to Power,

Tim

Note 1:  I am including a pdf file that provides my refutation of all six of Mohrig’s defenses of his record on land use, elections, and campaign collusion.  I urge readers to circulate this file to family, friends, and neighbors.  We must NOT let Mohrig get away with distorting his record and smearing his opponent. You can also click the following link to go to a web page that provides the same information:  Refuting Mohrig’s Two New Campaign Website Pages: Facts Matter and Highway 9

Note 2: I was tempted to get wonky about independent committees and talk about notions of political power distribution. In a nutshell, I am an advocate of checks and balances in government. I am an advocate of shifting power to citizens. Currently, nearly all local power is concentrated in Milton City Council . . . in just seven politicians. I am a fan of entities inside city government (like Milton’s recently gutted Charter Commission) or outside city government that can act to check government overreach. My blog and the Milton Herald have served in this capacity. However, individuals are limited in what they we can do. To really exert pressure on government, citizens must organize and spend money . . . and that legally requires registration as an independent committee . . . there is no way around it. Believe it or not . . . just two individuals purchasing a single sign advocating for/against a candidate that they wave at an intersection meet the definition of an independent committee and are legally required to register as an Independent Committee. I believe this is not just, but currently it is the law in Georgia. I believe Georgia’s law governing independent committee is violative of First Amendment freedoms of speech, assembly, and protest. And the current law certainly discourages citizens from organizing and thus concentrates power in government and politicians, while limiting citizen engagement with politics and government.

Today, I am posting the fifth installment of a six-part series debunking Rick Mohrig’s defenses of his terrible record.  This is my second post about Mohrig’s elections misbehavior.  Following is a link to Mohrig’s “Facts Matter” campaign web page.

Mohrig’s Facts Matter

False Assertion #5:  Milton’s election prep has been free from wrongdoing, and Rick Mohrig had no interference or improper influence.  (directly quoted from his web page)

This allegation is super easy to refute . . . like shooting fish in a barrel (as the saying goes).  The following is from Mohrig’s website:

Both Mohrig and Moore have asserted that the City Attorney’s response (attached below) to three separate complaints to the Georgia state elections board “exonerates” (their word) them from charges of elections misbehavior.  This is laughable and indicative of Mohrig and Moore’s assumption that voters are morons . . . are you sensing a theme here?  The City Attorney is the city’s defense lawyer.  Of course, he is going to assert that the city did nothing wrong . . . that is his job!  Obviously, defense attorneys cannot exonerate their clients.  If they could, our prisons would be empty.  Nevertheless, both Mohrig and Moore have been using the City’s Attorney letter (to the state elections board) as a blanket excuse for their elections misbehavior. 

Unless a voter has been living under a rock, he/she knows that Milton’s elections project has been a complete and utter disaster . . . Mohrig’s signature failure.  That is why Mohrig never boasts or even talks about it . . . unless he is forced to.  Milton will be paying MUCH MORE FOR MUCH LESS.  Costs for Milton to self-run its elections will be at least double the cost Fulton County would have charged . . . for much lower service levels:  fewer polling locations; fewer voting days/hours; no option to early vote outside Milton.

A vote for Cranmer and Cookerly is a vote AGAINST council member interference in elections.

Advocating AGAINST council member interference in THEIR own elections,

Tim

Note:  I am including a pdf file that provides my refutation of all six of Mohrig’s defenses of his record on land use, elections, and campaign collusion.  I urge readers to circulate this file to family, friends, and neighbors.  Voters must NOT let Mohrig get away with distorting his record and smearing his opponent. You can also click the following link to go to a web page that provides the same information:  Refuting Mohrig’s Two New Campaign Website Pages: Facts Matter and Highway 9

Today, I am posting the fourth installment of a six-part series debunking Rick Mohrig’s defenses of his terrible record.  This post and my next post debunk Mohrig’s false elections assertions.  Following is a link to Mohrig’s “Facts Matter” campaign website page.

Mohrig’s Facts Matter

False Assertion #4:  Rick recommended the 2nd polling location be in District 3 when he supported the Committee’s 2 polling location guidance.  (a direct quote from his web page)

To support this especially bold false assertion, Mohrig dishonestly cherry-picks a few initial statements he made in an April 10^th city council regular meeting and later in an April 17^th city council working session.  However, he conveniently and dishonestly omits his final position (and the only position that matters) on polling place locations expressed in the last few minutes of the April 17^th working session.  In the final three minutes of the April 17^th working session, Mohrig states THREE times he is “good” with the recommendation that District 3 be denied a polling place.  This recommendation formed the basis of a motion made two weeks later by Moore, SECONDED by Mohrig, and PASSED by council in a 4-3 vote, with Mohrig providing the DECIDING vote AGAINST—yes, AGAINST–a District 3 polling place.

At the April 17^th city council working session, at 2:33:38, Jan Jacobus first recommends the switch (from a District 3 polling location) to the Milton Park and Preserve (District 2).  Mohrig expresses no opposition and (at 2:33:40) states “I’m good with that.”  Council Member Moore (2:34:00) then provides his support for the switch.  Moore appallingly justifies denial of a District 3 polling location by stating that District 3 has the lowest percentage voter turnout . . . implying District 3 voters do not deserve a polling place.  In response to Moore’s recommendation Mohrig (2:35:00) states “I would be good with that.”  Mohrig concludes the council discussion with a few additional comments, ending by saying (at 2:35:48):  “I’m good with those two voting locations.”  In the span of slightly more than 2 minutes at the conclusion of the April 17th working session, Mohrig states THREE times that is he is “good” with Milton City Hall and Milton Park and Preserve as the two day-of polling locations, leaving District 3 without a polling location.  Following is a link to the video.  Forward to 2:33:35 (and listen for 2 ½ minutes):

The next regular city council meeting occurred on May 1^st.  This is the meeting where council discussed and voted on the number and location of the day-off polling spots.  I suggest watching the entire elections discussion and council vote, which ONLY lasts 9 minutes.  Mayor Jamison ardently argues for a third polling location.  Mohrig is clearly annoyed (about the suggestion for a District 3 polling place) and clearly does not understand basic voting protocols . . . amazing given his long tenure on council.  NEVER does Mohrig recommend the second polling location be in District 3.  NEVER does Mohrig object to District 3 being denied a polling location.  In fact, Mohrig provides the DECIDING VOTE AGAINST adding a District 3 polling location (in a 3-4 vote).  To add insult to injury, Mohrig then SECONDS the follow-on motion for 2 polling locations:  one at Milton City Hall and one at Milton Park & Preserve.  And finally Mohrig provides the DECIDING VOTE TO APPROVE (in a 4-3 vote) an election design that DENIES District 3 a polling location.  His opposition to a polling location in HIS OWN district could not be clearer.  Following is a link to the video.  Forward to 3:31:00

Two weeks later, in the wake of bad publicity over the decision, Mohrig’s radical mob appeared at council to blast the council members who favored the third polling location.  It was gratuitous and disgusting.  Milton’s Conservative mayor was cursed as “woke” and even “Marxist” for daring to advocate for equal voting access in Milton.  What was the point?  The Lunatic Fringe had prevailed.  Council designated only 2 polling locations; District 3 was denied a polling place.  I attribute this outburst to Moore and Mohrig spiking the football and flexing their political muscle.  Fortunately, their maneuver backfired.  They overplayed their hand and citizens rebelled.  This was the last straw for Phil Cranmer, sealing his decision to run for council.  Following is a link to May 15^th general public comment.  Forward to 11:30. These are the people who will be controlling Mohrig if he is elected . . . think about it!

Only because of overwhelming public pressure (stimulated by this blog) did Mohrig reluctantly vote to add back a District 3 polling location at the July 24^th regular city council meeting. 

However, it gets worse. At his “Facts Matter” web page, Mohrig goes beyond denying his pivotal role and lamely tries to shift the blame to City Manager Krokoff and Mayor Jamison for the denial of a District 3 polling location.  He extracts and quotes completely out-of-context (three) sound bites from Krokoff and Jamison.  Anyone half paying attention knows that Krokoff and Jamison were steadfast in their advocacy for three polling places . . . to include a polling place in District 3.  But don’t trust me . . . watch the suggested video clips from April 17^th, May 1^st, and May 15^th.

A vote for Cranmer and Cookerly is a vote for Election Integrity, for Equal Voting Access, and for restoring political sanity to Milton.

Advocating for Election Integrity and Voting Rights,

Tim

Note:  I am including a pdf file that provides my refutation of all six of Mohrig’s defenses of his record on land use, elections, and campaign collusion.  I urge readers to circulate this file to family, friends, and neighbors.  We must NOT let Mohrig get away with distorting his record and smearing his opponent. You can also click the following link to go to a web page that provides the same information:  Refuting Mohrig’s Two New Campaign Website Pages: Facts Matter and Highway 9