THANK YOU FROM PETE & CATHERINE

Friends,

I would like to thank the voters of this great county for the honor you have bestowed upon me. On behalf of Catherine and me, I am humbled and deeply honored to accept this mantle of responsibility as your Republican nominee to the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners.

I am grateful to our campaign staff who worked so hard to make this election a huge success and would like to remind them that there is still a long way to go between now and November.

I am especially proud to represent my friends and neighbors of a lifetime in District 1. While I started this journey with the earnest desire to provide a stronger voice for the people of my home district, I pledge today that if I am successful in November, I will devote myself to providing a strong voice for all Forsyth County citizens in every district.

Catherine and I ask for your continued prayers and support.

Sincerely,

Pete Amos

1 week to go!

AMOS, VOICE OF REASON

AMOS VOICE OF REASON IN GOP DEBATE

CUMMING -- Brant Meadows once again demonstrated that he is a single issue candidate for District One Commissioner at the GOP Debate on June 28. He continues to blame the City of Cumming for all of Forsyth County’s problems. In his opening remarks, Meadows said that his No. 1 goal is “to keep the City from milking the life out of the county.”

And that blame-the-City-first mentality manifested itself throughout the debate.

When Meadows called for consolidation of City and County water services, Pete pointed out the obvious: The City of Cumming doesn’t want consolidation and Forsyth County can’t afford it. Reason instead of rhetoric.

On the key issue of the economy, Meadows’ solution was to take more money from the City in the form of SPLOST and LOST revenue. Amos said he would balance future budgets by doing a better job of attracting quality businesses to Forsyth County. Reason instead of rhetoric.

Pete said he believed in negotiating the best prices for county residents for sales tax splits, but “we need to work with (city leaders) and not have a pre-set agenda that the city is only going to get 3 to 4 percent of the whole thing. You should look at the projects they want to do, if it is helpful to the entire county, why not let the city do a project. Why does all the money have to come out of the county part of it?” Reason instead of rhetoric.

On the issue of increasing revenue for the county’s water and sewer fund, Meadows again accused the City. “You’ve got to consider what the water rates are and where we’re purchasing the water and how much you’re paying for the water,” he said. Meadows’ blamed the City for the current water rates, saying the county needed a “more favorable” rate and that the City intake was “illegal.”

Pete once again proposed negotiation instead of confrontation. “We’ve got to work with the City of Cumming to insure we have good, clean water at a fair cost and then go from there,” he said. Reason instead of rhetoric.

One topic where Pete’s opponent had only himself and the county commission to blame was the issue of Lanier Golf Course. When course owners asked to have the course rezoned from agricultural to Master Planned District in 2007, Meadows voted to recommend denial prompting course owners to file a lawsuit against Forsyth County.

Earlier this week, Appalachian Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Robert E. Bradley ruled that denying that rezoning was unconstitutional. Settlement terms have not yet been announced, but the poorly-considered recommendation of Pete’s opponent is likely to cost Forsyth County taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions. Meadows was Commissioner Laughinghouse’s appointment to the Planning Commission, replacing Pete Amos as Chairman of that board. There was no voice of reason in the majority on that vote.

COUNTY LOSES LANIER GOLF COURSE LAWSUIT

Meadows Recommendation Could Cost Taxpayers Millions

CUMMING – “The Board of Commissioners made a flawed decision. Unfortunately, Forsyth County taxpayers will once again have to pick up the tab for the Board’s bad judgment,” said Pete Amos, the frontrunner for the District 1 seat on the Board of Commissioners.

Amos made his comment Tuesday after learning that Judge Roger E. Bradley had ruled against Forsyth County in a lawsuit filed by Lanier Golf Course owners Jack Manton and George Bagley, Jr.

“Commissioners followed some bad advice from my opponent, Brant Meadows, in denying a request to rezone the golf course from agricultural to master planned unit,” Amos said. “Now the burden for following his advice will fall on the taxpayers.”

Meadows, Amos’ opponent in the District 1 race, was a member of the Forsyth County Planning Commission when, against the professional planning staff recommendation, he joined the majority of the commission in voting to send a motion for denial of the rezoning request to the Board of Commissioners.

What the eventual cost to taxpayers will be is uncertain. Bradley told attorneys for Forsyth County and the course owners that he would weigh the orders they submitted in making his decision on what relief to grant the plaintiffs.

“My opponent says he wants to ensure everyone adheres to the UDC, but that request did comply with the UDC and the Land Use Map. It also had the approval of the county planning staff, the Georgia Mountain RDC and Georgia Regional Transportation Authority. So, it sounds like he believes everyone should adhere to the UDC but him.”

Course owners say the denial cost them a $35 million contract with Wellstone, LLC, which planned to build a residential development with a 300-unit continuing care retirement community. The golf course owners promptly sued the county, requesting not only that the property be rezoned to a more suitable zoning, but also requesting damages for the lost sale of the property.

3 WEEKS TO GO!

RESPONSE TO FORSYTH NEWS ARTICLE

STATEMENT FROM PETE

From day one, my campaign has been focused on the issues that matter to our community. Right now, our citizens deserve to hear solutions aimed at helping our economy recover, alleviating traffic congestion, protecting our quality of life and ensuring an adequate water supply. While my campaign has been focused on the issues, my opponent and his supporters have focused their campaign on allegations, political spin and the rejection of truth.

Political spin and gutter politics are not the answer to the problems plaguing our community. Our citizens deserve more: they deserve action and they deserve real solutions. They deserve better.

Recently, some of my opponent's supporters alleged that I improperly filed financial disclosure statements. As someone who is not a career politician, I may have not reported everything correctly. My opponents will argue I did this with malice--which is simply not true. I have contacted the State Ethics Commission and local voter registration office to make them aware that I have filed amended disclosure statements. I accept responsibility for the possible oversight and blame no one but myself. My campaign is grounded in the belief that transparency leads to a healthy democracy.

My opponent and his supporters are using this minor reporting error to distract you from the issues of this election. I am confident voters will see through this political ploy and will reject this attempt to discredit me.

4 WEEKS TO GO!

Check out the video:

AMOS PASSES ON SMART GROWTH DEBATE

AMOS PASSES ON SMART GROWTH DEBATE
Chooses to Help Raise Funds for Bald Ridge Lodge Instead

CUMMING -- Pete Amos, the Republican front runner in the race for Forsyth County Board of Commissioners in District 1, was one of 168 participants in the first Bald Ridge Lodge golf tournament on Tuesday.

Bald Ridge Communications Director George Pirkle estimated the event coupled with both a live and silent auction raised between $15,000-20,000 for the lodge, which provides a safe haven and counseling for at-risk boys who are in need of protection, direction and supervision.

After the tourney, Amos said he was happy to help raise funds for such a worthwhile organization.

“Bald Ridge is a tremendous asset to our community,” he said. “It’s a modern facility where at-risk boys can receive counseling and community support and the focus is on family reunification and restoration.”

To participate in the benefit, Amos had to forego the Smart Growth Forsyth County candidate forum scheduled that evening and Amos’ opponent took the opportunity to criticize him for not being there.

“I was frustrated because I couldn’t be there,” Amos said. “I felt it was more important to help these young boys than to try and win a few votes.

AMOS TO ATTEND BALD RIDGE GOLF BENEFIT TUESDAY, JUNE 15

AMOS TO ATTEND BALD RIDGE GOLF BENEFIT TODAY


CUMMING -- Pete Amos, who is running for the District 1 seat on the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners in the July 20th Republican primary, announced today he will not participate in the Smart Growth Forsyth County candidate forum Tuesday due to a scheduling conflict.

"Bald Ridge Lodge, a non-profit organization that provides a safe haven for young boys in our community is holding a fund raising event today," Amos said. "I feel like it's more important for me to be there and do all I can to help them. There will be other candidate forums and I look forward to participating in them."

Amos said he notified Smart Growth of the conflict last week.

Bald Ridge is hosting its first Celebrity Golf Tournament today in hopes of raising funds for the organization. The tournament will be followed by a live and silent auction.

Bald Ridge Lodge is a Stabilization and Assessment Center for boys between the ages of 12 and 17. Its mission is to provide a safe haven and counseling in a therapeutic environment for boys who are in need of protection, direction and supervision. Through partnership with referring agencies, as well as families, Bald Ridge focuses on family reunification and restoration.

"Bald Ridge Lodge provides a tremendous humanitarian service to our community and I hope everyone will support them in their effort," Amos added.

If you would like more information about Bald Ridge Lodge, please visit www.baldridgelodge.org

Campain Kick Off a Great Success

CUMMING – With just over one month remaining before the July 20th primary election, about 200 highly energized and motivated supporters rallied Thursday in support of Pete Amos, Republican candidate for the District 1 post on the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners

Speaking in the parking lot below Good Ol’ Days restaurant, in the heart of Cumming, Mayor Ford Gravitt introduced Pete and challenged the crowd to do more than just vote for Pete, but to go out and actively work on behalf of the University of Georgia graduate who has pledged to end the out-of-control spending and fiscal mismanagement of county government.

“Pete is a business owner who knows how to balance a budget and how to meet a payroll,” Gravitt said. “County government is $900 million in debt. We need Pete in there because he knows that when you don’t have money, you don’t spend it.”

Pete reminded his supporters that this could be a close election and that every vote would count. “I’ve lived here my whole life. I love this district and I love this county and I want to stand up for it,” he said. “But I can’t do it without your help. Will you help me?”

Supporters responded with a resounding, “Yes.” More than 30 of them signed up to publicly endorse Pete and others scheduled Meet-and-Greet events in their homes.

“It’s humbling to see so many people come out support you and be willing to roll up their sleeves and go to work for you,” Pete said. “Catherine and I have been very blessed to have a wonderful family and so many good friends. I’m ready to go to work and make a positive difference in their lives. “

Six weeks until the election!

BRANT MEADOWS FORCED TO PAY BACK TAXES

ELECTION BOARD WILL ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS ELIGIBILITY

CUMMING- Brant Meadows wants everyone to pay their fair share of taxes- everyone, that is, but Brant Meadows.

Pete Amos' opponent in the race for the District 1 seat on the Forsyth County Board of Commissioner has been double dipping on his homestead exemptions for the last seven years.

Meadow, who claims on his campaign website to want everyone to pay their fair share of taxes, has received one homestead exemption for a residence at 7002 Bennington Lane and another at 794 Timber Lake Trail since 2003.

With the exemptions, Meadows was able to avoid paying over $1,700.00 in taxes owed to Forsyth County. But he won't be able to dodge them much longer. The Tax Assessor's office confirmed Monday morning that Meadows has been billed for the back taxes and could face a stiff penalty plus interest for his inability to manage his own finances.

And, there was more bad news for the Meadows campaign. On Monday, the Board of Elections voted unanimously to conduct a formal hearing into this eligibility to run for county commission in District 1 until it can be determined which is his current address. The Timber Lake Trail address is outside the boundary of District 1 and inside District 5.

That hearing has been scheduled for 9 a.m. on June 17 in the Board of Commissioners conference room at 110 East Main Street in Cumming.

"This appears to be more than just an innocent oversight," Amos said Monday. "One year, maybe. But how does someone who is asking voters to entrust him with millions of their tax dollars gain the benefit of two separate homestead exemptions for seven years and not notice it?"

Campaign Kick-Off, June 10

Please come by to see us on Thursday, June 10, 5 to 8 PM. Look for us in the big tent below Good Ole' Days.