Voters to Decide Nov. 5 on Mayor and Two City Council Seats

Last Wednesday, Oct. 23, Johns Creek voters had a chance to meet and speak with the seven candidates running for one of the three seats in the upcoming municipal elections Nov. 5.

This year's elections has proved to an be emotionally charged one for this young city which was incorporated in 2008. The recent investigation against the mayor has created controversy and divided the City Council.

The city's first mayor, Mike Bodker, a 16-year resident and owner of Johns Creek Business Owner / Consultant – nexDimension Technology Solutions, LLC., for the first time has a challenger. Bev Miller, city council member for Post 6, resigned her seat to run for mayor. Miller, a resident for the past 16 years, is one of the first council members to serve the new city. She is Director of Community Relations for Emory Johns Creek Hospital.

Randall Johnson, Post 1, a business owner and resident for the past 17 years, has has served as city council member since the inception of the city. He is being challenged by Leonard Zaprowski, a Johns Creek chiropractor who has lived in Johns Creek since the late 1970s.

Karen Richardson (Post 3), who has also served on on the Johns Creek City Council since the city's inception, has two challengers: Nancy Reinecke, a Dietitian/Nutritionist and long-time resident and Cori Davenport, a 16-year resident and Founder and Owner of Trinity Athletics.

Kelly Stewart, council member for Post 5, is running un-opposed.

The candidates fielded some tough questions with Fox5's TV Newsman, Russ Spencer, a Johns Creek resident, serving as moderator.

Following are highlights from the candidates responses.

The first question to the city council candidates was to ask their thoughts on the investigation against Mayor Bodker.

Davenport: "I think what is going on is embarrassing for the city. A house devided will not stand. This has been such a black eye for our community."

Reineke: "$90,000 and five months of effort has not been reflected. This is more of a status report than anything else."

Richardson: "The council is looking for the truth, the report does not reflect the full scope of the investigation."

Zaprowski: "It's troubling for me to know the city is spending hard earned tax dollars. We have a council that cannot get along. I am sickened by turning on the news and hearing of the discord in Johns Creek."

Johnson: "It's an unfortunate event. We had two choices to sweep it under the rug or face the situation. Being a whistle blower is not an easy path. But the cost of the investigation falls at the feet of Mike Bodker (for not cooperating and turning over telephone records that the investigator had requested). The mayor was not following the rules and that is why we are in this situation."

The candidates were asked about how they thought the incident on Oct. 7, 2013 in which City Manager John Kachmar verbally confronted several citizens in the city hall parking lot after a city council meeting was handled.

Johnson: "Discipline against John Kachmar is a HR (Human Resources) issue and should be investigated throughly. His actions were wrong, he admitted it. We are waiting for the report to decide what course of action to take."

Zaprowski: "I disagree with you Mr. Johnson, I think you have grounds to take action. He is a top city employee. This sets up the city for liability. We need to take care of our citizens first."

Richardson: "We will follow through on this incident. We have a responsibility to the citizens of Johns Creek."

Reineke: "Mr. Kachmar needs at a minimum to apologize for his foul language and be reprimanded."

Davenport: "I do not agree with the city council's decision not to act. This is a man that we pay our tax dollars to. I do not understand why he is still in his position."

After city council finished their Q&A portion the city council candidates exited the stage so that Mayor Bodker and challenger Bev Miller could be seated.

Bodker and Miller fielded a number of questions. Below are a few highlights:

On taxes - do you have a plan to keep from raising taxes?

Bodker: "We need to diversity the tax digest, bring in more mixed use development and find ways to bring in more business to increase revenue .

Miller: "We have to live within our means - trim expenditures, build reserves. We can actually reduce our taxes in the later years with this plan."

What are your thoughts on redevelopment?

Miller: "We need to attract more businesses and take the tax burden off of homeowners."

Bodker: "We need to create walkable communities that are a little denser and bring some diversity of housing choices to the city."

What are your thoughts on making Johns Creek a destination city?

Bodker: "We need to create a vibrant city center that's walkable and offers entertainment and restaurants."

Miller: "We need a town center that's affordable and fitting for our community."

What are your thoughts on how to handle John Creek's traffic problems.

Miller: "Traffic is a regional problem. We need to find alternative traffic patterns."

Bodker: "Johns Creek is a victim of its own success. We have plans for several corridor projects to help solve some of those problems long term."

Question for Mayor Bodker: If you are re-elected will you be able to work with the council?

"I put my heart and soul into this city and am striving to work better with city council and they with me."

Miller: "It's a team effort, I founded this city too. I believe in serving with integrity and honesty, it's a joint effort."

A question for Miller: If you are not elected mayor will you run for city council again?

Miller: "I have no intention of running again for Post 6 or any other post."

Over 150 residents attended the event held at the Johns Creek High School auditorium. 

Editor's note: Forum organizers said that there were nearly 350 who attended the event last week, not the 150 stated above.