Voter mistrust spreads

est example of Gwinnett government gone bad.

In 2010 a grand jury found Gwinnett had paid millions of dollars too much for land in deals that benefited commissioners’ political allies. Commissioner Kevin Kenerly resigned in the wake of a bribery charge that is still pending, and Chairman Charles Bannister resigned to avoid a perjury charge.

As the bad news mounts, candidates have met plenty of skeptical voters.

“I’ve had several people ask, ‘Are you going to steal from us?’” said Duluth accountant Laurie McClain, who is running for Lasseter’s County Commission seat.

The former commissioner has become an issue in a race to fill an open Superior Court seat. In campaign literature, candidate Chris McClurg claims Lasseter appointed one of his opponents, Tracey Mason Blasi, to be a municipal court judge in 2003. He claims Blasi can’t be trusted.

Blasi called the claims “offensive” and “a gross falsehood.” She said she was appointed by the Duluth City Council, not by Lasseter, who was mayor at the time.

“A lot of people I’ve spoken with question whether consenting to these tactics is befitting of someone seeking to become a Superior Court judge,” she said.

McClurg issued a statement saying he stands by his claims.

Six candidates — all Republicans — are vying for two County Commission seats in Tuesday’s primary. Most say distrust of government is a common theme on the campaign trail.

The District 3 race — which pits incumbent Mike Beaudreau of Lawrenceville against three challengers — has been contentious.

Beaudreau was not implicated in any of the allegations of wrongdoing that have rocked the commission. He touts his advocacy of new ethics and land-buying rules approved last year.

But opponent Jerry Oberholtzer, a former Snellville mayor, said Beaudreau hasn’t done enough to prevent commissioners’ abuses of power.

“I think he’s as much to blame as anybody else,” Oberholtzer said.

The other two challengers — civil engineer Tommy Hunter of Buford and Dacula businessman Mike Korom — also have taken swings at Beaudreau over issues like the recent debate over commercial flights at Briscoe Field and a county trash plan unpopular with many residents.

Beaudreau said he’s focused on creating jobs, citing his support for the Partnership Gwinnett economic development program, which he said has given Gwinnett an edge over other counties.

Though his opponents have focused on ethics problems, he said two of them — Korom and Oberholtzer — have outstanding fees for filing late campaign paperwork.

“If you can’t even file your ethics paperwork correctly, how are you going to manage a multimillion dollar budget?” he said.

Korom said he tried to file his paperwork on time but encountered technical problems with a state web site.

Oberholtzer said the late fees were for paperwork he didn’t know he had to file when he didn’t seek re-election as mayor.

In the District 1 race, McClain faces Suwanee City Councilman Jace Brooks.

McClain said, if elected, she will conduct herself with integrity and let voters decide whether she’s trustworthy.

Brooks said restoring faith in government will be a lengthy process involving better communication, more efforts to include residents in decision-making and more transparent government.

“It’s simple, but not easy,” Brooks said.