By John Fredericks / Staff

What a difference a campaign makes.

It’s raining endorsements for the Jere Wood –“It’s All Good” - mayoral run-off election campaign.

“I am voting for Jere Wood in the runoff on December 1,” Roswell City CounciIman Kent Igleheart said in a press conference held Monday night held at city hall.

Those words would never have been uttered a few months ago.

“Wood is the only independent, proactive leader in this runoff. He’s also the only one in this runoff to stay on a positive message for Roswell and is the only one who will have the time necessary to truly work hard for all of Roswell,” Igleheart, a long-time political foe of Wood, added.

“He respects the political process and regardless of the issues, even when he and I disagree, he has always stayed within the boundaries of the political game.”

Igleheart said that much has been made about their disagreements but confirmed that he and Wood have seen eye to eye on most major issues facing the city, including “billboards, transportation, environmental policies and my sustainability programs.”

IGLEHEART DEFENDS CHANGE OF HEART

“The Mayor and I were the only ones against a Crossvile Road rezoning that would have brought higher density into [The Brookfield Country Club] neighborhood area. On the major issues that are important, I’d say we agree more than we disagree. Regarding the biggest disagreement we’ve had, Charlie Brown, Jere has shown he can listen to the voters and change his position. I can respect that,” Igleheart asserted.

Igleheart blasted Tolleson’s claim that the City Council is divided and dysfunctional.

“To those who have made a big deal about supposed divisions among on council, I say: grow up.” Igleheart offered that there is value in considering different sides of issues.

“[Tolleson] seems to be pushing for a group that gets together and sings Kumbaya and everyone just goes along to get along. That’s just not good for the creation of public policy where there are differences of opinion that need to be listened to and hashed out and where people need to take a stand on an issue, make compromises, make difficult decisions and really work together for the best interests of all of Roswell,” Igleheart claimed.

“Mayor Wood calls me and others to talk about whatever his latest issue is. Some might even cringe when you hear his trademark - “do you have a minute”? But he is open to talking, listening, compromising and figuring out how to make things happen,” Igleheart said. “But in the past few years I cannot recall one time where David Tolleson called me about an issue or had a substantive discussion about anything.”

TOLLESON: IGLEHEART AND HENRY JOINED AT THE HIP

Tolleson, however blew off the endorsement, and said it would not likely influence the outcome of the election.

“I’m proud of the fact that the elected officials and other community leaders who have endorsed me over the last several months have done so by giving positive reasons why I would be a good mayor, not by calling press conferences to attack my opponent. I believe that’s indicative of the kind of mayor I would be and the type of campaign I’ve run,” Tolleson said.

“My successful leadership in developing community consensus on projects like Centennial Walk and East Village is well-established. I’m not surprised that Kent would follow Lori’s lead. They’re usually in lockstep with one another.”

Tolleson is running for mayor on the notion that he is better listener and consensus builder than his opponent, Wood.