Roswell Mayor Jere Wood, a former Democrat turned Republican in 1990, is feeling lots of love from his newfound GOP friends.

Conservative activists have lined up behind his re-election bid in a big way.

Although the race is non-partisan, apparently some notable conservatives think his opponent in the December 1st run-off election, former councilman David Tolleson, is a “closet liberal.”

First he received the enthusiastic endorsement of mayoral aspirant and third place finisher Councilwoman Lori Henry, who campaigned as the “authentic conservative” in the race.

Monday he got the support of Councilman Kent Igleheart, widely regarded as the most fiscally conservative elected municipal official on the North Side.

In a press conference at City Hall today – his third one in nine days – Wood earned ringing endorsements from Shawn Hanley, the Fulton County Republican Chairman, and former Roswell Councilman Steve Dorvee.

HANLEY BACKS WOOD

Hanley complimented Wood’s leadership skills and said Wood had the contacts and relationships both in D.C. and in the Georgia General Assembly to “get things done.”

Hanley, who said his endorsement was personal, promised to work hard for Wood’s re-election effort over the remaining two weeks. He said there was little choice to make in the race.

“Mayor Wood has stepped up to support core conservative principals like fiscal restraint and the entrepreneurial values of small businesses,” Hanley said. “He has also reached out to Independents and conservative Democrats. It’s a testament to his leadership skill,” Hanley added.

Referring to Tolleson’s lack of experience, Hanley said this was no time for “on the job training.”

When asked if his public backing of Wood had anything to do with the fact that Tolleson’s two top campaign lieutenants, former Councilwoman Paula Winiski and campaign manager Randy Whatley are avowed liberal Democrats, Hanley first answered “no” but then qualified his answer.

“I am suspect of any candidate that surrounds himself with the extreme left,” Hanley said. “It has to make you think about what they really believe.”

Tolleson, though, scoffed at the Hanley endorsement, calling it “Atlanta-style politics” and “desperate.”

 “It’s disappointing that in these final days before the election the Wood campaign resorts to importing a non-Roswell resident to our city to try to get Jere re-elected,” Tolleson said. “He must be very worried to be so desperate.”

TO LEAD OR NOT TO LEAD

Responding to a question concerning Tolleson’s leadership style, Dorvee went further. “I don’t think David Tolleson has a leadership style,” the former councilman said. “He has Democrat Party consultants that tell him what his style is.”

TOLLESON: WHAT? ME LIBERAL?

Tolleson took exception to that allegation as well. “I don’t have consultants from either party; I have volunteers who want the best for Roswell,” Tolleson said, in defending his campaign brain trust.

“In the past, I’ve served as a Republican delegate at the district, county and state level; however, I don’t ask my volunteers to prove that they’re Republicans or anything else.  Our elections are non-partisan expressly to prevent people like Jere Wood from further dividing the city.  I believe this attack says volumes about Jere’s unwillingness to work with others and how he approaches being Mayor of all of Roswell.”

Tolleson, however, received 33 percent of his entire vote total on November 3 from four Old Alabama Road voting precincts, adding credence to the claims that his campaign is geographically based – which is divisive by nature.  

DORVEE OPENS FIRE ON TOLLESON, LAUDS WOOD

Dorvee depicted Tolleson as pliable.

“My father told me there are two kinds of people - ‘doers’ and ‘talkers.’ Jere is a doer and a leader. “ Dorvee said. “Unlike his opponent, Jere doesn’t stick his finger in the air to find which way the wind is blowing. He’s decisive. He wants to move the city forward.  At the same time, if he’s wrong, he admits it, embraces it, learns from his mistake and moves on.”

Dorvee then picked apart a recent Tolleson campaign mailer criticizing a Wood quote. “What Jere was saying is ‘Lead, follow or get out of the way.’  Jere leads.  He embraces new ideas.  David’s style is to do nothing until he sees the way the wind is blowing,” Dorvee claimed. “That may be good politics, but it is not good leadership.”

Dorvee said that Wood led the way on the Parkway Village ordinance, which protected numerous neighborhoods along Crossville-Woodstock Road, spearheaded the east and west side annexation, parkland acquisition, including Garrard Landing, and re-development. “According to his mailer, Mr. Tolleson’s claim to fame is that he got two big-box mixed-use developments approved, one of which has not even broken ground.” Dorvee added.

He unabashedly blasted Tolleson’s claim of spearheading the Big Creek effort, saying in effect, Tolleson was a Johnny Come Lately.  “The idea of purchasing the land came up years before, in the early ‘90s, when the city could not afford it.  My colleagues on the council and I saved tens of millions of dollars through careful financial management and some good luck.  David came along and spent the millions we saved.  That was the easy part.”

“When you put Mayor Wood’s accomplishments in twelve years next to David Tolleson’s in ten, it’s not even close,” Dorvee said.

TOLLESON PLAYING DEFENSE

Tolleson, when contacted, vehemently disputed Dorvee’s version of events.

“This comment is insulting to the hundreds of people who worked for nearly a decade advocating for the purchase of Big Creek Park.  Mr. Dorvee has forgotten several facts related to this well-documented event, including that no progress was made on this purchase until I replaced him on Council; that the family of Mr. Dorvee’s law partner owned this land; and, that the people of Roswell purchased this land by overwhelmingly passing a bond referendum in 2000 – after Mr. Dorvee left office – for the acquisition of greenspace,” Tolleson claimed.

MORE ENDORSEMENTS

Wood read letters of endorsement from two former Roswell Council members who could not attend the press conference, Christen Riley and Ed Tate. “The real message here is that I have earned the support of many current and former City Council members,” Wood emphasized. “My endorsements run the gamut from those I often sided with to those I often opposed. The notion that I don’t get along with City Council is now [proven] to be nonsense.”
But Tolleson questioned Wood’s motives, and accused the mayor of deal making.

“We know that in at least one case, Jere Wood has made political promises in exchange for an endorsement. Thankfully, the leaders who have endorsed me did so months ago because they believe in me, not because they wanted to make a deal,” Tolleson said.

WOOD – NO DEAL

Wood fired right back. “Listening to voters and assembling the best solutions to move the city forward is leadership. My opponent doesn’t get the concept,” said Wood. “I made no deals with Lori Henry or anyone else. Lori brought me good ideas, which I’ve adopted. Lori decided to endorse me after I chose to include several of her solutions in my platform. There was no quid-pro-quo,” Wood asserted.

When contacted, Henry confirmed Wood’s comments. “My enthusiastic support of our mayor was not contingent on anything. I admire his leadership, and I am glad he has adopted several key tenants of my platform, which obviously I believe in,” Henry said.

“The irony here is that it’s Tolleson who has cut the deals,” Wood added. “He’s not offered up one new idea nor has he challenged my record. He’s attempted to turn this election into a choice of ‘styles’. But style has nothing to do with it. That’s a convenient smokescreen. This choice is now about leadership and effectiveness, and who gets things done,” Wood offered.

“Tolleson has never been effective. I have. That’s the story he doesn’t want told,” Wood said.