Lilburn Election Forum: What the Mayoral Candidates Said

It was standing room only at during the candidate forum, organized by the Lilburn Woman's Club. If you weren't able to make it, here are some highlights of responses from the two candidates for the office of mayor, Mayor Diana Preston and councilman Johnny Crist.

Responses from city council candidates will be published separately.

On the candidates' vision for the city:

Johnny Crist: Living next door to city hall for 25 years, "I’ve watched five mayors come and go and a number of council people, and my conclusion is: leadership matters. If a mayor has a vision that’s passionate and has a compelling vision for the city, the city moves forward. If we have a visionless mayor, our city flounders.

"I want to share very clearly the vast difference of where we are and where we could be. I am passionate about three things. Firstly, I am extraordinarily interested in rebuilding the infrastructure of our city. Secondly, I want to restore the voice of the people of this city to government. And thirdly I’m interested in creating an incredible environment for businesses to thrive."

Diana Preston: "As far as a vision statement we thought about this as a council at the beginning of the four-year term. Our overall mission was that the city would provide exemplary municipal services, quality city infrastructure and facilities and inspire community improvements that add value to the lives of our residents and enhance businesses. That’s a tall order.

"About six years ago we realized our revenues were falling and our expenditures were increasing. And because of that, we started looking at redevelopment. But we realized that our citizens wanted redevelopment, not as a tax burden, but as part of the service of the city. But for the past four years and a few years prior to that we’ve worked very hard to put the tools in place to make redevelopment happen without increasing the tax burden.We had the Downtown Development Authority, the Community Improvement District, we have a Moody’s AA bond rating, and we have an economic development director, and we have a city manager who was hired because of his skill in attracting redevelopment. And we now have investors who are looking at Lilburn."

Other cities in Gwinnett have been successful in redevelopment. What's the candidates vision for attracting more business to Lilburn?

Preston pointed out that other cities have higher millage rates and taxation rates, and they're using that revenue stream to promote their cities. "They are promoting their cities, they’re drawing people to their cities and creating that density, that tipping point, where they can promote those small shops, boutiques and restaurants.  That’s what we’re actively tyring to do in Lilburn. We are actively pursuing through our Downtown Development Authority and CIDs an attraction that will create a density in our city. We have available land, at bargain prices at this point, ready for redevelopment. I do think we can pursue this and accomplish this. But this is what we’re all working on in concert together. And the beauty is we have the tools in place to do this without raising your property taxes."

Crist noted the businesses that have left town since he's been on the council: Starbucks, Outback, Kentucky Fried Chicken, the Blue Rooster, and said the council had not contacted the businesses to find out why.  "We’ve not had one meeting in four years to discuss a business plan on how to attract businesses to our city. We need a plan. We have no strategic plan that runs the city of Lilburn." Crist suggested working more closely with the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce.

"Secondly, we need a marketing plan. We have nobody on our staff." Crist suggested finding "funds to bring somebody on who’s going to market our city to make an aggressive pattern to move our city forward."

What remedy would the candidates suggest for the various symptoms of ailments that citizens say the city has, from problems navigating the city's website to zoning changes, lack of awareness of what organizations are doing and complaints that the DDA, CID and council aren't coordinating efforts.

Crist quoted Ronald Reagan's message in Berlin to Mikael Gorbachev to "tear down this wall," saying "I would echo those words and say open up city hall. There’s a big disconnect between people and what happens in this room.

Crist said that as mayor he would do away with the work session as it is and bring it into the auditorium. "We’re going to take away this one-hour work session and move it back two weeks. It’s going to be in this room, it’s going to be a several-hours work session where everyone’s invited." He would have a message on the website telling citizens what the council will be talking about.

Preston countered that providing those kinds of communications services cost money. "You’re talking much more in terms of the operating budget." The council has regular strategic planning sessions, she said, and there are monthly meetings with the DDA and CID to coordinate projects. "I do think we can improve communications through our SafetySmart Lilburn, neighborhood watches and homeowner associations."

On whether officials should follow majority opinion of the city's citizens or use their own best judgment in making decisions:

Preston: "I would say it’s a public official's responsibility to do what’s best for the city."

Crist: "I understand the constitution gives us constitutional rights and it’s our job as city officials to grant those rights on what is best for the community. We the people should be having a voice in government."

Closing statements: the candidates' views on why he or she is the superior candidate.

Preston pointed to her experience during her 18 years on the council and four as mayor. "My experience on council has taught me that leading Lilburn means leading by doing," she said, for example by getting sidewalks on Main Street during her first term and organizing volunteers for the Lilburn Park project. Now retired, Preston said she has the time to devote to meetings, and her skills as a former teacher and adminstrator are valuable in the job, as is her foreign language skills. (Preston taught Spanish.) The incumbent candidate pointed out that she served as city manager and said she has an "appreciation of how important it is to have the right staff and then give them the support to do their job."

With projects in mid stream,  "we do not need to be changing leadership as we move these projects forward. We need continuity and stability," Preston said.

Crist pointed to the "enormous tasks that we have ahead of us, since it's not going to happen overnight. But together, I believe we can do this. The wisdom you bring to speak into the city leadership is enormous, the volunteer hours that you’ll give, the cooperation to enforce code to beautify our city.

"I promise you I’ll bring to this office of mayor leadership skills I’ve learned through the last 25, 30 years of leading a multitiered organization. Secondly I promise that I will bring you uncompromised integrity. And thirdly I promise you with all my heart that we’ll do this with an open heart for our city."