Braselton Town Council member to run for mayor

Braselton Town Council Member Ralph Richardson, Jr., plans to run for mayor this year.

[PLEASE NOT THIS GUY]

Mr. Richardson is a deadbeat that should pay up his property taxes before he spends any money on a political compaign.
The Jackson County Tax Commissioners website shows that Ralph Richardson aka: BRASELTON HOMETOWN PROPERTIES, is delinquent on paying 2008 property taxes on two different rental properties in downtown Braselton.
Also, Ralph has made late property tax payments on ALL 5 of his rental properties for the last two years.
This type of financial management we absolutely DON'T NEED ANY WHERE IN BRASELTON GOVERNMENT!!!

[Watching]

This guy is a real estate agent that just wants to improve his own finances and help out his developer/broker buddies. You can't blame a good old boy for trying.
Don't worry, tax deadbeats don't win elections.

[Bill Greene]

Ralph Richardson has been a great Councilman for my district, and his service for the people of Braselton has been stellar. His roots go deep here, and I'm excited to see him step up to run.

[falls resident]

Mr. Greene I think you have hooked your horse to the wrong wagon. Time will tell.

You are such a right wing conservative I think it's funny that you are pairing up with a lifelong democrat. Have you switched sides or have you always been a switch hitter?

[Braselton Local]

My roots go deep here also. I've known Ralph all my life and I've only known Pat for 10 years. She is absolutely the best choice...Ralph doesn't come close.

She works hard for our Town has has made great things happen here. And then there is Ralph, he shows up once a month to vote...except for all those meetings he's missed.

When Ralph campaigns if he talks about things he has personnally worked on for the Town his speech should last about 10 seconds.

If he claims Town accomplishments that other people have worked on, and that Pat has worked on, you will then see his true colors...

He sure has Mr. Greene fooled doesn't he.

[Bill Greene]

I think it's unfortunate when otherwise good folks use the anonymity of the internet to denigrate their neighbors in a community. I am more than willing to sign my real name and state my support for Ralph, whom I consider to be the best candidate running for Mayor of our wonderful town. I think Pat is a good person, and I hope her supporters are willing to do the same.

[JoAnn]

Mayor Pat you have nothing to worry about, this community supports you 100%. Everyone knows how hard you have worked for us, and how far our Town has come in 8 years thanks to your excellent leadership.

Keep up the good work.

[Richardson Supporter]

Ralph is exactly what Braselton needs. The mayor job is about leadership and putting the right people in position. He is a good choice and an American hero people can be proud of. He will make a good mayor and bring respect to Town.

[Confused]

Why is this campaign starting so early? Isn't the election in November? Have I missed something?

[Bill Greene]

"Confused," good question. I believe the answer is that Ralph is running against an incumbent who has a history of spending a lot of money to stay in office. It makes good political sense for Ralph to begin spreading the word early. This contest will be good for Braselton!:-)

[Not Confused]

Greene is right, last election Graham spent $45,000 on a job paying $5,000 a year, most of the donations come from Gwinnett friends of the largest land developer/owner in Braselton. Why?

[JoAnn]

She did not spend that much. She spent less than the guy that ran against her.
"Not Confused" is one Richardson supporter that is off to a big bad start with LIES.
It's Disappointing that Ralph is off to such a nasty dirty start. He must be desperate to begin slandering her so soon.

[Bill Greene]

Calm down, folks. We're all neighbors here, let's work together to advance Braselton's interests. It's a great thing when people are willing to step up and offer themselves for public service, and I commend both Ralph and Pat for their willingness to do so. Yes, because it's politics, supporters on both sides can get carried away, but let's just stick to what we know is true, and be ready and willing to back up what we say with supporting facts. And let's not throw nasty words at the candidates for something that a supporter said, and not them.

If Pat spent $45,000 in her last run for mayor, I'm sure it's in the expenditure reports for that race. If her opponent in that race spent more than her, I'm sure that is in those reports as well. If anyone knows where there's a link to view those reports online, let's have it. Then we'll know for sure, and we can move on.:-)

[Location]

Where is the park near downtown? I only know of the one in downtown. Is there another?

[Bill Greene]

I think the only Braselton Park is located behind the bank which is across from the Town Hall. That's where the kickoff is supposed to be.

[Will Steel]

Bill Greene wrote:

I think it's unfortunate when otherwise good folks use the anonymity of the internet to denigrate their neighbors in a community. I am more than willing to sign my real name and state my support for Ralph, whom I consider to be the best candidate running for Mayor of our wonderful town. I think Pat is a good person, and I hope her supporters are willing to do the same.

Bill I am surprised as well that you have left the Republican Party in order to support a life long Democrat. Ralf is a nice guy but I do not think he has the qualifications needed to continue our success. As for you I am wondering why such a conservative nut case has decided to suport a Democrat? I also am wondering if you decided to change parties and support Ralf because you are running for his council seat. Such a hypocritical opportunistic move. I have a question for you Bill.

Do you support the US constitution?

This is very important because all that I have heard from you as well as your comments on various post you have made on your blog and interviews says otherwise.

[Bill Greene]

Will, the offer I made to you, after you attacked me on Peach Pundit, still stands. I would be more than happy to get together over lunch or breakfast or coffee or whatever you'd like, to discuss what you seem to think are our differences. I still think you'll find we have more in common than you think.

I've never had anyone accuse me of not supporting the U.S. Constitution, especially since I teach it at college and therefore know exactly what it says and what the writers' intent was. I would say it's our current "leadership" -- in BOTH parties -- who have abandoned all semblance of following our founding document.

The race for Mayor, like my race for City Council, is a non-partisan race. Until Mayor Pat declared this week that she was running for State Senate instead of Mayor again, you would have been hard-pressed to discover that she was a Republican -- which is how it *should* be. Our problems, and their solutions, are not about left or right, they're about wrong or right. I will gladly support anyone, no matter what their party label may be, if their ideas and solutions are *right*.

So what do you say, Will? Shall we get together and talk *to* each other as rational human beings, or just continue talking *at* each other through black words typed on a white page? I hope you're willing to do the former, instead of sticking with the latter. Our community deserves more.

[Buster]

Mr Bill, I have not me you yet but I have lived here and known Ralph for many years. He has never had an original idea or a solution that was "right". He is a good old boy that is hoping to dole out special favors to a few of his good old buddies. Braselton is headed in the same direction as Hoschton if Ralph takes the wheel. We could be in real trouble here in Braselton.

[Bill Greene]

Well Buster, I hope we get to meet soon then! I don't agree with your opinion about where Ralph is going to take our town in the future, but I certainly appreciate your concern for the community. That's the kind of spirit I hope to see more and more of in Braselton, and it's one of the main reasons I'm running for the council seat that Ralph is vacating to run for Mayor.

I can tell you this much: I'm my own man, and I plan to be a servant of the people when elected. If you feel that there are problems with the governance of Braselton, I hope you'll feel free to come and let me know any time.

Thanks, Buster!

[Will Steel]

Bill Greene wrote:

Will, the offer I made to you, after you attacked me on Peach Pundit, still stands. I would be more than happy to get together over lunch or breakfast or coffee or whatever you'd like, to discuss what you seem to think are our differences. I still think you'll find we have more in common than you think.
I've never had anyone accuse me of not supporting the U.S. Constitution, especially since I teach it at college and therefore know exactly what it says and what the writers' intent was. I would say it's our current "leadership" -- in BOTH parties -- who have abandoned all semblance of following our founding document.
The race for Mayor, like my race for City Council, is a non-partisan race. Until Mayor Pat declared this week that she was running for State Senate instead of Mayor again, you would have been hard-pressed to discover that she was a Republican -- which is how it *should* be. Our problems, and their solutions, are not about left or right, they're about wrong or right. I will gladly support anyone, no matter what their party label may be, if their ideas and solutions are *right*.
So what do you say, Will? Shall we get together and talk *to* each other as rational human beings, or just continue talking *at* each other through black words typed on a white page? I hope you're willing to do the former, instead of sticking with the latter. Our community deserves more.

Bill,
I would prefer to keep our correspondence to a public forum. That way anything you or I say can be of record for all to see. A private meeting between the two of us would leave too much room for misinterpretation, that and the fact you are looking to represent more than just me if you are elected. The premise that your views need to be addressed solely to me is absurd if anything else. I see and I am sure others do as well, the request by you to meet individually with people that have valid points as to your agenda is allusive and suspect at best.

As for the Constitution. I question if you do support it based on the fact that any one person that is so outwardly religious and wishes for all to know he is a fanatical Christian and has ultra conservative religious beliefs. It is all well and good that you a profound Christian but our constitution is very explicit when it comes to the separation of "church and state". I do not see you respecting this at all. Why is it that people that do not share your zealous Christian views fear you representing them?

You home school your children because you wish to keep them out of society. I cannot see how a man that is so fearful that his family could be exposed to the world around them in Braselton or the county they live in, because he has no faith or hope for the residents that live in those areas, should have the right to tell me how I should rear my children or pass ordinances which could affect them. Why are your kids any better than mine? You wish to represent me yet you do not want your children to play with my kids.

I see you attended the State GOP fundraiser but there is a question as to why you and the people you brought with you ever paid. What happened there? Why is there a question as to the payment to the host and party?