Cumming’s most recent election saw the Old Guard toppled by the city’s new blood. Mayor Ford Gravitt, who you may know as the man who became Cumming’s mayor 48 years ago, lost to a political newcomer in an electoral upset.
As one could expect, his fall from grace has been met with the most vitriolic mixture of tomfoolery and shenanigans.
Mayor-elect Troy Brumbalow heavily campaigned on a downtown full of shops, restaurants, and, well…anything more than downtown Cumming’s only existing restaurant, Dairy Queen. The Old Guard (read: Mayor Gravitt and friends) spread rumors that Brumbalow would destroy the beloved Cumming Fairgrounds to make room for the downtown of his dreams. So what did Mayor Gravitt and the city council do before Brumbalow and the new councilmembers are sworn-in? Tomfoolery, of course!
In 2013, the city created the Fair Authority to run the fairgrounds. The authority’s board is comprised of the outgoing mayor, former city councilmembers, and a couple current councilmembers who are ~friends~ of Mayor Gravitt. Then, in 2015, Mayor Gravitt executed a deed transferring ownership of the fairgrounds and parking lots to the Fair Authority.
Fast foward to November 2017. Mayor Gravitt and two incumbent city councilmen lost their seats. Rather than gracefully bow out and return to civilian life, they decided that retaining whatever power they could was more important.
Then last week, Councilman Chuck Welsh** motioned with Councilwoman Linda Ledbetter second to transfer $1.1 million to the Fair Authority. Their justification? They want another year of the fair and mayor-elect Brumbalow is going to destroy it to create his downtown.
That’s bull**** and they know it.
It’s worth noting that the city has never before transferred money to the Fair Authority since its inception.
Councilwoman Ledbetter wrote on Facebook,
This transfer was made due to the rumors that our new Mayor was going to take the fair property and put in shops and restaurants to make the “new downtown” he promised. This transfer made sure we could have one more year of the fair. Again, this money is for the expenses at the fair gounds [sic] for the next year. They will have to ask for more money as the year progresses as this is not enough for all the events held there. The fairgounds [sic] like the Aquatic Center must be funded yearly. I voted for the transfer because I wanted- for sure- one more year of the fair.
If Mayor Gravitt and Councilmembers Ledbetter and Welsh were in the Petty Olympics, they would take home the gold.
As for Mayor-elect Brumbalow, he has promised to dissolve the Fair Authority and create a new fair advisory committee made up of citizens that will make recommendations to the City Council.
This level of cronyism disgusts me. And it should disgust everyone in Cumming.
*Councilman Chuck Welsh initially lost by three votes, but after a recount, he tied with his opponent. This race will be decided next Tuesday.
**This was very dumb.