DATE
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ENTRY
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August 31, 2011
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I woke up this morning to see that I friend has e-mailed me what Councilmember Tom Witts
posted on his facebook page: "Well it looks like the stage has been set. BARBARA BENDER vs
Kelly Kautz for mayor of Snellville. Let the games begin. This will be a race of accomplishments
vs accusations and half truths" Witts' comments have put an end to any indecision that I may or
may not have had. Then he has the audacity to accuse me of negative campaigning. I have not
even started campaigning.
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August 31, 2011
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Today I qualified to run for Mayor of Snellville. This was not something that I had planned all
along and this was not a decision that I made lightly. However, as someone who has lived in this
area her whole life I believe that our City and we the people deserve better. Unfortunately many
well-qualified people have been discouraged from serving the City of Snellville because they do
not want to risk placing their family and friends in the line of false personal attacks. I will not,
however, be bullied out of doing what I belief is right and best for our City.
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September 1, 2011
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Please come and help kick-off my campaign for Mayor tonight at Bruster's Ice Cream on Hwy 124
in Snellville at 6:30.
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September 1, 2011
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Just found out that none of my former colleagues on Council responded to Councilmember
Sabbagh's request to assist our former Planning Director. Everyone was so concerned with his
well-being and upset over my quote when the newspaper was covering the story and citizens
were outcrying for him to return, but now that the news is gone in over 2 weeks Warner and
myself were the only Councilmembers who responded to Sabbagh.
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September 7, 2011
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Hello Arts! Today we held an informational meeting at City Hall to begin to re-establish an Art
Guild here in Snellville. For the past 5 years I have been trying to promote the arts in Snellville
but have received opposition from Mayor and Council. Hopefully our new efforts will be a
success. If you are interested in joining us the next meeting will be Oct. 3 at 7 pm.
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September 8, 2011
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Congratulations to McDonald's on Hwy 78 which had its grand opening today. The owner Mr.
Hurt and his wife have done so much for this community by renovating the vacant Fuddruckers
and employing 80 people. I wish them much success. Thank you also to Mr. Hermit Bedi our
former Planning Director who was instrumental in making sure this development happen.
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September 9, 2011
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I heard that someone in the community is distributing negative information about a Bender
supporter. I want to encourage all of my supporters to stick to the issues and not personal
attacks. We can win this election on the issues and do not need to stoop to personal attacks
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September 14,
2011
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Thank you to Snellville United Methodist Church for the wonderful dinner and great Snellville
hospitality.
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September 15,
2011
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View my video interview on the Snellville Patch.
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September 16,
2011
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Just had the best BBQ at the Masonic Lodge. Thank you.
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September 17,
2011
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My opponent is now trying to blame me for her voting to increase property taxes. How is that
even possible? The truth is that in FY 2011 she voted for a property tax increase from 4.19 mills
to 5.9 mills. I voted AGAINST this tax increase and tried to tell my opponent and her supporters
on Council that we did not have to cut services or raise taxes. At the end of FY 2011 the City had
a surplus and it was shown that I was right we did not need the tax increase. Now her supporters
want to say that I was unprepared? How is that logical? Barbara's latest mailer states that as an
accountant she has streamlined government spending and reduced taxes. What happen in FY
2011? Yes, during this election year (FY 2012) we BOTH voted to reduce taxes but this
decrease is not nearly as much as the increase in taxes that Barbara approved in FY 2011.
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September 21,
2011
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Thank you to Snellville First Baptist for a wonderful dinner and for welcoming me.
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September 25,
2011
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My yard signs began to go missing last night. None of the ones taken were in the right away. One
was taken out of my own yard. Nice.
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September 26,
2011
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My opponent and her campaign consultant have taken to facebook to specifically ask me to stop
the negative information from being circulated about Tom Witts. I agree that personal attacks
have no place in this campaign. Once again if one of my supporters is behind the sharing of this
information about Mr. Witts I ask you to please stop.
However, once again I have nothing to do with the sharing of this information. My focus is on the
Mayor's race and my opponent not a Council member. I do not know who is behind any of this. I
have and will continue to focus on the issues and my opponent's voting record.
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September 27,
2011
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A year ago I first began to propose an economic incentives ordinance that would allow Snellville
to offer property tax, licensing and permitting fee reductions to businesses that created jobs in
our City or that renovated vacant buildings (WS 10/11/2010)
Ms. Bender said that now was not the time for a program like that in Snellville and requested
more studies.
I still support this program, but now other cities are ahead of Snellville offering the same idea.
www.ajc.com
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October 7, 2011
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We had a blast at the South Gwinnett Homecoming Parade throwing pom poms and footballs to
the students. Thanks for inviting me.
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October 9, 2011
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Thank you to the Snellville Historical Society for having me at their meeting today. It was very
interesting.
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October 11, 2011
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Here is the link to the AJC voter guide for the Mayor's Race:
http://www.thevoterguide.org/v/ajc11/race-detail.do;jsessionid=ADA2B150A073CF7AF7265B4C2
882F503?id=221426125
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October 20, 2011
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Thank you to Ms. Lenski and her students at SGHS for a wonderful event and tough questions
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October 27, 2011
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Ironic thing that my opponent and her supporters want to criticize the fact that some of my
monetary supporters are friends and family who live outside of the City, yet my opponent and the
council member elects have accepted donations from family and friend all over the U.S.. In
addition I know that at least 5 of the very bloggers who have been criticizing me on various social
media outlets and online newspapers live outside of the City of Snellville. I guess that my
opponent does not believe the saying what is good for the goose is good for the gander.
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October 31, 2011
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Well it has started. Talk of old guard vs. new guard. Really this has been the same argument in
every campaign for the past 10+ years. Can there not be new issues? Here is what I do not
understand. My opponent is trying to label me as being old guard. However, "old guard" has
been defined as Baptist and the Mayor Clower time period on their blogs. They have defined
"new guard" as living in Summit Chase, being young and being Catholic. Well, I live in Summit
Chase, I am 15-20 years younger than my opponent and I am Catholic? But in the same
sentence you want to label me as "old guard". Second, my opponent and her supporters have
had control of the Mayor's seat for the past 12 years. Would that not make them "old guard" if
there is such a thing? Finally, "old guard" is being defined as being involved with Mayor Clower's
administration. First, let me clarify that I do not take any offense to that, but I was in high school
and not even old enough to vote when Mayor Clower was in office. How can anyone possibly say
that I am a continuance of his office? I believe this is just more smoking mirrors to take away from
the real issues and my opponent's voting record.
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November 4, 2011
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My opponent has created a banner that states that I do not support local business. Which is
false. My parents said just show them your receipts from Belk and SteinMart and they will know
that is not true. But, seriously my opponent is trying to take a jab at my campaign purchases. Has
anyone bothered to look at her campaign disclosures. Since she has begun her campaign she
has spent over $12,000 and 71% of that money has been spent outside of the City. Hypocritical?
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