Forsyth County has a lively contest for a County Commissioner seat going on. David Richard, the incumbent, is facing a primary fight and a general election contest. Two debates, moderated by Smart Growth Forsyth County, have taken place and the moderator is close to Richard.
Not only is Wickliffe (the moderator) a friend to Richard, he is a man with a very shady past. In 2000, Wickliffe plead guilty to bid rigging in Fulton County, a crime that cost taxpayers thousands of dollars.
During the first debate, Wickliffe praised a Richard comment, saying it would be “a hard act to follow.” Not the standard comment for an impartial moderator.
At the end of the debate, Wickliffe stepped in to block a very tough question from the audience that pertained to a false claim by Richard regarding water.
Richard stated that Forsyth County was “this close” to getting a water withdrawal permit from the EPD, something the county has tried unsuccessfully to obtain for at least 30 years.
When Richard was asked to provide evidence to support the claim, Wickliffe interrupted saying the answer would take too long and that SGFC was about to go into a regular meeting.
But then Wickliffe took another question from the audience from someone much friendlier to Richard.
PS – I like David Richard. He’s a tell-it-like-it-is kind of guy, and methinks he’s much more independent than his (R) suggests. I endorse Flack (his Dem opponent), but Richard ain’t a bad choice for the Republican side. Dave’s abrasive, but he isn’t scared of anyone.
