War Under the Waves-The Struggle for Political Control of Forsyth County-Chapter 7

When government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.

More and more I am hearing that among the Forsyth County community, many have become afraid of a certain group of local elected officials and their online support teams. I bring that information to you today because of the number of messages I continue to receive from individuals, many whom I have not previously known, who are concerned from their experiences, so concerned that they contact me expressing fear, including the fear of reprisal from some of those pictured below, gathered at a political campaign event held at West Forsyth High School, as well as others not depicted.

I do not mean to cast a wider net than necessary, but there are several individuals in this photo I justifiably associate with the Forsyth County “Club,” an apparent association of politicians and their support teams about which I have written much. There are so many that it seemed an appropriate photo, made public by members of the Club themselves, for me to use here.

The other reason I use this particular photo is because, as I have learned, any number of individuals in and around Forsyth County became extremely alarmed at seeing this published photo, one depicting the logo of a private political organization, the Forsyth Family Alliance, operated by a member of the Forsyth County Board of Education and his wife, that logo affixed prominently to the West Forsyth High School building, no less prominent than the name of the PUBLIC school itself, that imagery subtly, however unavoidably, messaging a certain inappropriate claim on the premises by the organization, at least in the minds of many who viewed it with concern. Yes, I am aware that the Forsyth County Republican Party, and perhaps the Democrat Party, both political party organizations under Title 21 of Georgia Law, those political party organizations thereby open to all, traditionally rent school facilities for caucuses and county conventions. But that is not what this is. This is a PRIVATE political organization, run by a school board member, hosting a political event at a PUBLIC school, that private organization touting its chosen speakers, including two of its chosen candidates to become a controlling majority of the Forsyth County Board of Education. At this event, that private organization controlled who was invited to speak, controlled the microphone, controlled very purpose of the event, which was to get its chosen candidates for various public offices elected. The imagery of one elected school board member renting a school operating under his authority, to elect two other school board members of his choosing, appears nothing less than a personal effort at stacking the board. Now, if this were the Forsyth County Republican Party holding such an event, its every purpose and action controlled by a wide assembly of viewpoints, including its executive board down to the precinct chairpersons, or if the private Forsyth Family Alliance organization chose to hold an event at a private venue of its choosing, rather than a PUBLIC SCHOOL PAID FOR BY COUNTY TAXPAYERS, I would not be writing this piece. But, you see, that is not what this is.

Forsyth County Board of Education members govern the policies, either enabling or preventing public school facilities to be used for private political events such as this. Forsyth County Board of Education members govern the rental rates and conditions under any proposed rental agreement for facilities and purposes such as this. For a school board member to therefore rent out a public school facility to himself to further his own political purposes, both sides of the rental agreement therefore being controlled at least partially by him and for him, is a conflict-of-interests. This kind of event, on public school property, should not be allowed by our Board of Education.

Furthermore, for such a conflicted school board member to use such a venue to help elect other school board members of his choosing, together to become a controlling majority on the board of education, those candidates, once elected, thereby becoming beholden to him for his help, is a recipe for autocratic policy-making on the Forsyth County Board of Education. And, unfortunately, that is where the Forsyth County Board of Education is apparently heading.

In the past, I have argued against “diversity” becoming a dominating consideration in county school board policy-making. Here, I also argue against “autocracy” becoming the same. The people of Forsyth County deserve better than either apparent diametric choice. The centralization of governmental power is always a bad path for a society to follow. True conservative Republicans would know that. Those promoting ulterior purposes here are not true conservative Republicans. Apparently, they have their own purposes and place an “R” after their names to achieve them.

I have very little doubt that as of January, the Forsyth County School Board could become as stacked as the Forsyth County Commission. Apparently, that is what the Forsyth County “Club” is purposed to accomplish, and more. We have seen the results of “Club” decision-making on the county commission. I have written extensively on that subject for several months. That kind of decision-making cannot be tolerated on the Forsyth School Board.

And, personally, it seems to me at least a bit misleading for an organization known as the “Forsyth Family Alliance” to provide a venue and promote the re-election of a US congressman who recently deserted his own family, including numerous children, in favor of allying in a relationship with another member of congress instead. Obviously, the standards of the organization under consideration do not live up to its name. That is because, apparently, this is truly a political organization, rather than a family organization.

Government at any level is only as good as the people will endure to enforce. Regardless of the outcomes of today’s national election, I encourage every reader, whether in my local area or around the country, to get involved, suppress any fear of reprisal, and know that promoting their personal interests, and the interests of their families and loved ones, is a civic responsibility anticipated in America’s founding. In fact, doing so is the only way to save the American Republic and ensure its purposes continue for succeeding generations.