Reps. Stuckey-Benfield and Abrams Endorse Kyle Williams
Decatur Metro | June 30, 2009 | 3:50 pmI tell ya…that’s a lot of last names to fit in a post title!
Decatur city commissioner candidate Kyle Williams announces that he’s received two regional endorsements today. Here’s the press release….
June 30, 2009 – Decatur, GA – State Representatives Stephanie Stuckey Benfield (House District 85) and Stacey Abrams (House District 84) endorsed Kyle Williams for Decatur City Commission today, and urged District 2 to vote for him. Kyle Williams is running for Decatur City Commission, District 2, which includes South Decatur and part of the downtown business district. Representatives Abrams and Stuckey Benfield represent District 2 in the Georgia General Assembly.
“I know Kyle. I know his commitment to South Decatur. As a mother, I appreciate his work to improve early childhood learning in Decatur. I am proud to give Kyle my full support for his campaign. Kyle will make a great City Commissioner and will fight hard for us. I will work to elect Kyle this fall,” said Rep. Stuckey Benfield.
“Kyle has the range of experience Decatur requires. His experience on the Decatur Zoning Board of Appeals and as an attorney will be put to good use on the City Commission. As an active, engaged citizen, he has built strong relationships on the state level that will serve the City of Decatur well. Kyle has my full support for his campaign,” said Rep. Abrams.
“I am honored to receive the endorsements of Representatives Stuckey Benfield and Abrams. I thank Representatives Stuckey Benfield and Abrams for their work for District 2. They are great representatives for South Decatur and are never afraid to speak up for us in the Georgia General Assembly. I’m glad to have their support and look forward to working with them in this campaign and for South Decatur,” Williams said.
I am confused about something. I know that politics is all about posturing, endorsements & popularity. However, for a politician to throw their endorsement behind a candidate when they do not live in the voting district seems pointless & irresponsible. Unless a critical decision is involved & the candidates involved are polar opposites it shows bad form & judgement. I don’t know the differences between the candidates who have declared or the ones who have yet to declare but I can not imagine we are looking at a major difference in our little city of 4 sq. miles. I have lost any respect for these representatives & encourage others to reevaluate these individuals.
Based on their misplaced involvement I will work to get support for whoever may run & whenever someone may run against the representatives who have given their support in our city commission race. I wish their future opponents – regardless of their party or stance on issues – a landslide victory against the players who discredit any residents of the city of Decatur by throwing their names behind a candidate when they do not know or realistically care about who the best candidate may be. It is called the ‘Good Old Boy’ way of doing politics. If it is good enough to win for one, it is good enough for you to lose for one.
Confused sounds about right. An endorsement is an opinion that a person is the right one for the job, nothing more. Why is it that benefield can’t express that opinion unless she lives in the City? You think it’s impossible for her to form an opinion on the guy’s fitness for office because she lives about half a mile outside the City limits? I guess if Obama endorses Roy Barnes, you’ll be equally shocked and apalled. After all, he’s from Chicago, not Georgia.
Also, her endorsement says she knows the guy personally, then you seem to say she doesn’t. On what basis? You know for a fact that benefield doesn’t know Kyle Williams? Also, any support for your accusation that she doesn’t care about who the best candidate may be?
I too feel betrayed and saddened. As a constituent of Rep. Benefield, who is not a Decatur resident, I question why she feels the need to involve herself in our City Commission race. Unlike State and National politics, City Commission races have always seemed like a friendly match between two folks crazy enough to want to give themselves to our city. The races now seem to be tainted by Partisan politics, Political Action Committees, and Who knows Who. It’s just not the Decatur way. Shame on them.
Representative Benfield’s district encompasses a large part of Decatur and she actually lives very close to Decatur and used to have her law practice downtown. She has always shown interest in our community. I think you’re overreacting by trying to amplify her involvement. I don’t think she would have issued an endorsement without thorough research.
You (and I) are free to vote for whomever we choose, so see that you do. Turnout for municipal elections is always woefully low.
Thank You. I think you have made my point for me. But to clarify, my concern has nothing to do with who she endorsed, just that she did. Although she is a great supporter of our City and I personally am one of her constituents, she lives NEAR , not in the City and can not vote for either candidate. So why would she need to research anything? What is there to research? This is just a City Commission race which, as you said, will have a woefully low voter turnout. Despite that and the hours of work the job requires, Decatur has been blessed to have a City Commission with members from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and levels of education. My fear is that in the future regular old folks will no longer take on this challenge if they have to go against the political machine.
Again, this is only an opinion and I hope that if you respond you will consider that and show me the respect which I have afforded you.
Seriously, where are you getting this politcal machine stuff? I don’t know Kyle Williams, but from his bio, it looks like he’ an associate at a small law firm in town. What makes him anything other than “regular” folk? He’s not related to Benefield. Maybe they got to know each other through their join community involvement — an opportunity open to anyone — and she thinks he has integrity and will do a good job. I think you are making a lot of asumptions in your posts that may have no basis in reality, and, to be frank about it, are impugning the character of two people who, so far as I can see, deserve none of it.
I would hardly classify Ms Benfield as part of the machine. She has more integrity and genuine concern than any 10 of most of the other people under the gold dome.
She should be commended. Someone please do so the next time she shows up to vote…. (Cheap shot, I know! Submitted for my own personal amusement!)
I fall with the group that feels that political officials’ endorsement in a local race is
showing poor judgement. On whose part remains to be seen, but the bigger question is: Was it solicited or was it offered? Just sayin’!