Alex Wan nabs Buckhead Coalition endorsement
November 9, 2009 at 1:57 pm by Patrick Saunders in NewsAlex Wan’s week kicked off on the right note as the Buckhead Coalition
announced their endorsement of him in the Dec. 1 runoff against Liz Coyle for Atlanta City Council – District 6.
The influential Buckhead business group rarely gives direct endorsements, instead opting to make their choices known by large campaign contributions through a PAC. But they held off from making a contribution in the District 6 race, most likely because the district does not fall in Buckhead, and instead went for the traditional endorsement.
November 9th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Liz Coyle has a lot of explaining to do in District 6. She’s been on the Beltline Board since the beginning. And since she has been on it, she has been selling the community down the river. She was supposed to be the “community representative” on the BeltLine Board, but fast became one of the smarmiest proponents of the establishment. Now, she even wants to cram a bunch of buildings on land near Piedmont Park, in direct violation of the past promises of the BeltLine. Why has she flip-flopped and become a pawn of the development community? Liz’s poor showing in the general election reflects that people are watching and are very disappointed with her.
November 10th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
I got to know Liz Coyle when she led neighborhood opposition to Wayne Mason’s proposed 39 and 38 story building next to Piedmont Park. I showed up at the rally that she organized to oppose (successfully) GDOT’s effort to put high-speed commuter rail through Piedmont Park and NE Atlanta. As a member of the BeltLine Network, which Liz helped organize, I worked diligently with her to develop sound BeltLine Network Principles for development of the BeltLine, its parks and transit. Liz has been a friend of parks, and like Alex Wan, has endorsed the Act to Save Atlanta’s Parks.
The BeltLine is a tremendous, exciting project that promises to transform our city for the better. The BeltLine is based on the promise of transit, parks and development, with the development paying for the parks and transit. Balancing these sometimes competing interests will be difficult, and anyone who takes a lead role in trying to find the best solution will raise objections among some residents. Given their roles on the Atlanta Development Authority and Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. Boards, I think that both Alex and Liz appreciate the value of the BeltLine and the work that will be needed to make it a reality.
George Dusenbury
Executive Director
Park Pride
November 10th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Great post George. Very fair
November 10th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
what (if any) effect do endorsements have on local races?
seems like there is an article waiting to be written there…
November 11th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
If there is any chance that Ghost of Ryan’s name references me, I want to assure all of CL’s readers that this ghost is dead wrong. While we all have somewhat different ideas about how the BeltLine should be implemented, Liz Coyle in my experience has always had the best interest of the community in mind. While some have chosen to take easy positions that don’t recognize the broader context within which the BeltLine must be implemented, Liz has been willing to engage difficult issues in order to set the BeltLine along its most promising course. – Ryan Gravel