Monday, February 08, 2010, 4:38 PM
News, Opinion, Politics
By Stephanie Ramage

SEARCH COMMITTEES NAMED--NORWOOD'S ON ONE

     Yes, former mayoral candidate Mary Norwood is serving on Mayor Kasim Reed’s fire chief search committee—which is good news for those who want to see Atlanta united after a tough election that brought Norwood within fingernail-distance of becoming the mayor. Former state DHR head and General Assembly member Jim Martin serves with her.

            But today’s announcement of the names of those serving on the search committees for the honchos of Atlanta’s public safety departments also revealed a triumph for those who support transparency in government: The committee members, it turns out, will be able to talk to the press if they so desire and the press will be able to contact them. That’s excellent news, and a great way to keep the committee’s process on the up-and-up. The only information that can’t be shared, understandably, is the identity of candidates prior to the paring down of the applicant list to its final three (Georgia law says the names of those top three are public record).

            Transition team co-chair Lisa Borders, who spoke at the press conference at 2 p.m. announcing the committee members, admitted the committee met last week but said it was only a meet-and-greet so the members would know each other, there was no business conducted prior to the committee members’ names being divulged to the public. Today’s press conference marked the announcement of two search committees, one of the police chief’s job and one for the fire chief’s job.

Police Chief Search Committee:

Chair- Georgia State University (GSU) Police Chief Connie Sampson

Rev. Joanna Adams of Morningside Presbyterian, who gave a prayer at Reed’s inaugural ceremony

Lou Arcangeli, former deputy chief of Atlanta Police Department who teaches criminal justice at GSU

Rosel Fann, for whom a recreation center and natatorium on Cleveland Avenue have been named to honor her many years of civic involvement

Rev. Walter Kimbrough, pastor of Mt. Pisgah United Methodist, who gave the invocation at Reed’s inaugural ceremony

Lt. Scott Kreher, president of the local chapter of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, the city’s largest police union

Robin Loudermilk, president and CEO of Aaron Rents

Kyle Keyser, founder of Atlantans Together Against Crime

Tiffany Williams, member of BLOCS (Building Locally to Organize for Community Safety)

Philip Rafshoon, founder, owner and operator of Outwrite Bookstore

Irene Richardson, executive director of Quality Living Services

Earl Williamson, Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) O—East Lake, Kirkwood

Dave Wilkinson, CEO Atlanta Police Foundation

Fire Chief Search Committee:

Chair—Cobb County Chief Sam Heaton

Mary Norwood, former City Council member and mayoral candidate

Jim Martin, former commissioner of the state Department of Human Resources who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Saxby Chambliss in 2008

East Point Deputy Chief William Ware

David Allman, owner and chairman of real estate developer Regent Partners

Dr. Bahareh Azizi, a Ga. Tech biochemist who ran unsuccessfully for City Council last fall

Marcia Bansley, executive director Trees Atlanta,

Johnny Dixon, president of the Greenbriar Campbellton Road Business Association who ran unsuccessfully for City Council last fall

Vonda Henry, West End Neighborhood Development Association

Charles Johnson, Sweet Auburn

Helene Mills, for whom a senior center is named in NPU-M (the Castleberry area)

Ken Prince, director of program operations, grants and contracts at St. Joseph’s Hospital.

The Transition Team that oversees all of the city’s search committees is made up of:

Civil Rights Attorney Lawrence Ashe

Lisa Borders, former City Council president who ran unsuccessfully for mayor.

Henrietta Antoinin, vice president public relations, Atlanta Life Financial Group

Claire “Yum” Arnold, CEO and co-founder of IT consultant Leap Frog Services

Stephanie Blank, wife of Arthur Blank and philanthropist

Charlie Fleming, president North Georgia Atlanta Labor Council

Sonya Halpern, business consultant, wife of Daniel Halpern of Jackmont Hospitality

Charles Huddleston, attorney with Baker Donelson

Phil Kent, president Turner Broadcasting

Lt. Scott Kreher, president IBPO (who also serves on police chief search committee)

Rafael Maldonado, Colombian American Chamber of Commerce

Elisabeth Omilani, Hosea Feed the Hungry

State Sen. Nan Orrock

Alicia Philipp, president Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta Inc.

Tara Perry, vice president strategic planning Woodruff Arts Center

Yvonne Robinson, Atlanta city employee’s union (AFSCME)

Beth Schapiro, president of consulting firm The Schapiro Group

            On Friday, Feb. 5, the Sunday Paper learned that the committee to find Atlanta’s next police chief had not only been appointed without the public being told, it had actually secretly met.

     On Feb. 2, the Sunday Paper had submitted a request under the Georgia Open Records Act for the names of the committee members and any all documents related to the committee, after being approached by citizens regarding the lack of transparency surrounding the committee.  http://www.sundaypaper.com/Blogs/TheRamageReport/tabid/235/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/4997/Default.aspx

     This morning, Feb. 8, Mayor Kasim Reed’s office announced that the committee members will be publically identified this afternoon at 2 p.m. at City Hall.

            That’s great news for those of us who support transparency in government.

            The City law department informed the Sunday Paper today that the person in charge of any and all documents related to the committee is Lisa Borders, co-chair of the City’s transition team. Borders indicated that she had not received the open records request until Thursday, Feb. 4, which means her response is due tomorrow, the third business day after her receipt of the request.

            What this all boils down to is the committee was named and met without its members being disclosed to the public until today. There may be those who will quibble about the point at which Georgia’s Sunshine Laws require compliance, but doing so after the committee has met is certainly in conflict with the spirit of the law.

            To make matters even worse, Borders denied the committee existed, when in fact it did and City Hall continued to issue denials even after the committee had met.

            According to the City law department, the Sunday Paper shouldn’t expect to get many documents, since the committee and its meeting were pulled together and planned almost exclusively via phone calls—Borders’ communications were almost entirely verbal.

            But, the confidentiality agreement she required committee members to sign is an actual document, one that understandably protects the identity of applicants for the city’s top job. That’s one we want.

            Nonetheless, I like the committees. I think the members could pass just about any litmus test and I am optimistic that they won’t be influenced by anything other than what’s best for Atlanta’s citizens. SP