ARC Rejects Bannister for Chairman

Last week, the Atlanta Regional Commission broke with tradition to reject Gwinnett Commission Chairman Charles Bannister’s bid to become the ARC Chairman. Now, we know what the elected leaders of metro Atlanta think of our top elected official.

Even though the ARC also includes citizen members and city mayors, the Chairmen of the 10 metro counties in the ARC have managed to control the Chairman’s seat. Former Gwinnett Chairman Wayne Hill held the position for years.

Although it was Bannister’s “turn” this year, the board instead chose Tad Leithead by a substantial margin, 23-14. From Cobb County, Leithead is the first citizen member to chair the 60-year-old board.