The CID board is apparently set to disappoint the hopeful and confirm its place as the retarded (or, for the PC crowd, “integrity-deficient”) red-headed stepchild of the Gwinnett CIDs.

Jim Brooks first came to the CID from the city of Snellville, where he served a less-than-stellar stint as interim city manager. At the CID, Brooks quickly buddied up with board members Dwight Harrison and Kenny King. This was no surprise at the time; Brooks owed his job to Harrison and King. The two had pursued recall elections against two other board members; the change in the balance of power allowed Harrison and King to bring in their political crony.

During Brooks’ tenure, expedience and “good ol’ boy” politics replaced honesty and transparency. Brooks allegedly conspired with Harrison to over-pay a politically-connected landscaper by thousands of dollars. Only after a subsequent shift in the balance of power (due to Forrest Adair’s untimely death) were Harrison and Brooks prevented from re-awarding the landscaping contract to the same firm, even though the landscaper had submitted an inaccurate bid.

Even worse, it was alleged by other board members that Harrison and/or Brooks gave the landscaper a chance to change the bid (to a higher amount) and may have even disclosed to him the amounts of the competing bids.

In my opinion, the Evermore CID is beyond recovery. The Gwinnett County Commission should disband it promptly. The Commission could consider the formation of two smaller organizations; one in the Park Place area of Stone Mountain/Lilburn and another encompassing properties along Hwy 78 near and within Snellville.

Board member Stacy Patterson said Brooks’ past troubles with the board, which has seen six members replaced in recent months, were considered but ultimately didn’t harm his candidacy. Brooks’ 16-month first stint as executive director included regular boycotts by several board members and accusations that he allowed a landscape contract to exceed its allotted amount by $15,000.

Evermore CID taps Brooks to lead agency again  | ajc.com

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.