Bare Knuckle Political Brawling Comes To District 2 Council Race

Brookhaven’s District 2 city council race has gotten especially nasty over the final few days of campaigning.

At issue over the past week is a flier recently sent to voters implying that candidate Jim Eyre called Brookhaven a “cancer.” The mailer came from . 

Eyre said the mailer takes comments he made in a March 30, 2011, Patch article entitled “Brookhaven Cityhood: The Answer Or Band-Aid?”, out of context.

Eyre’s quote from Patch opinion article reads, “Realizing this it becomes glaringly obvious that the idea of cityhood, while appealing, is only a band-aid cure on a cancer that will continue to eat away at our wallets.”

Eyre concluded the article with, “Unless we can force substantive changes in how DeKalb County spends our tax dollars, we will never realize the tax savings [state] Rep. [Mike] Jacobs so gleefully dangled in front of us as an underlying incentive for his city movement”.

Eyre is accusing another candidate, Russell Mitchell, of playing a role in the mailer. He said Mitchell’s former employer, Florida-based , is a major donor for Start Brookhaven Right, which mailed the flier to voters.

Calvin, Giordano & Associates provides municipal services to cities and currently manages the city of Dunwoody's financial and administrative operations through an outsourced contract.

“I believe accepting pay to play in any form is the most egregious mistake an elected official can make and there will be no place for such activities in Brookhaven,” said Eyre.

Another candidate, Larry Hurst, is also seeking the District 2 seat.

Over the past year, Calvin, Giordano & Associates, Inc., has donated $10,000 to BrookhavenYES; $2,500 to Start Brookhaven Right, Inc; and $2,500 to Mitchell’s campaign, according to the Georgia Government Transparancy and Campaign Finance Commission.

Mitchell was also a board member for BrookhavenYES.

“This is a ridiculous conspiracy theory from a desperate candidate," said Mitchell. “I have absolutely nothing to do with the Start Brookhaven Right group. The first I heard of them is when I got mail from them."

"As far as the contribution from my former employer is concerned, Jim Eyre knows that it is perfectly legal to accept corporate contributions and the voters of district 2 should be proud that my former employer thought enough of my work to believe in my campaign."

Mitchell also said Eyre’s financial disclosure “is filled with DeKalb County vendors and companies that currently do business with the county and surrounding cities.

“Furthermore, his campaign is plagued with contributions from zoning attorneys and politicians. The last few days of this campaign seem to be focused on who is funding who's campaign. I am confident that voters will be much more comfortable with my supporters and contributors than his."

Related Items:

Brookhaven Residents Create 'Start Brookhaven Right' Committee.

Brookhaven Cityhood: The Answer Or A Band-Aid?

"The Brookhaven Name Resonates With Everyone."

Your Complete Brookhaven And Chamblee Elections Guide.