Cindy Speaks: Q&A with Cindy J. Mills

On Sunday, Jan. 8, to District 4 Commissioner Patrick Bell's seat.

Bell will complete his first term this year that he plans to campaign for a second term.

Mills, , was presented with a Resolution of Commendation honoring her dedication to the Parks and Recreation Board from the BOC. This presentation took place on Thursday, Jan. 6, during the first BOC meeting of the new year.

Mills answered our questions about her Resolution of Commendation, her relationship with her opponent Patrick Bell and the ousting of former Board of Commissioner Chair Brian Tam.

Cumming Patch: What are your feelings about receiving this recognition from the BOC?

Cindy: I was honored to have served on the park and recreation board for 11 years, appointed by three different commissioners. I felt like I worked hard to represent my district and their needs in my term on the board. 

Cumming Patch: What is your current relationship with Patrick Bell (given that you are running for his seat)?

Cindy: I left the park board under duress that put a strain on my relationship with Commissioner Bell prior .

He was very open in his disdain for my Focus on Forsyth County, GA site on facebook and wanted me to shut it down. He tried to use my park appointment over me to get me to shut it down. I refused to do so and resigned because of his dogmatic bullying over me. I offered to remain on the park board until he could find a replacement but he ousted me and asked Charlotte Gardner to stay on in my place. He told me he was going to give me a resolution of commendation and then had his secretary call me and say they had a scheduling conflict and would no longer be able to do so. He sent me a scathing email saying he could not honor me because it would be hypocritical because he did not appreciate my service and my site had erased all the good that I had ever done. Then the next day, he asked me could I come and be honored and I said I had already made plans.

My resolution is dated December 15 because he couldn't decide whether I deserved it or not. I don't like dirty laundry but I don't know how to be truthful with your questions and not give you the whole truth. I have all his emails but I am really wanting to take the high road and try to focus on the real issues our county is facing and not bore people with this trivial, high school behavior. I would say our current relationship is strained at best.

Cumming Patch: What are your thoughts on former BOC Chair Brian Tam being voted out and District 5 Commissioner Jim Boff replacing Tam as chairman?

Cindy: Seeing I am not involved with the board at this time, I really have no thoughts about who is chairman.

When reading the media reports about it, I was greatly disturbed that Commissioner Bell had sent a personal email (maybe more than one) to the attorney general that obviously was very demonstrative in nature and that he had taken on that role to do so without giving notice to the chairman about it and caused problems for our county.

I just think if you are on a board, you are one of five, you need to conduct yourself as a member of that board and not act as the lone ranger especially in attacking others, much less a state official. There are certain levels of protocol that should be adhered to in solving any problem.

Read more about Cindy Mills on her Web site.

Editor's Note: Cumming Patch has sent e-mails to Dist. 4 Commissioner Patrick Bell and Dist. 4 candidate Bill Mulrooney inviting them for a q&a session with us.