Sparring Factions In Milton Turn To Perdue

By DOUG NURSE / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 05/17/07

Political jousting in the city of Milton has spilled over and roped in the governor. The latest sparring started when Republican state Rep. Jan Jones engineered changes to the city charter in the recent legislative session, including term limits for the mayor and six council seats.

Mayor Joe Lockwood has cried foul, claiming he was blindsided by the changes, many of which he said reduce his authority.

After the governor's office on Monday asked Lockwood to weigh in on the changes, he wrote a letter asking Gov. Sonny Perdue to veto House Bill 811, sponsored by Jones. Several members of the council now are sending letters of their own asking Perdue not to veto the charter changes. The governor's office was circumspect in discussing the controversy.

"The governor will decide whether to sign based on its merits," said Bert Brantley, spokesman for the governor's office. "He takes into account all points of view." Jones authored the legislation creating the city in 2006. Jones, who supported Lockwood's opponent for mayor last year, said the recent changes were simply a matter of fine-tuning the city's charter or its constitution and bylaws.

Among the changes in House Bill 811 were provisions taking away some of the mayor's authority to appoint City Council committees.The bill limits the mayor and City Council members to two four-year terms. Jones said she was "surprised and puzzled" by Lockwood's objections and said she has the support of a majority of the City Council.