By DOUG NURSE / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution / Published on: 09/23/07
A missing campaign sign. An exchange of e-mails. Not-so-veiled threats of violence.
A political squabble in a quiet Milton neighborhood became so overheated that a city councilman even made concerned references to slain DeKalb County Sheriff-elect Derwin Brown in an e-mail sent to fellow council members, among others.
"It's like someone punching out the umpire at a Little League game," City Councilman Neal O'Brien said. "Sometimes I scratch my head. People have lost their minds."
In the north Fulton city, council members are on the ballot this year in the first election since the city was incorporated Dec. 1.
The incident began two weeks ago when O'Brien sent an e-mail to his neighbor, attorney Jim Lomenick, after seeing a campaign sign in Lomenick's yard for Burt Hewatt, who is running against O'Brien in the November city election.
In that e-mail, O'Brien invited his neighbor to "talk about your impressions and concerns."
The conflict arose a week later after the sign disappeared from Lomenick's yard. O'Brien denied having anything to do with the sign's disappearance from Devonshire Farms, a small subdivision of 27 homes in the $350,000 price range.
Lomenick's follow-up e-mail to O'Brien, sent Sunday, said if he found out O'Brien took the sign from his yard he would "come down the street and knock you into the middle of next month, and call the police first to tell them I'm gonna do it. ..."
Lomenick then added: "I'm liable to just sit in a concealed location outside at night at any time with the appropriate ammunition, and in the event I see a car pull up and try to take away the signs, well, consider yourself and/or your minions forewarned."
A few hours later, Lomenick sent O'Brien an e-mail saying he wouldn't really harm the city councilman.
O'Brien distributed the exchange of e-mails to fellow council members and called for people to settle down.
"In light of the strong words directed at me in the e-mail below," O'Brien wrote, "it is not too much of a stretch to recall the Derwin Brown-Sidney Dorsey episode a few years ago, among others."
Brown, newly elected sheriff in DeKalb County, was shot to death at the instruction of the man he unseated for the position in 2000. Former Sheriff Dorsey was convicted in July 2002 of masterminding the killing and was sentenced to life in prison.
Milton is known for its horse farms, mansions and manicured subdivisions.
In an interview last week, Lomenick said he wouldn't wait in ambush for sign thieves. He said he doesn't even own a gun."This has gone way beyond what I envisioned," Lomenick said.
"I'm 50 years old. I'm not going to fight anybody."
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23 comments:
Sounds like parnoid O'Brien got some free publicity even if it is negative. If he felt so threatened why didn't he call the police instead of the newspaper and his city council?
He's desperate for any publicity. Do you think other people that don't write on this blog know the truth about O'Brien? Please help us all if he gets back in office for another four years.
I do not think Milton voters are informed enough about the candiates. They should go to City Hall and request a list of campaign contributors to O'Brien and Santi and see for themselves all the Developers that contributed.
Answer, "Survellience Cameras"!
Saw a beautiful black truck pulled over on Redd Rd this morning -- too bad DP got out and littered it with re-elect Neal o'Brien magnets for all to see.
Shame ... I am sure the value on the truck has decreased some $10,000 now that it too is tainted goods.
This is not the first time O'Brien has had a run in with a neighbor. It is amazing he did not get sued when he served a 2 year term as President of the HOA. No one would nominate him for a 2nd term. If he can not run a small Home Owners Association of 27 houses then how could be possibly run a district?
Why did the AJC have to print our Subdivision name? There goes our home values!!
Do you think the Milton Beacon could possibly print the truth and state there was a retraction from Lomenick and a response from O'Brien that all was well between them. I can not believe O'Brien drew a comparison between himself and Derwin Brown! Egomaniac?
I am ashamed he represents my district. Vote Hewitt Nov. 6th!
I wish the news reporters would do a story on why the developers contribute to O'Brien and Santi's campaign? Is there a hidden Agenda? Why does Chattem have so many Santi signs on his property at Cogburn and Bethany Bend? Why does Northward Realty have O'Brien signs on his commercial lots?
This is not the first time O'Brien has caused trouble with a neighbor. One of his neighbors was at the brink of suing him for multiple issues when he was President of the HOA, but the neighbor didn't want anymore of the emotional trauma and threats he caused. As you can see from this entire issue - he causes a problem, wants to put it to bed, and then runs to the media to get his name published - this tells me he can't be trusted. I believe this will backfire on him and he will cause his own defeat with the City Council. There is definitely more to this than meets the eye. By the way, it was reported by one of O'Brien's neighbors that at the last election O'Brien was seen in the night removing opponent's signs in another neighborhood. I agree with previous respondent who suggested that campaign contributions to O'Brien should be examined. The list will reflect that they are for the most part developers and their attorneys. Several of the contributor's names are crossed out - wonder why?
I do not blame Mr. Lomenick. I am glad he spoke what most feel.
After the theft of many campaign signs (as well as other items from my own yard and neighbors)- I have taken measures to better protect my property this year.
Has anyone noticed there are 9 new signs at the front entrance of DF. Maybe we should enact the neighborhood watch!
O' Brien actually feels he is that important that someone would waste a bullet on him! Be Real!
If he and Mohrig lose their elections they should consider moving out of town.
I hate to break it to you, and I know many people don't like O'brien, but what Lomenick did was a terroristic threat. He could easily go to jail and/or lose his law license over this.
It is one thing to disagree with someone, it is another thing to threaten them with physical harm. Not a wise thing to do in today's world.
Thing twice before you put something in writing. It could come back to harm you!
Sounds more more like a good ole boy wanting to give O'Brien a good ole A-- whippin', not terrorism. Funny how people like to throw that word around so flagrantly now. I doubt Mr. Lomenick is a terrorist. Shouldn't have put it in writing.
The truth is signs are being taken which are properly placed within the right set backs. The City of Milton is not taking signs that are properly placed, others are. This is pure immature political BS! Does anyone really think this will help your candidate win by taking your opponents signs?
Desperate measures for desperate people. Too bad no one has caught him sniffing around City Hall at night after hours in other peoples offices. Or have they? Cameras should be set up in City Hall so things like that don't happen.
Word of mouth is more powerful and the voters will speak on Nov. 6.
- Milton resident
The inmates have taken over the assylum
I'm a citizen deputy, and to be honest, I am seeing a hell of alot of signs that are far too close to the road this year.
I don't like to even consider pulling up an election sign, but hey rules are rules.
We've been instructed to remove ANY sign within the right of way.
Keep in mind that any signs must also be 10 feet beyond the right of way.
Personally, I find this ridiculous and feel that the sign ordinance needs to be fixed in regards to the additional 10 feet. This eliminates many property owners from being able to properly support any political candidate. The additional 10 feet would force them to place signs behind a fence or down in the woods and out of sight.
Citizen Deputies are not allowed to go beyond the right of way when removing signs, but these signs are still incorrectly and improperly placed.
Travis Allen
And as an addition...I have not removed a single campaign sign because those signs that I've found to be within the right of way were not safely reachable.
I'm not about to risk life and limb just to pick up a sign.
Just wanted to settle that before the hounds were let loose...
-Travis Allen
Mr. Allen could you measure and remove the Santi signs surrounding the Chattem development on Cogburn and Bethany Bend?
I have measured those, and they are beyond the 10.5 foot right of way that the city has authorized the Citizen Deputies to collect signs from.
Recommend that you call Code Enforcement and complain.
Residents of Devonshire Farms, please remember that you can vote Neal out of office, which will be good for ilton, but you cannot vote him out of your neighborhood. Although if he is not re-elected then he does plan on moving.
It is amazing when you talk to Neal's neighbors, and they all say "I told you so"!
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