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Black Mayors enjoy Washington, convention
Some 25 Georgia mayors, members of the Georgia Conference of Black Mayors, Inc., gathered at The Fitzpatrick Hotel in Washington last week for the organization's second annual convention. Burns is the organization's president, and he said that one mayor after another came to him to say how nice Washington was, how clean the city and how friendly the people. "John Fluker, the mayor of Waycross, told me we were very unique," Burns said. "And the mayors were very impressed with the content of the conference. They said we exceeded expectations." The mayors gathered in Washington to "look at new strategies for rural communities," Burns said, on issues including economic development, Community Development Block Grant funding, telecommunications, infrastructure, and the proposed voter identification bill. The conference kicked off Thursday night with a reception at The Fitzpatrick Hotel and a concert on The Square by recording artist and actress Melba Moore. Moore, who is recovering from hip surgery, touched the crowd, Burns said, not only with her singing but with her testimony. "She really hit home when she talked about how far we'd come, and the things we've been through." After a welcome by Wilkes Youth Leadership, Friday was filled with addresses, roundtable discussions, and breakout sessions. A HUD presentation by Teresa Chappelle on grant writing was popular with mayors and with Washington City Council members Maceo Mahoney and Nathaniel Cullars Sr. and former council member Patricia Wilder. Georgia Commissioner of Labor Michael Thurmond; Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor; State Representative Al Williams, and Rep. Tyrone Brooks participated in Friday morning's sessions; and Neal Bradley of the ACLU and Jenign Garrett of the NAACP Legal Defense Education Fund presented on the proposed voter identification legislation. Gleatha Glispie of Primerica Inc. spoke to the attendees on managed healthcare initiatives. Luncheon was held at Washington Wilkes Country Club, with the keynote address by Charles Mathis of Mathis Law Firm in Atlanta. Friday afternoon was occupied with Mayors' Roundtable Discussion discussions, which were a highlight of the conference for many. "Each mayor got to get up and talk about his city," Burns said. "They talked about what they'd done, what was working, what wasn't working, how they'd solved this problem and that. I think everybody learned a lot in those roundtables." The two-day conference wasn't all work. Many of the mayors' spouses took the time in Washington to do a little Christmas shopping and see the sights, with activities arranged by the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber also gave last-minute assistance to conference organizers and spouses. "The Chamber was great. Ashley Turner really helped so much with everything," Burns said. "There was some serious shopping done in Washington Friday," the Washington mayor said with pride. "And we filled a lot of hotel rooms and bed and breakfast inn rooms. One group rented a whole B and B, the Sleighter House, plus two rooms at the Fitzpatrick." Friday ended with a barbeque at the Washington Country Club. The conference ended Saturday at noon. Mayors of some of the larger Georgia cities represented included Mayors C. Jack Ellis of Macon, Otis Johnson of Savannah, Phaedra Graham of Riverdale, and Joe Macon of East Point, and more than 20 other mayors. Also taking part in the conference were Jim Martin, Democratic Lieutenant Governor nominee; state Senator Jim Whitehead, Sr.; Rep. Mickey Channell; Rep. Barry A. Fleming; DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones, and others. | |||||
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