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November 3, 2009

Mosier ousted in Varnell, Peeples re-elected

Charles Oliver

Varnell Mayor Dan Peeples cruised to re-election on Tuesday, along with newcomers to the City Council James Caldwell, Post 1, who defeated incumbent Carlus Mosier, and Brent Newsome, Post 2.

Peeples defeated former Varnell chief probation officer and City Council member Bill Morgan by 219 votes to 112. Morgan said he plans to run again in four years.

Caldwell took 188 votes in the race for Post 1, compared to 74 for Mosier and 51 for Laura Hammontree.

“We had a great turnout, and I appreciate the people who came out to support me,” said Caldwell. “We are going to do some great things in Varnell.”

During the campaign Caldwell stressed the need to establish an identity for Varnell and said the council should work with Dalton Utilities and the county government to bring sewer to the area.

Mosier did not immediately return a telephone message at his residence Tuesday night.

The final days of the campaign were marked with controversy, with the city citing Mosier for a zoning violation and lack of business license for a haunted house he was running on property he owned. Mosier said other council members had a vendetta against him because he disagreed with them on some policies. In turn, Mosier’s daughter filed an ethics complaint with the state against two independent political committees supporting Caldwell, Peeples and Newsome for failing to register with the state. That complaint was rejected on a technicality but an amended complaint was filed. Meanwhile, the committees did register with the state.

Hammontree said Tuesday night she did not anticipate another run for political office in the near future, but she said she planned to remain active in the Varnell community.

“I’m going to hang in there and move forward. I want to help build the future and preserve the past. That’s what I want to do with Varnell,” she said. “I congratulate the winners.”

Newsome had 217 votes to 103 for former City Council member Harveyleen Rollins in the Post 2 race. Susan Hamlin, who currently holds that post, did not seek re-election.

“I think the people of Varnell saw what we were running on, saw that we really did have a vision for going forward,” Newsome said. “I’m glad to see everyone agreed with us and put us into office.”

Newsome said during the campaign he would like to see the city bring new retail and restaurants to the area and to expand the recreational options for children.

“I really didn’t campaign. I probably should have,” said Rollins.

Rollins, 70, said she doubts that she will run for office again.

“At my age, I don’t think I will,” she said.

The mayoral race was something of a rematch of the special election last year to fill the unexpired term of former mayor Lindsey Metcalf, who had stepped down. Peeples won a three-way battle over Morgan and former educator Jim Anderson.

Peeples said he is looking forward to serving a full four-year term.

“I am so excited about four more years. I’m excited about these two gentlemen joining the council. We are going to work really hard and get some good things going,” said Peeples.

He said during the campaign the election was about whether to continue the momentum the city had built over the past year. He said the city has improved its recreation facilities (ball fields, playgrounds and park areas) by selling hundreds of unused and unnecessary assets such as boats, motorcycles, grills, snow plows, radio towers, steel beams, old televisions and old tires on www.govdeals.com.

“He fought a hard battle, and he won himself a four-year job that he is going to have to work very diligently at,” said Morgan. “I own a business in the city of Varnell, and I am going to work very hard in that business, and I’m going to wait for his four years to be up and have at him again.”



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