Smyrna Qualifying is Underway
On Monday, Jason Saliba, Ward 5, and Ziad Salameh, Ward 7, made official their first-term bids for a seat on the Smyrna city council.
Smyrna businessman Charles Grant speaking before the Smyrna City Council recently. Election qualifying began Monday in the Jonquil City.
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Election qualifying marks the official start of the 2011 election season for Smyrna and two candidates Monday morning became the first to officially throw their hats into the ring.
Jason Saliba is seeking the Ward 5 city council seat. Jimmy Smith, current Ward 5 council member, announced he would not seek reelection at the June 18 city council meeting.
Saliba may be running against Ward 5 resident Mike Hyde. Hyde announced earlier this month that he would be running for the seat during citizen input at a city council meeting, but he has yet to officially register as of this morning.
Ziad Salameh is seeking the city council seat that will be left vacant by Pete Wood, Ward 7 council member.
Salameh, who is a project manager for Schneider Electric, is originally from Lebanon. He was inspired to run for city council by advice his parents gave him.
“Anywhere you settle with your family you adapt and you adopt,” he said. “So basically, I have adapted to the rules and laws of Smyrna and now it’s time to adopt it. I’ve been very involved in the community…No one can dispute what Smyrna has gone through over the last 10, 15 years. Basically, it’s time to step up my community involvement one notch and serve the community and keep it going in a positive direction.”
Salameh is the father of two children, a son who attends Campbell High School and a daughter who attends Campbell Middle School. His community involvement includes serving on the Nickajack Elementary School P.T.A. and Upward Basketball, but now he’d like to shift the focus of his community engagement.
“Promoting the good in Smyrna: education, sports, athletics, neighborhoods, community development,” he said. “And what I mean by community development is not builders and developers and building permits as much as real community development, trying to come up with other ideas to keep bringing Smyrna together. My main purpose is to promote the positive in Smyrna.”
Smyrna-Vinings Patch will continue to provide coverage of the 2011 election qualifying period which continues until 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 31. The general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011.
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Campbell High School
5265 Ward St SE, Smyrna, GA -
Campbell Middle School
3295 Atlanta Rd SE, Smyrna, GA -
Nickajack Elementary School
4555 Mavell Rd SE, Smyrna, GA
Lp
4:07 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
The status quo has got to go.
Good for Mr.Salameh!
This could be quite an interesting race/election after all...
J Smith
6:45 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Heard on the street - Z Salameh is associated with current regime.
Lp
8:08 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
And is it true that Teri A. is actually the mayor's niece?
Teri A.
9:53 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Ha! No. I have many uncles, but Max Bacon is not among them. If you have any other questions regarding my lineage, please feel free to call or email. I'm pretty easy to find : )
Lp
10:20 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Hehe. Obviously.
Well..it's not that far of a stretch that he COULD be your uncle..considering his daddy was the mayor before him..Smyrna gov't does seem to like to keep it in "the family."
I meant no offense..just figured someone here would have the CORRECT answer.
Thanks~
Teri A.
11:04 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Weeeeell, my daddy was raised on a minnow farm in north Mississippi, so yeah, it's a stretch ; )
Lp
12:06 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Well I hate to say it, but nothing's shocking.
Especially where politics are involved.
And your dad was raised by minnows? I smell something fishy...
J Smith
9:07 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Q: What do you do when you have a bad government?
A: As John Locke said, you enter into a social contract with your government. Once that contract is broken, it is your DUTY to revolt and cause a revolution. This might not necessarily be a violent one, but it is your civic duty to protest against an unjust government. Civil unrest frightens governments no matter how strong they are. Governments serve their people and it is your responsibility to remind them of that.
wiki.answers.com
M. Mitchell
9:29 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
The final straw for me was when the mayor said at the last city council meeting that it was the policy of the council to not answer questions during the meeting. No other city council has that policy. Its arrogance will be its downfall. This city council has got to be voted out of office.
Open Your Eyes
9:33 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
I have known Ziad for several years. He used to come into our shop on Atlanta Road and was once a client of mine. He has been very personable and easy person to talk to. He is always up to discuss local issues and seems to have a good head for business, etc. I have seen him in attendance at a number of City functions including open house forums in the past few years which shows he has a real interest in Smyrna and possibly the time to serve. Good Luck to Mr. Salameh.
Robert J.
9:53 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
The Smyrna City Council serves itself and its own interests. It's dependent on the ignorance and apathy of Smyrnans. The mayor and council cause the ignorance by refusing to run an open government. Smyrnans have become apathetic because of their mistaken belief that nothing can be done about it. Speak out. Question and demand answers. Their job is to answer those questions and in an open forum. Vote and vote them out of office.
Hunt Archbold
11:37 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
We’ll be posting another election story within the hour, but here’s an updated partial list of who has qualified.
Donna Woodham, mayor; incumbent Melleny Pritchett, Ward 1; Andrea Bluestein, Ward 2; incumbent Teri Anulewicz, Ward 3; Andrew Jason Saliba, Ward 5; Corkey Welch, Ward 4 and Vic Yankonski and Ziad Salameh, Ward 7.
J Smith
11:32 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Mike H on Patch.com isn't Mike Hyde.