25 APR 06: THE ROAD TO RE-ELECTION?
Take that, Jim Wetherington! You may have a long record as Columbus Police Chief and Georgia Corrections Commissioner. But now Mayor Bob Poydasheff has a street named after him - so can this re-election steamroller be stopped?
A new subdivision off Forrest Road will have a street named "Poydasheff Court," after Columbus Mayor Bob Poydasheff. The announcement was made Monday, apparently without the mayor's knowledge. If only the Washington press corps could believe U.S. Presidents work this way....
Mayor Poydasheff was invited to the new Forrest Creek subdivision because a street there was being named after his late best friend - "Col. Dick McKee Drive." Why do I have a strange feeling adults will call this street by one name, while teenagers call it by another?
But when the mayor arrived at Forrest Creek, he admits he was "sort of stunned" to find a second banner hanging - to dedicate Poydasheff Court. As much as he wants to get traffic lights in sync, he might have preferred his own expressway.
Mayor Poydasheff admitted it was already an emotional day, to honor the former Columbus Public Services Director. But to have a street of his own - as the mayor told one journalist: "Can you ask for anything more?" Well, he IS still one YMCA shy of matching A.J. McClung.
We're going to assume Mayor Poydasheff never knew a street would be named after him - although we're also going to assume Jim Wetherington's supporters are conducting their own private investigation of that....
So if Mayor Poydasheff never knew about this street name, who gave it to him? The answer appears to be John Grot of Midland, who's the developer of the Forrest Creek subdivision. If that name is unfamiliar, we think you'll find it on upcoming Poydasheff campaign reports.
It appears developers in Columbus can choose any street names they wish for their subdivisions. This may explain a neighborhood near St. Mary's Road with a Vivian Lane, Matilda Lane and an Ida Drive. Perhaps they were the developer's relatives - or perhaps they were Victory Drive dancers years ago.
Before African-American leaders call this naming of Poydasheff Court unfair, I'd point them to a neighborhood near Fort Benning Road. It has a Harbison Court AND Drive, a Calvin Avenue (as in Smyre?) - and hey, a Carter Court! How did Antonio work that one out?
(Then there's the plan to name a boulevard in West Point after Kia. I suppose if the South Korean corruption investigation leads to a change, the name could stay - and mean "Killed in Action.")
But isn't it a bit strange to name a street after a mayor who's still in office -- especially one who's up for re-election this year? Republicans in Washington had enough tact to wait until Ronald Reagan was a former President, before naming an airport after him.
The Charleston, South Carolina baseball stadium is named after the current mayor -- but Joseph Riley has been in office for decades. Mayor Bob Poydasheff is still in his first term. I'm not sure that's even earned him a dugout name at Golden Park.
Perhaps the best example of an early political honor in Georgia was the Zell Miller Parkway, in the mountains near Jasper. It received that name while he was Lieutenant Governor -- and I'm convinced the lack of a Johnny Isakson Parkway made the difference in the 1990 Governor's race.
And consider how few mayors in the history of Columbus have had roads named after them. There's the J.R. Allen Parkway, of course -- but where is the Bobby Peters Court? Oh yeah, I forgot. He was elected to the court....
The bottom line for me is this: honoring the late Col. Dick McKee with a street name is a very nice thing to do. But adding a Poydasheff Court to the ceremony took the focus away from McKee. It showed bad political timing. And it makes streets in Columbus look like stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
THE BIG BLOG QUESTION wants to know what you think of this. We're asking if Mayor Poydasheff deserves to have a street named after him. We made it a yes-or-no question -- but come to think of it, maybe the street should be awarded to the winner of the mayoral election.
We'd also like your comments and suggestions on other famous Columbus names, who might deserve their own streets. One that came to mind Monday was Randy Robertson Road, after the Fraternal Order of Police President. Of course, that road would have to lead people out of town....
While you weigh your vote carefully, let's check other Monday headlines:
+ Two members of the 75th Ranger Regiment were awarded their prizes for winning the Fort Benning "Best Ranger" competition. One of the winners has a father who fled to the U.S. in 1988 from the former Soviet Union -- way back when most people in this country actually welcomed immigrants.
+ "Qualifying Week" opened for Georgia state political offices. Rep. Cynthia McKinney filed for re-election, saying her voters appreciate how she "speaks the truth." Will any of those voters be called before that grand jury in Washington?
(Several other familiar names filed for office -- including Mac Collins, who's trying to return to the U.S. House. His occupation is listed on the Secretary of State's web site as "retired," not mentioning the voters retired him two years ago.)
+ The National Rifle Association endorsed Bob Riley for Alabama Governor, while the Gun Owners of America endorsed Roy Moore. I'm not sure what the difference is, between these groups - but I don't want to stand between them on a street after dark.
(Bob Riley received the National Rifle Association's backing at a "rally for the second amendment" in Tuskegee. So where are the rallies for the 18th amendment -- or do any church groups support prohibition anymore?)
+ Instant Message to Brian McClure: Thank you for four-and-a-half years of weather reports in Columbus. But before you move to Tampa, couldn't you give us a four-and-a-half year forecast -- instead of simply seven days?
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