28 JUN 06: LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE

The fight for Columbus Mayor became official Tuesday, when Jim Wetherington filed his qualifying papers. Incumbent Bob Poydasheff beat Wetherington to the Election Board by a day - but then, Wetherington made sure his trip was shown on the evening news.

The "Jim-Bob" battle was the top story on the 6:00 p.m. news, and both mayoral candidates made clear what they plan to emphasize. Bob Poydasheff plans to point out all the new money he's brought to Columbus. Jim Wetherington plans to point out there's a shortage of police officers, so all that money could be stolen.

Incumbent Bob Poydasheff has a long list of community advancements, which he's ready to recite to anyone who will listen. For instance, he says the Trade Center will be "debt-free at the end of this year." May we see the hands of all the laid-off Parks Department employees who can make the same statement?

Bob Poydasheff also takes credit for AFLAC's plans to expand in a Columbus industrial park, adding thousands of jobs. But if a second AFLAC tower isn't going up, it simply doesn't look that impressive to visitors from out of town.

Bob Poydasheff says he's also striving to improve the south side of town, through "Columbus South Inc." Let's check the four-year scoreboard on that. Denny's on Victory Drive out, Sonic on Victory Drive in -- I guess that's a gain.

The incumbent also notes his work on the planned new National Infantry Museum on South Lumpkin Road. So when do the organizers plan to name a street after Bob Poydasheff there -- to give him two?

But Bob Poydasheff may be stretching the rubber band of credibility a bit too far when he takes credit for the planned Kia plant. For one thing, the site is in West Point - and I don't think that many Columbus residents commuted there for work, when it was a mill town.

On the other hand, challenger Jim Wetherington says he'll make public safety a priority if he becomes mayor. Given is background as a former police chief, that's not really surprising. If he's elected, count on the government access channel showing "Law and Order" at least once a day.

Jim Wetherington isn't bringing up any other issues right now. He plans to outline his positions on issue when he opens his campaign headquarters on Wynnton Road -- a building already so well marked, you might never notice that new Video Warehouse across the street.

WRBL unearthed a couple of battleground issues between the candidates for mayor. Bob Poydasheff said, "We've always had police shortages." Jim Wetherington said, "There's never been a shortage this bad." So is a squad car sitting idle half-full, or half-empty?

Another disagreement involves crime in Columbus overall. Bob Poydasheff says it's down a bit. Jim Wetherington says it's up. Why do I have the feeling Wetherington talked to police officers to make his statement, while Poydasheff talked to the Chamber of Commerce to make his?

This "Jim-Bob" battle for mayor has 19 weeks to go. Jim Wetherington has talked about knocking on doors, to hear from voters. Bob Poydasheff says he's returned every call from Columbus residents who have left a phone number. You can tell these candidates are up in years, because neither one mentioned answering e-mails.

E-MAIL UPDATE: All right, you mayoral candidates - here's problem #1. How would you handle this complaint, which was sent to the blog?

This week I went down to the gov't center to change over a car tag from old car to new car.I had everything I needed to do a speedy transaction..It took 40min for a 10 min job..I went during the early afternoon hoping that the line would be short..Much to my surprise I was #3..When I stepped up to the window my agonizing started..People who were there to do the same as I was were coming and going on both side of me...I wonder if that lady behind the glass who left me standing there 3 times for a total of 26 min.is going to get some of the city budget pay increase?

Believe it or not, this may be an example of GOOD customer service in Columbus. I've called one local office several times in recent weeks, and my messages scarcely have been returned. C'mon folks - Power Frisbee is the real name of a real new sport....

There could be many reasons why "that lady behind the glass" left our e-mailer waiting for 25 minutes. If it was early afternoon, maybe the sandwich she bought for lunch wasn't toasted enough.

I was going to say the mayoral candidates can pass on this next message, because it's from Alabama. But then again....

We have to haul our trash, we have trash all along the side of our roads, we have Mt Salem (the landfill) being built with everyone's trash, no we are going have Georgia's special trash.

Did someone change the state logo with out telling everyone to "Alabama - the south's finest dumping spot" - "ya'll come on in now, ya hear"

Now, now - look on the bright side. When all those landfills get full, the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail will have even more to promote.

Let's unload the Tuesday news truck a little more now....

+ Our condolences to the family of Judge J. Robert Elliot, who died at age 96. He received a special tribute from the Columbus Kiwanis Club last August, only two weeks before I was the guest speaker. As I told the club at the time: sometimes you have famous-name history-making guests - and sometimes you have me.

+ The Muscogee County School District announced Jordan High School will open almost two weeks late in August, because of yet another summer of construction. Apparently the appeal to "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" was turned down.

(Jordan High School now will open on August 19. That's a Saturday, and several make-up Saturdays are planned. It's not like the football team will miss those practice sessions....)

+ Gas prices across Columbus and Phenix City jumped about 12 cents a gallon. Some drivers may never refer to the upcoming holiday as Independence Day again.

+ WXTX "News at Ten" returned to the Streetscape construction work near 10^th and Broadway, and found several hanging plants on the tall fence outside restaurants. I hope the plants remain after the improvements are finished - to absorb all the cigarette smoke from those sidewalk diners.

+ The jury reported it was still deadlocked, in former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman's corruption trial. In fact, there are reports some jurors are being "lackadaisical." I'm assuming they're the ones on Siegelman's side - since his attorneys never bothered presenting a defense.

+ The Southern Professional Hockey League held its annual summer meeting in Columbus. Cottonmouths head coach Jerome Bechard attended - and amazingly, he never overturned the meeting table once.

+ Instant Message to whomever oversees the Columbus Riverwalk: Why do some spots downtown look like we had a flood last week? Are you taking the federal judge's order to release more water down the Chattahoochee THAT seriously?

COMING THURSDAY: E-mail about rules for pools....

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