Rep. Betty Price: "Can't Imagine Running" For Roswell Mayor

ROSWELL, GA -- Now that Roswell Mayor Jere Wood has said he will not seek re-election to a sixth term after a court ruling declared he was not eligible to qualify for mayor in 2013, discussions are abound as to who will set up and run for the seat in the Nov. 7 general municipal election.

One of those rumored to be considering a run is State Rep. Betty Price.

Dr. Price, the former City Council member and wife of U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Tom Price, said she is considering the run "like anything else," but the likelihood of her running is not a great one.

"I'm very happy where I am in the legislature, and our issues there are in line with my experience," she said, adding it would not be "wise" to abandon the State House District 48 seat to run for mayor. "I can’t imagine running, but a lot of people are encouraging me."

Wood's announcement that he will not be seeking re-election came hours after Fulton County Superior Court Judge Craig Scwhall ruled the incumbent was not qualified to seek a fifth, four-year term in 2013 due to the city's charter imposing term limits. The man who filed the lawsuit against Wood, Michael Litten, has already declared his candidacy several months ahead of next week's qualifying period (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app).

Wood has appealed Scwhall's ruling. Speaking with Patch by phone last week while on vacation, the mayor said he has received a lot of support from folks "who agreed with my decision to appeal." Wood also used the opportunity to criticize what he believed was Price's actions during a hearing held in May concerning the term limit case. Wood accused the state representatives of passing notes to Litten's counsel, which he said would indicate that she was "in concert" with the petitioners.

He also said she blocked the city's attempts in the legislature to revise its charter to ensure term limits would not be applied retroactively.

“Betty was actively involved in my removal from office," he added, noting it's not "normal" for a person not part of a legal party to be passing notes to that group of people.

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Price, who was first elected to the Council in 2009 to serve out an unexpired term and was elected to a full term in 2011, blasted the mayor's contention, adding she merely decided to sit in on the hearing because the courtroom was next to the state capital.

"Out of curiosity, I just went over there," she said, noting she sat in the middle of the seats reserved for the public. Someone from the plaintiff's side passed her a note and she passed one back.

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"I didn't initiate it," she added. "The mayor read something into it."

Price, elected to the State House seat in 2015, added she thought it was "wise" for Scwhall to wait and issue his ruling as close as possible to the election season, which allows Wood to serve out his term without any disruption to city operations.

“It’s unfortunate they couldn't arrived at a better solution that would have saved the city a lot of money," she said.

Clearly no one reviewed the charter in 2013, as Wood was allowed to run, Price added. The City Council, she told Patch, could have prevented the lawsuit by scrapping the term limits wording and writing a new statute outlining its intent.

“It’s sad that he has to leave office this way," she continued, referring to Wood. "He’s been a great mayor, a great visionary. I think we owe him a great debt of gratitude. On the other hand, it’s time for a change and the judge has spoken."

When asked if she planned to endorse anyone, Price said she will most likely sit on the sidelines, as it will be a "good sport to watch" candidates battle for the hearts and minds of Roswell voters.

For his part, Wood said he is "sorry" that he won't be able to continue his service as mayor.

"It's been a privilege serving the citizens of Roswell for close to 20 years, and I'll miss the opportunity to continue to serve," he said.

Photo: from left, Jere Wood and Rep. Betty Price. Credit: city of Roswell and Georgia General Assembly