Smyrna Candidate Forum Tonight at Brawner Hall

Though they may have been overshadowed by , several of Smyrna’s candidates for elected office addressed voters at Monday’s city council meeting

Alex Backry wasn’t the only candidate who didn’t get to say his piece at last night’s Smyrna city council meeting. , sent a representative with a video he had prepared to play during citizen input. However, citizens did not hear what Salameh had to say because of technical difficulties.

Salameh and two of his opponents, and , were participating in a . Absent from the debate was , who spoke during citizen input Monday about a recent accident involving a dump truck on Camp Highland Road near the Glock, Inc., plant.

The dump truck was returning to the plant after it had dropped off a load of topsoil, Yankouski said. The bed of the truck accidentally raised and was tangled in some power lines before it struck a pole. He also added that the accident occurred about 20 feet away from a bus stop where children had earlier boarded a school bus.

“It’s a concern because the road is very narrow,” he said. “It’s being used by dump trucks and Glock had promised the citizens that they would not use heavy commercial vehicles, nor would they use that road for hauling dirt out of that particular area.”

A few other candidates took the podium during citizen input to outline some points of their campaigns.

, enumerated his service to Cobb County as a deputy assistant district attorney, a member of the governing board of Leadership Cobb as well as his service to the American Cancer Society and the Cobb Safety Village.

“In each one of those I’ve actively served,” he said. “I don’t put my name on things that I don’t work on. I certainly wouldn’t do that here. As I ask my friends and neighbors going forward to look and to decide the best candidate for the race and as I go through and meet them, I’ve asked them to look at all of us and decide who they think will take that responsibility and who will serve.”

One of Saliba’s two opponents, Susan Dease Wilkerson, also outlined her leadership skills as a parent and professional.

Wilkerson said she worked as an independent contractor in design and illustration for 15 years and as such has worked with engineers and architects behind the scenes, even assisting in the design of a golf course. In college she also worked in county government.

“I worked at the county offices updating the records of new development, so I’m very familiar with legal developments and descriptions and plans,” she said. “I feel that with my experience as a legal professional, and as a parent, as an involved citizen and with my skills as a good listener and a communicator, I feel I would be a strong voice on the city council for the citizens of Ward 5.”

thanked members of his ward for and also applauded his fellow candidates and some City officials for participating in Saturday’s cleanup event saying that it “spoke well of the city that they came out.”

Smyrna explained she enjoyed meeting Smyrna’s voters as she went door-to-door during her campaign and thanked the constituents for their hospitality. Several incumbent city council candidates also took the opportunity to promote their campaigns during committee reports.

, reminded voters of her 10 years of service on the Smyrna City Council adding that her leadership skills will be needed in coming years.

“I think we still have two or three years until we see the real estate market come back and we see some things happening, although we’re seeing some commercial things now. So I would ask you to vote for me in Ward 1 based on my leadership skills.”

Pritchett, who took office in 2001 after a special election, is running against for her seat.

, reminded voters from her ward that their voting site is the and that while she’s running unopposed there are other reasons to vote on Nov. 8 including the mayoral race and Sunday alcohol sales.

, another unopposed candidate, also spoke during committee reports.

“I want to thank the citizens of Ward 6 for their support and for the honor and privilege of representing them during my years on the council,” he said. “I very much look forward to continuing that service to my hometown.”

All the candidates have been invited to a Tuesday night forum sponsored by the Smyrna Business Association. Patch will be covering the 7 p.m. event at Brawner Hall live so check back with us tonight. Brawner Hall is located at 3180 Atlanta Road in Smyrna.