Running Roswell like a business. Enron.
When I ran for mayor, I promised bold change—and I’ve delivered: record debt, secret contracts, and higher taxes.
I spent millions on consultants instead of city staff, carefully structuring contracts so you wouldn’t see them. I pushed a $180 million bond that raised your property taxes for 30 years. And I projected millions in parking revenue but only made about $18,000.
Then I added a 2.5% fee every time you pay a city bill by card. And if our new $10 million “revenue bond” doesn’t earn enough, don’t worry—you’ll cover it with your taxes.
My worst financial decisions cluster around debt, unrealistic revenue expectations, and consultant spending. Here’s a breakdown:
My $180 Million Bond Referendum (2022).
My decision: I pushed through the largest bond in Roswell’s history, which voters narrowly approved.
The impact: I raises average property taxes by ~44% annually for 30 years!
The critique: The bond was sold as reinvestment but left little room for debate on alternatives or phased approaches. It committed residents to long-term debt without detailed disclosure of repayment schedules or interest costs. Not my problem.
Why my decision is bad for you: Heavy tax burden for decades, locks the city into repayment regardless of economic conditions, with unclear prioritization of projects funded by the bond.
My Overly Optimistic Parking Revenue Projections (2025 budget).
My decision: I budgeted $2.2 million in parking revenue for 2025.
The reality: Oops. After six months, actual collections were only about $18,000, with net losses on the parking program. The revised budget dropped expected revenue to $170k.
The critique: This was either flawed forecasting or intentional inflation of revenue projections. Either way, my responsibility.
Why my decision is bad for you: Misleading budget assumptions mask the true financial health of the city and set up shortfalls that must be covered by taxpayers.
My $10 Million Revenue Bond for Spruill Property.
My decision: I issued a $10M “revenue bond” for parkland acquisition, marketed as self-funding.
The catch: Contract language explicitly allows the city to dip into the General Fund or property taxes if the park doesn’t generate enough revenue.
The critique: It’s been called it a “backdoor tax increase” since the failure of the project would shift the burden to residents.
Why my decision is bad for you: I’ve added hidden risk! It looks safe on paper, but ultimately ties taxpayers to cover revenue shortfalls.
My Multi-Million Dollar SEER World Consulting Contracts.
My decision: I entrusted SEER World (Peter Sorckoff) with roles ranging from branding to economic development to supplying the city’s part-time COO—at costs of $1.5M+ across multiple SOWs.
The critique: Invoices lack detail, contracts are fragmented into under-$100k Statements of Work to avoid council votes, and many services duplicate existing staff roles (like communications). Almost makes you wonder if I’m getting a kickback…
Why my decision is bad for you: Taxpayer money spent without accountability, transparency, or clear return on investment; Once again, I undermine trust and financial stewardship!
The Creation of Expensive “C-Suite” Roles and Costly Staff Turnover.
My decision: I expanded top-level positions with six-figure salaries and raises (some double-digit in a single year). I also paid large separation packages (e.g., $57,401 + $10k attorney fees to one departing director).
The critique: These high salaries plus payouts really demonstrate my poor judgment in hiring/retention, with consultants filling gaps left by churn.
Why my decision is bad for you: I’ve inflated administrative costs while undermining long-term stability of city staff.
My Hidden Taxes & Fees.
My decision: I implemented a 2.5% fee on residents paying bills with credit/debit cards — shifting ~$600,000 annual cost from the city budget onto residents.
The critique: This is a “hidden tax” since the city pocketed the savings without offsetting other taxes.
Why my decision is bad for you: I’ve added to residents’ costs without transparency, while the city benefits from a windfall.
Source: A meta analysis of Roswell Truth posts from 2022-2025