Harold Logsdon’s one term as Peachtree City’s mayor already feels like a somewhat distant memory -- especially to Logsdon himself and the people who worked actively to get him elected four years ago.
As the debates raged and the 2009 election cycle dragged on through the runoff, Logsdon hid from the local spotlight. He chose not to endorse any of the three candidates vying to replace him and generally avoided the hotly contested Peachtree City election cycle.
The retired National Guard colonel and longtime Bellsouth employee was busy cleaning up the loose ends of his own term in office and touring the state campaigning for the Republican Party’s nomination for Georgia Insurance Commissioner.
“I want to serve at the state level, and I think insurance commissioner is the place where my qualifications make me the best fit,� Logsdon said in a phone interview Wednesday.
“My experience as mayor of Peachtree City sets me apart from the other candidates running for this office. I’ve managed a $25 million annual budget. Both the insurance commissioner and the leader of Peachtree City have about 250 people working for them. There are a lot of similarities. My opponents talk about what they would do, but I have worked in these situations before.�
Logsdon is fighting for statewide name recognition in a crowded eight person field. The primary will take place in July. Logsdon will speak in Cobb County this morning, in Tifton Monday and in Cherokee County next week.
“I’ve been all the way from Young Harris to Valdosta and just about every where in between,� Logsdon said.
When statewide voters examine his record as Peachtree City’s eighth mayor, Logsdon believes they will find a track record of public safety promotion, fiscal responsibility and job growth.
“Over the four years I was mayor we’ve increased overall public safety personnel by 30 people without raising property taxes,� he explained.
“That’s something I am proud of. I believe we have made the city safer from crime and fire. The elimination of the double tax for emergency medical service, the West Village annexation and securing a AAA bond rating for the city are some of the best things that we’ve been able to accomplish during my term.�
The lagging economy dominated the final two years of Logsdon’s mayorship, but he believes the downturn came with a silver lining.
“The budget took control of everything there at the end. Having to examine it line by line forced us to be much more efficient,� he said.
“We discovered a lot of things that we should have been doing differently all along. I think the staff did a great job and I feel good about that whole process. We learned some valuable lessons and I feel confident that the city’s future leaders will be very budget conscious moving forward.�
However, Logsdon’s four years as mayor were not without controversy. The Line Creek Development Agreement and the Wilksmoor (West Village) Annexation were both divisive issues. So was the council’s decision to outsource landscaping duties by cutting 28 city jobs. The West Village annexation spawned a series of lawsuits against the city and the Line Creek deal became a major election issue, possibly costing Steve Boone and Cyndi Plunkett their seats on the council.
Both of the development projects were approved under Logsdon’s watch, but neither has progressed past the planning phase.
The Wilksmoor developers received permission two years ago to extend MacDuff Parkway and develop over 1,000 residential units on just under 800 acres. Some of the housing units are age-restricted, designated for seniors only. The project, when complete, will bring the city close to its planned ‘build-out.’
The Line Creek Development Agreement allows Capital City Development to build three 50,000 square foot big box retail stores and calls for an extra traffic light along the already crowded Highway 54 West corridor.
Logsdon has consistently stood by his controversial decisions, insisting that the city is getting the best possible outcome in both situations. Both projects will be built adhereing to strict city guidelines. The nature of the agreements actually give the city more control and additional revenue sources.
Wilksmoor developers agreed to pay for the MacDuff Parkway extension. Capital City Development will pay the city $500,000 for right of way.
While the new council will almost certainly see some more controversial and divisive issues in the coming years, Logsdon will not be there to take credit or blame.
If all goes well, he will be working for all Georgians from the capital as the state’s next Insurance Commissioner.
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