Qualifying starts Monday for elections in the city of Buford, the first held since a recording of a racist rant purportedly by the then-superintendent of schools led to soul searching and questions about leadership in the small Gwinnett County city.
Candidates have until Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. to sign up at City Hall to run for three city seats up for Nov. 5 election, including one held by longtime Buford leader Phillip Beard, who chairs both the city commission and the school board.
Last year, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote about Beard and his family's remarkable control in the city. He and a nephew, Brad Weeks, wield two-thirds of the voting power on Buford's uniquely small governing body. They also have been partners on investment properties in the city. Each has voted on City Commission measures that the other had business or personal connections to, the AJC found.
Outside ethics experts questioned such actions. Both Weeks and Beard said there were no ethical lapses in their votes.
Beard was also tied to the controversial recording last year. In it, the voices of two men can be heard, one repeatedly using a racial slur and threatening violence when referring to African-American workers at a construction site. Fallout from the tape's disclosure ended in the departure of school superintendent, Geye Hamby, who was accused of using the racial epithets. Beard later acknowledged that his was the second voice on the recording, which was submitted as evidence in a discrimination lawsuit filed against the school system by a paraprofessional. In the audio, Beard neither utters slurs nor objects to them. He has since said he doesn't recall hearing the objectionable words.
The existence of the recording had long been rumored. Local residents blasted the racist sentiment and worried about the impact on a tight-knit community and its highly ranked school system. They also raised questions about the city's insular leadership.
Beard has said officials took prompt action over the tape. A new superintendent has since been hired.
Last year, after more than 40 years in office, Beard said he intended to serve as a long as his health allowed. “I’ll be a force in that town. I’ll be there. I ain’t going anywhere.”
He was not immediately available for comment Thursday.
In addition to his city commission seat, two posts on the city school board are up for election this fall.
