Harmon don't give up the fight. Since the election HELL has been unleashed on City PD employees. Both Police Lieutenants are getting targeted because they were hired under your administration. One LT was forced to give up his Dodge patrol car he as driven for 2 years to the NEW Capt over Patrol because new Capt needs a better ride. NO crown vic for him! Like the PD needs another administrative supervisor doing nothing but sitting around the office mon-fri 8 to 5 while night shift officers are working the streets alone. Does anyone at Temple care about officers safety? Chief? Mayor? What about when the officer has to leave the city unattended? Guess no one cares or Carroll Co. will pick up the slack if they have a deputy in the area. Chief is bringing in his buddies from Paulding Co and putting them in high ranking positions while good veteran officers are being forced out the door because they might be friendly with Harmon or dont write 100 tickets a month. Sorry Temple citizens - the new chief has spoken and all officers working in his kingdom WILL write a BUNCH of tickets OR find other jobs. When you find yourself on the side of the road signing the yellow copy please dont take out your hate on the street officers which are just doing what the great king has ordered to keep THEIR JOBS. Voice your complaints to mayor Ford and council who put the great king in his kingdom.

wow to the last comment.You said it all and so very well. I also heard the tape and it sickened me. They say a persons true character is revealed when they think no one can see or hear what they are doing, it sealed it for me too. To hear an employee spoke to in that manner. When Mayor Ford yells "I AM YOUR SUPEIRIOR!" or "I DONT HAVE TO HAVE A REASON TO FIRE YOU" and to know all this harassment to this officer was over Mayor Fords opening statements on the tape that he called the officer back up there because he felt the officer had a "smirky smile" on his face when he looked at him! The one statement Mayor Ford makes on that tape that I will never forget is when Ford said to the officer (who was ON duty mind you and suppose to be out patrolling our city) "IT IS FINISHED WHEN I SAY ITS FINISHED!" or when he told the officer who was trying to defend himself by saying "I was not smirking at you..I don't think what your doing to me is fair" and the officer says Sir to him over and over with more respect than I could have given him..and Mayor Ford says.."THATS YOUR PROBLEM.. YOU JUST DONT KNOW WHEN TO SHUT YOUR MOUTH!"

Power is a dangerous thing for those who abuse it. This officer was fired and allegedly fired because he broke some policy about tampering with city equipment. He allegedly ran a cleaner on a computer with the chiefs permission and had a letter from the former chief stating he had told him to do it...talk about looking for a reason or being set up, then the tax payers had to pay the city attorney for the Mayor and Council to FIGHT giving this officer his unemployment. Its never enough for the city government to fire you they then seem to go for blood. Funny though how another officer did tamper with security by running GCIC and printing them out. (who knows the names that were run??)The director for the state GCIC even put in writing that this current officer breached security by printing secure information, this officer got a written reprimand nothing more while the police officer that Mayor Ford is on tape speaking to in such a degrading manner was allegedly fired for running a cleaner on a computer with his superiors permission. I saw these papers the proof that the comment below speaks about for myself, and seeing is believing. It was issues such as this that caused our council member to write a letter full of racial slurs and pass it out to black voters. They were so afraid of the truth coming out that the lie had to be big and wide spread. In the end the ones who suffer are the residents. Everything is political from lowering the flag the day Barry Lewis died with Ford standing out front for all to see to NOT lowering the flag on 9-11 until later in the day, probably after being reminded. How do you break promises, divide a town and then hold out an olive branch? As a resident I would be too fearful to reach for it for fear of being whacked upside the head with it.

Barry Lewis use to say "ole tricky ricky" it was humorous at the time, but now I see how prophetic is was. The best thing for the city of Temple would be to be annexed into Carroll County. I wonder if any one knows how to go about getting this done??

Since I've become a resident of Temple I have seen how this city is divided. In the beginning I heard all about the so called "Hell raisers", I sat back for over a year and listened and watched and to be honest I felt that many of the issues addressed by these so called "Hell Raisers" were very important and justifiable I think had these opinions and investigations been brought on by the current leaders of our city they would have been respected and considered important and most importantly factual as they have always been to be. I recall the many times I had conversations with our leaders in regards to our community growth and improvement these conversations would quickly become words of excuses as to why we could not move forward it was always the "Hell raisers"! We've had our election and no we will not move on.....I have seen no growth in Temple since I got here. Our children have seen no growth, where oh where are the walking trails, biking trails, parks for our elementary students? we are soon to have another elementary school open where do these kids go for their picnic lunches or safe walks with their families. There are no sidewalks. Our subdivisions were planned and approved under Mayor Harmon who required we have green space and recreation. Court records show approved plat maps that show PUD which is the abbreviation for Planned Urban Development. Mayor Rick Ford allowed the developers to come in strip the lands and walk away with no recourse. We can't change court papers we can't say that these are lies. It's factual. So would someone please tell me where the growth is not only for the city but for our children. The rec dept should not be our only offerings to our community. What about a library, game room, aquatics center or a small water play area for little ones like all the other communities. In fact the citizens of Temple pay more taxes than any other city in Carroll county. What about art programs especially because it's been taken out of our failing schools. These community artists could probably help spruce up the downtown (FREE) Has anyone looked at the local school scores they've plummeted severly in the past few years.They are classified as failing schools by the state of Georgia. These same kids have to hear our local politicians refer to there homes in a derogatory manor just because they can live in a trailer park. It sickens me that these same people preach christianity. It is very sad. I volunteer in our schools and I see these children that are feeling the effects of our economy and their own city has made rude comments and shunned them because of the home they live in. I know about the back pack program and that is a great start but this city could do so much more just by watching their tongues. Mental and social abuse is by far much worst than feeling hunger after school hours. Think before you speak and remember it takes a village to raise a child. Imagine what that million dollars could have done for the youth of Temple, instead it was wasted time and time again with the two signatures that matter most in a city like Temple The Mayor Rick Ford and the second signature City of Temple Chief of Police. Mayor Rick Ford recently stated in the Times Georgian that he was not aware that these monies could be used in other areas of our community. That is a pathetic excuse. He is the MAYOR!!! He has to know for the benefits of his community that he serves. Well he did know what line to sign to waste all of it. Does anyone just sign their name to a legal tender without first educating themselves? Why be a mayor if you don't know how. We are so sick of the apologies and excuses. I know that I wouldn't dump my trash near my water source so why did the mayor dump his at the city water site! One more thing, my deciding vote for Lestor Harmon was sealed when I heard Mayor Rick Ford disrespectfully degrade and threaten one of our fine police officers because he thought he had a smirk on his face when one of the "Hell Raisers" spoke at a City Council meeting. I would hope that everyone has the opportunity to hear this cd it shows how pure evil is running our city. In my entire life I have never heard a person speak to another like he did that officer. I have actually had nightmares from it. I pray to our lord that no one else will have to endure such evil words. I commend the officer that has held his head high and has removed those horrid words from is soul and that he didn't absorb the brutality that our Mayor was cramming down his throat. This fine Officer has a beautiful family and could look to the source of evil and remove himself from it. I applaud you. I personally if I had been spoken to like that well let's just say Rick wouldn't have had a chance to run in this past election.

ya know I really felt the article covered most of the facts and was going to stay out of the forums this time around..but a few things need to be said..first of all the BLACK vote does count..and SHOULD count as EVERYother vote counts..if the three vote difference between the two candidates doesn't show a person that their vote does count..then nothing ever will..As for sicofitall, your previous post along with this one show just how much you strive to keep the Temple community divided.. you perpetuate the problem and I hope one day you find a hobby outside of causing division and/or learn to put your efforts into things that bring about good results for the community. NAACP..AL Sharpton??? Come on, you really wish for a race war in the city of Temple?? How sad. Race is not an issue...has not been an issue until our council member put out a letter full of raciest comments regarding candidates in order to sway an election..shame on him and shame on you for thinking that black voters are to be used as a vote and then again as a way to march for your messed up cause..as a person with a family considered to be a true melting pot..I am offended to no end! .Race is not the issue and how dare anyone make it one. It is people like this who have divided this town and made it the laughing stock of the state of Georgia..what..a little over 600 people voted and the votes cast prove that the VOTE was RIGHT down the MIDDLE give or take 3 votes..THAT DOES NOT SPELL VICTORY MR FORD..THAT SPELLS A TOWN DIVIDED!!! EVERY vote should count and no one should be harassed for voting..but with 3 flippen votes between winner and looser..as far as I am concerned you better have been a resident of this city when you voted..black or white. Voting is not about color but RESIDENCY!!!

What is an African American? Is it a person that was born in Africa and is now living in America? Anyway, Black people of Temple, Ga. put a baseball bat beside your door and if someone comes to your house harassing you, take the bat and bust them up side the head. Also, make sure you tell the police that they forced their way in your house and you hit them because you were afraid. P. S. black people stop changing the name of your race every ten years.

I agree with Gellor something needs to be done about the racist attacks on African American voters. How would you feel if someone came to your door asking to see your ID to prove you lived there? I think we should take this a step further and not just report racist attacks, but protest as well. We need to call the NAACP, Rev. Al Sharpton, The SCLC and Jesse Jackson and The Rainbow Coalition. We need to march from the dental lab to the trailer park to show that we will not put up with this injustice!!

What is really sad about this is out of 3000-4000 citizens in Temple only 603 or so came out to vote. I believe this shows what most in Temple think about the political circus. They don't want to get involved. And Walden lost by over 100 votes..was it because of race issues?, probably so, but its time to move on- The MINORITIES are now watching closely and their votes will count next time as well. Creating more drama is not going to accomplish anything positive for the city. Now can we just hold hands and pretend to be Christians again??

There is always two sides to a story... Supposedly Mr. Simmons assisted or coerced african american persons to vote in the election that don't live in the city. I am sure that FORD would fight the vote if it was him in the predicament. It is an uphill battle. I say it aint worth it, let it go. GOD has a plan in place. It may not be what we want or we may not think it is best but sometimes when you lose you win and when you win you lose. Too much for any person to endure. I feel for the employees, it will never change for them, no matter who is in office. Only in Temple can one person fire you, that is what they wanted. People's lives are decided in four year increments. That is not healthy for anyone to live up to...

Mr. Harmon needs to stop the harassment of black voters in Temple. He has Brian Acree knocking on black voters' doors asking to give proof that they live in their homes and has Mrs. Walden calling their homes asking if they live there. This is illegal and an invasion of privacy! This is not contesting an election it is mounting a racial motivated attack on innocent people. Is Mr. Harmon and his cronies trying to re-instate Jim Crowe laws by harassing African American voters after an election? If this is they way Mr. Harmon would run the city, I am glad he did not get elected. Temple citizens should voice our concerns to the police department, Board of Elections and Secretary of State to stop the racial harassment now!

Temple is like Mayberry RFD and "Children of the Corn" all rolled into one. There's nothing worse than a sore loser. Move on. Three votes is three votes. Somebody thinks three votes shouldn't count? Really? Now THAT is crooked!

The vote was too close........ 3 votes??

I say hold another election, I don't think Temple got the best man

Okay, there we have it! The votes have been counted, re-counted, certified, re-counted again, and re-certified. The people have spoken and Ford will be the Mayor of Temple for the next four years. Good, bad or indifferent. Mr. Harmon, I only this to say. Hold your head high, the margin was close, but take your defeat with dignity and walk away a proud man for losing by such a narrow margin. not many can that. All this groveling and drama needs to end. It is time to look forward to the future. The you drag this on, the more votes you may loose the go around. Maybe, instead of campaigning on who and how many your going to fire when taking office, focus on what good you can bring to the city to make it thrive and become the place everyone wants be a part of. Public office is not a forum for you to take out your personal vendetta's, but a place for you to make a difference for the community. This is the 21st century not the 18th. A more positive attitude toward the growth of the city wold have been a better campaign. The mid slinging and employee firing campaign only told people that you were angry and wanted to use the position for your own goals and not for the future of this city. Hence, you lost a lot of votes. especially to the new comers and old timers that are sick of the drama. Good luck your future endeavors and I hope that if you decide to run again in four years, you take a more positive approach.