Johns Creek City Council Election is this Tuesday, November 5th, 2019!
We Follow the $$$ and Campaign Contributions for this Johns Creek City Council Election.
Once again there are campaign contributions that clearly link to major local developers, real estate professionals, and local special interest. The unsavory implications with these contributions serve to tear down the integrity and trust factor between informed Johns Creek residents and many of our elected city officials.
What do these Donations imply? Obviously there is some semblance of a relationship. Who gives large amounts of money?
Who will work for who? Will the Elected Official represent the residents or the developers? Whose best interests will they have when making zoning decisions? Who is the Developer's Choice?
Curious contributions this election cycle comes from the Wife of The Providence Group (developer for the proposed High-Density next to Johns Creek High School). The Providence Group has TWO Lawsuits Filed Against the City of Johns Creek. These cases are typically remanded back to City council to reconsider for Rezoning with minor changes.
The President of Atlanta Athletic Club (undeveloped Heisman Field property), the CVB Chairwoman (gateway markers and art tunnel), and the Atlanta REALTORS® Political Action Committee have also donated.
Below is a recap for each candidate followed by the complete list of their contributions so far. All information below is as of 10/30/19.
Kent Altom’s contributions include the law firm he works for (Gilroy Law), the Chairwoman for the Johns Creek CVB, a teaching colleague at KSU, and another law firm specializing in real estate. See Altom’s complete list to-date below.
| Kent Altom | ||||
| First Name or Business Name |
Last Name | State | Amount | Comments |
| Monica | Gilroy | GA | $1,000.00 | The Gilroy Firm, real estate related litigation, where Kent Altom works (JC CVB client) |
| Lynda | Smith | GA | $500.00 | Chairwoman, Johns Creek Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) |
| Calloway Title and Escrow, LLC | GA | $500.00 | Law firm specializing in real estate, commercial title insurance and examinations | |
| Lester Tate Law Group, LLC | GA | $200.00 | ||
| Doug | Smith | GA | $100.00 | Husband of Lynda Smith (see above) |
| Blake | Thomas | GA | $100.00 | |
| 8IGHT LLC | GA | $100.00 | FL-based LLC, agent is Michelle Hanchey, a motivational speaker publicly endorsed by Mike Bodker. | |
| Premier Family Clinic, LLC | GA | $251.00 | ||
| Chad | Nichols | AL | $1.00 | |
| Bob | Kendrick | GA | $25.00 | |
| Michael | Barnhouse | GA | $50.00 | |
| Richard | Mitchell | GA | $200.00 | |
| Pam | Altom | GA | $300.00 | |
| Thomas | Garr | GA | $500.00 | Teaching colleague at KSU. |
| $3,827.00 | ||||
Marybeth Cooper has 6 contributions so far. See Cooper’s complete list to-date below:
| Marybeth Cooper | |||||
| First Name or Business Name |
Last Name | State | Amount | Comments | |
| Kirk | Canaday | GA | $200.00 | ||
| Paul | Pratofiorito | FL | $250.00 | ||
| Marybeth | Cooper | GA | $20.00 | ||
| David | Smithwick | GA | $25.00 | ||
| Michael | Schertell | GA | $250.00 | ||
| Terry | Strasburg | GA | $20.00 | ||
| Christopher | Cupit | GA | $250.00 | ||
| Shellie | Noisette | GA | $100.00 | ||
| Srinivasa | Nimmagadda | CT | $250.00 | ||
| Rivermont CC | GA | $200.00 | In-kind food and beverage | ||
| $1,565.00 | |||||
Chris Coughlin’s largest contribution comes from former City Council candidate Thomas Radford. Since Coughlin is an incumbent, he must report all contributions since his last election. See Coughlin’s complete list to-date below:
| Chris Coughlin | ||||
| First Name or Business Name |
Last Name | State | Amount | Comments |
| $5,316.58 | Carried over from prior election | |||
| Ken | Goodrow | GA | $100.00 | |
| Scott | Jones | GA | $100.00 | |
| John | Ferrow | GA | $100.00 | |
| Kevin | Swindall | GA | $100.00 | |
| Sunil | Kalva | GA | $50.00 | |
| Thomas | Radford | GA | $2,000.00 | Former JCCC candidate |
| Dan | Moody | GA | $500.00 | Former JCCC Board Member |
| Nancy | Bivins | GA | $100.00 | |
| Christopher | Coughlin | GA | $1,170.72 | |
| No contributions this filing | ||||
| No contributions this filing | ||||
| Christopher | Coughlin | GA | $38.88 | |
| No contributions this filing | ||||
| No contributions this filing | ||||
| Mark | Harrison | GA | $100.00 | |
| Nancy | Bivins | GA | $100.00 | |
| Steven | Kramer | GA | $100.00 | |
| Thomas | Coughlin | GA | $250.00 | |
| Christine | Austin | GA | $200.00 | |
| Christopher | Coughlin | GA | $911.12 | |
| Michael | Dudgeon | GA | $300.00 | |
| James | Gilvin | GA | $100.00 | |
| Christopher | Coughlin | GA | $293.81 | |
| $11,931.11 | ||||
Judy LeFave’s is clearly the DEVELOPER'S CHOICE. Her largest contributions include Kimberly Jolly (wife of Providence Group President Warren Jolly), the developer for rezoning cases RZ-18-006 and RZ-18-007 adjacent to JCHS. Two lawsuits filed against the City for this case. The Land Development Manager for Providence Group and Atlanta REALTORS® Political Action Committee also donated to Judy LeFave.
Other large contributors include the President of the Atlanta Athletic Club a JC Chamber of Commerce board member and the Chairwoman for the Johns Creek CVB. See LeFave’s complete list to-date below:
| Judy LeFave | ||||
| First Name or Business Name |
Last Name | State | Amount | Comments |
| Kevin | LeFave | GA | $1,000.00 | |
| Kimberly | Acuff | GA | $20.00 | |
| Bruce | Barfield | GA | $500.00 | President of the Atlanta Athletic Club |
| Kirk | Canaday | GA | $200.00 | |
| Andy | Fang | GA | $500.00 | Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce board member |
| Cynthia | Henneberry | MD | $30.00 | |
| Scott | Gandert | NV | $100.00 | |
| Christine | DiCio | GA | $40.00 | |
| Frank | Farley | GA | $20.00 | |
| Adam | Thomas | GA | $25.00 | The address specified as "withheld" |
| Peter | LeFave | GA | $236.00 | |
| Marshall | Hughes | GA | $100.00 | |
| Shellie | Noisette | GA | $100.00 | |
| Michelle | Hanchey | GA | $100.00 | aka 8ight LLC in Altom's contributor list. A motivational speaker publicly endorsed by Mike Bodker. |
| Gaddis Inc. | GA | $200.00 | Real estate and property management | |
| Chris | Cupit | GA | $250.00 | |
| Chris | Cupit | GA | $200.00 | In-Kind Food and Hospitality |
| Lynda | Smith | GA | $100.00 | Chairwoman of the Johns Creek CVB |
| Thomas | Black | GA | $500.00 | Sr. Land Development Project Mgr for Providence Group
- Former Director of Public Works, Johns Creek / Ch2Mhill |
| Kimberly | Jolly | GA | $1,500.00 | Wife of Providence Group President Warren Jolly |
| Atlanta Realtors | GA | $500.00 | Atlanta REALTORS® Political Action Committee | |
| $6,221.00 | ||||
Adam Thomas’s contributions come from the President of the Atlanta Athletic Club, a mortgage banker, a GA State Senator from Cumming, and a Democratic strategist/consultant. See Thomas’s complete list to-date below:
| Adam Thomas | ||||
| First Name or Business Name |
Last Name | State | Amount | Comments |
| Bruce | Barfield | GA | $2,000.00 | President of the Atlanta Athletic Club |
| Mark | Daker | GA | $2,500.00 | Mortgage banker |
| Greg | Dolezal | GA | $2,800.00 | GA State Senator (R), District 27, Cumming. |
| Tharon | Johnson | GA | $1,500.00 | Consultant, Paramount Consulting Group, Democrat strategist for John Lewis, Kasim Reed, and Barack Obama, REALTORS® PAC speaker, a proponent for Gwinnett MARTA. |
| $8,800.00 | ||||
Dilip Tunki’s wins the prize for the most money so far. Here is his complete list to-date below:
| Dilip Tunki | ||||
| First Name or Business Name |
Last Name | State | Amount | Comments |
| Dhanunjaya | Gaddam | GA | $100.00 | |
| Ajit | Bhat | GA | $100.00 | |
| Venkatesh | Balaga | GA | $200.00 | |
| Suneel | Alam | CA | $101.00 | |
| Hari | Pothukuchi | GA | $205.00 | |
| Sunilsen | Peramanu | GA | $200.00 | |
| Rakesh | Subramaniam | GA | $200.00 | |
| Krishna | Evuru | GA | $250.00 | |
| Sridhar | Ghanta | GA | $100.00 | |
| Srikanth | Balaga | GA | $200.00 | |
| Arvytech, LLC | GA | $250.00 | ||
| Lakshman | Guttikonda | GA | $200.00 | |
| Ravikumar | Mandavilli | GA | $201.00 | |
| Raghunatha R | Vemuru | GA | $400.00 | |
| Sunil | Reddy | GA | $100.00 | |
| Shailesh | Sarda | GA | $1,000.00 | |
| Chandhan | Dutta | GA | $200.00 | |
| Sree | Shama | GA | $201.00 | |
| Sunil | Kalva | GA | $1,000.00 | |
| Sumanth | Yellanki | GA | $500.00 | |
| Karun | Asireddy | GA | $1,000.00 | |
| C-Vision, Inc. | MI | $1,000.00 | ||
| Allied Informatics | GA | $500.00 | ||
| Infectious Disease Professional | GA | $500.00 | ||
| Ravi | Kandimalia | GA | $500.00 | |
| Ravishankar | Doejode | GA | $50.00 | |
| Michael | Halbert | GA | $100.00 | |
| Shaker JC | Reddy | GA | $100.00 | |
| Orange Belt Mart, Inc. | FL | $500.00 | ||
| Dimitri | Doncov | GA | $50.00 | |
| Upendra | Rachupally | GA | $573.63 | In-kind contribution for T-shirts |
| Srini | Vangimalla | GA | $500.00 | In-kind food and catering |
| Ramana | Doddla | GA | $1,000.00 | |
| Star Regency Enterprises LLC | GA | $1,000.00 | ||
| Srini | Vangimalla | GA | $500.00 | |
| Astro Realty Group, LLC | GA | $2,000.00 | ||
| Upendra | Rachupally | GA | $450.00 | |
| $16,031.63 | ||||
Brian Weaver wins the prize for the most contributions so far. Large contributors include a major contributor to Mayor Mike Bodker and a Land Development Project Manager for Providence Group. See Weaver’s complete list to-date below:
| Brian Weaver | ||||
| First Name or Business Name |
Last Name | State | Amount | Comments |
| Donald | Row | GA | $250.00 | |
| William | Sheals | GA | $250.00 | |
| Tubbs | Calvin | GA | $250.00 | |
| R. David | Ware | GA | $250.00 | |
| Gaddis Inc | GA | $250.00 | Real estate and property management | |
| Roger | Wise | GA | $200.00 | |
| Gerald | Lewis | GA | $500.00 | |
| DeShawn | Beaufort | GA | $200.00 | |
| Alfonza | Hatcher | GA | $250.00 | |
| Clifford | Davis | GA | $500.00 | |
| Lynn | Riley | GA | $200.00 | Georgia State Treasurer |
| Michael | Carter | GA | $400.00 | |
| Michael | Birdsong | GA | $250.00 | |
| Ira | Edwards | GA | $100.00 | |
| David | Wardwell | GA | $250.00 | |
| Derrick | Wilson | GA | $1,000.00 | |
| Woodie | Moss | GA | $250.00 | |
| Thomas | Black | GA | $500.00 | Sr. Land Development Project Manager for Providence Group |
| Wesley | Green | GA | $100.00 | |
| Curtis | Johnson | GA | $250.00 | |
| Richard | Wells | GA | $100.00 | |
| Shawn | Jones | GA | $250.00 | |
| Fred | Jones | GA | $100.00 | |
| Pankaj | Sharma | GA | $151.00 | |
| Julius | Lockett | GA | $250.00 | |
| Christopher | Green | GA | $100.00 | |
| Bernard | Clements | GA | $250.00 | |
| Beryl | Clark | GA | $100.00 | |
| Navinchandra | Rao | GA | $150.00 | |
| Albert | Alexander | GA | $250.00 | |
| Brad | Lebovitz | GA | $500.00 | |
| Valerie | Watts | GA | $50.00 | |
| Sharon | Cooper | GA | $100.00 | |
| Richard | Lee | GA | $50.00 | |
| Tanya | Davis | GA | $250.00 | |
| Jimmy | Marshall | GA | $250.00 | |
| Gregory | Marshall | GA | $500.00 | |
| Sondra | Jones | GA | $250.00 | |
| Kelvin | Roberts | GA | $50.00 | |
| Sheila | Rogers | GA | $50.00 | |
| Karen | O'Hagan | GA | $50.00 | |
| Alfred | Lewers | FL | $100.00 | |
| Jerry | Shriver | GA | $300.00 | |
| Philip | Smoke | GA | $100.00 | |
| Michael | Carter | GA | $400.00 | |
| Eugene | Ward | GA | $100.00 | |
| John | Buckett | GA | $1,000.00 | A major contributor to Mayor Bodker/ |
| Charles | Spann | GA | $100.00 | |
| Jon | Moses | GA | $250.00 | |
| Gerald | Hightower | GA | $100.00 | |
| Leslie | Lipman | GA | $100.00 | |
| Carlotta | Rozzi | GA | $50.00 | |
| Hyun | McGee | GA | $100.00 | |
| Rhoshunda | Rhodes | GA | $500.00 | |
| Shellie | Noisette | GA | $100.00 | |
| Darrell | Murray | GA | $1,000.00 | |
| Anjali | Enjeti-Sydow | GA | $100.00 | |
| $14,401.00 | ||||
Issure Yang has 6 donations, see the complete list to-date below:
| Issure Yang | ||||
| First Name or Business Name |
Last Name | State | Amount | Comments |
| Steven | Kramer | GA | $100.00 | |
| Tom | Holda | GA | $100.00 | |
| Christine | Austin | GA | $200.00 | |
| Sue Ling | Wang | GA | $500.00 | President - Color Imaging |
| LI-Kun | Tu | GA | $100.00 | |
| Frank | Hui | GA | $17.00 | |
| $1,017.00 | ||||
Erin Elwood filed an affidavit stating her intent not to exceed $2500 in campaign contributions and/or expenditures. Therefore she is exempt from contribution disclosure reporting.
Royce Reinecke filed an affidavit stating his intent not to exceed $2500 in campaign contributions and/or expenditures. Therefore, he is exempt from contribution disclosure reporting.
All information below is as of 10/30/19. The time window for candidates to make financial disclosures is still open. Check back for a follow-up article with more contribution information later.
Finally, the Johns Creek City Council Election is this Tuesday, November 5th, 2019!
Source: City of Johns Creek
When candidates were asked about their contributions, not one of them said that they would recuse themselves to avoid the appearance of conflicts of interest. This question was asked at the candidate forum on October 30th at Taylor Lodge. Watch the question and all of the answers here. You be the judge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR58KPcTYQU&feature=youtu.be
These campaign disclosures are a revelation of the common theme among the Bodker candidates (Altom, Lafave, Thomas and Weaver). The theme is developer $. Are any of us naive enough to think that they would not push through projects for these donors? Does anyone really think these candidates would recuse themselves from council decisions involving any of the developers, title attorneys, or other contributors/friends of the mayor? Of course not!
Unless you want more of this cronyism and corruption, vote Reinecke, Coughlin and Yang!