Its also amazing how A.J. is backing Brian Tam, when 4 years ago he mailed out an endorsement for Joe Hart, Democrat. And wasnt A.J. listed as a consultant on Riverbrook Capitals, largest developer in the county to go bankrupt to the tune of 136 million, and wasnt Pam L.(Brians appointee to the Planning and Zoning) listed as a zoning consultant for this same company? Makes you go hmmmm...

Preface for Tam’s Backstage Restaurant Lack of Tax Payments

Preferential Treatment By City And County Officials

1. On September 29, 2006 an Open Records Request was sent to Forsyth County attorney Ken Jarrard of Jarrard & Davis Law Firm. In it, a request was made for all county tax records for Tam’s Backstage Restaurant of Cumming, Ga.

2. As of Friday November 3, 2006 the county attorney had not notified the requester that any tardiness would be necessary in responding to the ORR. This late response concerns the requester, as it possibly demonstrates a questionable act to cover up when possible crimes have been pointed out that were committed by Forsyth County Commissioner Brian Tam.

3. On Friday November 3, 2006 the record requester called Ken Jarrard to inquire where the records were since it had been thirty-five days since Ken Jarrard received the request. This would make the request’s legal response well over one month late by the standards of the Georgia Open Records Law.

4. During this same telephone conversation between the requester and Ken Jarrard, the attorney informed the requester that no records had been found [so far] but no written affirmation of that had been forwarded to the requester as is required by Georgia Law.

5. On November 7, 2006 an email was sent to the Law Firm of Jarrard & David requesting a written response reflecting that no records applicable to the September 29 Open Records Request had been found during the thirty-five day period. This closing of the record response is required under the Ga. Open Record’s Law.

6. On November 9, 2006 a letter was received from county attorney Jarrard supporting the fact no such county tax records for Tam’s Backstage Restaurant records existed within Forsyth County’s records.

7. After a thorough search of Forsyth County records this investigation reveals that Commissioner Brian Tam and his wife have not paid any county tax on Tam’s Backstage Restaurant since they opened this restaurant in April of 2005.

8. All Forsyth County businesses are required to pay tax on equipment and inventory yearly. Tam’s backstage Restaurant has not.

9. Any Citizen who does pay their taxes can see this particular case as nothing more that preferential treatment and tax evasion that crosses over into the criminal.

Commissioner Tam’s Perks Contained In Restaurant Lease

1. In the subsequent partitioned evidence package you will notice many items not normally included in building lease agreements, such as; The City furnishing two (2) extra upstairs rooms for Tam’s catering events at no charge to the Tam’s. The sectioned evidence is laid out in such a manner that you can follow the trail so to speak on how the Tam’s reaped rich rewards at little or no cost to them but instead the financial burden was heaped high on the backs of the Taxpayers.

2. The City provides all utilities at no charge. Although the 2006 Lease agreement document speaks of possible lease increases due to increased electrical costs, no increases in the lease have occurred. You can see for yourself, in the included evidence, that this perk alone [reduced] the value of the lease return to The City by almost fifty percent. After Commissioner Brian Tam and his wife moved into this City owned building the electrical costs over doubled. So did the other costs to maintain the building.

As we discovered, most restaurants of this size and locale return to the building owners much more that $2500.00. In fact, we found that a lease price between $6,000.00 to $12,000.00 seemed to the norm.

1. The City provides pest control at no charge.

2. The City provides garbage pickup at no charge.

3. The City provides water service at no charge.

4. The City provides new restaurant equipment at no charge.

5. The City provided a new outside logo canopy at no charge.

6. The City has provided new draperies at no charge.

7. The City has provided building insurance at no charge.

8. The City provides parking lot lighting at no charge.

We are sure that our un-professional preliminary investigation has not found all possible links between perks rendered to Commissioner Brian Tam by way of this restaurant lease agreement. Only a thorough forensic audit will tell the true story.

Simple math will demonstrate that City of Cumming provided perks to County Commissioner Brian Tam and his wife has now reduced this $2500.00 lease to less than half that amount. Our preliminary investigation into the costs of local restaurant space certainly sheds unfavorable light on how Commissioner Tam has received from the City of Cumming much more than he pays for. The included documents will attest to that end we believe.

Starting April 1, 2005 until October 2006 the Tam’s have paid to the City of Cumming a grand total of $42,500.00. Only accounting for the preliminary expenditures we have documented herein The City has spent well over $137,510.69. That is a deficit for the City of Cumming for $93,010.69

this is better than i ever could have imagined. finally, someone has opened the unethical files. good stuff.

Steve, I would talke you more seriously has you not come up with this childish headline. I think you need to look into Charlie Laughinghouse's contributions. Tens of thousands of dollars from developers. The it has been distributed to Dave Richard (the no developer money guy), and Boff.

Ricahrd and Boff must be owned by Charlie then?

Dave Richard accepted nearly all his money from the Bethel Park folks. DiMaria gave Richard $1000, about a third of what he raised last quarter. I guess Richard is owned by Bethel Park and DiMaria too?

I see David Milum has done a lot of homework and I am going to try and validate the numbers before election day. It seems as though he has not named any names personally and only stated some facts and fugures. I will give him credit for that. Don't know about the accuracy yet but I will do my homework.

I have to say that Tam is not a favored candidate by Charlie, Jim, Dave, Busse and Boff. I find something fishy because Tam is supported by our entire local state representaton. That statement right there tells me something is not right. I would vote for Tam based on that one fact alone.

Could it be Tam has not bought into whatever schemes the others are trying to play and that's why they are all opposing him? An interesting point that bears some thought.

I suggest that all this information and mud slinging brought out on candidates at the last minute is an effort by those that oppose them to get a few votes. Every candidate had a chance to talk about themselves, the platforms, the beliefs and more. Then the candidates that are leading in the polls have trash dug up by those that are behind. Second reason to really think about the source of the mud and how valid it may be.

Folks, don't let the trash mongers try and sway you because thier candidate did not do well as they all led up to this point. Notice that the favored candidates are having trash tossed on them in that last attempt for those losing to hold onto power.

Jim, sorry, but you are wrong - tam is NOT supported by the entire local state representation. jim said: "I would vote for Tam based on that one fact alone" is EXACTLY why he claims that LIE. and it is a LIE. the guy is an under-the-table dealer, that is how he got most of those endorsements, the other half were b/c he gave them free meals. i know of one big endorsement that he didn't get and the 'deal' he tried to make with it. HELLO?! This town has had ENOUGH of the good ole boy unethical deals, and the meanness that goes with it, dangit. It needs to change NOW. NO MORE TAM.

and somebody needs to run against the mayor. that alone will rid our town of most of the dirt. and that comes from a native who has watched it for long enough.

Jim, its useless to look into Charlie's contributions right now cause he's not running for re-election. Maybe when he does, someone can look into it then.

And what makes you think Tam is favored? Just cause he's the incumbent? Statistically in local elections incumbents are voted out cause the masses don't take the time to investigate the candidates and think change is good.

I personally wouldn't vote for Tam for a couple of very specific reasons. I was involved in a county issue where I felt it important that I met with each commissioner prior to it coming up in the work session. All the other commissioners were open to either meeting with me or at least responding by email. Do you think Brian Tam did? Nope. And even though we didn't see eye to eye on the issue, at least David Richard responded.

Then to top it off, during a work session, a vote was taken to bring the issue to a public hearing. Do you think Tam voted for that. No again. In addition, Tam was able to bring in some biased information that tainted some of the other commissioners, yet I wasn't allowed to rebut these claims in the work session. And guess who this biased information was from. One of Tam's financial supporters.

I want a commissioner who is responsive to the citizens. Brian Tam has proven that he isn't.

this is the chance for home owners to get rid of tam one of conways three votes he used to brag about.

Dist 2 needs a Commissioner who will listen and respond to our needs and concerns. Brian Tam is not responsive, and completely un-helpful to his district citizens. But folks he will do WHATEVER to help the city and I think David Milums details above if true numbers, clearly show who he is really working for.

Please vote and lets get replace Mr. Tam with someone that will work for us.

srpirkle, do you work for the city by any chance?

Tim, I do not work for the city [Nor am I am a disgruntled employee]. Just wanted to make that clear. My family is native to this county. Unfortunately, I've seen the degradation of what happens when 'the city' gets a stronghold on someone for the past several decades. This has happened to Tam...in a severe way. He is not fair. He is unethically practicing deals to raise his own stature. He is mean. He is just not a liked person. Change can always happen, but his recent attempts at deceiving the community by saying he has the whole state delegation endorsing him, is just one lie too much. He has not changed since I knew him, and this is also evidenced by his voting record FOR the city of cumming every time one is up for vote. Does this not raise questions amongst you people? Dirty politics are old. We want fairness, class, and truth. Fairness, class, and truth. Think about it.