The REAL Truth about J. Max Davis

I have read so many outrageously untrue comments and seen such blatantly false campaign mailers about J. Max Davis that I feel I must speak out on the subject. Having known J. Max since he was 10 years old, I am in a unique position to comment on the untruths and distortions that have been written.  I also happen to be his brother-in-law, and a client of his law practice, so I know him on both a deep personal level and a professional level.  J. Max grew up in a home where service to one's community was highly valued.  The son of a 20-year veteran of the Georgia Legislature, J. Max grew up watching his father, Max Davis, place service over self and make personal sacrifices in order to be an effective advocate for his constituents.  J. Max understood the hard work involved in public service before entering the Mayoral race, and he committed to doing that hard work. What he did not commit to was having his good name and reputation viciously and untruthfully attacked, and for his family to be subjected to hurtful lies.

While I don’t wish to dignify every falsehood put forward during this campaign with a response, I do believe I can provide some insight on J. Max Davis and the man that he is.  

I have watched J. Max grow up to become a successful attorney and small businessman.  I have seen him focus his efforts on building his law practice through perseverance, hard work, and the ability to make good decisions under pressure.   He understands the value of every dollar, knows what it means to meet a payroll, and has a proven track record of integrity and success.  These are all attributes that I think will make him an effective Mayor.

I have spent many hours discussing politics and philosophy with J. Max over the past 30 years.  I know very well what his values and beliefs are, and I can say with 100% confidence that J. Max is a strong fiscal conservative.  He believes that the tax dollars belong to the taxpayers, NOT the politicians.  Just like his father, who NEVER voted for a tax increase in 20 years as a State Representative, I am confident that J. Max will hold tight the purse strings of the taxpayers. 

I also know that one of the primary drivers for J. Max’s desire to make Brookhaven a city was the lack of police presence in the Brookhaven area by DeKalb County.  This desire was fueled by multiple break-ins to his family’s vehicles.  He never criticized the police officers, only that the area was underserved by DeKalb County and could be better protected by a local City police force.  

As for campaign contributions from potential city vendors, I can say with absolute certainty that J. Max Davis is a man of character and no amount of money will buy anyone access, period, end of story.  The assertion that he has accepted illegal or even improper contributions is patently false.  J. Max is a proponent of TRANSPARENCY in government, and any vendors considered by the city will be put through a rigorous bidding process in which the Mayor only votes in the event of a tie vote of the City Council.  All contributions received by J. Max’s campaign are COMPLETELY LEGAL and have been FULLY DISCLOSED.  To say that a Mayoral candidate should be able to predict whether or not one of his or her contributors might potentially submit a competitive bid to the City at some future point is ludicrous.  What I know for certain is that J. Max wants the City to prosper and flourish, and he wants the best contractors doing work for the city at the best prices so that the City of Brookhaven will be a shining example of Cityhood at its best.  No campaign contribution will stand in the way of that goal, and no contributor will be given preferential treatment of any kind.  The strict measures of the RFP process will be used to screen every potential vendor fairly and objectively.

One portion of one particularly obnoxious and insensitive post happens to be true.  J. Max’s mother, Mary, is indeed battling breast cancer.  Why this heartbreaking fact has been brought into the Mayoral campaign is beyond comprehension.  J. Max does not, however, live with his mother as was asserted in the post.  He lives with his wife and three young children on Breton Court in the Brittany subdivision, and has for the past 10 years.  His older brother does live with his mother, and has been a dedicated son who has provided care for their mother throughout this challenging time.  The fact that someone could get the facts so wrong, and be bold enough to put such childish and spurious accusations in print is appalling.  I implore future posters to show a modicum of respect for a very brave woman in a fight for her life and leave Mary’s cancer out of the discussion.  Your prayers for her would be greatly appreciated, but snide comments are obviously not helpful in this painful situation.

What some opponents and posters seem to forget is that J. Max is a real person with a real family.  I am here to tell you that his wonderful wife, Carrie, and three precious children have been hurt and upset by the viciousness of the attacks on their husband and father.  J. Max assures his children that in order to do great things, you have to make great sacrifices, and that they should learn to question things and find their own answers rather than believing anything they see in print or on TV.  It has not been a pleasant or easy road for any of us who know J. Max’s depth of character, but we are all the more determined to see him become Mayor and bring the kind of success to the City of Brookhaven that he has brought to his business and family life.  I am proud to call him my brother-in- law and tomorrow night I will be proud to call him Mayor.