"This does look like he owes $6,000," Dunaway said, referencing an e-mail from the DMDA's auditors.
Tammy Galvis, a partner with Moore & Cubbedge, LLP, in Marietta, wrote, "Based on the records we have obtained from DMDA, two months of rent ($6,000) was outstanding at 12/31/08."
Godwin, who is challenging incumbent Van Pearlberg for the Ward 4 City Council seat in the Nov. 3 election, had a 10-year lease with the DMDA for the first floor of Kennesaw House, spanning March 1, 1999, to March 1, 2009, said DMDA bookkeeper Mary Anne Landers. Godwin in turn sublet the space, which consists of 14 offices and a kitchen, to A.G. Edwards, which did not renew the lease last year and vacated the building.
This week, Dunaway, who serves as DMDA secretary, asked the DMDA's auditors to check if Godwin owed back rent after a tip came in to the Journal. In a Friday e-mail to Dunaway, the auditors from Moore & Cubbedge alerted the mayor to the payment owed.
Dunaway said while Godwin was often late on his rental payments when he leased Kennesaw House, he didn't realize Godwin currently owed any money.
"Believe me, if I'd known, I'd have gone after it a long time ago," Dunaway said.
The mayor said he spoke with DMDA Chairman Tom Browning, who told him that if Godwin owed money, he would collect it.
Godwin, who said it was news to him that he owes anything, warned not to take what Dunaway says "as gospel."
"Since the mayor is the keeper of the records, if this is for real, why has it taken almost a year to be brought to light?" Godwin asked, contending that all rent payments due were paid.
Godwin didn't just lease from the DMDA. He also served on its board, resigning in July 2008 after the city summoned him to appear in municipal court for a code violation for subdividing his property without city authorization.
"When I was on the DMDA we received at every board meeting a spread sheet with an accounting. When I resigned, there was nothing showing that there was any outstanding rents due. Curious now that the mayor is squarely in the corner of Van Pearlberg's race, he is attempting to drag up or possibly make up anything to cast aspersions on me or anyone else that he is not controlling," Godwin said.
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There's a vacant business on the Marietta square that has a Godwin sign in every window. That's is evidence enough of where his supporter(s) is(are).
does not belong where good people live. How much of this do we have to see from Godwin to finally get "enough"!
So is Tom going to break Godwin legs in front of the Mayor on the Square to make sure the alledged deadbeat pays up or will Tom waterboard Godwin in the Square's fountain to make the former Republican Mayor happy with the new and amazing republican collection methods..