Jim Martin, Jim Webb Speak to Georgia Veterans
Joined by Senator Jim Webb (D-VA), Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate
Jim Martin spoke Tuesday to veterans at the Georgia War Veterans Memorial in Atlanta. Martin, who served in the U.S. Army, Webb who served in the U.S. Marine Corps, addressed some of the individual veteran's issues and took questions from reporters. Both men saw service in Vietnam, and share a commitment to supporting those who have served our country and making sure that veterans get the quality health care that they deserve.
"I will never forget the lessons I learned serving in Vietnam," Martin said. "I came away from my tour of duty understanding the importance of personal responsibility as well as the importance of working together towards a common objective" said Martin.
Powell Calls on McDonald to sign Open Door Pledge
Jim Powell, Democratic Candidate for the Public Service Commission, called on his opponent, Lauren McDonald, to join him in pledging to the voters to put an end to closed door communications with utility company representatives or lobbyists. Georgia is one of only a handful of states that allow Public Service Commissioners to hold so-called ex-parte discussions with utility company representatives behind closed doors and without a public record of the conversation. "This is about pledging to be an open and accountable public servant" Powell said "Georgia's utility consumers deserve an advocate and they deserve to know what their Commissioners are up to. On behalf of the nine million utility consumers in Georgia, I am calling on Lauren McDonald to join me in promising Georgia's consumers to put an end to ex-parte communications on the Public Service Commission."
Jim retired in February 2007 after a 35 year career with the U. S. Government. Prior to retiring, he served as a Senior Executive with the U. S. Department of Energy managing a number of initiatives and a budget of over $300 million and as the Southeast Regional Director, based in Atlanta. Jim and Karen, his wife of 37 years, live in Hiawassee, Georgia. They have two adult sons and two adorable granddaughters. Jim has been endorsed by Public Service Commissioner Angelia Speir, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, AFL-CIO, The Honorable Roy Barnes, Turner Foundation, Savannah Morning News, Creative Loafing, and Flagpole Magazine.
Featured candidate: Jerry Brillant
Jerry Brillant is the Democratic Candidate for State Senator in the 16th district. He was a career commercial airline pilot until he settled down in Tyrone to raise his family and run a horse-boarding farm. Having never considered himself a politician, he is running for office because he believes that he can make a change for the better. He is running against Ronnie Chance, a career politician who has cut billions of dollars from Georgia's schools, and who has numerous ties to lobbyists and special interests.
"We need to be promoting sound economic policy that promotes the entrepreneurial spirit that made us great," Brillant says. "We need a transportation policy that does not leave us stuck in traffic and paying for it at the gas-pump. Most of all, we need an education policy that invests in our children and protects their future."
Featured candidate: John Tibbetts
Tift County native and retired U.S. Army officer
John Tibbetts is the Democratic challenger for the Georgia House of Representatives in South Georgia's 153rd
District. A West Point graduate and retired Lieutenant Colonel, who saw service in Operation Desert Storm, John currently teaches history at Tift County High School.
A fiscal conservative, John is focusing on economic development and tackling Tift County's 0% growth rate. He understands the need for quality jobs that help families grow and prosper. In contrast, John's opponent is a consistent rubber stamp for House Speaker Glenn Richardson's irresponsible and extreme agenda.
'In the General Assembly," Tibbets says, "the people of Tift and Turner counties can count on me to stand up for fiscal responsibility and to work to bring economic growth back to this area."
Volunteer News
Thanks to all of our volunteers across this state,
we have contacted 30,000 voters in Georgia. In the next 13 days, it's our job to make sure they show up at the polls.
To that extent we are asking all Georgia Democrats to stand up, be counted, and get active today!
We will be calling Democrats all across Georgia during these final 13 days to make sure that they vote. We will be calling every weekday between 10:00 am and 9:00pm and this weekend from 2:00 to 6:00pm. Even if you only have an hour, please help us keep our phones filled so we can keep sending the Democratic wave to the polls.
In addition to phone calls, we have plenty of activities, including envelope stuffing, data entry and light office work. Please remember that our doors are always open for volunteers Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm and on weekends from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Our office is located at 1100 Spring Street, Suite 408, Atlanta, GA 30309. To sign up for these events or to find out about other activities, please contact Kelli Persons at (678) 278-2109 or
kelli@georgiademocrat.org House Dems stand with teachers, retirees
House Democratic Leader DuBose Porter (D-Dublin) and House Democratic Caucus Chair Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus) released the following joint statement last week on proposed Republican cuts to cost of living adjustments (COLAs) for retirees enrolled in the Teachers' Retirement System.
"We stand with teachers and retirees and in strong opposition to the proposal to slash COLAs because it is wrong. The fact is, the funding for COLAs is already in the system and teachers and retirees enrolled in the program have been paying into the system over the years, including for semi-annual COLAs, throughout their careers. To abandon it now, in tough economic times, is not the policy direction we should take in this state. The money for the COLAs was earned by the retirement system and should be awarded to those it was designated to help, our teachers and retirees.
"Make no mistake, we are in a budget crisis, but this is not the solution. Indeed, it makes the problem worse, not better when we take this money out of the economy. The General Assembly should roll up its sleeves and go back into a special session while we still have real options to fix the budget crisis."
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