Oconee County, GA Politics

This season I have been coaching my son in basketball at the Oconee County Recreation Department primarily at the John T. Brannen building's gymnasium of the Herman C. Michael park. We play two games at the slick rubberized floor of Malcolm Bridge Elementary School. If anyone wants to run for the Oconee County Board of Education on a "no more unsafe rubberized gymnasium floor" platform to perhaps replace David Weeks' slot now that he is running for Christine Franklin's chair slot (she is not seeking re-election), I will certainly support and endorse them. Previously I coached the oldest kids in the recreation department (15-16 year olds) and was popular enough to be picked to coach an all-star team to state where we were stomped at Fort Stewart about 15 years ago. Now I am coaching the youngest kids and have learned you cannot employ the same competitive techniques with the smaller children. The Oconee County Recreation Department has always been very good to me,...

GA - President - Oconee - Dem Primary 14 of 14 Precincts Reporting - 100% Name Party Votes Vote % Obama, Barack Dem 1,816 55% Clinton, HillaryDem 1,358 41% Edwards, John Dem 111 3% Kucinich, D Dem 5 0% Biden, Joe Dem 4 0% Richardson, B Dem 4 0% Gravel, Mike Dem 3 0% Dodd, Chris Dem 1 0%

To get out and VOTE! Then please do. Thank you very much. Georgia joins 21 other states in the first real Nationwide Primary. McCain will probably zip up the GOP nomination tonight, although Romney is in full panic mode while Huckabee won West Virginia's convention today already. Should be an interesting day for political junkies such as myself. Since Bob Smith and Cokey Elder seem to be supporting Romney, I hope McCain wins locally. I would imagine Hillary will nip Obama in Oconee, but we shall see in a few hours.

More results from Lee Becker - including tangible results from his efforts Dear Friends,   Lost in the media reports about the Board of Commissioners meeting on January 29 was a major concession by the Oconee County administration regarding when the bids for the upgrade for the Rocky Branch sewage treatment plant will be available to the public. The public will get to see those bids before the Board of Commissioners votes, not after, Chairman Melvin Davis said on the 29 th . This contrasts with what Oconee County Administrative Officer Alan Theriault told me in an email message on December 26, 2007. Theriault said the bids "will be available to the public at such time as the final award of the contract is made or the project is terminated or abandoned." Clearly the calls for openness have had some impact. Davis also made a promise to Friends Vice President Tim Price in response to Tim's restatement of our three demands regarding protection from flooding, t...

Predictably enough, Oconee County Board of Commissioners Chairman G. Melvin Davis is denying any and all wrongdoing in his recent secretive decision making processes involving water treatment for Barber Creek at the Rocky Branch LAS sewage station as well as a recent retreat. What the chairman does not fully comprehend yet is that the damage and perception is cast with him as the villain in the latest chapter in the shadowy government philandering and secret back room negotiations. Yes the crime is not the worst offense ever committed, but in the public arena perception is reality, and the perception is another good old boy, back room back stabbing, no good no account ne'er do well untrustworthy public dis-service by yet another career politician suckling the tempting teet of corporate graft and corruption. Read Lee Becker's well written summary and check out his blog as well. Dear Friends,   Board of Commissioners Chairman Melvin Davis has gone on the offensive foll...

Let's hope he knows the west coast offense now that all state 2009 QB Zach Mettenberger signed with the Dawgs a year earlier. Welcome Mitch Olson.

The New Day News from the Democratic Party of Georgia Big turnout predicted tomorrow The Democratic Party of Georgia is predicting a larger-than-normal turnout for Georgia's February 5th Democratic Presidential Primary. Reports from around the state indicate a surge in early and absentee voting, and the turnout trend should continue on election day as well. Across Georgia, people are talking about the strength of the Democratic candidates, and excitement about the election is high. Please encourage all of your friends, family, and coworkers to vote in the Democratic primary on February 5th. Thousands turn out for Jefferson-Jackson Dinner Over five thousand Democrats from all over Georgia were in attendance at the Democratic Party of Georgia's annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner on January 30. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) spoke to the crowd, telling Democrats, "Who says we can't turn Georgia blue?" Senators Barack Obama and John Edwards were also invited to the eve...

Your actions speak louder than words, but that will not stop me from chastising you for your ignorance, intolerance, bigotry and general dumb ass trespassing behavior. First of all, the habitual crimes you are committing on my property have been reported repeatedly to the Watkinsville Police Department. They know who you are, they are watching out for you and you shall be apprehended eventually. Every time you bend, remove or do whatever to my sign, I will put it back up. You shall not deter my spirit, especially on my 45th birthday today. Yes, Happy Super Sunday Birthday to me. It is funny to me how you leave unmolested my neighbor Liz and Jimmy's Huckabee yardsign alone. Tells me you might be a disgruntled old man with nothing better to do than appoint yourself the thought police man of the neighborhood/subdivision. I do not campaign or canvass at your house, however, please respect my freedom of speech. Obama will win Georgia Tuesday despite your redneck efforts. Barack Obama ...