Who did I vote for, who do I endorse, who do I think will win?
Here in the heavily Republican Oconee County, the G.O.P. primary is tantamount to a general election in many instances. For this reason this lifelong liberal Democratic party supporter and activist has chosen to select the Republican primary ballot for the last several primary election cycles so as to have at least a smidgen of influence on local governance. I always try to vote on the first day of advance voting as to provide some insight as a public service.
I may be a bit too proud about any supposed impact on the general election, but there are some very germane and general observations that can be made.
Tammy Gilland has run the most professional and thorough campaign I have ever seen in Oconee County. She has mailed out slick postcards, she has probably jogged on every street that can be run, and she has done an excellent job of introducing herself to voters in Waktinsville and Bogart. She speaks her mind and has addressed the perception that she is somehow Board of Commissioners chair Melvin Davis' hand-picked candidate ~ which she may be ~ as somehow a revenge candidate against Margaret Hale for her role in removing some of the power of the chair.
Gilland went to 4H with Davis as an instructor as a teenager, but she is very much her own person. She has not helped the perception of her as a Davis acolyte in the manner she addressed the audience at the North Oconee debate by sort of leaving the door opening to hearing from the voters as to whether they agree or disagree with the new county manager dominated style of government.
It is my unscientific perception that about 30% of the active political people in Oconee County support the new form of county government, 30% are dead set against it (and always will be), and 40% do not give a darn one way or the other. It is that last segment which will decide whether or not to re-elect Margaret Hale for a third or fourth term, or to choose a new/old direction with Gilland.
The people who feel they were not given a chance to participate in the process to switch county governance are simply mistaken as this review was going on for years, but the perception of alienation and being marginalized in a powerful tonic on the part of a few hundred very active local conservative activists that could well knock out Hale from her slot. Even though the Hale family are one of the most grounded, humble and just plain nice people I have ever met, any scintilla of supposed arrogance on Margaret's part ~ however undeserved ~ might land Gilland in the Board of Commissioners.
I really wish Tammy was running against anyone except Margaret. They are both superb candidates that will represent all our views well. The sometimes spoken, usually unspoken idea that this is "the woman's slot" is ludicrous but talked about in various circles. I would hope we could elect four women to the Board of Commissioners and a have a female chair in Sarah Bell if they are the best candidates, regardless of affiliation or gender.
But unfortunately Oconee County is not the most enlightened area of the state when it comes to our lifelong prejudices, biases and deep seated misogynists fears. I would wager the female voters advantage of Clarke County is reversed in Oconee County, but the gender gap will be shut forever soon. Men tend to die sooner than women.
Ultimately the elections could hinge of how much some Oconee County voters decide to vote based on the perception of the medical situation in Hale and Hank Huckaby in the 113th. Both have had serious treatments in the recent past, and if there is a perception that neither is up to the rigors of the office, then voters could look elsewhere. Hale had a disc replaced in her neck but seems to be fine. Huckaby had some sort of melanoma or cancer (none of anyone's business really) but the 68 year old candidate can be seen walking all around a circuit near his home off LaVista Road in that tiny part of Oconee County that actually has an Athens mailing address near Athens Academy.
I personally do not think any candidate's medical situation should be a serious consideration unless it effects their ability to perform the job. I do not think either person's candidacy should have the slightest concern, although again we are discussing the perception of the voters, not always something adhering to rational thoughts and discerning views.
We are blessed with an abundance of quality candidates in Oconee County and most any of whom the announced would do us quite proud. The decision who you vote for is a highly personal decision and we only hope to show you how we peek behind the curtain in that decision process and conclusion. Are age and experience the most important factor for you? Then the common logic would dictate choosing Huckaby in the house race and Hale for the BOC. Do you want new faces elected and get rid of all incumbents at all costs? Then voting for North Oconee teacher Kirk Shook in the 113th and Gilland for the BOC and Mark Thomas over Mack Guest for the Board of Education would make the most sense.
I would strongly urge the Board of Education to follow through on their decision to offer the slot for resigned member Tom Breedlove and seat Democrat Carter Strickland in their meeting on June 14. Already incumbent BOE member Kim Argo has indicated she has changed her mind on the issue of how the Board members go about selecting replacement members after initially supporting the idea of offering it first to the four announces candidates. She has no opposition save the scarce possibility of an independent or write in candidate qualifying at the last second. Mr. Guest indicated at the previous debate that the June 14th meeting ought to be very interesting, and I would say he could write his own political obituary if he votes against his own decision and does not vote to appoint Strickland. That would leave David Weeks and Mike Hunter to decide the fate of Carter Strickland to be appointed to fill the expired term of Breedlove.
I do not know what would happen if there was a 2-2 tie. I would hope it would not come down to that, but it looms a distinct possibility given the BOE's knack for making the wackiest decisions recently.
Huckaby and Gilland seem to have the most resources of any candidates, but this did not factor into my decision making process. They are both the very likely winners of their respective races.
I think there will be a run-off in the House Race between Huckaby and Malcom each pulling in about 38% in the 113th and Shook shaking up a solid 28% of thereabouts. The August 10 run-off will occur but as we all know anything can happen in those. It may come down to whose supporters are not on vacation at the time. I voted for Malcom in the primary and may change my mind in the run-off. Never underestimate the value of having a last name that people have heard of every day with the school of the same name in this county.
I think Mark Thomas will defeat Mack Guest especially if Guest reverses himself and does not appoint Strickland. Also the revealing of the fizzled $150,000.00 deal with Watkinsville to keep the Board of Education headquarters inside the city limits seems to follow a very distinct pattern of incompetence and displeasure on the majority of Oconee County public school parents. Now if they will get out and vote is another matter all together.
Please register to vote by June 21st if you have not done so and take advantage of the early voting period ahead of the primary July 20 and the expected run off August 10.
I may be a bit too proud about any supposed impact on the general election, but there are some very germane and general observations that can be made.
Tammy Gilland has run the most professional and thorough campaign I have ever seen in Oconee County. She has mailed out slick postcards, she has probably jogged on every street that can be run, and she has done an excellent job of introducing herself to voters in Waktinsville and Bogart. She speaks her mind and has addressed the perception that she is somehow Board of Commissioners chair Melvin Davis' hand-picked candidate ~ which she may be ~ as somehow a revenge candidate against Margaret Hale for her role in removing some of the power of the chair.
Gilland went to 4H with Davis as an instructor as a teenager, but she is very much her own person. She has not helped the perception of her as a Davis acolyte in the manner she addressed the audience at the North Oconee debate by sort of leaving the door opening to hearing from the voters as to whether they agree or disagree with the new county manager dominated style of government.
It is my unscientific perception that about 30% of the active political people in Oconee County support the new form of county government, 30% are dead set against it (and always will be), and 40% do not give a darn one way or the other. It is that last segment which will decide whether or not to re-elect Margaret Hale for a third or fourth term, or to choose a new/old direction with Gilland.
The people who feel they were not given a chance to participate in the process to switch county governance are simply mistaken as this review was going on for years, but the perception of alienation and being marginalized in a powerful tonic on the part of a few hundred very active local conservative activists that could well knock out Hale from her slot. Even though the Hale family are one of the most grounded, humble and just plain nice people I have ever met, any scintilla of supposed arrogance on Margaret's part ~ however undeserved ~ might land Gilland in the Board of Commissioners.
I really wish Tammy was running against anyone except Margaret. They are both superb candidates that will represent all our views well. The sometimes spoken, usually unspoken idea that this is "the woman's slot" is ludicrous but talked about in various circles. I would hope we could elect four women to the Board of Commissioners and a have a female chair in Sarah Bell if they are the best candidates, regardless of affiliation or gender.
But unfortunately Oconee County is not the most enlightened area of the state when it comes to our lifelong prejudices, biases and deep seated misogynists fears. I would wager the female voters advantage of Clarke County is reversed in Oconee County, but the gender gap will be shut forever soon. Men tend to die sooner than women.
Ultimately the elections could hinge of how much some Oconee County voters decide to vote based on the perception of the medical situation in Hale and Hank Huckaby in the 113th. Both have had serious treatments in the recent past, and if there is a perception that neither is up to the rigors of the office, then voters could look elsewhere. Hale had a disc replaced in her neck but seems to be fine. Huckaby had some sort of melanoma or cancer (none of anyone's business really) but the 68 year old candidate can be seen walking all around a circuit near his home off LaVista Road in that tiny part of Oconee County that actually has an Athens mailing address near Athens Academy.
I personally do not think any candidate's medical situation should be a serious consideration unless it effects their ability to perform the job. I do not think either person's candidacy should have the slightest concern, although again we are discussing the perception of the voters, not always something adhering to rational thoughts and discerning views.
We are blessed with an abundance of quality candidates in Oconee County and most any of whom the announced would do us quite proud. The decision who you vote for is a highly personal decision and we only hope to show you how we peek behind the curtain in that decision process and conclusion. Are age and experience the most important factor for you? Then the common logic would dictate choosing Huckaby in the house race and Hale for the BOC. Do you want new faces elected and get rid of all incumbents at all costs? Then voting for North Oconee teacher Kirk Shook in the 113th and Gilland for the BOC and Mark Thomas over Mack Guest for the Board of Education would make the most sense.
I would strongly urge the Board of Education to follow through on their decision to offer the slot for resigned member Tom Breedlove and seat Democrat Carter Strickland in their meeting on June 14. Already incumbent BOE member Kim Argo has indicated she has changed her mind on the issue of how the Board members go about selecting replacement members after initially supporting the idea of offering it first to the four announces candidates. She has no opposition save the scarce possibility of an independent or write in candidate qualifying at the last second. Mr. Guest indicated at the previous debate that the June 14th meeting ought to be very interesting, and I would say he could write his own political obituary if he votes against his own decision and does not vote to appoint Strickland. That would leave David Weeks and Mike Hunter to decide the fate of Carter Strickland to be appointed to fill the expired term of Breedlove.
I do not know what would happen if there was a 2-2 tie. I would hope it would not come down to that, but it looms a distinct possibility given the BOE's knack for making the wackiest decisions recently.
Huckaby and Gilland seem to have the most resources of any candidates, but this did not factor into my decision making process. They are both the very likely winners of their respective races.
I think there will be a run-off in the House Race between Huckaby and Malcom each pulling in about 38% in the 113th and Shook shaking up a solid 28% of thereabouts. The August 10 run-off will occur but as we all know anything can happen in those. It may come down to whose supporters are not on vacation at the time. I voted for Malcom in the primary and may change my mind in the run-off. Never underestimate the value of having a last name that people have heard of every day with the school of the same name in this county.
I think Mark Thomas will defeat Mack Guest especially if Guest reverses himself and does not appoint Strickland. Also the revealing of the fizzled $150,000.00 deal with Watkinsville to keep the Board of Education headquarters inside the city limits seems to follow a very distinct pattern of incompetence and displeasure on the majority of Oconee County public school parents. Now if they will get out and vote is another matter all together.
Please register to vote by June 21st if you have not done so and take advantage of the early voting period ahead of the primary July 20 and the expected run off August 10.
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