Oconee County, GA Politics

So I just got back from watching a speech by James Marlow outside of the Athens-Clarke County City Hall in lovely downtown Athens. Many Young Democrats held on to signs while Marlow spoke passionately about what he believe will be the best plan for the 10th Congressional District. Marlow was introduced by recently elected A/CC Commissioner Kelly Girtz. A small crowd kept passers-by curious and even a few shouted encouragement to Marlow. Among the people I knew there were former Mayor Gwen O'Looney, Kathy Kirbo and Al Davison. Marlow talked about an honorable end to the Iraqi war and energy independence sometime in the next five to 25 years. I snagged a few more signs to replace the several bent and torn in my yard by the neighborhood juveniles in my yard. If only these impressionable children would realize how much better their short term and long term future would be with a Democrat representing them, then they might reconsider their reprehensible behavior. I stapled and reinfor...

The special election for the Tenth District Congressperson is underway. You can vote early now through 5 PM on Friday, June 15, at the local Board of Elections office at 155 E. Washington Street. Remember to a photo ID with you regardless of when you vote. Election Day is Tuesday, June 19. Ten candidates are vying for this Congressional seat. Three of the candidates are Democrats – James Marlow, Evita Paschall, and Denise Freeman. The June 19 election is NOT a primary. The top two vote getters will be in the runoff on July 17 unless one candidate receives a majority of the votes. For a Democrat to be in the runoff, a Democratic candidate must be one of the top two vote getters, so it’s extremely important that ALL Democrats VOTE. If you need a ride to the polls, let me know (706-543-7390 or macrawson@charter.net) or contact Linda Lloyd, Director of the Economic Justice Coalition (706-202-0324 or 706-549-9368). MORE GOTV efforts! Our local Democrats have been asked to help with a G...

The Economic Justice Coalition is the contact for organizing rides to the polls. To arrange a ride, or volunteer to give rides, contact Linda Lloyd, EJC Director at (cell number) 706-202-0324 or (home number)706-549-9368. Please share this information with others who can benefit from this information.

Hey Everyone, Just one more reminder...the DPG needs you this Saturday, June 2 to canvass door-to-door and rally for change in the 10th Congressional District. Jane Kidd, DPG Chair, will kickoff three weeks of canvassing in the 10th and we need you to help it be a success. Join Jane, myself, and other DPG staff and other great Democrats as we knock some doors! Saturday, June 2, 9:30am-12:30pm 337 S Milledge Avenue (Athens 30605), The Butler Building (meet in parking lot behind the building) 9:30am (training/rally starts) 10am-12:30pm Canvassing door-to-door Refreshments and post-canvass talk afterwards! This will be a great event, but only with your participation. Please bring a friend or two!!! Let's start this off right! Jane would love to have as many of her great volunteers from her campaign to join back together and start the Grassroots change in Georgia in our backyard! Thanks and please call if you have any questions: 678-278-2008. - Mike -- Michael Cantone State Fiel...

This story is too funny for me to even comment on yet, but suffice to say, it speaks volumes about Republican ethics and how they treat each other.

Please help with James Marlow's campaign this Saturday. If you can help, please plan on meeting at the Butler Building (337 S. Milledge Ave, across the street from Clarke Central High School) on Saturday morning (5/19) at 10:00. We will be canvassing over in the Boulevard and Cobbham areas during the day on Saturday and should be done between 3:30 and 4:00. Anyone interested should call us at (706) 506-6394 or send us an email at payton.bradford@gmail.com

More explanation here and here . The following is a letter from Terry Holley to Georgia State Democratic chair Jane Kidd. Dear Jane, This morning I had tried to send an email concerning qualifying, but my email was not cooperating. To bring you up to date, I waited until late yesterday to see how many people had qualified and decided that with three candidates running, it was not in the best interest of the Party or myself to enter this race. We had a window of opportunity immediately after Mr. Norwood’s passing and we blew it. Now, with some county committee’s endorsing a particular candidate, I have serious concerns as to why these counties are violating our bylaws and why our DPG officials have been waiting to give an interpretation on this. I certainly have informed our county chairs that I believe that this is a violation of our state party bylaws. I believe that you and I discussed this issue very early on which is why the state party would not give an endorsement. Competi...

Terry Holley - his website is up and running at http://www.terryholley.us/ Rev. Jeff Reynolds - teaches Old and New Testament at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School, a private boarding/day school in Rabun County. Here's a link to their Dec. newsletter: www.rabungap.net/faculty/communication/simplespirit_12_06.pdf Evita Paschall - http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/030107/met_118443.shtml Ms. Paschall, 55, has practiced law in Augusta for 31 years, beginning her career in the Richmond County District Attorney's office after graduating from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1976. She went into private practice with Carl Brown - now an Augusta Judicial Circuit Superior Court judge - in 1979 before opening her own practice in 1981. She has served as an assistant solicitor in Richmond County State Court and solicitor of Richmond County Civil and Magistrate Court. In 1992, she was appointed judge of Augusta Recorder's Court, which was abolished when the city and county governme...

Very quietly Lincoln County resident James Marlow has worked his way into the favorite status for the Democratic party in the supposedly non-partisan (not so) free-for-all10th Congressional District race for the June 19th special election to replace the late Dr. Charlie Norwood. Marlow was endorsed by most members at a meeting of the Democratic County Chairs (Oconee chair Becky Vaughn was not there, nor at the last meeting of the local committee) in Habersham County a few weeks ago. Laura Floyd of Oglethorpe County did make the meeting and ultimately supported the decision to back Marlow. "I thought the meeting was conducted in a serious and professional manner," said Floyd, chair of the Oglethorpe Democrats. "Six candidates made presentations and answered questions from the assembled county chairs." (13 of 21 counties were represented, with some guests in the room including former Secretary of State candidate Carol Jackson and Ag Commissioner Tommy Irvin). While ...