Oconee County, GA Politics

Will there be any fall out from the absence of jurisprudence in the extremely light sentencing of embezzler Jim Ivey? The most likely and deserving victims would be Oconee County Board of Commission members chairman G. Melvin Davis and Jim Luke. They are both public servants and private people that should be dealt with swiftly in the voting booth. We need to maintain a level of dignity and sobriety in the removal of anyone willing to serve in public leadership. Just because someone testifies at a trial does not automatically condemn those with whom they side. I commend these gentlemen for standing up for their convicted colleague. But I also counsel that this testimony was delivered at a steep political price, and now it is time to pay. There are ways of registering our displeasure with the decisions of the Board of Commissioners while maintaining decorum in public meetings, and giving our leadership polite disapproval in the appropriate forum. Do not harass them in Publix or in the...

None of the many mistakes made by Oconee County Board of Commissioners chair G. Melvin David by themselves rise to the level of an impeachable or criminal offense, but the continued pattern of subterfuge and ignorance of immediate county needs does point to a level of incompetence and boorish behavior which bodes poorly for Oconee County's future. I believe this necessitates a new level of leadership on the top elected officer level. Chairman Davis is a decent man, but I think we can do a whole lot better. For those of you tired of reading the list of errors, I suggest you skip ahead a few paragraphs. But here is something I posted in the Athens Banner-Herald's new political page a few days ago: 10. Testifying on behalf of convicted felon Jim Ivey 9. Holding secret meetings illegally in Madison and other clandestine planning debacles 8. Not calling for a BOC vote on beer and wine in restaurants in Oconee County. 7. No public swimming facilities yet at new park despite a donatio...

Local Republican stalwart and former state senate candidate Jim Ivey accepted a plea deal from Judge Lawton Stephens to avoid a much harsher sentence in a deal that had been in the works long before Thanksgiving . Ivey, who maintained his innocence, copped to the plea to hopefully avoid jail, although District Attorney Ken Mauldin will oppose the first offender status for the former financial officer for the Veterans Memorial who finally acknowledged his guilt to embezzling money from the charity. He claims it is in the best interest of his children. I still say he ought to be sentenced to chisel the unexpected bedrock under the Oconee County Complex where the Veterans Memorial is going to be across from Herman C. Michael Park in the Eastville community near Butler's Crossing.

Pardon the stream of consciousness rambling here, but somehow these ideas all tie together somehow I promise: Kudos to the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce and the army of volunteers for successfully pulling off yet another jam packed Oconee County Fall Festival, where some 15,000 people all pile in on Rocket Field and the surrounding area to sample crafts, corn dogs, BBQ, funnel cakes, sand candles and the like. I never understand why people torture their canines by insisting on bringing them to this gathering, but then again, I let my dog sleep inside at night (and during most of the day as well). Glad there were no neighbors foaming at the mouth this year. The Watkinsville Police Department gets high marks for keeping the crowd flow going well but the Oconee County Sheriff's Department should have people at the various traffic lights over riding the normal pattern to customize according to the need of the moment during the peak congestion hours. I for one have never understo...

I do not think he does deserve getting his embezzlement criminal action moved, but he may end up getting one because of his popular support, not acrimony. It will be interesting to see if they do end up wasting tax payer money on moving the trial . The Oconee Veterans monument folks have had a difficult time raising money because of the stench of cronyism and poisoned politics left behind by Ivey. I still think he ought to be sentenced to breaking the bedrock at the Oconee County Community Complex. I hope he gets what he deserves no matter where it is held. I know one thing for sure, I would be struck off the jury pool if selected quicker than anyone else.

Oconee County business man and one time Georgia GOP honcho Jim Ivey is employing a new attorney and strategy in his indefensible crime of embezzling money from the Veterans Fund for a memorial at the new Oconee County Community Complex across from Herman C. Michael Park. According to this story in the ABH (registration required) the new lawyer Kim Stephens wants to move the trial out of county because he could not receive a fair trial locally. If anything, he would receive a more fair and balanced trial here because some local people know this man, know what he stands for, knowns how he lived way beyond his means. District Attorney Ken Mauldin and Defense Attorney Stephens would try to strike jurors who did not subscribe to a particular political philosophy, in my amateur attorney attempt at prophesy of a trial that may or may not start around Thanksgiving. I give thanks that Mauldin stopped the shut down of the Sexual Assault Center here, took the time to get the case worked well ...

Looks like the local G.O.P. big wig will be on trial after all