Oconee County, GA Politics

Tyra Gebhard Byers I am so appreciative of the outpouring of support I received for my bid for County Commissioner so it is with a heavy heart that I am letting you know that I had to withdraw from the race for today. I jumped in because I am confident I can serve well as commissioner and because I believe we need a voice in the future of this community. I did not fully grasp what it would take to run a successful campaign. I was up all night over this, but ultimately realized that my kids and family are my number one priority right now. I wouldn't want to run a campaign that I couldn't pour myself into 100%. I hate to disappoint those who have already offered me support, but ultimately feel that it is the right decision. Thank you all!

Fran Thompson 2 hrs Today I qualified to run for Post 3 in the Oconee County Board of Education! I believe in public education. I’m an 8 year resident of Oconee County. I have two children who attend Oconee County Schools. My 3rd child will enter kindergarten in the 2019-2020 school year so i will be invested in OCS for many years to come. Of the two children in OCS, one has an IEP and is served in Special Education and one is in the PACE/Gifted Program. I know how different humans are and I want every child to receive exactly what they need to reach their full potential. I have also worked as a School Social Worker in Clarke County for the past 12 years. I have served children and their families in every grade from Pre-K to 12th grade. I have worked closely with teachers, administrators, school psychologist, speech pathologist, counselors, and outside agencies to help children be successful at school. Most importantly, I want to know your hopes & conce...

Found out about this last night, but needed to wait for independent confirmation before spilling the beans: due to possible violation of the Hatch Act (forbidding federal employees from running for office or getting too involved in political campaigns),GBI agent Carter Brank removed himself from the race for the Oconee County Board of Education Post 3 race, removing the chance for a run-off. I am sure he will have to sign some affidavits to get him off the ballot if they have not been printed or programmed. Probably some absentee ballots have gone out already. There will be no run-off between Ashley Hood and Kim Argo. Brank had ordered some signs but by most accounts he had established himself as the third of the three candidates for the position. I salute Agent Brank for following the letter and spirit of the law and for his service to his state and country as well as caring enough about Oconee County to run for office.

No Estelle Porter, the Oconee County Board of Commissioners COULD NOT, by State Law, put beer and wine on a referendum, nor combine it with a referendum for hard liquor. And you chose to run against a woman because you are a woman? Sheesh. Playing politics is not a game for amateurs and you have proven your lack of basic understanding of how government works. I would strongly recommend NOT voting for Ms. Porter in Post 3 on the Oconee County Board of Commissioners based on her performance on Tim Bryant's Newsmaker Wednesday, May 7, 2008. Please, go back to selling aluminum siding. Good Lord. We do not need another builder/developer on the Board of Commissioners, especially replacing Margaret Hale for Post 3. I salute Porter for having the desire to serve her community, but my goodness, let's try to understand some issues of local importance a little better before we go on the local media, please.