Oconee County, GA Politics

Special Election for Georgia’s 10th District to Occur in June E-Mail By Rachel Kapochunas Published: February 22, 2007 The special election to replace the late Republican Rep. Charlie Norwood in Georgia’s 10th Congressional District will take place June 19, according to a writ of election issued Thursday morning by Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue. Press Release The winner in this strongly Republican-leaning district — either in the June 19 vote if one candidate wins outright with a majority, or in a July runoff between the top two vote-getters if no one wins a majority — will succeed the popular Norwood, who died of cancer Feb. 13 just more than a month after he was sworn in to the seventh term he easily won last November. According to the governor’s office, June 19 is the next possible special election date as set forth in Georgia law that also would allow for county, municipal and/or sales tax issue elections to be held on the same day. State officials had previously expressed their des...

Even Before Election Day is Set, the Ballot Takes Shape In Georgia 10 By Rachel Kapochunas | 5:51 PM; Feb. 20, 2007 | Email This Article Republican state Sen. Jim Whitehead announced Monday that he is a candidate for the not-yet-scheduled special election in Georgia’s 10th District, ensuring that there will be competition between politically experienced candidates for the seat left vacant by the death of veteran Republican Rep. Charlie Norwood. There are signs that Whitehead could emerge as the early front-runner in the 10th, a conservative-leaning Republican stronghold in northeastern Georgia. Republican state Rep. Barry A. Fleming, who was considered a potential candidate for the pending special election, introduced Whitehead and offered his public endorsement at the press conference, essentially taking himself out of the running. The men both hail from Columbia County, north of Augusta, and would likely split home-base support if they both participated in the House race. Joel ...

I guess the Governor and Secretary of State can ignore state law when setting a special election date. We have been led to believe that the Governor had 10 days after the death of 10th district Congressman Dr. Charlie Norwood to choose an election date that had to come some 30 days after that. Well the last part of the calendar has been swept under the rug so that announced GOP candidates Ralph Hudgers and John Whitehead don't have to resign their seats during this term of the General Assembly in Atlanta. 30 days from today would be March 23, but again, the Republicans have a way of avoiding the law and paying not attention to precedent when they find it convenient. Terry Holley will run and perhaps the extra time will give him more of a chance. According to Tim Bryant right now, Governor has not set the date yet. AJC reporters quoted Hudgens and the Georgia News Network reported it as fact, which has yet to happen, according to Newstalk 1340 WGAU AM. Hudgens wants to serve out hi...