Oconee County, GA Politics

 Dr. Russ Page moderated a direct question-and-answer session for all six candidates for the 117th and 119th Special Elections in Oconee and Clarke counties Monday evening at the Oconee Veterans Park near Butler's Crossing in unincorporated Watkinsville to a packed house of curious voters and supporters. Dr. Lee Becker of Oconee County Observations and the University of Georgia journalism school  video-taped the ongoings, and professor Sarah Bell was quick on her feet foisting the wireless microphone to the many attendees in the special events room of the park off of State Route 53 (Hog Mountain Road) thanks to the Oconee County Parks and Recreation Department. Oconee County Democratic candidate Jonathan Wallace is running against Oconee County Republicans Tom Lord, Steven Strickland, and Marcus Wiedower in Georgia's free-for-all known as a special election. The conventional local political wisdom residual from when I ran in similar circumstances in 2011 is that the...

It's no small coincidence that Watkinsville voters will be green with envy on St. Patrick's Day March 17, 2015 of those who do not have to vote AGAIN for a distilled spirits referendum despite having passed it on the last General Election.  For that be the day laddie that the voters will flock down to City Hall or the Board of Elections or possibly also the Government Annex to vote again on something that passed by a 2-to-1 margin in these very parts once again.  The city attorney attempted to alleviate my concerns unsuccessfully, and the city council voted 5-0 to approve the special election March 17 with advance voting as well at the Board of Elections office. Far be it from me to suggest someone on the city council make a motion to adopt that which already passed in the same contiguous county, and abide by the voters previous sentiments, and having to burden them to rubber stamp that which has already been decided, and please take concrete steps to make sure...

By nearly identical 2-1 resounding ratios, the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax passed (1039 to 400) and Michael Ward defeated Janet Jones (60 to 31) in Bogart in the special election Tuesday night in Oconee County, Georgia. The biggest shocker on this St. Patrick's Day Tuesday evening is that once again we are teased with the prospect of leaving Madison County itinerant State Senator Ralph Hudgens behind us as he claims he is running for State Insurance Commissioner, currently held by John Oxendine who is running for Governor rather poorly at the moment.

Last night the Watkinsville City Council started the long process of considering the sale of beer and wine at the city's two or three stores. These sales, known as package sales, were introduced by council members John Walsh and Samantha Purcell. Immediately council members Brian Brodrick and Mike Link spoke out against the measure to allow a couple of convenience stores to sell beer and wine. Keep in mind it is already legal to buy beer and wine at stores outside the city limits of Watkinsville in Oconee County. This leaves city council member Joe Walter as the deciding vote on this contentious issue. There will be forthcoming workshops and public input at various, much like the process the city went through last year to decide to allow beer and wine sales in restaurants. I hope Walter supports the idea of Purcell and Walsh. Sam wants to attract a new grocery store to town. I am sure the local churches will be in opposition once again. Police Chief Lee O'Dillon said to me h...

HELP! We have fallen, and we are about to get up! Dear Democrats in the 10th Congressional District of Georgia, Now is our chance! We?ve been asking for it. We have a wonderful opportunity to put a good Democrat in Congress representing our interests! What an exciting day that will be! The Democratic Party of Georgia (DPG) and the Voter Registration (VR) Committee have targeted Athens-Clarke County as the key to the 10th. We feel if we get our old faithful and new faithful to simply vote on June 19th, 2007 we can take this seat from the Republicans. Wow! That does not give us much time! The last day to register to vote is May 21, 2007. *********The DPG VR Committee is holding a get-started meeting in Athens on this Saturday, April 14th at 10am. 337 S Milledge Ave (Butler Bldg). *********** We want YOU there! We want every good Democrat to get involved! If you are a good Democrat, a member of your County Democratic Party, the State Committee or Executive Committee of the DPG, League of ...

Because now we have Dr. " Hutch " announced in the 10th Congressional District Special election, making it half a dozen candidates for the non-partisan partisan election June 19th to fill the seat of the late Dr. Charlie Norwood and inevitable run-off two weeks later. Dr. Paul Broun, Jr. of Oconee County would appear to be the loser today with another activist staunch conservative Doctor and Real Estate Agent (what a combo!) taking the potential vote from him in McDuffie and Columbia and the top tier of Richmond Counties near Augusta. The links in the Augusta Chronicle article do not reveal that conservative activist Braselton's Bill Greene is also a member of the wanna-be militia bastardizing the name Minutemen. It again illustrates how much Athens and Auugusta have nothing to do with one and other politically or media-wise. And the state Democratic officials continue to let McDuffie County's Terry Holley hang in the wind while preaching that they are seeking some ot...

Once again proving corrupt Republicans will do just about anything to keep their diminishing electoral slots secure, Governor Sonny Perdue will wait until June 19th to hold a special election to replace the late congressman Dr. Charlie Norwood in Georgia's 10th district. I guess his wriggle room evolves from issuing a writ of election some 30 days after the day, not the actual election.

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...

I do not think Comer's own Ralph Hudgens will win without runoff the 10th district nonpartisan Congressional election despite being dubbed "the one to beat" by WDUN's Martha Zoller on the Georgia Gang this morning. The main reason being, seldom has one politician generated so much anger and disdain outside of his own district than Hudgens with his whole reapportionment scandal last year effectively splitting Athens traditionally liberal voting bloc inn half. Most if not all of these voters are in the 10th or at least know several dozen voters in the Congressional district formerly represented by Dr. Charlie Norwood. Blake Aued reports that as many as 10 candidates could emerge once the dust has settled with the announced date for special election from Governor Perdue. Another reason people do not like Hudgens is the same reason they do not like billboards being built by his son. I hope Hudgens hoists huge portraits of his less than stunning mug on every overpriced bil...

So my former radio boss wrote me to ask if I felt like an asshole over my comments about Dr. Norwood before his death. The answer is no. But thanks for reading Matt. I extend my condolences - whether you believe it is sincere or not - to Dr. Norwood's family and staff. Death is never easy to deal with. It is something we all have to contend with, Republicans, Democrats and independents. St. Peter does not check your party registration at the gates of Heaven, nor does the Devil in Hell. Some people seem to think I will be heading for Hades because of my outspoken nature and comments about Dr. Norwood. The sad thing about this whole escapade is how fast someone's death - not just Dr. Norwood, but Anna Nicole Smith and her baby and everyone else who died recently - goes from mourning to a punch line to a reaction and a backlash. I commend Dr. Norwood's for serving in Vietnam, his life of public service, his unsuccessful battles against the corrupt insurance industry and cancer...

So now that Congressman Norwood has passed, rest in peace, what should we do about setting apart the speculation and trying to figure out who can jump in the race quickest in this Athens to Augusta 10th district. Surely someone will come from Athens such as former Mayor Doc Eldridge, former State Senator and failed Ag Commissioner candidate Brian Kemp and current State Senator Ralph Hudgens. I would like to strongly encourage the Comer solon to start a campaign, because I am pretty sure he would have to resign his current seat in order to run (although I certainly may be wrong about that). Also will the special election be on the same day that Athens-Clarke County voters elect a replacement for States McCarter? Will it be the same day as the recall election in North High Shoals? There will surely be some candidates from Augusta such as R. Terry Holley in the forthcoming non-partisan election that the Governor has to set in the next 10 days.