Oconee County, GA Politics

FOR RELEASE ON Friday May 5, 2006 May 5, 2006 For Information Contact: Becky Vaughn, 706.540.9724 Becky Vaughn enters race for the House of Representatives, District 113 BOGART (GA) Becky Vaughn qualified in the race for the Georgia House of Representatives District 113 today to represent Oconee County, northern Morgan, western Oglethorpe, Winterville, and Clarke’s southern and western edges. “I believe we need a change—one that takes a new leader with a broad vision. At a minimum the citizens should have a choice. I want to use my knowledge, skills, and leadership abilities to effectively serve as the voice of this dynamic community called the 113th. Vaughn, who narrowly lost in her bid for state senate in 2004, has been a resident of Oconee County since 1995. She serves as the President and CEO of the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse where she has worked with many legislators over the years i...

I apologize for not getting this sent out sooner. I want to update everyone on the recent meeting with one of the three developers of the Branch Road property. Last Wednesday evening a group of us met with Frank Williams, the son of Francis Williams. Initially the meeting was to include both the junior and senior Mr. Williams as well as a third partner, Jimmy Johnson (not to be confused with the Jimmy Johnson living here in Farmington), but the other two men did not attend. I'm really glad the meeting took place. I think Frank Williams was as nervous and unsure about the event as we were. We all seemed to get the impression that he himself does not really like the planned development but is simply looking at it as a business investment (emotional detachment). Seems to us that his father is really the one running the show and that he is a very blunt, old-style businessman that only sees land as a commodity and not as something to cherish. Ironically Frank mentioned that he, ...

I encourage everyone to take a moment and write an email to the Oconee County Board of Commissioners to voice your concern with the proposed rezone request currently posted for the corner of US441 and Branch Road. The following information is taken directly from our website (home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-SouthOconee), which now contains a page dedicated to this issue. The previous truck stop proposal for the corner of Branch Road and US441 has once again come forward but is now a convenience store, fueling center (12 passenger car stations), carwash, and office space. While the current project is reduced in size and scope, the underlying issues are no different from the previous plan. The inconsistency with the Future Land Use Plan, the lack of infrastructure in the region, the uncertainty of the US441 widening project, the public and traffic safety concerns, the proximity to Heritage Park, as well as the detrimental impact that such a development will have on the quality and value of the...

Becky Vaughn of Bogart qualfied at the last moment of the extended qualifying period to run against Bob Smith for the State Representative slot in the new House of Represenatives district 113, including all of Oconee County, and some of Clarke. This should be an interesting race to say the least. Becky ran against Brian Kemp in 2004 for State Senate and gave the man seeking the Ag Commish post everything he wanted and then some in a very close contest. Smith has not had opposition for several terms but now must keep some of his considerable war chest at home in Watkinsville instead of running amok on other nearby contested races such as the Kidd-Cowsert round II or the Ag Commish primary or the Lt. Gov. primary or who knows what else. Becky learned a lot last time around and has jettisoned some of the excessive baggage of the previous campaign. We will keep you updated on her strategy as it becomes available.

Hello, Mr. Karl Hwang is an overqualified, inspirational, and generally amazing teacher that is being fired by Oconee County High School without a reasonable explanation. A coach that is currently in the P.E. department is being forced to go into the math department to make room for an assistant of the incoming football coach, Nick Saltaformaggio (“Coach Salt” for short). And there are several other questionable firings happening this year at the high school such as the only woman in the physical education department. Originally Mr. Hwang, a graduate of Georgia Tech, worked as a civil engineer and tutored physics and calculus on the side. Soon he grew tired of Engineering and decided to pursue teaching. He earned a Masters in Mathematics Education from the University of Georgia and began student teaching at Oconee County High School. A few months ago, two years after he began teaching full time at Oconee, Mr. Hwang confirmed rumors that he was being let go. Apparently, the administrati...

Dear folks, We had another fine scholarship banquet last Thursday evening, April 27, at the Sanctuary in Watkinsville. Over ninety persons attended. We awarded six $1,000 Moore's Ford Scholarships to graduating seniors from five high schools and $100 merit awards to eight finalists. We gave community service awards to Oconee Schools Supt. Thomas Dohrman for his efforts in hiring minority teachers and staff; another award to Loganville banker Stanley Kelley, whose The Community Bank donated $10,000 to our endowment. Dena Chandler of the Lemuel Penn Memorial Committee and Blair Rothstein, representing renewed interest in the Leo Frank story in Cobb County, both participated in this program. They are considering hosting scholarships for Penn and Frank back home. Press release, program, credits are attached. I will try to send a group picture of the finalists by separate email. It was a lovely evening. Thanks to all who contributed and worked to host this event. Let'...

Bogart City Council May 1, 2006 Oconee Living Section Athens Banner-Herald Bogart Council agrees to disagree with Mayor By Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Correspondent The long simmering feud between Mayor Jan Thurmond and city council members Woody Bruce and Terri Glenn came to a head at the Monday meeting in Bogart. The city lawyer David Wages started before the meeting giving Thurmond the answers she did not want to hear, namely her son’s engineering firm of Armentrout, Roebuck and Matheny was no longer employed by the town after a motion was passed terminating the operating agreement at a special called meeting April 16. Even the minutes for the April 16 meeting were not entered in the record for the May meeting after Mayor Thurmond forgot to bring an affidavit and resolution coming out of an executive session. She called home to try and get her husband to retrieve the information during the meeting but was unsuccessful. There was even some question as to whether there was a quorum pre...

Merritt makes sense of Bogart beef and how it stalls city progress 04/30/06

Terry Holley takes on Charlie Norwood in the new 10th district.

Oconee County Historical Society invites you to a Historic Preservation Program featuring BURKE WALKER Historic Preservation Planner NEGA Regional Development Center Burke will give an illustrated talk on historic structure preservation which will include guidelines and techniques to use in preserving older buildings. May 8, 7:30pm Watkinsville Library Auditorium Refreshments will be served. Oconee County Historical Society meets on the second Monday at 7 pm, Government Annex, Greensboro Highway, Watkinsville.

She was at the Moore's Ford Memorial Seventh Annual Scholarship banquet and not at the Clarke County Democratic Meeting where Terry Holley evidently announced his candidacy against Charloe Norwood.

She was at the Moore's Ford Memorial Seventh Annual Scholarship banquet and not at the Clarke County Democratic Meeting where Terry Holley evidently announced his candidacy against Charloe Norwood.

Cathy Cox is expected to accept the resignation of her campaign chairman Morton Brilliant after he altered Mark Taylor's wikipedia entry to include the information about his son's recent DUI crash. Taylor's campaign also uncovered Brilliant's less-than-brilliant smears in previous contests.

Do you like sewage spewed in your creeks? I don't think so. Subvert the dominant paradigm.

Do you think CASA Athens needs to be careful now?

A seventh grader at Commerce in Jackson County apparently made another Columbine style hit list, or maybe just said it to a friend, or maybe thought about sharing it with a person they used to hang out with but now they just kind of like you know, want to hang out sometime but don't really want to call it something that it really isn't, but whatever we just really wanted some attention so we made a list of all the kids who are too cool to let us sit by them in the lunch room. BANG!

Good evening everyone, Many of you are aware that the formation of Citizens for South Oconee County began in response to the ludicrous proposal to put a truck stop at the corner of US441 and Branch Road, just a 1/4 mile north of Heritage Park (the sight is easily seen from the entrance of Heritage Park). That proposal was pulled by the developer the night that it was to be considered by the Planning Commission back in January. We knew then that the issue was not dead and that a revised plan would be back after the 90 waiting period. Well, the wait is over. I picked up a copy of the plan today. Here are the highlights: -- Requesting rezone from A-1 to B-2. Future Land Use Plan designates the area as Agricultural. -- Building 1: 3000 sq. ft. gas station/convenience store; drive thru carwash in rear; 12 pumping stations (6 2-sided stalls) -- Building 2: 4000 sq. ft. "professional office space" to be leased; type of business is not specified -- Water supply is by individual ...

Care to share your opinion of the Iraqi occupation? THE SOUTHERN CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES presents The Honorable Donald H. Rumsfeld U.S. Secretary of Defense â„¢ Thursday, May 4, 2006 Atlanta History Center, McElreath Hall 130 West Paces Ferry Rd. Atlanta, Georgia 30305 1:00 p.m. Registration 2:00 p.m. Address followed by Q&A No late admission!

A well placed source sent me an email indicating that the Democratic party will have a viable candidate to run against Charlie Norwood. I can not reveal yet who it will be, but political junkies are dying to find out as soon as possible. QUALIFYING IS THIS WEEK. Here are some qualiying tips from the recertified Democratic committee: April 20, 2006 MEMORANDUM FOR: COUNTY CHAIRS AND CONGRESSIONAL CHAIRS FROM: ANNE BARTOLETTI, DIRECTOR OF COUNTY AFFAIRS SUBJECT: THANK YOU, AND QUALIFYING REMINDERS Many thanks to all the County Chairs and Congressional Chairs for your support and assistance in re-certifying our County Parties prior to qualifying. Most County Parties now have all their current governing documents on file locally and at the State Party, and your efforts have been sincerely appreciated. For the County Parties who are conducting candidate qualifying, here are some important reminders to ensure your qualifying goes smoothly: - Qualifying begins no earlier than 9:00 a.m. Monday ...

So much for being bipartisan Brian. I wish I had seen this when he was at the Athens Academy field day indoors with his kids Saturday when I had to be near the man who wants to pull the life support system on two-party politics in the state of Georgia. Does not sound like someone I want to be my ag commissioner. And look, if you want to plow and pave every farm field in Georgia, than yes, Developer Brian Kemp is your tool.