Oconee County, GA Politics

you are not aware of Celestea Sharp’s award winning book, Bishop, Georgia: The Ancient Roots, Rich History and Enduring Spirit of a Southern Crossroads Community, here is your opportunity to purchase a copy and get it signed. This is an amazing reference book for anyone interested in Oconee County history. Thoroughly researched and cited, Celestea provides a historical narrative not just for Bishop, but for much of the county since so much history in the area is intertwined. See the details below. Pass this along to others who may be interested. BISHOP, GEORGIA: The Ancient Roots, Rich History and Enduring Spirit of a Southern Crossroads Community By Celestea Gentry Sharp SPONSORED BY TOWN OF BISHOP, GEORGIA The second printing from Wolfe Publishing will be available March 3, 2007. The Author will be signing books at the Trade-a-Book bookstore, 4991 Macon Highway (U.S. 441), downtown Bishop, Oconee County, on Saturday, March 3, 2007 from 2 to 6 pm. Books will be available at this...

Water at any cost? A letter to Oconee County Citizens Oconee County has recently received wide recognition as a good place to live. If you stop 10 citizens on the street and ask them what they like about Oconee somewhere in the conversation you will hear comments such as “it’s a good place to raise children, with a sense of community, and small town atmosphere, and even rural atmosphere, with good schools.” Most of our families came to Oconee during periods of slow, steady, sustainable growth. A few came as early as 1790 but most in the past 30 years. This slow, steady growth gave us an environment with safe streets, manageable expenses, good schools and a strong community spirit. Now I ask you, why would anyone want to change that? Your County Board of Commissioners is about to rush into a decision setting us on a course that will make Oconee something other than what is described above. It is probable that during a Feb. 20 Called Meeting the Commission will vote to join with Wa...

Norwood's death opens up a vacancy in the solidly Republican Northeast Georgia seat, creating a scramble among potential candidates. Gov. Sonny Perdue, a Republican, is required to ask the secretary of state within 10 days for a special election date. The election would then be held at least 30 days later. Traditionally, special elections in Georgia have been held within about two months of a vacancy. The special election would be nonpartisan, with both Republicans and Democrats running on the same ballot. There would be a runoff if no one gets 50 percent of the vote. The district has been reliably Republican in recent years, giving President Bush 72 percent of the vote in 2004. A 2005 redistricting added the Democratic-leaning college town of Athens into the district. State Sen. Ralph Hudgens told The Politico he's definitely running. Hudgens ran against Norwood in the 1994 Republican primary and narrowly lost to him in a runoff. "I'm for less government, lower taxes ...

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.

Despite what some reactionaries have accused me of, I am quite saddened over the death of Congressman Charlie Norwood . My mother died of cancer and I don't believe St. Peter checks what kind of political party you belong to decide if you are worthy of getting in the gates of Heaven. God Bless Dr. Norwood and my condolences to his family. Thank you for serving the State of Georgia, whether or not I may or may not have agreed with your politics.

I hope the Augusta hospice is well staffed, clean and safe for our ailing Congressman. Those who seem to think I was calling for his death are grossly misinformed and should take another tact. Charlie dared cross the partisan line a couple of times in his career for things like the original Patient Bill of Rights and for that I salute him. I pray for him and anyone who is fighting a disease so debilitating. I inject no venom his way or to that of any one battling a crippling disease. I have no personal hatred for him or his party. I hope we can all get along and hope the best for his personal battles. I give him the respect he has due, as I do all public servants. I hope his medical issues help solve the problems with health care in this country. He was courageous for serving as long as he did with all the problems. I love our country, I love our government, I love Georgia and I do not wish ill for anyone sick or dying.

The contrasts in the council meetings between two towns in Oconee County were evident last night. No one but two reporters were at the largely uneventful Bishop council meeting which was over inside of 40 minutes last night. But it was so packed in North High Shoals with the topics of referendums, recalls and revolt over a variety of issues including having people live on your farms, playing loud music late at night, having a new elementary school next to the city park, bush hogging greenspace next to your neighbors, who will represent your community on stakeholders' zoning plans, how you will deal with discontent over suing the city unsuccessfully to stop a subdivision being built next door, and how will your city hall building be painted by whom and at what rate? There was not an empty seat in the historic community City Hall in need of a couple coats of paint and scraping - how very odd - lots of people made sure their government addressed their concerns last night. There was de...

I welcome all the criticism and constructive comments about me, my blog, my views, et cetera. But be sure to understand this is in no way the official blog of the Oconee County Democratic committee. I believe that URL is http://www.oconeedemocrats.org

Dear Listizens, In going through upcoming legislation, I noticed the house bill shown below. Basically, it would require that each and every county approve by referendum any new passenger rail line, which would allow any single county to block a rail line. This would cripple any efforts to develop a rational, regional passenger rail system. I have no earthly idea why they want to do this, unless it is sponsored by road building interests. In any case, please contact your legislators and tell them you oppose this ill-conceived and unfair piece of legislation which creates barriers that are not there for road building or other forms of transport. Especially in a time when sprawl, pollution, traffic, and population growth are straining our infrastructure, it makes no sense to throw up additional roadblocks to rail. Here are links for contacting your representative: The Honorable Senator Ralph Hudgens: ralph.hudgens@senate.ga.gov The Honorable Senator Bill Cowsert: bill.cowsert@senate.g...

Out in the public arena, people frequently twang on me for being "Mister Gloom'n'doom," or for "not offering any solutions" to our looming energy crisis. So, for those of you who are tired of wringing your hands, who would like to do something useful, or focus your attention in a purposeful way, here are my suggestions: 1. Expand your view beyond the question of how we will run all the cars by means other than gasoline. This obsession with keeping the cars running at all costs could really prove fatal. It is especially unhelpful that so many self-proclaimed "greens" and political "progressives" are hung up on this monomaniacal theme. Get this: the cars are not part of the solution (whether they run on fossil fuels, vodka, used frymaxT oil, or cow shit). They are at the heart of the problem. And trying to salvage the entire Happy Motoring system by shifting it from gasoline to other fuels will only make things much worse. The bottom line o...

AGENDA CITY OF WATKINSVILLE February 14, 2007 CALL TO ORDER QUORUM CHECK MINUTES APPEARANCES 1. Gregory Zengo – business license – Georgia Women’s Care, PC d/b/a New Image Medical Aesthetics & Wellness – 2 S Main Street, Suite 201 2. Sharon Lacy – business license – Cherokee Connections Spirit of Watkinsville – 18 N Main Street 3. Scott Kirk – business license – Sign Worx of Athens – 1410 Greensboro Highway 4. Patti Wagner – building permit – 17.3’ x 20.9’ bedroom addition to existing residence - 102 Mimosa Drive. 5. Larry Sheats – building permit – 12’ x 36’ addition to existing residence - 112 Morrison Street 6. Flo Wilkes – final building permit – 167’ x 65’ daycare center – 1420 Greensboro Highway 7. David Branch – building permit – 60’ x 40’ warehouse/storage building – 72 ½ N Main Street 8. Scott Boswell – restaurant beer & wine pouring license – Floyd’s Grill – 64 N Main Street 9. Bob Bishop – Highway 15 Sewer Project ADMINISTRATION 1...

Georgia Republican Congressman Charlie Norwood will be coming back to Augusta, GA "to let God do what He may", according to the ailing Dentist . The Congressman has refused treatment in Georgetown to come home to a 24-hour hospice care. Oddly he may actually make a case for Dr. Kevorkian style euthanasia in his waning days. Governor Perdue will have to call a special election after Norwood's evidently eventual extinction. Terry Holley would like you to consider him for the position, if you please. There will be a non-partisan election so he may actually have a chance this time. Holley addressed the Oconee County Democratic Committee meeting the last two months and talked about Norwood's increasingly grave condition. We certainly wish the best for Congressman Norwood, but if he is refusing treatment, the least he could while still alive is to resign the seat with dignity intact. Death is a tremendously difficult subject to write about, and it proves an old adage one st...

Citizens for Oconee's Future, Inc. P. O. Box 1301 Watkinsville, GA 30677 This message is going to a small group of citizens who have shown an interest in issues impacting your neighborhoods and the County. It appears the Board of Commissioners is about to jump into an agreement with Walton County that will obligate the County to spend in excess of $100,000,000 on a water project with Walton county. The initial spending will be $40,000,000 which is to be raised by a bond issue to be done jointly with Walton county. There is a good possibility the BOC will vote on this at the next meeting which is Thursday Feb. 8th. That is a different night from the regular meeting night because the members will be in a meeting on Tuesday. They are about to jump into this having made little of the specifics available to the public, without a working agreement on operation of the water project and with little or no consideration of less expensive water. Please come to this meeti...

Those of you who have been a part of this email list from the beginning know that our CSOC group started as a response to a proposed truck stop at the corner of Branch Road and US441. We were able to voice enough opposition that the proposed development was pulled by the developer a couple hours before the Planning Commission was to consider the plan. That was approximately 15 months ago. The developer then came back with a modified/reduced plan for a convenience store and gas station. That plan did go before the Planning Commission, which unanimously recommended denial of the rezone request. That was less than a year ago. The developer then withdrew the request before it could be heard by the BOC. Both times the Planning Department recommended denial. Now the developer, Frances Williams, is back once again. The rezone signs went up today. He’s asking for the same thing, which is a rezone from A-1 to B-2 for ~4 acres to build a convenience store and gas station....

For all those who are mad about Iowa having the perennial power of starting the Presidential parade with their century old caucus, check out this latest poll by the Des Moines Register concerning Iowans' shifting attitude about accepting different minorities as our leader.

Here is a well written but brief story about a Pro-Active Democratic U.S. Senator taking the bull by the horns on US Foriegn Policy and National Security in a positive, constructive manner making sense given the world's current political climate. I was almost afraid to click on some of the links at the end of the piece.

Jane Kidd for DPG Chair She sure enough won!

Democrat Sign in Carter Campaign HQ Originally uploaded by cjoh . Congrats to Jane Kidd and Michael Thurmond on their wins

To make it easier for folks to find the application, here’s the direct link. http://www.oconeecounty.com/Government/Planning/ComprehensivePlanPage.htm I have also attached the PDF document. Good luck! Cheers, Tony