Oconee County, GA Politics

Candidate for 10th says UGA quip just 'a joke' Bomb the university? By Blake Aued | blake.aued@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 10:41 PM on Saturday, April 7, 2007 State Sen. Jim Whitehead's 2004 comment about doing away with the University of Georgia was a bad joke that was blown out of proportion, the congressional candidate said Friday. Whitehead, a UGA graduate and 10th Congressional District candidate, was quoted by an Elberton newspaper saying that the university is "a bunch of liberals," adding that, except for the football team, someone ought to bomb it. The Evans Republican made light of the comment Friday while campaigning in Athens. Whitehead said he "popped off" during a meeting with Elbert County officials at a woman who cited UGA economists while criticizing him over austerity cuts to the state budget in 2004. "It was a joke," he said. "The next time, before I do that, when I don't know the town, I'm going ...

Here is our best chance to win back the 10th: James Marlow to Kickoff Campaign for Georgia 's Tenth Congressional District on Tuesday, April 3 Campaign Stops in Lincolnton, Evans, Toccoa, ATHENS ( Athens ) James Marlow will kickoff his campaign for Georgia 's Tenth Congressional District in his hometown of Lincolnton at the Lincoln County Courthouse on Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. Marlow will also make stops in Evans, Toccoa, and ATHENS. The Athens kick-off will occur at 4:45 PM tomorrow, at the Athens City Hall, 201 College Avenue. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend. "I am running because I believe the Tenth District deserves to have a voice in Washington that will represent their values – a voice for better jobs, better health care, better schools, and fiscal responsibility," said Marlow. "I look forward to sharing my plans over the coming months for bringing innovative, common sense solutions to the people of the Tenth District." Addi...

Citizens for Oconee's Future, Inc. P. O. Box 1301 Watkinsville, GA 30677 Citizens Shortly after the Board of Commissioners vote on the grossly expensive reservoir project with Walton County I sent an e mail with the results and a promise for further information after having time to think about it for a while. Here is what I think about it. The voting majority of this Board made up of Davis, Norris and Luke is on a mission to fully develop this county no matter what the cost to quality of life for current residents. There is no way to change this policy without changing 3 votes. There is on {I think he meant no, although it could be one} way to change 3 votes without changing Davis, Norris and Luke for three with a more balanced policy. The current development policy will eventually directly impact every one of the 30,000 who live here now. It will do no good to fight each rezone proposal as long as the county "economic development" policy is to promote more ...

OK, so John Coyne owns property in 10th. The Orchard community is not my favorite place in Clarkesville. The fact that this candidate seems content to clone a couple of the more notorious GOP proposals does not inspire too much sympathy on this end. Here is his campaign piece via Laura Floyd Georgia's 10th Congressional District Democratic Candidate PO Box 191047 Atlanta GA 31119-1047 (404) 886-2430 Biography PERSONAL John Coyne is 56 years old and has five children and six grandchildren. He resides with his wife, Pamela, and son, Christopher, in Alpharetta, GA. I have been a property owner in The Orchard Community of Clarkesville for almost ten years. EDUCATION John was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey in 1950, graduated from Livingston High School in 1968, attended Essex County College in Newark, New Jersey where he studied engineering and was Captain of the Golf Team from 1968-1970. In 1970, he transferred to the University of Georgia and received a Bachelor of Science Degree ...

NOTICE TO PUBLIC The Watkinsville City Council will be holding a Called Council Meeting on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. at the Watkinsville Community Center to discuss the following: AGENDA CITY OF WATKINSVILLE CALLED COUNCIL MEETING March 28, 2007 @ 6:30 p.m. QUORUM CHECK APPEARANCES 1. Dan Elder – building permit – 14’ x 85’ retail/office space – 10 N Main St., Ste A 2. Dan Elder – building permit – 14’ x 85’ retail/office space – 10 N Main St., Ste B 3. Industrial Mechanical – building permit – 130’ x 24’ office addition – 1241 Greensboro Hwy. 4. Oconee Ventures – building permit – 80’ x 120’ storage building – 1040 Business Blvd. 5. Nathan Mende – sign request appeal – NPR Ducati @ 1461 Greensboro Hwy. NEW BUSINESS 1. Consider Farmers Market Board Member. ADJOURN

A few years ago there was a big uproar here in Oconee County because the Board of Commissioners would not let Oconee County, Georgia residents vote on whether or not to have alcohol in our restaurants. Ultimately we did get another referendum (which was defeated) but several members of the BOC were sacrified along way. Watkinsville is now serving beer and wine in restaurants (thanks to a 3-to-2 vote in the City Council) and the world continues to turn. Now the GOP bigwigs in the Statehouse have decided that local community control is something they do not want , and Georgia remains one of three states left in the United State of America where local communities can not decide whether they want to have alcohol served in restaurants on Sundays. Republicans often preach about local control, but when it comes to practicing what they preach, it seems this is out of the reach of those in control in Atlanta. Why not give local city and towns the right to decide whether or not beer or wine wil...

The five announced Democratic candidates for the 10th District US Congress special election in Georgia for Dr. Charlie Norwood's seat appeared before a packed house in the fourth floor of the Athens - Clarke County courthouse Thursday evening. People came from Oconee, Habersham, Madison and other counties as well. Denise Freeman found a new friend in me. This lady is incredibly impressive. She needs to visit white churches as much as possible between now and June 19th. She might surprise more than a few people. She has the most votes against Norwood in a previous election 2000. She lives in Lincolnton and knows the district well. She is a Baptist minister. She could be our Heath Shuler but more likely our Barack Obama. She resonates positive energy although she might be a little fuzzy on the wonky details of how she might tweak Charlie Norwood's now languishing patient bill of rights, at least according to Tim Bryant's talk show this morning on Newstalk 1340 WGAU AM Jim Ma...

I know it is late notice, but the four announced Democratic candidates have been invited to tonight's Clarke County Democratic meeting at 6 pm at the Courthouse in Athens if you are interested in attending and listening to Denise Freeman, James Marlow, Terry Holley and a gentleman from Rabun Gap named Jeff Reynolds. Marlow has hired Charlie Bailey as his campaign manager and this former Yahoo marketing exec will have a campaign HQ at the Butler building in Athens on Milledge.

Karen Solheim sent me an email announcing that the four announced Democratic candidates for the 10th district Congressional Special Election Thursday. I thought there was only two, Terry Holley and Evita Paschall, but now former Yahoo executive Jim Marlow of Lincoln County and a guy from Rabun Gap named Jeff Reynolds. So here is her reply to me. I have the four Dem candidates as Terry Holley and Denise Freeman: 706-359-2232 e-mail: freemanforcongress@hotmail.com James Marlow: 404-841-7181 e-mail: james.marlow@yahoo.com Jeff Reynolds: 706-982-1253 e-mail: jreynolds@rabungap.com Karen

I think Ralph Hudgens must have been reading the blogs or at least the tea leaves indicating he had no chance in Hell of winning the Special Election for Dr. Charlie Norwood's seat in the US Congress. Maybe this will spur Brian Kemp or Doc Eldridge to drop their hats in the ring, so we are back down to 10 candidates (nine announced) for the June 19th race. Hudgens has too much baggage from his malapportionment boondoggle of Athens-Clarke County a year ago plus.

Please spread the word! From: Purcell, Samantha [mailto:spurcell@walton.k12.ga.us] Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2007 11:03 AM To: Mark Campbell; kmcq13@yahoo.com; Jan.Smith@georgiacenter.uga.edu; John McNally; Brian Brodrick Subject: 10:00 - 12:00 Watkinsville City Council Clean Up Day March 24 Please spread the word that we will be meeting at Rocket Field on March 24th. We will give volunteers predetermined routes to clean. It would work well if volunteers cleaned routes near where they live and work. John, can Oconee Clean and Beautiful help us out? We need orange trash bags. Do you know where we can get them free? Your group could count this as part of the Keep Oconee Clean and Beautiful Campaign. Give me a call 769-2788 or my cell 706-338-3838. Thanks for everyone’s support of the city! Sam

The Landowners Meeting on March 15, 2007 at 7:00 PM in the Oconee County Library Auditorium will be the kick off meeting for the Oconee Partnership for Farmland Protection 2007 Program. Please help to reach all those who might be interested in protecting their farm with an Agricultural Conservation Easement, or those who might benefit from the considerable federal and state tax incentive programs. It will be an educational meeting which can help any landowner see the value in protecting their land, and see how they can benefit from putting a conservation easement on their land. Those who are interested in protecting their land for "Agriculture", for a "River Walk", for "Open Space", or just for land conservation purposes should attend this meeting. See the letter below from Russ Page. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Oconee Partnership for Farmland Protection 1201 Sunset ...

Go Blue Devils Go

WE DID IT!!! The BOC voted unanimously to deny the rezone request by Francis Williams to develop a convenience store and gas station at the corner of Branch Road and US441. After 15 months, three different plans, two withdrawals by Mr. Williams, and two denials by the Planning Commission, the BOC finally got to hear the issue. I am very proud of all of us, with a particular pat on the back to Paul Poninski. Paul spearheaded a petition drive that resulted in 205 signatures of individuals who did not want to see this type of development in south Oconee. Paul presented the petition signatures to the BOC, which clearly got their attention. Overall approximately 20 people signed up to speak against the rezone. We provided them with our own personal assessments, data on traffic and fire hazards, and even statements from the county’s Comprehensive Plan and Planning Staff Report that clearly supported our position. In other words, we made a thorough and strong case for denial. I knew ...

Here is the article from the Athens Banner-Herald and below is a letter from Charles Baugh. I think it is well past time that we need to get some quality candidates to run against Luke and Norris and even Chairman Davis. Citizens for Oconee's Future, Inc. P. O. Box 1301 Watkinsville, GA 30677 The Board of Commissioners voted to join with Walton County in the troubled Hard Labor Creek water project. Commissioners Davis, Norris and Luke voted to enter into an agreement which will ultimately cost Oconee in excess of $105,000,000 plus interest with the initial cost to be in excess of $45,000,000 and only 3.5MGD of water. Here is how the vote went. Commissioner Horton moved they vote not to participate in the Walton project and Commissioner Hale seconded. Commissioners Luke and Norris voted against the motion and Commission Davis voted against to break the tie. Commissioner Luke moved to enter into an agreement with Walton County which was seconded by Commissioner Norris. Hale a...

PRESS RELEASE Two Local Golfers Earn Sponsor’s Exemptions into the Athens Regional Foundation Classic Peterson and Rymer are Former Champions on Nationwide Tour ATHENS, Ga., March 6, 2007– Tournament organizers announced today that Northeast Georgia residents Matt Peterson and Charlie Rymer have been offered two of the sponsor’s exemptions for the 2nd Annual Athens Regional Foundation Classic (ARFC), scheduled for April 19-22 at Jennings Mill Country Club. The Nationwide Tour event will not be an unfamiliar place for Rymer and Peterson, as both have experienced victory on the Tour in their professional careers. “Matt and Charlie are two of this area’s most accomplished and well-known golfers, and we’re thrilled to have them in the field,” said Len Sapera, Chairman of the Athens Regional Foundation Classic. “We’re confident that our home town heroes will be able to play with the best when the tournament arrives in Athens in just over a month.” Success came early for Rymer who, at the a...

Todd DeFeo must be the writer who has taken over the beat Merritt Melancon had before she went to the Oconee Enterprise. This is a good history of the bucolic town on the river.

Number of hopefuls for seat reaches 10 By Sylvia Cooper | Staff Writer Thursday, March 01, 2007 Augusta Attorney Evita Paschall announced her candidacy for the 10th Congressional District seat Wednesday, becoming the 10th candidate and second Democrat to say she will run in the June 19 special election. Ms. Paschall, 55, has practiced law in Augusta for 31 years, beginning her career in the Richmond County District Attorney's office after graduating from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1976. She went into private practice with Carl Brown - now an Augusta Judicial Circuit Superior Court judge - in 1979 before opening her own practice in 1981. She has served as an assistant solicitor in Richmond County State Court and solicitor of Richmond County Civil and Magistrate Court. In 1992, she was appointed judge of Augusta Recorder's Court, which was abolished when the city an...

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...

You may have attended last years' meetings for "Your Watkinsville". We are now in the process of looking at the zoning ordinance, which will correspond with the Concept Plan and Future Land Use Plan developed from those meetings. We will conduct the public hearing, which has been advertised in the newspaper for several weeks now, on February 28th @ 7:00 p.m. Potential to adopt the new zoning ordinance on March 14th @ 7:00 at the next regular Council meeting. To view the proposed zoning ordinance click on the link below and then click on Watkinsville Zoning Ordinance. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at City Hall @ 706-769-5161. The document is too large to e-mail but, you can download the document from http://www.negrdc.org/departments//planning/bookstore.asp . Thank you. Julie Sanders City Clerk wkvcityhall@charter.net