Oconee County, GA Politics

I know online petitions are subject to all kinds of kooks, nuts, spoofers and other online charlatans, but we have to start somewhere. So please sign and forward to all your friends, especially those who live in Oconee County. Petition powered by ThePetitionSite.com

Oconee County, Georgia residents are finally starting to learn about the repeated pattern secret meetings and decisions about the future of their increasingly corrupt sewage as well. Lee Becker deserves a medal for having the mettle to battle with the Oconee County Board of Commissioners' secrecy armed only with Open Records requests. He has exposed numerous clandestine gatherings and been downright stonewalled when it comes to the latest request for records surrounding the bidding process for our sewer treatment. Chairman Davis continues to expedite his own political obituary by obscuring Oconee County dealings in various governmental matters. Sunshine shall bring us spring and a new chairman for the Board of Commissioners soon, given governmental transparency to make the cockroaches of corruption scatter. The following was sent to me by Lee Becker and I insist you check out his blog and urge him to run for the BOC in at least a write-in basis in 2008. Dear Friends, The County co...

The five radio stations owned by Paul Stone and Southern Broadcasting are now owned by the same media conglomerate Cox Communications that owns WSB and the AJC and hopefully the conservative Mr. Stone can go back to where ever he came from (Elberton, Pensacola?) with the $60 million. Does this mean we get Clark Howard and Neil Boortz 24-7? Herman Cain can now guffaw with his buddy Tim Bryant all the time? Matt Caesar and Babs Dooley will have to make room for Sean Hannity? We shall hear, I'm sure

Media Advisory: January 15, 2008 Contact: Martin Matheny 706-461-0439 (m) 678-278-2108 (o) martin@georgiademocrat.org *Democrats to present response to "State of the State" address* * **ATLANTA - *State Representative Kathy Ashe (D-Atlanta) will be presenting the Democratic response to the Governor's State of the State address on Wednesday, January 16 at 4:00 p.m. Representative Ashe will speak to members of the House and Senate Democratic caucuses and area Democrats at the Capitol Education Center auditorium, located at 180 Central Avenue, near the Capitol. -30- Paid for and authorized by the Democratic Party of Georgia: 1100 Spring Street NW, Suite 408, Atlanta, Ga 30309. Jane V. Kidd, Chair; Michael Thurmond, Vice-Chair; Rex Templeton, Jr., Treasurer. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

None of the many mistakes made by Oconee County Board of Commissioners chair G. Melvin David by themselves rise to the level of an impeachable or criminal offense, but the continued pattern of subterfuge and ignorance of immediate county needs does point to a level of incompetence and boorish behavior which bodes poorly for Oconee County's future. I believe this necessitates a new level of leadership on the top elected officer level. Chairman Davis is a decent man, but I think we can do a whole lot better. For those of you tired of reading the list of errors, I suggest you skip ahead a few paragraphs. But here is something I posted in the Athens Banner-Herald's new political page a few days ago: 10. Testifying on behalf of convicted felon Jim Ivey 9. Holding secret meetings illegally in Madison and other clandestine planning debacles 8. Not calling for a BOC vote on beer and wine in restaurants in Oconee County. 7. No public swimming facilities yet at new park despite a donatio...

This book group has done an outstanding job expanding the ranks and participation with the Oconee County Democratic committee Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. From: oconee@yahoogroups.com To: oconee@yahoogroups.com Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2008 22:57:49 +0000 Subject: [oconee] Non-partisan Community Book Group, 1/17/2008, 6:00 pm Reminder from:   oconee Yahoo! Group   Title:   Non-partisan Community Book Group   Date:   Thursday January 17, 2008 Time:   6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Next reminder:   The next reminder for this event will be sent in 4 days, 2 minutes. Location:   Five Points Deli, Epps Bridge Parkway Phone:   ppriest@charter.net Notes:   The Oconee County Democrats hold a non-partisan book group monthly to discuss politics and history. We encourage adults and teens with varied viewpoints to join us for spirited discussions. Feel free to invite friends from other counties, too. In...

I wrote a letter to the editor of the Athens Banner-Herald asking for the resignation of Oconee County Board of Commissioners chairman G. Melvin Davis. Davis has done even more to ruin the reputation of Oconee County than merely testifying for a convicted felon or having a series of secret meetings making plans to move the Courthouse from downtown Watkinsville . I think this is emblematic of a much bigger problem of good old boy networking and covering of their collective asses. I am no conspiracy theory nut, but I do think there is a battle going on here with the future of Oconee County at stake. The residents and business owners of this county are the victims of this clandestine planning and secret meetings. Davis needs to resign to accept responsibility for a system gone out of control. He is a very genuine and nice person, but we have to say enough. At the very least he should not run for re-election. Please people, let the newspapers and the radio stations and your neighbors. Th...

I do not think you have to be from Clarke County to appreciate former Athens-Clarke County Mayor and CEO Gwen O'Looney or her humorous roasting. Although expensive, this should be fun. If you buy a ticket and cannot make it, and want to sponsor a poor blogger, let me know. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. WHO:           YOU   WHAT:          are invited to attend the CCDC Roast of Gwen O'Looney   WHERE:         Classic Center, Athens   WHEN:           Monday, February 25;  6:30 for cocktails; 7-9 dinner and roast   WHY:             because you--and Gwen--will have fun!!!   Save the date. Tickets will be $50, and proceeds will be used to fund the Clarke County Democratic Headquarters....

Happy Friday, everyone! It's a new year, alright, and w/the Ga. Legislature about to convene, the time has come to shake the post holiday stupor off and for me to get to work again. I hope you had a wonderful holiday season, warm and full of family and friends. Mine was great, now all I need is an amazing gathering to attend, where I'll be inspired, educated and motivated to get Write to Vote moving again. Well thanks be, the Ga. Progressive Summit begins TONIGHT, and runs through Sunday. Yes, I admit a personal loyalty to this event, these are the same wonderful folks who encouraged and believed in Write to Vote when it was a wee idea in danger of being rendered moot by the Legislature before we could put it into action. They have more than quadrupled the size of the Summit in just three years. I am sorry I am just now getting this out to you! Please, check out their program at http://www.gps2007.org/ and try to catch as much of this as you can. ...

Once again in the tradition of Meetup.com, MoveOn.org and North Georgia Democrats, here is an opportunity for Democrats of all stripes and geographic divisions to come together even before the Presidential Preference primary in less than a month on Super Tuesday when Georgia will got lost in the shuffle of New York and California and all those other states for Super Tuesday.  Maybe we can get our act together and elect somebody outside of Clarke County for the first time in years. If your name is Bobby Saxon, and you are running for Congress, and I did see the name but forgot who his new campaign director is, you damn sure better attend this event. Maybe this time the Clarke County Democratic Party administration is going to be more hospitable, cooperative and engaging in area events and this is the beginning of that trend. Don't get me wrong, many many Clarke County Democratic party members realize the need to no longer cede the suburban areas to the G.O.P. - last night I got in a...

*Minutes* *Oconee** **County** Democratic Committee meeting* *January 3, 2008* *Oconee** **County** Courthouse, **Watkinsville**, **Georgia* **) ** * * *Others present*: Karen Solheim (OCHS YDs); Judi Wright; Sharon Eubanks Chair Becky Vaughn called the meeting to order at 7:27 pm. A quorum was declared present. *Minutes*: The minutes from the November 1, 2007 meeting were approved unanimously after a motion by Sarajane Love and second by Pat Priest. The committee did not meet in December. *Treasurer's* *Report*: Treasurer Violet Dawe was absent. *By-Laws*: Because of changes to the Oconee County voting precincts (upon which our committee districts and posts are based), the by-laws will need to be revised reflecting a new committee structure. Herb & Myrna are willing to work on this but would like assistance. Herb had just received from Bill Yarbrough prior to the meeting a list of the new precincts with the number of registered voters in each. Bill said the county's IT dep...

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: info/events from the Oconee County Democrats Resent-Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 03:42:48 -0800 (PST) Resent-From: ccdc-nm@clarkedemocrats.com Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 11:42:35 +0000 From: karen solheim <ksolheim@hotmail.com> To: ccdc@clarkedemocrats.com <ccdc@clarkedemocrats.com>, ccdc-nm@clarkedemocrats.com <ccdc-nm@clarkedemocrats.com> References: <47837FDE.2010708@charter.net> From the Oconee County Democrats. . . . See below. All are invited to participate. Karen Solheim CCDC Corresponding Secretary ------------------------ The Oconee County Democrats are sponsoring a movie night for local Democrats January 21st at Ciné in Athens. We'll see the fun and thought-provoking movie "Outsourced." Please check the papers for the 7-ish showing. http://www.outsourcedthemovie.com/ From a review in the New York Times: In its modest way, "Outsourced" may be unique: a charming culture-clash roman...

Help clean Oconee County this Saturday! Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. To: oconee@yahoogroups.com From: sjathome91@yahoo.com Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:08:46 -0800 Subject: [oconee] Sat. Jan. 12 Help Oconee County Democrats keep Oconee clean and beautiful by joining us at 9:30 a.m., Jan. 12, at the Mars Hill Fire Station. We will pick up roadside trash on the mile of road that we adopted. Vests and garbage bags will be provided; bring a pair of work gloves. Hope to see a big crowd this Saturday! The weather is supposed to be much improved. Sarajane Love Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. __._,_.___ Messages in this topic ( 1 ) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic Messages ...

The Blue Hats of Oconee County welcome anyone interested in progressive change. You do not have to be a Democrat to join, although it would not hurt to a Democratic party member or at least someone with an idea of who Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. From: oconee@yahoogroups.com To: oconee@yahoogroups.com Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:56:52 +0000 Subject: [oconee] Blue Hats of Oconee Co. Democrats, 1/12/2008, 1:00 pm Reminder from:   oconee Yahoo! Group   Title:   Blue Hats of Oconee Co. Democrats   Date:   Saturday January 12, 2008 Time:   1:00 pm - 2:00 pm ...

Southworks Market is on Memorial Day Weekend again!    In the spirit of furthering cooperation with local merchants and the city of Watkinsville, OCAF has decided to leave the Southworks date on it's historical Memorial Day Weekend sc hedule. We apologize for any inconvenience that this has caused anyone.      The applications for both the Juried Art Market & the Art Exhibition will be mailed no later than the beginning of next week. If you haven't received notification by Jan 22nd and you'd like to apply, please notify the office @ 706-769-4565.   Southworks 2008 Juried Artist Market DATE: May 24 & 25 2008 LOCATION: 34 School St.| Watkinsville GA 30677   Southworks 2008 Juried Art Exhibition SHOW DATES: May 2nd through 31st LOCATION: 34 School St.| Watkinsville GA 30677   OCA...

Why does our current Board of Commissioners keep doing the people's business without notice or input? It is time for these people to be sent home, and we need your help to do it. Read more about the following at the Lee Becker blog, and thanks to Charlie Baugh for letting us know Subject: A BOC Meeting We Aren't Supposed to Know About Dear Friends: In a meeting Oconee County Board of Commissioners Chairman Melvin Davis has tried to keep out of the public eye, the Commissioners met on December 7 in Madison, Georgia, to discuss a variety of issues, including the Rocky Branch sewage plant upgrade, a County sales tax, and the sale of beer, wine and alcohol by the drink in the County. The meeting took place at the James Madison Inn & Conference Center. The Inn gave the County an invoice of $683.20 for the meeting, payable on the day of the meeting. Chairman Davis used emergency procedures to give minimal public notice of the meeting, which actually was planned at least three w...

AGENDA CITY OF WATKINSVILLE January 9, 2008 CALL TO ORDER QUORUM CHECK MINUTES APPEARANCES 1. George Svoronos – business license – Physio-Diagnostics, Inc. – 1191 Felton Drive 2. Hometown Communities (Wisteria Ridge) – building permit – 565 sq. ft. pool house – 95 N. Main Street 3. Hometown Communities (Wisteria Ridge) – building permit – 356 sq. ft. mail kiosk – 95 N. Main Street 4. John Byram – building permit – renovate existing building at 19 & 21 N. Main including 4, 6 & 8 Court Street ADMINISTRATION MAYOR’S REPORT CITIZEN’S COMMENTS OLD BUSINESS 1. Consider Subdivision Regulations 2. Consider Franchise Fee Ordinance NEW BUSINESS EXECUTIVE SESSION 1. Discuss land acquisition ADJOURN

This is the result of a long series of email exchanges, but it was fun and I was happy to contribute. I can remember being huddled at the end of the stairwell in my pajamas watching a crowd of people up our stairs raising their hands for George McGovern on a cold night in 1972. We had a "raucous caucus" according to the Des Moines Register and Tribune newspaper at the time and thus was born yet another nickname from Coach McGuire. We had people packed into every corner of our stucco house on the hill in the middle of Snake Drive.

Please let your feelings be known about our local government doing things behind our back...... Citizens for Oconee's Future, Inc. P.O. Box 1301 Watkinsville, GA 30677 Following is a message from Lee Becker, Friends of Barber Creek with information about the secret bidding process being used by the county to contract for the Rocky Branch sewage treatment plant. Please remember this is the plant that will result in treated sewer water being dumped into Barber Creek which flows through several Oconee subdivisions. This project was advertised for bids once before but no contract was let as a result. Go to Lee's blog for the background on this project. Charles Baugh Subject: Citizens "Taint" the Bidding Process Dear Friends: Oconee County officials, in an effort to keep citizens from "tainting" the review process, have decided to keep secret the second round of bids for the $8-10 million upgrade of the Rocky Branch sewage plant as well as the re...

Dear Friend, If you're like most Georgia Democrats, you're excited about Georgia's Presidential Primary coming up on February 5th. I want to ask you to help us get out the vote on that day, by reminding your friends, family, and coworkers about this important election and by making sure that everyone you know is registered to vote. The deadline to register to vote in the February 5th Presidential Primary is next Monday, January 7th! If you know someone who hasn't yet registered to vote, please encourage them to get in touch with their local Board of Elections, so they can help choose our next President. For more information on how to register to vote, or to download and print a voter registration application, visit the Georgia Secretary of State's website . As you know, Georgia's primary date is shared with many other states. I want to challenge all of us to start 2008 off on the right foot by getting more Democrats out to the polls than ever ...