Oconee County, GA Politics

Elected officials have the right to sue their local government. That much being said, I think that the Oconee County Government would do themselves a favor if they were to appoint some other people to the Planning Commission. Mr. Marshall was appointed to the Planning Commission and I think it is long past time for some new blood on the Oconee County advisory committee with the most power.

Here is a post from a realtor I do not know about how home sales have slowed even here in Oconee County, Georgia. Time for some new leadership and direction locally? I think so

Here is an opportunity to help call some voters in Oconee County. Bring your cell phone. This is happening Sunday.

Minutes are pasted in below. Thanks for Myrna for taking notes for me since I ended up having to chair the meeting, too! And thanks to her, as usual, for her editing skills. Herb Minutes Oconee County Democratic Committee meeting September 4, 2008 Oconee County Courthouse, Watkinsville , Georgia Committee members present : Bill Yarbrough (4-2), Vice-Chair ; Herb West (5-1), Secretary ; Violet Dawe (1-1), Treasurer ; Tony Glenn (1-2); Ann Stoneburner (1-3); Dan Matthews (2-2); Sarajane Love (2-3); Rita Bennett (3-2); Vicky Moody (4-1); Myrna Adams West (5-2); Robert Wyatt (6-1); Committee members absent (excused) : Becky Vaughn (5-3), Chair ; Jonathan Veit (2-1), Vice-Chair ; Diana Jeffreys (6-2); Pat Adams (6-3). Committee members absent (unexcused) : Linda Elkins (3-1). Others: Pat Priest , Vi Wilmot, Chanda Hubert, Michael Day, Rama Rickard, Erika Ferrari-Chumbley; OCHS Young ...

Once again, I wish to correct my earlier post where I misidentified Luke Bishop's job in insurance when in fact he is a developer in the family business. Here is a link to the Oconee Enterprise article on the lone non-partisan municipal race.

Local 'regular guy' Bobby Saxon runs for Congress - News

Broun flip-flopping on debates? ATHENS, GA – When interviewed by Esquire magazine in July 2007 Paul Broun, Jr. said, “This just shows the disdain he has for people… He won't even face the people whose vote he seeks," in response to Senator Jim Whitehead skipping debates. Since challenging Paul Broun, Jr. to debate him in every county of the 10th District, challenger Bobby Saxon has met with a passionate response from the people, and complete silence from Broun himself. Only a year ago, during his first campaign for Congress, Paul Broun was a passionate supporter of debate. He openly mocked his opponent, Jim Whitehead, for not debating him, even going so far as to allow a bobble head doll to be used as Whitehead's stand-in. “Is Paul Broun continuing his flip-flopping ways? He is happy to take either side of an issue if he thinks it will get him elected. He's flip-flopped on veteran support, earmarks, spending, and I-3. A year ago he was for debates, is he against ...

Subject: Postponement of Hearing Dear Friends, The developer of the proposed Epps Bridge Centre asked the Oconee County Board of Commissioners to postpone action on its rezone request until Oct. 7 so he can talk more about design issues with the planning staff. The Board voted unanimously to cancel the scheduled public hearing and table action on the rezone for the $76 million strip mall proposed for vacant land between Lowe's and Loop 10 on Epps Bridge Parkway, behind the current McDonald's and Starbucks. The half dozen or so persons who planned to ask questions during the public hearing were not given advance notice of the requested postponement. The hearing had been confirmed at the BOC agenda-setting meeting last Tuesday and included in the agenda released by Chairman Melvin Davis' office late last week. For details, go to my blog, at http://www.oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com/ Lee -...

  Several Oconee County Democratic Committee members including, from left in the foreground, Steve Holzman, Robert Wyatt and Ann Stoneburner listen to Bobby speak while munching on some free pizza and watching the documentary "Gonzo" at Cine' on Labor Day. More photos up at Spotted here .

Subject: Obama watch party Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2008 06:02:09 -0400 Hi All, It was a pleasure having you in our home.  I hope you'll actively work toward electing Senator Obama our next President.  I am attaching the jpg of our picture.  Please forward to those I have missed (some I couldn't read the email address).   Enjoy the labor day! Elaine Obama for President Elaine Cress  

The blogosphere may have forced the hand of Governor Palin on this one and many others soon to come. About Sarah Palin Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Yesterday was John McCain's 72nd birthday. If elected, he'd be the oldest president ever inaugurated. And after months of slamming Barack Obama for "inexperience," here's who John McCain has chosen to be one heartbeat away from the presidency: a right-wing religious conservative with no foreign policy experience, who until recently was mayor of a town of 9,000 people. Huh? Who is Sarah Palin? Here's some basic background: She was elected Alaska 's governor a little over a year and a half ago. Her previous office was mayor of Wasilla, a small town outside Anchorage. She has no foreign policy experience. 1 Palin is strongly anti-choice, opposing abortion even in the case of rape or incest. 2 She supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan for president in 2000. 3 Palin thinks creationism should be taught in public schools. 4 She's doesn't think humans are the cause of climate change. 5 She...

Well written as usual from Dr. Patricia Priest Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Subject: [oconee] Let's defeat Paul Broun! Hi! Please see the invitation below about an opportunity to meet with Paul Broun's opponent, Democrat Bobby Saxon, before the movie screening at Ciné on Monday. I'll be there. I really admire Bobby, who -- all this week -- has been hard at work at National Guard training. Come talk to him, and you'll be impressed, too. The event takes place behind Ciné. Then come around front to buy your tickets for the 6:30 movie -- a well-regarded 2008 documentary about gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, who pretty much skewered every politician but made grudging admirers of people such as Pat Buchanan and Jimmy Carter. Here's the message from Bobby's campaign manager, Tommy Valentine below. Thanks! Pat Priest Member, Oconee Democrats ------------ --------- --------- ---- Everyo...

More can be seen at the Athens Banner-Herald's onlineathens.com photo blog called Spotted .

Arts festival features pottery from around state - Variety

Please attend this event Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD Join me From: oconee@yahoogroups.com To: oconee@yahoogroups.com Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:56:36 +0000 Subject: [oconee] Oconee Democrats Regular Monthly Meeting, 9/4/2008, 7:00 pm Reminder from:   oconee Yahoo! Group   Title:   Oconee Democrats Regular Monthly Meeting   Date:   Thursday September 4, 2008 Time:   7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Repeats:   This event repeats every month on the first Thursday. Next reminder:  ...

Looks like we have at least one contested race locally here in Watkinsville. Joe Walter will face opposition from Luke Bishop for Post 3 of the Watkinsville City Council in the November non-partisan election. Wonder how McCain's selection of Sarah Palin will rattle that cage? Mr. Bishop in an insurance agent and has appeared before the council to get a variance in recent months. Mr. Walter is an ex-code enforcement officer for the City of Watkinsville and was a police officer in Athens before that I believe. He is always ready to roll up his sleeves and do what ever is necessary for the city. I have not always agreed with every one of his votes but I think he deserves re-election.

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Lee Becker < lbbecker@mindspring.com > Date: Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 9:39 PM Subject: Epps Bridge Centre To: lbbecker@mindspring.com Dear Friends, On Tuesday night, the Board of Commissioners will vote on a major commercial rezone planned for beside and behind Lowe's on Epps Bridge Parkway. The project will greatly change the amount of traffic in the area, will pave over streams feeding into McNutt Creek, will create a large amount of impervious surface, and will generate a lot of tax revenue for Oconee County. This is a very big project. When it is built out--and it almost certainly will be approved--it will greatly change the nature of the part of Oconee County where it is located. Think of a 16-screen movie theater and seven restaurants. Think if retail space rivaling Georgia Square Mall. It is safe to say Oconee County will never be the same. And this is only the beginning of what is planned. For details of the projec...

Might be a good place to register voters - 400,000 new Democrats in Georgia alone. Nice speech last night Barack. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Hello Everyone! This Saturday we will have a variety of vegetables, peanuts and skins. Sweet potato pie, buttermilk, coca cola, chocolate and other varieties of pound cakes! So come on out and visit us at the Oconee Farmers Market! Have a wonderful weekend! Karl Berg www.oconeefarmersmarket.org  and http://www.apvoc.com/

My mother was once responsible for securing Hunter S. Thompson from the Des Moines Airport during the winter of 1971. She was the co-chair for the McGovern campaign. We were in the midst of a horrible Iowa blizzard, and my mom was searching for him numerous times during the afternoon and evening. His flight had come in late on a Sunday and no one could find him in the airport. We finally did find him passed out packing heat in an "unknown" bar upstairs in the airport. Unbeknowst to us, he had "opened" a bar with his pistol holding a terrified barkeep hostage until he was served enough of his favorite antifreeze. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Hello! The Oconee Democrats have planned another of our popular Movie Nights -- for this coming Monday -- to see a new documentary about Hunter S. Thompson. Join us -- or you can watch the Republican convention on TV that night instead! Hope to see you! Pat Priest Mem...