Ellis out, Lee May in as interim DeKalb County CEO

Governor Deal used the big hook yesterday to yank Burrell Ellis out as DeKalb CEO, accepting the unanimous recommendation by Attorney General Sam Olens of two peers of Ellis, who also happened to be black Democrats. Deal then appointed DeKalb County Commissioner Lee May to serve in place of Ellis until the indictments against the CEO can be addressed in court. In the official release, Deal said,

“The responsibility to suspend and replace elected officials is one that I do not relish, but one I will not shy away from. The laws of Georgia give the governor the authority to appoint an interim official, but with my appointment, I will respect the spirit of the local statute which calls for the commission chairman to succeed the CEO should the office come open.”

“I gave this appointment thoughtful consideration and I was looking for a leader who had already won approval from DeKalb voters and knows how the county operates. The new CEO meets these criteria, and I thank him for his willingness to serve.”

State Rep. Mike Jacobs (R-Brookhaven), who has clashed with both Ellis and his predecessor Vernon Jones, wrote of and to Lee May,

I’ve worked with Lee May and found him to be pragmatic and grounded. Some unsolicited advice: (1) don’t turn into your predecessors, and (2) per your recent op-ed, I hope you’ll push to restructure the CEO job out of existence.

Senate Committee Studies FairTax

Today at 10:30 AM in Room 450 of the Georgia State Capitol, Senator Judson Hill will convene the State Senate FairTax Study Committee, which he chairs. The committee also comprises Senators Don Balfour (R-Scattered and Smothered), Hardie Davis (D-Augusta), Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega) and William Ligon (R-Brunswick).

State House to Study Forfeiture Reform

Yesterday, State House Speaker David Ralston appointed a study committee and asked them to present recommendations to reform civil forfeiture laws in the Peach State.

Earlier this year, civil forfeiture reform became an issue at the Georgia Republican Party State Committee meeting convened to consider leftover resolutions from the GOP State Convention, which included a measure urging reform of civil forfeiture reporting laws. The State Committee postponed voting on the measure to the next meeting.

Bruce Thompson for Georgia Senate

On Monday, July 22d, Bruce Thompson will announce his candidacy for Georgia Senate District 14, the seat currently held by Barry Loudermilk. Bruce and I were classmates in Republican Leadership for Georgia’s 2013 class, where he was elected class Vice President. He’s a good man, who will serve the people of Georgia honestly, and with the conservative values I know he holds.

Bruce Thompson is a small business owner and past Chairman of the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce. If you’re in the district, take a few minutes to meet Bruce and let him know your thoughts on how our state government can do a better job.

Other Election News

Dewey McClain, an Atlanta Falcons linebacker from 1976 to 1980, will run for the State House seat vacated by Democrat Brian Thomas, who is moving out of state.

Kennesaw City Council member Cris Walsh filed a complaint with the State Ethics Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission, alleging that Mayor Mark Matthews violated campaign finance rules.

At issue is the mayor’s use of $670 in campaign contributions for his 2012 re-election campaign.
On Nov. 15, 2011, he used $250 in campaign funds to purchase raffle tickets at the annual banquet of the Kennesaw chapter of Ducks Unlimited. He ended up winning the raffle prize — a Rossi 20-gauge shotgun valued at $350 to $400.
Then, on Dec. 20, 2011, Mathews used $420 in campaign funds to purchase gift cards at local restaurants, which he gave to the department heads on his city staff.
Mathews does not dispute the facts in the complaint.

He said he believes the expenditures fall squarely within the realm of acceptable uses allowed by section 21-5-33(a) of the Georgia code.
That section requires that campaign contributions must be used “only to defray ordinary and necessary expenses … incurred in connection with such candidate’s campaign for elective office or such public officer’s fulfillment or retention of such office.”
As for the raffle tickets, Mathews cites a section of the statute which allows the use of campaign funds as donations to nonprofit charitable organizations.
But Welsh interprets the law differently and believes the mayor stepped outside the limits of the law.
Welsh said the purchase of raffle tickets did not qualify as a donation to Ducks Unlimited.

More Congressional Numbers

I inadvertantly omitted Stephen Simpson’s fundraising numbers yesterday from the table of candidates for Tenth Congressional District, which is currently held by Paul Broun.

Tenth Congressional District Republican

Candidate	Previous	Contributions	Loans	Spent	Cash	Debt
Mike Collins		$67,110.00	$50,000.00	$20,463.79	$96,646.21	$50,000.00
Jody Hice		$81,116.00	$0.00	$15,006.44	$66,109.56	$0.00
Gary Gerrard		$25,350.00	$40,000.00	$22,247.20	$43,102.80	$40,000.00
Donna Sheldon		$210,160.00	$0.00	$34,665.01	$175,494.99	$0.00
Stephen Simpson	$45,191.87	$23,085.00		$6,596.96	$61,679.91	$27,720.00

Twelfth Congressional District

Candidate	Previous	Contributions	Loans	Spent	Cash	Debt
Rick Allen (R)	$5,814.44	$131,970.00	$10,000.00	$34,825.82	$112,958.62	$530,000.00
John Barrow (D)	$439,531.25	$483,576.84		$93,643.48	$829,464.61	$0.00

I had a discussion yesterday with a friend who is a Republican political strategist about how loans to campaigns should be considered, and whether they can really be considered part of the “cash on hand.”

He argued that if it’s carried on the books as a loan by the candidate with some expectation of repayment, it should be excluded from cash-on-hand. I believe that your own money spends as well as other peoples’ money, even if it’s not as fun, and absent something to make me believe it either doesn’t really exist or won’t be spent, I consider it available to be spent. And most political strategists will go ahead and plan on spending it.

Another important point that emerged from that discussion was that a dollar in Savannah, Macon, or Augusta buys much more television time than it does in Atlanta, and so the First Congressional District campaigns effectively raised much more ammo than those whose district will require media buys in Atlanta. At $400k for 1000 gross ratings points, a solid week of TV, Atlanta is one of the priciest media markets in the United States.

Most everything else, from direct mail to yardsigns, will cost about the same regardless of your district, but if the major markets in your district are Savannah and Jacksonville, your campaign dollars go much further toward buying the largest part of your campaign.

Handel Campaign Co-Chairs Announced

Yesterday, Karen Handel released the names of her campaign co-chairs to distract from her fundraising numbers demonstrate her base of support across Georgia among the establishment.

Dr. Betty Price, who serves on Roswell City Council and is married to some guy named Tom Price, joins State Senator Josh McKoon (R-Columbus) and Vivien Scott of Tifton, who is married to some guy named Austin Scott.

Neither Rep. Tom Price nor Rep. Austin Scott have yet endorsed Handel, according to Jim Galloway’s Political Insider.

Austin Scott, via his campaign, issued the following statement after the news from his wife:
“I have in no way, shape or form endorsed any candidate in the Georgia U.S. Senate primary. America is a great democracy, and I respect my wife’s right to support any candidate of her choosing. We are a house divided on who we will be voting for in the primary. It should make for interesting dinner conversation.”
From Tom Price spokeswoman Ellen Carmichael: “Congressman Price remains neutral on this race.”

WaPo: Georgia Senate race will provide drama for politicos

At least until another season of “House of Cards” is released, the Washington Post writes that the Georgia Senate race will be one for Beltway Insiders to watch.

Why does the prospect of an elongated runoff matter? Democrats are heavily courting Michelle Nunn (daughter of Sen. Sam Nunn) to make a bid. Many strategists believe Nunn, who appears to be closing in on a final decision, could clear the field.

If she runs and does clear the field — neither of which are sure bets — she would potentially have a bigger window (about two months) to prepare for the general election fight while two Republicans beat each other up.

“This validates the reason why Democrats in Georgia must rally behind a consensus candidate to avoid a costly runoff,” said Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson.

Republicans would also have to mind their campaign cash differently. They would have to spend money in the primary in such a way that they don’t leave themselves cash-strapped for a longer-than-usual runoff campaign.

Republican strategist Joel McElhannon says he isn’t worried about the downside of the new calendar for the GOP, since it doesn’t change the date of the runoff.

“In my view, the ruling doesn’t change much,” he said. “Georgia Republicans face a brutal primary regardless because we have multiple quality candidates running.  Our eventual nominee is going to emerge battle scarred regardless of any calendar change. The runoff date is still the same, so the eventual nominee will not be decided until late in the game, which makes the general election even more of a challenge.”

“I think there’s a good chance that the schedule will be extensively debated in the session next January and there may even be a debate on eliminating runoffs all together,” said McElhannon.

Tennessee Governor’s Fighting Words

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam discussed our claim to “Occupied Georgia,” the portion of our state claimed for more than 100 years by squatting yokels claiming to be Tennesseans.

The Republican admitted to only “a little bit” of knowledge about the disputed border. “I know what the argument is there,” he told 11 Alive news.

Not surprisingly, Haslam says he likes the status quo – and has only a passing interest in Georgia’s claim to a piece of the Tennessee River.

“We’re very satisfied with the situation the way it is now for, good reason,” Haslam said.

During our chat with Haslam, we suggested he could be “like Nixon going to China. Extend the olive branch to Georgia.”

Haslam responded: “Well we offered to trade ’em for the Braves or Stone Mountain. But they didn’t,” he laughed. “I’m teasing,” he said, just to clarify.

Chickens come home to roost in Cobb County

By a 3-2 vote with Chairman Tim Lee and Commissioner Joanne Birrell opposing, the Cobb County Commission granted the second variance to allow backyard chickens on a lot smaller than 2 acres. Is that a drum I hear in the distance?

Newton County Property Tax Hike Approved by BOC

By a 4-1 vote with former Republican State Senator John Douglas opposing, the Newton County Board of Commissioners approved a millage rate increase, and will aim to lower the rate in two years.

Grillin with the Governor August 10th in Gainesville

Join Nathan and Sandra for the 3rd Annual “Grillin’ With the Governor”

Saturday, August 10, 2013
11:00am – 2:00pm 

The event will be held at
Lake Lanier Islands
Grand Hall Pavilion
7000 Lanier Islands Parkway
Buford, Georgia 30518

Bring the family and enjoy a day of BBQ and fun with Governor Deal on the beautiful shores of Lake Lanier. Tickets are $20 each, which includes a BBQ plate and a T-shirt*.

To register, click below! Registration ends on Friday, August 9 at 12pm.

For Sponsorship Opportunities, Contact:
Denise Deal
Denise@NathanDeal.org
770-297-0011

*If you are not registered by August 7, there are no guarantees that a t-shirt will be available for the event.  (No children’s shirts available).