Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for June 4, 2015

On June 4, 1785, James Oglethorpe, founder of Georgia, met with John Adams, the first ambassador from the new United States to Great Britain.

On June 4, 1919, Congress passed the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to ~~always be right~~ vote. In August 1920, enough states had ratified the 19th Amendment that it took effect.

The Battle of Midway began on June 4, 1942. During the battle, four Japanese aircraft carriers that had participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor and one cruiser were sunk at the cost of one American carrier and one destroyer.

Today is the 26th Anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre in Beijing, China.

Jim Galloway was in Beijing during the protests and crackdown and writes about it at the AJC Political Insider Blog.

Georgia Politics

Qualifying ended in the quartet of State House Special Elections being held July 14, 2015. One last candidate entered in House District 155, which was formerly held by State Rep. Jay Roberts (R-Ocilla). Republican Farmer Clay Pirkle of Sycamore, Georgia rounded out the field.

Click here for our listing of candidates in the State House Special Elections.

Hiram, Georgia will elect Mayor and at-large Council Posts 1 and 2 on November 3, 2015 with qualifying Monday, August 31, 2015 through Friday, September 4, 2015 from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM at Hiram City Hall. Qualification Fees are set $270 for Mayor and $90 for Council.

Gwinnett County Commissioner Lynette Howard has been appointed Chair of the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia’s 2015-16 Economic Development and Transportation Committee Policy Committee.

Ground Control to Major Spencer

I may have once thought State Rep. Jason Spencer (R-Woodbine) to be maybe the slightest bit of a space cadet, but then he went and passed legislation to eliminate the use of state funds in implementing or promoting Obamacare and then he passed legislation to extend the civil statute of limitations for victims of childhood sexual abuse and I’ve got to admit that he’s become quite an effective legislator on issues that aren’t necessarily on the radar screen.

This morning, Spencer sent a press release announcing that the Camden County Commission has put some money on the table to move forward in building Spaceport Camden.

On June 3, 2015, The Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved an option agreement to purchase 4,011 acres, more or less. The subject property was the former location where the world’s most powerful rocket motor was test fired in the 1960’s. The county will be commencing soon the next milestone of the project where by the Federal Aviation Administration prepares an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to address the potential environmental impacts of constructing and operating a commercial launch site in Camden County, Georgia. “This exciting announcement advances the project forward and aligns with the county’s vision of developing a world-class spaceport,” stated Steve Howard, County Administrator.

So when you think of Jason Spencer, even if he’s promoting something that sounds dubious, think more like this:

and less like this:

Judicial Indiscretion

Former Glynn County Chief Judge Amanda Williams has been indicted by a Fulton County Grand Jury on charges of making a false statement and violating her oath of office by making a false statement.

Former Brunswick Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Amanda Williams was indicted Wednesday by a Fulton County Grand Jury for allegedly lying about a drug court sentence during a 2011 investigation by the state Judicial Qualifications Commission.

The indictment comes more than three years after the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office was asked to investigate Williams for potential criminal charges.

Williams resigned from the bench in January 2012 amid allegations of ethics violations by the commission in a 12- count report released in November 2011. Among other things, the report accused Williams of acting with “tyrannical partiality,” failing to remove herself from cases in which her lawyer family members were involved, showing favoritism from the bench and giving drug court participants unlawful indefinite sentences.

In February 2012, a little more than a month after her resignation and on the heels of the qualifications commission’s allegations, state Attorney General Sam Olens appointed the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office to investigate Williams.

Former Chatham County Probate Court Chief Clerk Kim Birge plead not guilty to charges of embezzlement.

The judge noted “a confession to a gambling addiction problem” in Birge’s probation workup, later directing her to refrain from any gambling activity as a condition of her pre-trial release. He also prohibited her from any alcohol use during the pre-trial period as well as directing a mental health and substance abuse evaluations.

Birge was named May 18 in a five-count indictment including four counts of mail fraud by using the mail to defraud Chatham County out of $700,000 between January 2011 and November 2014, then using the cash for her own benefit.

A fifth count charged federal program fraud alleging she stole about $767,218 between Jan. 1, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2014, from Chatham County involving a federal grant.

The count included the same funds and time frame as the mail fraud counts.

Judges Doing Good

Lest you think judges are all up to no good, Gwinnett County Chair Charlotte Nash write in Gwinnett Magazine about the results the county is getting from accountability courts.

Our adult drug court started in 2005 with Judge William M. Ray presiding, later succeeded by Judge Tom Davis in 2012. We added a second court, led by Judge Kathryn Schrader, last year. To date, the program has graduated 178 participants. We formed a juvenile drug court in 2013 with Judge Robert Waller presiding. That program has graduated 12 participants so far.

Gwinnett also began a DUI court in 2005 that has graduated 373 participants. A second court was added in 2006. The DUI Court program provides intensive alcohol treatment with judicial oversight to multiple DUI offenders. Chief State Court Judge Pamela South and Judge Carla Brown have both overseen DUI Court in the past, while Judge Iannazzone and Judge Shawn Bratton preside over the two divisions of DUI Court today.

In 2013, we formed a mental health court, led by Judge Karen E. Beyers, which has graduated four participants to date. Mental health treatment providers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and community advocates work together to provide treatment rather than punishment. It targets offenders whose crime would not have occurred had it not been for their mental illness. It links participants to services such as counseling and treatment as well as needed social services such as Social Security, housing, substance abuse treatment, and employment.

Gwinnett also has a parent accountability court, led by Judge Kathryn Schrader and director Kristen Howard, along with the Georgia Division of Child Support Services. Its goal is to educate and equip participants to be better providers, putting their children first, building better families, and preventing recidivism. Collaboration between the judiciary, the business community, nonprofits, and the faith community has demonstrated success statewide in reducing outstanding child support obligations, improving family dynamics, saving the state the high cost of incarceration, and reducing the need for public assistance and public medical care. Five participants have graduated since this court was set up last year.

Our newest such program is a veterans’ treatment court that began in January with Judge Karen Beyers presiding. It links participants to VA benefits and provides substance abuse and mental health treatment to U.S. military veterans who have committed felony crimes due to mental illness or drug/alcohol addiction.

Overall, these programs are making in difference in Gwinnett County by offering appropriate treatment instead of punishment. It saves money in the long run and reduces return trips to our jail and prison. Please join me in saluting all the dedicated individuals who make it work.