Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for June 23, 2016

On June 23, 903 AD, the Icelandic Parliament, the Althing or Althingi, was established and is the world’s oldest.

In honor of the Icelandic Parliament, here’s the greatest Icelandic band ever, the Sugarcubes, playing at Auburn in 1988.

Off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina, British Commodore Sir Peter Parker spent June 23, 1776 preparing to land the next day, charged with supporting loyalists to the British crown.

On June 23, 1819, Texas declared its independence from Spain.

On June 23, 1862, General Robert E. Lee met with his commanders in preparation for what would be known as the Seven Days’ Battles.

On June 23, 1865, Georgia-born Cherokee Stand Watie became the last Confederate general to surrender.

On June 23, 1888, Frederick Douglass became the first African-American nominated for President, receiving one vote from Kentucky at the Republican National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.

Former Atlanta mayor Maynard H. Jackson, Jr. died on June 23, 2003.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

The Georgia State Ethics Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission may proceed in its action against former Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine.

Judge Henry Newkirk rejected former Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine’s bid to get ethics charges stemming from his failed 2010 campaign for governor dismissed. One of those charges dates to 2009.

Newkirk ruled that the state ethics commission should be able to adjudicate Oxendine’s case before the former longtime Georgia politician can fight the issue in court.

“Under clearly established Georgia law, any party to an administrative action must completely exhaust their administrative remedies before seeking judicial review,” Newkirk wrote.

Ken Hodges, a former Dougherty County District Attorney who ran for Attorney General as a Democrat in 2010, will serve as the new Treasure of the State Bar of Georgia.

Georgia Republican Party First Vice Chair Michael McNeely sent a statement to the AJC Political Insider about the Trump event at the Fox Theater last week.

Last week, an event staffer and I had a discussion about room access.  Security surrounding a Presidential candidate being what it is, he couldn’t relent from protocol and I left the building.

There were no ill feelings.  We’re looking forward to defeating Hillary Clinton and working together to elect Donald Trump as the next president of the United States.  Efforts made by the media to question our unity is nonsense and has no basis in fact.

Not a story, never was.

Look, up in the sky! It’s Josh McKoon!

The Georgia Baptist Mission Board has taken out some number of digital billboards thanking State Senator Josh McKoon (R-GA) for introducing religious liberty legislation.

The six billboards, which are expected to be up for about a week, read: “Georgia Baptists are GRATEFUL for SENATOR McKOON’S devoted efforts for RELIGIOUS LIBERTY in Georgia.”

McKoon has been the architect and primary supporter of religious liberty legislation that passed the Georgia General Assembly this year but was vetoed by Gov. Nathan Deal.

Mission Board Public Affairs Director Mike Griffin said that his organization wanted to show its support for McKoon and his stand, which has spread over three legislative sessions.

“He has been a leader on religious liberties and he has been a spokesman for religious liberties and we wanted to thank him for his faith and protection of the First Amendment,” Griffin said.

Campaign Flyers Gone Bad

Note to all candidates for office – think very carefully before including anything recognizable from a municipal police department in your direct mail, flyers, or other campaign materials.

District Attorney Parks White of the Northern Circuit (Elbert, Franklin, Hart, Madison and Oglethorpe counties) was apparently arrested in Hart County for violation of the Georgia “Municipal and County Police Departments’ Nomenclature Act of 1996.”

From WYFF,

In his recent re-election campaign, District Attorney Parks White took a photo with Hartwell Police Chief Anthony Davis and several police officers to use in an election flyer.

According to the Hart County Sheriff’s Office, several citizens “called him out” for using the photo without getting permission from the city council. It’s required by Georgia election laws to have the permission of a city or county’s governing body to use such photos. In Hartwell, that’s the city council.

White said he had the permission of Chief Davis and Mayor Brandon Johnson and denies any wrongdoing, deputies said.

This incident became public in May just before the Republican Primary election in which White stood for re-election.

Local attorney Lane Fitzpatrick published an ad [in mid-May] stating that district attorney Parks White committed a felony in using a badge, emblem and photo of the Hartwell Police Department without the city council’s permission.

Last week, Fitzpatrick filed a complaint on behalf of Hartwell resident Liz Parsons seeking the arrest of the incumbent district attorney, who faces a challenge for the DA’s post from Richard Campbell Tuesday, May 24.

“Georgia Law states that no one can display the badge and emblem of a police department in any advertisement without the written permission from the local governing authority,” stated the ad paid for by Fitzpatrick in the May 12 Madison County Journal. “The Hartwell City Council did not approve his advertisement. District Attorney Parks White’s violation of the law is a felony.”

Fitzpatrick filed the request for an arrest warrant against White with the Hart County Magistrate’s Office….“He (White) sent out campaign literature with a picture of officers from the Hartwell City Police Department and the Chief of Police,” the complaint states. “He did not get permission from the City of Hartwell before the picture was made. The officers and Chief of Police are in uniform in the picture and they have on their city police patches and badges.”

The request for White’s arrest includes an affidavit from Hartwell City Manager David Aldrich.

“No request has been made from the Chief of Police to the City Council for Parks White to use the City Police Officers’ badge, patch or uniform in a political advertisement,” stated Aldrich.

Hartwell police officers are pictured with White in a recent mailout sent to Northern Judicial Circuit voters. The ad states “Officers Support Parks White….Ask a law officer who they support for district attorney.

Hartwell Chief of Police Anthony Davis is pictured standing next to White and above the two is a quote from Davis in support of White, saying White has helped “reduce crime rates,” “supported officers across the district,” “made communities safer” and “delivered swift justice for victims.”

Parks White won re-election in the May Primary with 63.67% of the vote.

The Athens Banner-Herald notes that the charge is a felony.

Hart County Sheriff Mike Cleveland said White voluntarily surrendered at the county jail, where he was booked, then released on a $1,000 bond set by Stephens County Senior Superior Court Judge Robert Struble.

“I look forward to my day in court and being vindicated of these baseless allegations,” White said Monday.

White, who said he was surprised to learn about the warrant, declined to further discuss the charge.

White’s attorney, Mark Wiggins of Athens, said that despite the warrant White “can continue to perform the duties the people elected him to do.”

“As you know, probable cause is a whole lot different than being guilty of something and that’s all the court found at this juncture,” he said.

The case at some point will be presented to a grand jury in Hart County.