Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for June 10, 2026

Bridget Bishop was the first person hanged after being convicted of practicing witchcraft in the Salem witch trials on June 10, 1692.

On June 11, 1776, the Continental Congress appointed Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Roger Sherman of Connecticut and Robert R. Livingston of New York to draft a declaration of independence from Britain. Language in the original draft that condemned the introduction of the slave trade in the colonies did not make the final draft.

Abraham Baldwin, founder of the University of Georgia, arrived in Philadelphia on June 11, 1787 to attend the Constitutional Convention. Baldwin was joined by three other delegates, William Few Jr., William Houston, and William Pierce; Baldwin and Few would sign the Constitution on behalf of Georgia.

On June 10, 1793, Washington, DC officially replaced Philadelphia as the Capital of the United States. To honor Washington, today we will adopt a smugly superior attitude, name-drop constantly, and speak condescendingly to those who currently live in the states we used to live in.

Rebecca Latimer Felton was born on June 10, 1835 in Decatur, Georgia and later became the first woman to serve in the United States Senate after being appointed by Governor Thomas Hardwick to fill a vacancy in 1922.

The United States Naval Academy graduated its first class on June 10, 1854.

The Girl Scouts of America were incorporated in Washington, DC on June 10, 1915.

The Republican National Convention in Cleveland became the first political convention broadcast on the radio on June 10, 1924.

Alcoholics Anonymous was founded on June 10, 1935.

President John F. Kennedy signed the 1963 Equal Pay Act on June 10, 1963.

I am delighted today to approve the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which prohibits arbitrary discrimination against women in the payment of wages. This act represents many years of effort by labor, management, and several private organizations unassociated with labor or management, to call attention to the unconscionable practice of paying female employees less wages than male employees for the same job. This measure adds to our laws another structure basic to democracy. It will add protection at the working place to the women, the same rights at the working place in a sense that they have enjoyed at the polling place.

While much remains to be done to achieve full equality of economic opportunity–for the average woman worker earns only 60 percent of the average wage for men–this legislation is a significant step forward.

On June 11, 1963, President John F. Kennedy issued proclamation 3542 ordering Governor George Wallace of Alabama to allow two African-American students to register at the University of Alabama, as ordered by a federal court.

On the morning of June 11, the day the students were expected to register, Wallace stood in front of the University of Alabama campus auditorium flanked by Alabama state troopers while cameras flashed and recorders from the press corps whirred. Kennedy, at the White House, and Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach, in Tuscaloosa, kept in touch by phone.

When Wallace refused to let the students enter for registration, Katzenbach phoned Kennedy. Kennedy upped the pressure on Wallace, immediately issuing Presidential Proclamation 3542, which ordered the governor to comply, and authorizing the secretary of defense to call up the Alabama National Guard with Executive Order 11111.

That afternoon, Katzenbach returned with the students and asked Wallace to step aside. Wallace, knowing he was beaten, relented, having saved face with his hard-line, anti-segregation constituency.

Apple Computer shipped the first Apple II computers on June 10, 1977.

Coca-Cola introduced Classic Coke on June 10, 1985.

On June 11, 1986, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was released.

[T]he most memorable performer may have been an automobile: the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California, a custom-built car revered by auto collectors.

According to Motor Trend, the first Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California—colloquially known as the “Cal Spyder”—was produced in 1957 and the last was built in early 1963. In addition to the long-wheelbase (LWB) Spyder, Ferrari also produced a sportier, short-wheelbase (SWB) model. Though estimates vary as to exactly how many were made—Cameron says “less than a hundred” in the film—approximately 46 LWB and between 50 and 57 SWB Spyders were produced in all. For “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” the filmmakers used a modified MGB roadster with a fiberglass body as a stand-in for the Ferrari. The filmmakers reportedly received angry letters from car enthusiasts who believed that a real Ferrari had been damaged.

One 1961 250 GT SWB Spyder California, with chassis number GT 2377GT, belonged to the actor James Coburn (“The Magnificent Seven”), who died in 2002. On May 18, 2008, at the second annual Ferrari Leggenda e Passione event at Maranello, Italy, the British deejay Chris Evans bought that car at auction for 6.4 million Euros, or $10,894,400 (including fees), the highest price ever paid for an automobile at auction.

Ray Charles, who was born in Albany, Georgia died on June 10, 2004.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

Governor Brian Kemp issued Executive Order #06.08.26.01, suspending Charles Brandon Fletcher from office as Coroner of Irwin County. From WALB:

Irwin County Coroner Brandon Fletcher was arrested on Wednesday, March 4, according to the Irwin County Sheriff’s Office (ICSO).

While officials say Fletcher was arrested on March 4, the Ocilla Star reported that Fletcher turned himself into local authorities.

Fletcher was a county employee until being terminated in November 2025, according to the Ocilla Star.

According to the Ocilla Star, this all comes after, “ICSO investigator Michael Owens reported that he was “contacted by [Irwin County] sheriff Cody Youghn” on Nov. 24, 2025 “about looking into some transactions that were made during the time Brandon Fletcher was employed with the Irwin County Commission.”

The report lists Sheriff Younghn as the complainant, according to Ocilla Star.

However, once Sheriff Youghn was contacted regarding this case, he said the complainant was Willis Scott who the County Finance Director of the Irwin County Commission, according to the Ocilla Star.

“The Sheriff also said he was going to have his investigators amend the incident report to remove him as the complainant.”

Below is a list of charges from the ICSO that Fletcher is facing.

• 9 counts of Felony Theft by Taking
• 6 counts of Felony Financial Transaction Card Fraud
• 4 counts of Felony Criminal Use of an Article with an Altered ID Mark
• 3 counts of Felony False Statements & Writing
• 3 counts of fraudulent use of exemption certificate to evade taxes, penalty (misdemeanor)

According to the Ocilla Star, below is a list of items that were seized from Fletcher’s residence prior to his arrest.

• Milwaukee dual bay super battery charger
• Forney easy welder 140mp Mig Machine
• Milwaukee ¼ inch impact driver
• Milwaukee fuel M18 trimmer

Early voting early ballots passed by 150,000 votes ahead of the June 16, 2026 Runoff Election, according to the Secretary of State’s website.

Democratic – 54151 – 33.67%

Republican – 106,205 – 66.04%

Nonpartisan – 457 – .28%

Total – 160,813

Sumter County voters will decide a runoff for County Commission District Two, according to WALB.

Sumter County voters will head to the polls this week to choose the next District Two county commissioner as early voting continues in Georgia.

Both candidates say they have lived in Sumter County for years and if elected, they want to find new ways to improve the community.

Calvin Sims and Shirley Latimore are both vying for the Sumter County District Two county commissioner seat currently held by Mark Waddell, who did not seek re-election.

Both candidates say citizens want more transparency from their elected officials and they want to be that voice.

Sims says he wants to focus on bringing more jobs and improving funding for emergency services.

“Job opportunities, better infrastructure, taxes we have to get a grip on our EMS services,” Sims said.

“We just want to work together for a better community that’s my slogan,” he said.

Latimore says she wants to get in office and conduct research before she announces any plans.

“Looking from the outside and looking in is very difficult. At this point there is a large concern over property taxes. What I want to do is get in there and see exactly what it is we can do pertaining to property taxes but you have to have the whole story before you say things about taxes or anything else,” Latimore said.

“We need a person that has the leadership ability to be able to communicate, that’s consistent, and one that has experience,” she said.

Latimore says citizens are concerned over property taxes but she wants to be in office to understand the full picture before making any promises.

“I’m going to be consistent, I’m going to be committed and I’m going to have the experience to do exactly what needs to be done in this position,” Latimore said.

Sims says he wants to improve several parts of the county.

“They need someone with integrity, someone who’s be involved with the citizens. I’ve been a homeless advocate since I retired, we need someone who has character, integrity, and someone who will be concerned about the people,” Sims said.

Early voting in Sumter County will take place at the Sumter County fairground from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. until Friday at 5 p.m.

Under the Revised Proclamation by Gov. Kemp calling the General Assembly into Special Session, local legislation to implement property tax relief under Senate Bill 33 may be considered and passed, according to Atlanta News First.

Georgia lawmakers were set to return to the Capitol next week for a special legislative session focused on redistricting and election ballot QR codes, but Gov. Brian Kemp also expanded the agenda to include a property tax issue that could soon go before voters.

The added focus centers on Senate Bill 33, a property tax relief measure passed in the final hours of the 2026 legislative session, and a fast-track push to let counties put a new tax question on local ballots as early as Nov. 3.

If lawmakers act during the special session, counties could ask voters whether to add a 1-cent sales tax and use that revenue to reduce county and city property taxes on owner-occupied primary homes.

Homeowners in metro Atlanta said rising property values — and renovated homes in their neighborhoods — have pushed tax bills higher even when incomes have not kept pace.

“The prices they are putting on them are causing the taxes to skyrocket,” one senior homeowner said. Another said, “I had to make an adjustment last year.”

County leaders said that growing pressure is part of what’s driving the push around SB 33. Clint Mueller of the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia said the law does two main things.

First, it removes a local “opt-out” tied to a statewide assessment cap, meaning homestead assessments will be capped at inflation for tax purposes starting next year, according to Mueller. That is intended to prevent sharp increases in taxable value even when market values rise faster.

Second, the law sets up LHOST — the Local Homestead Option Sales Tax — which would allow counties to pursue a sales-tax swap for homestead property tax relief.

Usha Rackliffe of Emory University described the proposal as a trade-off.

“Think of it as a trade-off. It’s a fiscal trade-off,” Rackliffe said.

Supporters said the money would help fund the same local services traditionally supported by property taxes, while shifting more of the cost to sales taxes paid by residents and visitors.

Mueller said his group’s analysis suggested about 110 counties could eliminate county and city homestead property taxes using a 1-cent sales tax.

“The best tax is the tax that somebody else pays. If you can export some of your tax burden to people that don’t live here … that’s great,” Mueller said.

The proposal would not eliminate school property taxes, Mueller said. He and Rackliffe also noted renters would not see direct property tax relief but could still pay more in sales tax if a county adopts the measure.

Kemp’s office said the goal of the special session action is to pass local enabling legislation so counties can plan for implementation and, if they choose, place the question on the ballot this fall.

Counties also have another local option, Mueller said: FLOST, or the Floating Local Option Sales Tax, a similar 1-cent sales tax that would spread smaller relief across all property owners.

Lawmakers are scheduled to gavel in for the special session June 17. If the legislature passes the local enabling bills, counties could move quickly toward a November referendum.

If lawmakers do not act, local leaders may have to wait until the next regular session to pursue the ballot process.

Columbus City Council voted to appoint Tyson Begly as their new City Manager, according to the Ledger-Enquirer.

The Columbus Council approved by a 7-1 vote at Tuesday morning’s meeting the appointment of Tyson Begly as the next city manager.

Councilor Simi Barnes of District cast the 10-member council’s lone opposing vote. Councilors Charmaine Crabb of District 5 and Toyia Tucker of District 4 were not present during the vote.

The council appointed Begly to the citywide District 10 seat in April 2023 to fill the remainder of John House’s four-year term until the May 2024 election after House resigned to spend more time with his ailing wife.

Following the custom for appointed councilors, Begly agreed to not run for the seat when it came up for election. The custom avoids having an unfair advantage as an unelected incumbent against other candidates.

After a months-long pause in the search for a candidate to fill the vacant city manager position, Mayor Skip Henderson recommended Begly as the new city manager at a council meeting last month. Begly replaces Isaiah Hugley, the longest-serving and first Black city manager in Columbus history.

Hugley was city manager for two decades. The council fired Hugley on May 27, 2025, in a 7-3 vote. The firing occurred amid an investigation into the city’s finance department and councilors inquiring about the awarding of a $29,000 American Rescue Plan grant to Hugley’s wife, state Rep. Carolyn Hugley (D-Columbus), the Georgia House of Representatives minority leader, for her State Farm Insurance agency.