Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for April 5, 2016

President George Washington exercised the veto power for the first time on April 5, 1792.

The bill introduced a new plan for dividing seats in the House of Representatives that would have increased the amount of seats for northern states. After consulting with his politically divided and contentious cabinet, Washington, who came from the southern state of Virginia, ultimately decided that the plan was unconstitutional because, in providing for additional representatives for some states, it would have introduced a number of representatives higher than that proscribed by the Constitution.

The Brown Thrasher was first recognized as the official state bird of Georgia on April 5, 1935 through an Executive Order signed by Governor Eugene Talmadge. Later the designation of official state symbols through executive fiat was challenged and the General Assembly would recognize the Brown Thrasher again as official state bird in 1970.

On April 5, 1962, Governor Ernest Vandiver called a Special Session of the Georgia General Assembly to revise the state’s election code following a decision by the United States Supreme Court in the case of Baker v. Carr.

On April 5, 1977, Wyche Fowler won a runoff election over John Lewis for the Fifth Congressional District, following the appointment of Andrew Young as Ambassador to the United Nations. Fowler would win election to the United States Senate in 1986, and ironically, lose his seat in a 1992 runoff election to the late Paul Coverdell.

On April 5, 1980, the band that would come to be known as R.E.M. played their first show as Twisted Kites in Athens, Georgia.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

The United States Supreme Court unanimously upheld redistricting based on total population rather than only considering eligible voters. From the Washington Post,

The case, Evenwel v. Abbott, was considered one of the most important on voting rights this term, and a decision the other way would have shifted political power away from urban areas, where Democrats usually dominate, and toward more Republican-friendly rural areas.

The court’s ruling left open the possibility that other methods of reapportionment might be constitutional. But the decision was clear that using anything other than total population would face certain Supreme Court review.

“What constitutional history and our prior decisions strongly suggest, settled practice confirms,” Ginsburg wrote. “Adopting voter-eligible apportionment as constitutional command would upset a well-functioning approach to districting that all 50 States and countless local jurisdictions have followed for decades, even centuries.”

She added, “As the Framers of the Constitution and the Fourteenth Amendment comprehended, representatives serve all residents, not just those eligible or registered to vote.”

The general population contains millions of people who aren’t eligible to vote: children, legal and illegal immigrants, prisoners, and those who are disenfranchised. Except for prisoners, they are largely concentrated in urban areas.

Unfortunately, the City of Snellville has not seen the end of its days in the headlines for unflattering stories. From the Gwinnett Daily Post,

Snellville Mayor Tom Witts is under investigation for possible tax evasion and improper use of campaign funds, authorities confirmed Monday night.

Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter said the case, which also involves the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, began after a complaint accusing the mayor of falsely swearing he wasn’t delinquent on taxes when filing to run for office.

“Search warrants have been executed at his house and his business. He has not been arrested or charged at this point,” Porter said. “The investigation is ongoing and I would expect that if we develop the evidence, we’re going to present it to the grand jury.”

“We’re looking at his personal income taxes, we’re looking at if he was withholding taxes from contractors’ or employees’ checks and not paying it to the state,” the DA said. “We’re also looking at campaign account irregularities. There appears to be some commingling of funds, that campaign funds are being used for personal expenses.”

Tomorrow morning, Facebook will be in Gainesville for a “Boost Your Business” event that includes an address by Ninth District Congressman Doug Collins (R) on the importance of small businesses.

Wednesday, April 6, 9:30AM – 12:00 Noon

Gainesville Civic Center
830 Green St., NE
Gainesville, GA 30501

Uber says the Masters golf tournament will drive high usage in Augusta this week, according to the Augusta Chronicle.

Orientation meetings filled an Augusta hotel conference room two days last week with a “ton” of Uber-partner drivers seeking to sign up for the service and learn the critical details for shuttling around thousands of Masters patrons, a spokesman said.

Uber now has a contract with Augusta Regional Airport, which is supplying a parking lot for drivers to stage, and Uber has another staging area for pick-ups near the tournament, in the Friedman’s Jewelers and Southeastern Armory parking lot at 2745 Washington Road, where Uber representatives will give out merchandise starting today.

Airport Operations Manager Tim Weegar negotiated a contract with Uber owner Raiser LLC that pays the airport $2 per ride or $300 a month, whichever is higher, in exchange for use of the long-term parking lot.

Weegar said, however, he expects most Masters guests to board “the next cabbie in the queue” rather than arrange an Uber on a smartphone.

The Augusta airport contract allows Uber drivers to stage only in the designated holding area and not in the taxi queue.

On Monday morning, the app estimated a fare from Augusta Regional Airport to Augusta National Golf Club at $14 to $18.

By comparison, Augusta cab drivers are permitted under a 2012 Augusta Commission action to charge up to $65 for a ride from the airport to the golf club.

After losing the Special Runoff Election for Chatham County Sheriff, Roy Harris has withdrawn from the May 24 election for a full term.

“It was a hard decision,” Harris said Monday afternoon.

The 66-year-old lawman was sworn in late last year to serve as sheriff until a special election could be held to replace Al St Lawrence, who died in office at 81.

Harris soon filed to be a candidate in the special election and for the next four-year term as sheriff. But on March 29, he lost the special election’s runoff to Wilcher by 22 percentage points. On Monday, he withdrew from a May 24 primary that would have led up to the November general election, leaving Wilcher as the lone Republican on the ballot.

In the March 1 special election to finish St Lawrence’s term, Harris and Wilcher were the top two vote-getters out of five candidates, with Harris getting 33 percent of the vote and Wilcher 29 percent.

But Harris’ lead disappeared in the March 29 runoff when Wilcher, a 40-year sheriff’s department employee who retired in 2014 as a member of command staff, came out with 61 percent of the vote.

“I appreciate Roy Harris’ distinguished career in law enforcement, and I wish him and his family the best,” Wilcher said Monday. “I think Roy is an outstanding person, and I have nothing against him personally.”

David Benjamin will run as a write-in candidate for Decatur County Sheriff, according to the Post-Searchlight.

Climax, Georgia will need a new City Council member after voting to accept the resignation of council member Elizabeth Phillips. The city was named “Climax” because it stands at the high point of the railroad running from Savannah to the Chattahoochee River.

The Board of Macon Charter Academy met yesterday to address news that the state Department of Education will move to revoke its charter, according to the Macon Telegraph.

Board President Ed Grant said his first knowledge of the potential closure came last Thursday at the same time media outlets were made aware.

“Prior to that, I had no knowledge or understanding that they were going to do that,” he said.

Principal Tahisha Edwards also indicated that she had not received notice from the state about the potential action prior to media reports.

The Cobb County Republican Party held a Fish Fry this weekend in advance of the 2016 Primary elections, according to the Marietta Daily Journal.

Cobb GOP Chair Rose Wing said the party was faced with a conundrum when Georgia moved its primaries to May 24. In years past, the annual Fourth of July barbecue was the event for constituents to meet candidates ahead of the primary.

“We wanted an opportunity for our Republicans to meet those candidates that are running in the primary, so this is how the Fish Fry came about,” Wing said. “(It’s) an opportunity to hear all our Republican candidates and our nonpartisan (candidates). We have a lot of people running in our judicial races, and people don’t get an opportunity to meet them … this is an opportunity to hear from those individuals running in the judicial races, too.”

The Kennesaw City Council voted to eliminate retirement benefits for elected officials.

Previously, the mayor and city council were automatically vested after taking office, and accrued benefits with each year of service. Under the approved measure, the city’s current council and mayor will not accrue benefits or participate in the retirement plan going forward, while those who were already participating— current or former council members — will still be eligible to receive the benefit. Future elected officials will not be eligible to enroll in the program.

“It’s the right thing to do,” Mayor Derek Easterling said following Monday’s meeting. “Everybody that ran in November wanted it done away with, and we’re taking actions on our promises.”

Councilman Jim Sebastian, the only councilmember remaining from the last council, previously said he was automatically enrolled but had pledged not to collect his pension.

One of the highlights of the convention cycle is the Ninth Congressional District Republican Party dinner the night before their convention. This year’s will be held at the Convention Center of the Dillard House on Franklin Street, Dillard, Georgia 30537.