Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for April 8, 2016

Hank Aaron hit home run number 715 on April 8, 1974 to become the all-time home run champion, a title he holds to this day.

Governor Zell Miller signed legislation proclaiming Gainesville, Georgia the Poultry Capital of the World on April 8, 1995.

The Square Dance became the official state folk dance on April 8, 1996, when Gov. Zell Miller signed legislation recognizing it.

On April 8, 2005, Eric Rudolph agreed to plead guilty to the fatal 1996 bombing at Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park.

The Masters Tournament was won on this date by Gene Sarazen (1935), Jack Burke, Jr. (1956), Nick Faldo (2nd win – 1990), Tiger Woods (2nd win – 2001), and former University of Georgia player Bubba Watson in 2012.

A local variation of the “no white before Easter” rule was proposed, which I can support. It holds that the wearing of white may commence in Augusta, Georgia, upon the opening of the Masters Golf Tournament, beginning with the practice rounds. This year, the Masters is after Easter, but often is begins before the holiday and on a number of occasions, the final round of the tournament has been held on Easter Sunday.

Erratum: It was 1995, not 1985, when Governor Zell Miller signed legislation designating the Peach as Georgia’s official state fruit.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

State Senator Mike Crane (R-Coweta) finds himself in a difficult position after comments he made regarding no-knock warrants.

Crane then said about those police raids: “You come to my house, kick down my door and I have an opportunity, I will shoot you dead. And every one of you should do the same.”

Crane made it clear he feels no-knock warrants are illegal in Georgia and an infringement of citizen’s rights.

He repeated what he said earlier about police conducting a raid at his house: “If somebody kicks down my door unannounced they will meet with resistance, I guarantee you.”

Randy Robertson of the Georgia Fraternal Order of Police took issue with the statement, writing on Facebook.

Wow. Promoting the murder of law-enforcement officers, never a good idea.

Later adding,

My issue with State Senator Mike Crane and his comments encouraging citizens to shoot law enforcement officers has nothing to do with politics. It has everything to do with my commitment and loyalty to the men and women who wear the badge, who put their lives on the line every day, and with whom I have served for over 30 years.

This is about the Fraternal Order of Police advocating and standing with Law Enforcement Officers and standing against those who wish harm on us. This is about ensuring that the members of our organization have all the information they need on Election Day so that they can choose leaders who support Law Enforcement.

Jim Pace, a competing candidate for the Republican nomination in the Third Congressional District issued a statement,

“Sen. Mike Crane crossed a red line when he threatened the Thin Blue Line that protects our families and our communities,” Pace said. “Officers often risk their lives daily taking on violent criminals. Our elected officials should thank them, not declare open season on them for carrying out the laws passed by those exact same career politicians. Words have consequences and intemperate words can have deadly consequences. It’s totally inappropriate that a state senator would double down on comments that it’s OK to shoot police officers carrying out the laws of this state.”

“I’d like for Sen. Crane to explain where in the 3rd District police are kicking in doors ‘at random,’” Pace said. “These are warrants issued by judges who studied strong evidence. At a time when liberals across the nation are attacking the honor of police and second-guessing their decisions in life-and-death scenarios, Sen. Crane has planted himself on the wrong side of this debate. His inflammatory remarks serves to heighten the tension law enforcement already faces, and I think his position should give voters pause.

“Law enforcement needs the ability to carry out these warrants to protect themselves – and the rest of us – from large-scale meth manufacturers to heavily armed criminal gangs to would-be terrorists making bombs. I stand with them, as do the vast majority of voters in the 3rd District.”

The AJC Political Insider writes that additional candidates qualified during the reopened qualifying period with the Georgia Republican Party.

In House District 3, the withdrawal of Republican incumbent Tom Weldon, R-Ringgold, initially left DeWayne Hill as the only candidate in the contest. There is no Democrat in the race. Hill remains in the race, and will face new challengers Zachary Hobbs, Jeremy Jones and Jeffery Holcomb, all of Ringgold.

In House District 52, 16-year Republican incumbent Joe Wilkinson, R-Sandy Springs, withdrew after facing unexpected opposition from former Sandy Springs city councilman Graham McDonald. With no Democrats in the race, McDonald will face new candidate Karen F. Beavor and original challenger Deborah Silcox, a local attorney and community activist who has already been endorsed by Wilkinson.

Georgia Democrats have collected $100k in out-of-state money to try to turn Georgia blue, according to the AJC Political Insider.

The Democratic Party of Georgia unveiled a new statewide organizing field program on Friday helmed by a pair of veterans from battleground states. Democratic operatives describe it as a first-of-its kind organizing effort to identify voters, recruit volunteers, rally them around base-pleasing issues and corral them into votes in November.

It’s financed partly by an initial $100,000 donation from New York investor Philip Munger, whose contribution was revealed Thursday in the party’s latest financial disclosure. Munger, the son of billionaire Berkshire Hathaway partner Charles Munger, is a substantial donor to Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and has written four checks totaling $1 million to Virginia’s Democratic party.

Jeff Moody withdrew from the election for Bibb County Board of Education President, paving the way for incumbent Lester Miller’s reelection.

Haralson County Chief Magistrate Judge Brandon Heath faces a reelection challenge from Steve Stovall.

Candidates for Athens-Clarke County Commission met in a forum to discuss issues with voters.

Attorney General Sam Olens will not offer his opinion on whether Gov. Deal should sign legislation protecting the disclosure of information from University athletics programs under the Open Records Act.

In the waning hours of Georgia’s legislative session, lawmakers approved an amendment to the state’s Open Records Act that, if signed into law, would give college athletic programs 90 days to process requests for information.

Now, they have up to three days to respond to such requests.

While he was in Macon on Wednesday, Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens told The Telegraph that his office hasn’t weighed in on the bill and doesn’t plan to become involved in whether Gov. Nathan Deal signs it into law.

“I play a bigger role in potential bills that I think strongly need to be vetoed,” said Olens, the state’s chief law enforcement officer. “There’s enough bills that they pass each year that I have legal concerns about — equal protection, etcetera — that I need to use the political capital where it’s strictly in our lane.”

Making hay while the sun shines, Georgia’s economic development officials are treating prospective companies to a “Red Carpet Tour,” complete with a stop at the Masters golf tournament in Augusta.

Industry observers say recruiters are no doubt emphasizing Georgia’s newly burnished reputation for tolerance at every turn, even though a new “religious liberty” bill is likely to come up in Georgia next year.

They may even use it to try to lure payments technology firm PayPal, which announced it was no longer planning a 400-person operations center in Charlotte.

“Timing is everything in economic development,” said John Boyd, a site selection expert at The Boyd Company in New Jersey. “The timing is opportune for those states that were going to be bridesmaids but could re-enter the fray.”

Boyd said Deal “dodged a bullet” by vetoing the Georgia bill.

Clarkston Mayor Ted Terry is proposing treating marijuana possession “like a traffic ticket” with a $5 fine.

Gainesville will postpone discussion of a “rain tax” to later in the year in order to concentrate on the city budget first.

First Lady Michelle Obama visited Burke County Middle School in Waynesboro, Georgia yesterday.

Georgia Department of Transportation is actively seeking small businesses, as well as women- and minority-owned businesses as partners for maintenance contracts.

Courts appear to be failing to report felony convictions of concealed carry permit-holders, allowing some to continue to hold permits despite losing the right when convicted.