Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for August 21, 2020

James Oglethorpe and the Creek Indians signed the Treaty of Coweta Town, delineating geographic areas open to British settlement, on August 21, 1739.

On August 23, 1784, four counties is western North Carolina declared themselves the State of Franklin, setting up its own Constitution and treaties with local Indian tribes. In 1788, they rejoined North Carolina but would eventually become part of a new state, Tennessee.

On August 21, 1831, Nat Turner led the largest slave rebellion in American history; Turner was later hanged in Jerusalem, VA.

The first of the Lincoln-Douglass series of seven debates was held in Ottawa, Illinois, on August 21, 1858, pitting Democrat Stephen Douglass against Republican Abraham for the United States Senate seat held by Douglass. Expansion of slavery in the United States was the topic for the debates.

The Kimball Opera House, serving as the Georgia State Capitol, was sold to the state on August 23, 1870.

On August 21, 1907, Georgia Governor Hoke Smith signed legislation to place a Constitutional Amendment designed to disenfranchise African-Americans by requiring passage of a literacy test to vote. A number of exceptions allowed local officials to exempt white voters whom they wished to allow to vote; one exemption was for anyone descended from a U.S. or Confederate wartime veteran – the so-called “grandfather clause.”

On the same day, Gov. Smith also signed legislation prohibiting fishing on Sunday, subject to misdemeanor prosecution.

The sale of Coca-Cola Company from the Candlers was announced in the Atlanta Constitution on August 22, 1919.

On August 21, 1935, Benny Goodman and his orchestra began a seven-night stand at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles, beginning the Swing Era.

Happy 61st birthday to Hawaii, which became the 50th State on August 21, 1959; they’ve undoubtedly been receiving AARP literature in the mail for ten years.

On August 23, 1961, four African-American citizens attempted to play tennis at Bitsy Grant Tennis Center in Atlanta, which was informally “whites only.” The Tennis Center was hastily closed rather than allow them to play, but it was the first volley leading to the eventual desegregation of Atlanta’s public recreation facilities.

N/S Savannah, the first nuclear-powered merchant ship, visited the Port of Savannah on August 22, 1962. Savannah was named after S.S. Savannah, the first steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean. N/S Savannah is moored at the Port of Baltimore and designated a national historic landmark.

The 1968 Democratic National Convention began in Chicago on August 21, 1968.

More than 3000 demonstrators disrupted the Democratic National Convention on August 22, 1968.

The name of Julian Bond of Georgia, then-27 and too young to serve, was placed in nomination for Vice President during the 1968 DNC.

On August 22, 1972, it was the Republicans’ turn, as demonstrators struck outside the Republican National Convention.

Nolan Ryan recorded his 5000th career strikeout against Rickey Henderson of the Oakland A’s on August 22, 1989.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

Governor Brian Kemp announced yesterday that Georgia issued more than a billion dollars in bonds.

Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that the State of Georgia successfully sold $1.133 billion in two different series of general obligation bonds to fund new construction projects and equipment, make repairs and renovations to existing facilities, and purchase and retire outstanding bonds to achieve debt service savings.

“Georgia works diligently to maintain our coveted triple-A bond rating,” said Governor Kemp. “I am incredibly proud of our state’s fiscal responsibility and efficient use of taxpayer resources, and I commend Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, Speaker David Ralston, and the General Assembly for their partnership to maintain Georgia’s strong financial track record. This very successful bond sale allows us to continue to invest in critical renovations and repairs of capital projects all across the Peach State, ensuring previous investments in the state’s existing facilities are preserved and that the facilities continue to meet both current and future needs of citizens, support economic growth, and provide job opportunities within Georgia’s construction industry.”

The Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission – responsible for issuing the state’s bonds – approved the bond sale at its meeting today. The bond issues were sold on a competitive basis via five different bids with investors showing solid demand for Georgia’s highest-rated bonds.

The overall true interest rate cost for the bonds was 1.5242 percent, which was the lowest ever for an issue of the state’s general obligation bonds. The interest on all the bonds is exempt from Georgia state income taxation for in-state residents, and a large portion of the bonds are exempt from federal income taxes.

Three of the bids were for the 2020A bonds, which are exempt from federal income taxes. The state achieved rates of 0.21 percent for the five-year bonds; 0.52 percent for the ten-year bonds; and 1.63 percent for the twenty-year bonds for a blended rate of 1.56 percent for the 2020A tax-exempt bonds. Two of the bids were for the 2020B bonds, which are subject to federal income taxes, with those rates at 0.43 percent for the five-year bonds and 1.46 percent for the twenty-year bonds for a blended rate of 1.43 percent for the federally taxable 2020B bonds.

The largest amount of funding provides over $378 million for local school systems’ K-12 and state schools projects. The second largest amount of funding provides over $302 million for Board of Regents projects for the University System of Georgia. The Department of Transportation will receive over $152 million for roads, bridges, and rail projects. The Technical College System of Georgia will receive over $99 million for various projects.

“Providing state-of-the-art facilities and equipment to educate Georgia’s elementary, secondary, and higher education students is an important component of preparing children and young adults for future employment opportunities.” said Governor Kemp. “Additionally, by maintaining the state’s existing infrastructure facilities and renovating them to meet the needs of tomorrow, we can ensure that those facilities contribute to our state’s long-term prosperity and that prior investments were made well.”

Fitch, Moody’s, and Standard & Poor’s rating agencies assigned their triple-A bond rating with a stable outlook to the State’s General Obligation Bonds last week.

Gov. Kemp also issued Executive Order 08.20.20.01, forming a commission to investigate the indictment of Hart County District 1 Commissioner R.C. Oglesby. From Fox Carolina:

A grand jury has indicted a suspended Hart County commissioner, several of his family members, and another associate on charges of racketeering and other offenses. [Charges against Oglesby include:]

•   Violation of racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations act
•   Theft by shoplifting
•   Financial transaction card fraud
•   Financial transaction card theft

The indictments state the defendants operated Ludi’s Soul Food and R&D Carwash, which served as a front for illegal drug activity. The indictments allege that the defendants sold marijuana and cocaine in the parking lot of the car wash.

Northridge Medical Center in Commerce announced it will close at the end of October, according to Georgia Health News.

Northridge Medical Center, a nonprofit 90-bed hospital in Commerce, will close effective Oct. 31, said an official with its parent company, Ethica Health & Retirement Communities, which is part of Macon-based Community Health Services of Georgia.

The hospital, purchased in 2014, has been losing $5 million a year over the past three years, and projected a $4 million loss this year, George Hunt, an Ethica executive vice president, told GHN on Wednesday.

Last month, Southwest Georgia Regional Medical Center in Randolph County announced it was closing. “It has become increasingly difficult for small, critical-access hospitals to survive in rural areas across the country and here in Georgia,’’ Southwest Georgia Regional’s CEO, Kim Gilman, said in a news release announcing the hospital’s closure, planned for Oct. 22.

Hunt, though, said the impact of COVID-19 did not factor into the decision to close Northridge Medical. Ethica wanted to sell the hospital but could not find a buyer, he explained.

The closing will leave Commerce, in Jackson County, without a hospital of its own, and the other ones closest by — in Lavonia, Athens and Demorest — are each 20 to 30 miles away.

State Sen. Nikema Williams, Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia, predicted her party will take control of the Georgia State House in November, according to 11Alive.

 “We have many opportunities here in Georgia: Two U.S Senate races, our 16 electoral college votes,” Georgia Democratic Party chair Nikema Williams told 11Alive August 4.

“And we’re going to flip the state House of Representatives,” she predicted.

In 2016, Republicans had 56 more House seats than Democrats did. In 2018, Democrats cut that margin nearly in half. Now Democrats would need to flip fifteen more seats to achieve a tie, sixteen for a majority.

Republican Billy Hickman was scheduled to take the oath of office this morning as the new State Senator from District 4, according to the Statesboro Herald.

Justice Michael Boggs of the Supreme Court of Georgia will conduct the ceremony, and a reception will follow.

Hickman succeeds the late Sen. Jack Hill, who passed away unexpectedly last spring after representing the district in the Georgia Senate for almost 30 years. By being sworn in now, Hickman can begin working with other state lawmakers during the final months of Hill’s unexpired term before starting a new two-year term when the session convenes in January.

There were technically two different elections for District 4 – a Special Election to serve out the remaining term, and a General Primary (and runoff) for the term that begins in January 2021. Hiuckman won both.

Anne Allen Westbrook is asking for a recount in the House District 163 runoff election in which Derek Mallow was declared the winner by 20 votes, according to the Savannah Morning News.

The Chatham County Board of Elections certified the vote Thursday, officially naming Mallow the runoff winner. He effectively wins the House post, as there is no Republican challenger for the Nov. 3 general election.

Westbrook will ask for the recount because she believes questions she has regarding vote tally changes leave her little choice. She hoped the Board of Elections would answer her questions Thursday morning as they met to certify the results.

Westbrook trailed by 18 votes in initial results posted election night only to see that deficit climb to 52 votes three days later. The difference changed again this week to 20 votes.

At the same time, the number of ballots counted in the race declined by 40.

“Friday they showed a difference of 52 votes,” Westbrook said of Mallow’s lead. “What happened after Friday?”

Westbrook said a drop of 40 votes in the totals — without explanation — has her concerned about November’s elections.

Two Democratic State Representatives representing nearly 60 years combined service were beaten last week in Primary Runoff elections, according to the AJC.

Zulma Lopez and Mandisha Thomas accomplished what many in their respective state House districts thought was impossible: They ousted metro Atlanta lawmakers who each had nearly 30 years of experience in office.

Supporters said that while they respected the years of service of incumbent state Reps. Sharon Beasley-Teague and Michele Henson, the veteran lawmakers had become complacent and the districts were ready for change.

There are no Republicans running in either race, so Lopez and Thomas will each serve a two-year term.

Floyd County Public Schools will take two weeks off in-person learning to reboot, according to the Rome News Tribune.

“We are temporarily closing in-person learning to all Floyd County Schools effective at the end of classes (Friday). It is our hope to restart in-person classes at all of our schools on Tuesday, Sept. 8,” the statement read.

“We recognize this decision still may create hardships for FCS families and is disappointing for students who want to be at school for in-person learning,” he continued. “This decision was not made lightly; it was made with the support of school board members, and was determined, as all of our quarantine decisions are made, in consideration with the DPH. At no time, has FCS knowingly allowed positive cases in our schools.”

Some Georgia school systems want more flexibility on rules governing teacher quarantining, according to the AJC.

Most Georgia school superintendents say they need teachers to be designated “essential” or “critical” members of the workforce, fearing that the rules requiring them to stay at home for 14 days if exposed to the virus will quickly deplete their ranks and force the closure of schools. Rapidly spreading COVID-19 cases have upended the back-to-school season, forcing staff and students to quarantine and prompting some school buildings to close within days of opening.

The Georgia School Superintendents Association surveyed members this week, and 139 said they want educators deemed essential workers; 12 did not, said John Zauner, the organization’s executive director.

“We will not be able to operate if our teachers are not considered exempt under critical infrastructure,” one told Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey during a conference call last month, according to a written record of the meeting obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution through the state open records act.

A Kemp spokesperson said Thursday that the governor’s office had heard from “several” superintendents who want their teachers given essential worker status. “Right now, we are soliciting input from various stakeholders, including teachers, parents, and school leaders,” the spokesperson, Candice Broce, said in an email. State health officials are involved in the discussion, she said, adding: “No decision has been made. We want to hear from our constituents.”

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has launched a new task force on human trafficking, according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Albany Herald.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit, or HEAT, is focused on investigating crimes involving sex trafficking and labor trafficking as well as rescuing trafficked victims, GBI Director Vic Reynolds said at a news conference Wednesday.

The task force launched July 1 with four agents, including two investigators funded by a grant from the state Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC). The unit is based in Atlanta and works statewide with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, Reynolds said.

Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson issued a mask mandate order, according to the Ledger-Enquirer.

Mayor Skip Henderson issued an emergency order Friday requiring that face masks or coverings be worn in Columbus and Muscogee County during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Failing to wear a mask in public will result in a $50 penalty, the order says. The order goes into effect at noon on August 21.

Under the mayor’s order, businesses may refuse the enforcement of the mask mandate on their premises. Businesses that do not consent to the enforcement of the order are required to post notices at its public entrances that read “This location does not consent to enforcement of any local face covering requirement upon this property.” The notice must be clearly legible and written in one-inch Arial font.

The order also requires that face masks be worn in any building or facility of the Columbus Consolidated Government. Those who do not wear a mask or do not follow social distancing guidelines may be refused entry to government buildings and facilities in Columbus.

Valdosta City Council will consider a mask mandate next week, according to the Valdosta Daily Times.

Dalton City Council appears likely to reduce the millage rate for the municipal portion of property taxes, according to the Dalton Daily Citizen News.

Members of the Dalton City Council tentatively agreed to set the 2020 property tax rate at 2.237 mills on Thursday when they met as the city Finance Committee. That would be down from 2.482 mills in 2019 and from 2.616 mills in 2018.

Dalton Chief Financial Officer Cindy Jackson said that would translate into a tax cut of about $48 for the owner of a $200,000 house.

Council member Annalee Harlan said she could go along with a tax cut but has concerns about sales tax revenue and other city revenues going forward.

“I do think we are headed into a recession,” she said.

Council member Derek Waugh noted that many city residents and small business owners have been hit hard by the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the slowdown in economic activity that has accompanied it. He said the tax cut could provide some relief for them even if it is a one-time event.

The Dalton Board of Education will keep the same property tax millage rate as last year, but will be required to advertise it as a tax increase because they will receive more revenue, according to the Dalton Daily Citizen News.

Dalton Public Schools is receiving roughly $1.97 million in federal funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, with $850,000 earmarked for salaries and benefits for custodial staff and paraprofessionals, while another $759,000 is designated for technology, Perry said. While at one point, pre-pandemic, the system actually considered decreasing technology spending, the need for so much virtual education in the pandemic era has elevated the importance of technology.

In fact, the system is now completely one-to-one, meaning all students in kindergarten through 12th grade have access to learning devices, according to Pat Holloway, the system’s chief of staff. At a recent school board meeting, board members approved spending $124,456 for 330 iPads for prekindergarten students.

Glynn County Commissioners also voted to retain the same property tax millage rate, according to The Brunswick News.

Commissioners voted 7-0 to keep the same maintenance and operations tax rate for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

The commission also voted to ratify Glynn County Schools 2020-2021 millage rate, which is also remaining the same at 16.157 mils.

Chatham County Commissioners appointed Yvonne Holmes to serve the remainder of the term of her late husband, former Commissioner James Holmes, according to the Savannah Morning News.

Shawnda Griffin and Brian Green are running for the Richmond County Board of Education District 1 seat being vacated by Marion Barnes, according to the Augusta Chronicle.