Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for December 11, 2017

On December 11, 1777, during their movement to Valley Forge for the winter, Washington’s colonial forces engaged British troops under General Cornwallis as the Americans were crossing the Schuylkill River.

Pennsylvania became the second state to ratify the Constitution on December 12, 1787.

Indiana became the 19th State on December 11, 1816.

Governor Charles McDonald signed legislation on December 11, 1841 to prevent a person from having his or her testimony excluded in court because of the individual’s religious beliefs.

The first use of nitrous oxide as a dental anesthetic took place on December 11, 1844.

On December 11, 1872, Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback took office in Louisiana as the first black Governor in the United States.

A memorial service for Jefferson Davis, former President of the Confederate States of America, was held in the Georgia State Capitol on December 11, 1889 while his funeral was that day in New Orleans.

On December 11, 1941, Germany declared war on the United States.

Dickey Betts, guitarist for the Allman Brothers Band, was born on December 12, 1943.

On December 11, 1960, a civil rights demonstration including 8000 African-American citizens was held in Atlanta as part of the movement to boycott stores that remained segregated.

The Libertarian Party was founded on December 11, 1971 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Jimmy Carter announced he would run for President of the United States on December 12, 1974.

The United States Supreme Court released its decision in Bush v. Gore on December 12, 2000, stopping manual recounts of contested ballots in Florida.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

University of Georgia engineering professor David Gattie writes in favor of completing two nuclear reactors currently under construction at Plant Vogtle.

The state of Georgia remains in the throes of a debate that will have long-term impacts on the state’s electric power sector, its economy and, very likely, the long-term prospects for nuclear power in America. That debate being whether or not to continue with the construction of Vogtle Units 3 and 4.

Reservations about moving forward with the Vogtle project rest predominantly on financial arguments related to cost overruns. The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) Public Interest Advocacy Staff conveyed this in their report recently submitted to the Georgia Public Service Commission. While the financials of Vogtle shouldn’t be lightly regarded, a cost analysis alone fails to convey the full benefits of nuclear power.

There are other benefits — non-monetized benefits.

In recent testimony to the commission, I testified about three non-monetized benefits of nuclear power that support the decision to move forward with Vogtle. These being: resource diversity, policy resilience and national security.

While the commission’s public interest advocacy staff report focuses on current financials, what seems to be absent is an accounting of these “other benefits”. However, the non-monetized benefits of nuclear are arguably its most important benefits.

Nuclear power occupies a high ground of political bipartisanship and the middle ground of climate pragmatism. Approval of Vogtle Units 3 and 4 would provide Georgia with a valuable hedge against future energy policy shifts, in addition to its reliable, zero-carbon emission benefits.

With respect to nuclear power and U.S. national security , the U.S. electric power sector is a vital and critical infrastructure; therefore national security is linked to the reliability and integrity of this sector. The absence of a vibrant and robust civilian nuclear power sector would risk reducing the United States’ position of dominance and influence over the global nuclear energy cycle, which is the foundation to nuclear safety and nonproliferation.

Diminished activity in civilian nuclear power constitutes a security threat if U.S. influence and authority in the global nuclear fuel and manufacturing supply chain is reduced and supplanted by another country such as China or Russia. America cannot afford to sacrifice its global leadership role in nuclear energy.

While financial analyses are certainly necessary, financials alone cannot account for the non-monetized benefits of nuclear power. However, PSC commissioners can. That’s why the Vogtle decision is a policy decision, not just a monetizable market decision. Which is why the commission should continue exercising wisdom, prudence and sound judgment by holding steady on what it knows is needed, rather than opting for what is easy.

Fulton County is expected to certify its results in the Atlanta Mayoral runoff election today.

Rey Martinez will be sworn-in as the first Hispanic mayor of Loganville on January 11, 2018 at 6 PM.

Cobb County Commission Chair Mike Boyce will present a revised list of nonprofit funding levels after a previous version was voted down by commissioners.

Boyce had proposed that future grants given to nonprofits meet at least one of four priorities — homelessness, economic stability and poverty, ex-offender re-entry/workforce development, and health and wellness. Only Commissioner Bob Weatherford supported the chairman’s measure, with commissioners JoAnn Birrell, Lisa Cupid and Bob Ott voting against.

The original priority list, according to Birrell, excluded programs such as Marietta YELLS, which targets the vulnerable youth population in the Franklin Gateway area, and the Marietta Police Athletic League, which uses sports as a basis for positive interactions between children and law enforcement, though both organizations were awarded county grants as part of the funding approved by the commission.

Boyce will now ask the commissioners to consider a modified priority list that replaces economic stability and poverty with family stability/poverty, with youth programs falling under that category.

Triana Arnold James of Smyrna, current holder of the Mrs. Georgia title, will run for Lieutenant Governor as a Democrat in 2018.

James said she grew up in Smyrna and Marietta, attended Morris Brown College and later served in the U.S. Army as a computer programmer and later in legal support working for the JAG Corps. James and her husband, Alaric, have raised 12 children between them. James is also a small business owner and runs the Susan Jolley Awareness Program, a foundation to bring awareness to the prevention of cervical cancer and HPV.

Fulton County Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is holding a seminar for senior citizens titled, “Opioid Addiction: What You Don’t Know May Kill You.”

It will take place Dec. 14 at 10 a.m. at the Dorothy C. Benson Senior Multipurpose Facility, 6500 Vernon Woods Drive in Sandy Springs.

Seniors with chronic pain are susceptible to opioid addiction with painkillers. However, most seniors are impacted because their children may become addicted and/or overdose and die from opioids.

The presentation is part of a pilot initiative to address the opioid crisis. The information sessions will be offered continuously throughout the coming year to educate citizens about the serious and potentially deadly consequences of opioid addiction.

For more information, call 404-613-6385.

Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle spoke about rural issues in Thomas County.

“I’m a rural Georgia guy,” said Cagle, a Gainesville native. “I understand what rural Georgia challenges look like.”

Cagle said he wants to create 500,000 new jobs in his first four years if elected governor.

“That’s a big goal,” he said. “But I believe it can happen.”

“My campaign is a campaign of greater economic prosperity that leaves no one behind,” he said. “We’ve got to grow jobs. We’ve got to grow the kinds of industries we want.”

Currently, 20 percent of the economic development deals are being directed toward rural Georgia and Cagle wants to see that number increase.

“As governor, I can make that happen,” he said.

Coweta County approved an agreement with the state to allow the county to mow state rights-of-way.

U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia Charles Peeler says his office is prepared to fight the opioid epidemic.

As U.S. Attorney, Peeler is the top-ranking federal law enforcement official for the district, which includes Albany, Athens, Columbus, Macon and Valdosta. He oversees a staff of 74 employees, including 28 attorneys and 46 non-attorney support personnel. Peeler’s office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the district, including crimes related to terrorism, public corruption, child exploitation, firearms and narcotics.

During his time in the new role, although brief, Peeler said he has been able to see that the position allows for immediate impact in the fight against drug and gun crime, as well as the fight against the ongoing opioid epidemic.

“(We are) investigating and prosecuting those responsible for over-, and unlawful, prescription of opioids,” he said.

Peeler described the process of getting his new job as the “world’s longest job interview.” It started shortly after last year’s presidential election and involved candidacy interviews with a committee including Georgia U.S. Sens. Johnny Isakson and David Perdue, an interview with the Department of Justice, nomination by President Trump and confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

“To be nominated is an incredible honor,” he said. “The longer I am in this job, the more fortunate I feel to be in the Department of Justice.”

The Georgia Association of Educators President Sid Chapmen is campaigning for Staet Superintendent of Schools.

Georgia Association of Educators President Sid Chapman made his annual swing through Georgia last week, lamenting “toxic testing,” inadequate education funding from the state, and teacher retention and salaries.

“We are not in favor of the changes requested by Gov. Deal that remove certain aspects of Georgia’s current ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) plan,” Chapman said. “GAE has been fighting what we call ‘toxic testing’ for many years. What Gov. Deal is asking could take us back to the days of overuse and overemphasis of high-stakes standardized testing that had become ‘toxic’ to our students. The open input period from which Georgia citizens, including thousands of teachers, commented and participated in feedback sessions and online surveys clearly indicated they wanted to move on from that requirement.”

A Democrat who has announced a bid to unseat current Republican State School Superintendent Republican Richard Woods, Chapman zeroed in during comments on the ever-contentious issue of public school funding.

“With too many of our public schools still suffering the effects of the imposed austerity cuts from the past 14 years, GAE will again be calling for the full funding of our public schools in next year’s legislative session,” Chapman said. “I hear often from our members on the lack of resources available. This challenge needs to be addressed from both the legislative and economic development fronts. The affected communities also need assistance in helping to build their commercial base so monies are also available from their end.”

Chapman added that ensuring teachers receive their full raises aids in this effort because they cannot spend locally with money they do not have.

“Many of our rural school districts are especially impacted by funding, which is why the legislature must update the state funding formula,” said Chapman. “We simply must address the impact of high poverty in our schools wherever that may be. We know this has a direct impact on schools’ learning environments and, consequently, those children’s ability to concentrate and grasp their lessons. However, we must begin associating the funding with the specific and different needs between rural and urban schools.”

The Glynn Board of Education  is seeking changes to a property tax exemption for seniors.

Senate Bill 486 provides a homestead tax exemption to residents who are at least 65 years old and whose net income does not exceed $40,000. Glynn County voters approved the bill in 2008, and since it took effect in 2009, the school system has lost more than $37.2 million in revenue through the exemption.

School board members are asking for the bill’s language to be changed, because they argue that the exemption includes residents who do not need the tax break.

“In the original intent of the whole bill, it was a great idea,” said Hank Yeargan, school board member. “It’s to help retired, fixed income folks not have to pay property taxes, basically. But one of the consequences of it is that it has put a big strain on the (school system) budget … since it’s been in effect.”

Andrea Preston, assistant superintendent for finances for Glynn County Schools, said the ballot question posed to voters in 2008 was misleading and vague. The bill included more residents than many thought it did, because it defines “income” as “Georgia taxable net income,” or the income one receives after all adjustments, deductions, exclusions and exemptions have been applied.

The school board signed a resolution in October that requested local legislators to introduce a bill with a new ballot question, defining how senior citizens can qualify for this exemption.

Mike Hulsey, school board chairman, said the school system annually starts the year with a deficit of several million dollars. Senate Bill 486 takes away funds the school system needs, he said.

“It’s cost us a ton of money. It hurt most when were in a recession,” Hulsey said. “Although things have turned around some, it’s still not back to where we need it to be.”

The Firefighters Memorial Service in Savannah memorialized firefighters who died in the course of their work.

The event is somber – the name of every firefighter who has fallen in the line of duty from Chatham, Bryan, Effingham and Liberty counties is called. Big Duke, the giant bell in front of SFD, is rung for each, and a rose is placed at the foot of the firefighter’s memorial.

Dale Simmons, the chaplain for the Association of Fire Chiefs in Chatham County prayed for the families of the fallen heroes at the event on Sunday.

“It just gives a chance to remember those guys and gals that we work with every day. It reminds us that what we do is dangerous,” Simmons said. “Sometimes things happen, and it just helps us tell the families that we’ve not forgotten them and how important they are to us.”

Eric Howard won the runoff election for Valdosta City Council District 4.