Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for February 1, 2023

Georgia’s first colonists landed at Yamacraw Bluff on February 1, 1733.

The United States Supreme Court held its first session in New York City, Chief Justice John Jay presiding, on February 1, 1790.

On February 1, 1861, Texas seceded from the Union.

On February 1, 1871, Jefferson Franklin Long of Macon, Georgia became the first black Member of Congress to speak on the floor of the United States House of Representatives. Long was born into slavery and taught himself to read and write. Long was a prominent member of the Republican Party, speaking on its behalf in Georgia and other Southern states. He helped elect 37 African-American members to the 1867 Georgia Constitutional Convention and 32 members of the state legislature; Long continued after his term in Congress as a delegate to Republican National Conventions through 1880. In 1880, Long’s support of Governor Alfred Colquitt showed that African-Americans could be an electoral force in Georgia politics.

On February 1, 1965, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. arrived in Selma, Alabama, where he was arrested.

Richard M. Nixon announced his candidacy for President of the United States on Feburary 1, 1968.

On February 1, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia exploded while re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

Under the Gold Dome Today

TBD Senate Rules: Upon Adjournment – 450 CAP
7 AM HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS – 341 CAP
8 AM HOUSE INSURANCE – 406 CLOB HYBRID
8 AM HOUSE SMALL BUSINESS DEV – 506 CLOB
8 AM Senate Natural Resources & Environment – Mezz 1 CAP
9 AM HOUSE RULES – 341 CAP
10 AM HOUSE FLOOR SESSION (LD 11) – House Chamber
10 AM Senate Floor Session (LD 11) – Senate Chamber
1 PM HOUSE HIGHER EDUCATION – 606 CLOB
1 PM HOUSE PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY – 406
1 PM Senate Public Safety Committee – 450 CAP
1PM Joint House & Senate GA Farmers’ Mkt and Produce Terminal Dev Auth – Mezz 1 CAP
2 PM HOUSE TECHNOLOGY & INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION – 406 CLOB
2 PM HOUSE BUDGET & FISCAL AFFAIRS OVERSIGHT – 506 CLOB
2 PM Senate Insurance & Labor – Mezz 1 CAP
2 PM Senate Economic Dev & Tourism – 450 CAP
2 PM Joint Ed & Youth and Higher Ed – 307 CLOB
3 PM HOUSE GOV’TAL AFFAIRS – 606 CLOB
3 PM HOUSE BANKS & BANKING – 506 CLOB
3 PM Senate Health & Human Services – 450 CAP
4 PM Senate Finance – Mezz 1 CAP

Yesterday, three new state legislators were elected, and a fourth race went into overtime.

Republican Sam Watson won more than 76% of the votes in Senate District 11, the lower-right-hand corner of the state. From WALB in Albany:

The seat, which includes Brooks, Colquitt, Cook, Decatur, Grady, Seminole, and Thomas counties, became open after Republican Sen. Dean Burke stepped down to become a chief medical officer of Georgia’s Department of Community Health.

Republican Johnny Chastain won State House District 7 over the Sheree Ralston, widow of former State House Speaker David Ralston. Some will consider this an upset, but I thought the dynamics favored Chastain. In runoffs, the second-place finisher often wins when the first finisher is the incumbent. Mrs. Ralston was not the incumbent, but she did share the surname of the former holder, so I’d say the runoff dynamics were not in her favor. From 11Alive:

The banker Johnny Chastain overcame development authority leader Sheree Ralston in House District 7 despite Ralston’s fundraising lead and endorsements by Gov. Brian Kemp and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.

David Ralston, who died in November, had represented the district. It includes Fannin, Gilmer and part of Dawson counties. Sheree Ralston and Chastain had advanced to a runoff, after leading a five-candidate field on Jan. 3.

Republican Charles “Chas” Cannon was unopposed for the House District 172 seat vacated by now-Senator-elect Watson. From WTXL in Tallahassee:

Before entering the district 11 senate race, Watson was the incumbent representative for district 172.

Cannon, a Republican who is an administrator with the Colquitt County Government, was unopposed in the State House of Representatives District 172 election and unofficially earned 3,428 votes.

District 172 includes northeast Thomas County, south, west and central Cook County and all of Colquitt County.

Two Republicans head to a runoff in HD 119, which was vacated after Danny Rampey resigned following his indictment. Holt Persinger took 27.9% to Charlie Chase with 25.48%. The Runoff Election is February 28, 2023. From the Associated Press via US News:

Persinger, a landscape architect from Winder, and Chase, a contractor from Winder, want to succeed Danny Rampey, who withdrew without taking office after being arrested on drug and theft charges.

One more of Georgia’s 180 House seats is vacant. Voters in House District 75 will go to the polls on March 21 to select a replacement for Democratic Rep. Mike Glanton of Jonesboro, who stepped down for health reasons earlier this month after serving 14 years in the House in two separate stints. An April runoff could follow if no one wins a majority.

Cherokee County District Attorney Shannon Wallace vacated her office when she was sworn in on monday as a Superior Court Judge, according to the AJC.

Wallace was elected in 2012 as the county’s first female district attorney and began serving the following January. Family, friends and colleagues watched as she was sworn in by Gov. Brian Kemp.

Susan Treadaway will serve as acting DA until Kemp appoints a replacement to complete Wallace’s current term, which runs through 2024. Treadaway joined the Cherokee district attorney’s office in 2019 after serving 11 years with the Cobb County district attorney’s office.

Tuesday was “Mental Health Day” at the Georgia State Capitol, according to the Georgia Recorder.

Many of the advocates wore green shirts that honored the late House Speaker David Ralston, who made improving access to behavioral health treatment his top priority in what would end up being his last legislative session.

Last year’s bill was celebrated as a meaningful first step toward lifting Georgia from the bottom when it comes to access to mental health treatment.

“The way we’re going to honor his legacy is much more than putting his name on the back of a T-shirt,” Jeff Breedlove with the Georgia Council for Recovery said Tuesday. “We’re going to pass another bill this year and another bill next year and a bill the year after that, and we’re going to make life better for peers.”

Follow-up measures are expected this session, although some of the proposals are still taking shape. Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, a Decatur Democrat, and Rep. Todd Jones, a South Forsyth Republican, said Tuesday they were working on a bill.

“The work is not completed,” Ralston’s successor, House Speaker Jon Burns, said Tuesday. “We still have work to do.”

A big component of this year’s measure is expected to deal with the workforce shortage that has hamstrung efforts to increase access to treatment and services. It’s also a priority issue for Kevin Tanner, commissioner of the state Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.

“The fact is there are not enough people in our state who are trained and ready to meet the needs of Georgians who have or need treatment for mental health,” he said Tuesday.

“We must retain and we must strengthen our workforce because it truly is a matter of life and death, because for every vacant position is an individual who cannot heal, who cannot access hope and who cannot recover. These realities are simply unacceptable.”

“We must be ready to address the demand when it comes because there should be no waitlist for people in crisis,” Tanner said.

They’re not yet singing “Kumbaya,” but Governor Brian Kemp and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens appear to be working well together, according to the AJC.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens opened his remarks Tuesday by saying he “cannot agree more” with Gov. Brian Kemp’s plan to target human trafficking. The Republican praised Dickens’ leadership. And the governor’s wife, Marty, took the camaraderie a step further.

“We must remain steadfast and committed to working alongside each other,” she said. “And if I remember correctly, the mayor so proudly said last year that he considered us friends. So I knew then we would have a great partnership working together.”

Not long ago, it would have been hard to imagine the scene that unfolded at the towering atrium of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport as officials promoted anti-human trafficking initiatives.

Over the past year, the two have seemed to channel at least a hint of the era of cooperation between then-Gov. Nathan Deal and Bottoms’ predecessor, Kasim Reed, that was the toast of Georgia’s corporate and civic community.

From Atlanta News First via WTVM:

Mayor Andre Dickens and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp joined forces Tuesday in an effort that transcends party lines – fighting modern-day slavery.

Georgia’s First Lady Marty Kemp, who has advocated for human trafficking victims and survivors since her husband first took office in 2019, was also in attendance, along with several state and local leaders.

“If I remember correctly, the mayor said so proudly last year that he considered us friends,” said Mrs. Kemp, “so I knew then that we were going to have a great partnership working together, and I appreciate that.”

Traffickers are starting to get the message, according to Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. He said his office’s new human trafficking prosecution unit has already rescued 116 victims. He thanked some Georgia-based companies for the role they’re playing in fighting human trafficking.

House Bill 135 by State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur) would make gun owners liable when their weapon is used in a crime, according to 13WMAZ.

State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D) representing District 82 says HB 135, which she is co-sponsoring, isn’t about taking away guns. She said it’s about holding owners accountable.

“They deal with gun safety and personal responsibility for the misuse of your gun,” explained Oliver about the proposed legislation.

Oliver said the bill is about holding irresponsible gun owners responsible for their actions.

“When are you liable when your gun is taken and commits a crime by another person?” she said. “I want a conversation in the General Assembly about what is your personal responsibility for your own gun when it is used in a crime.”

She added HB 135 isn’t just about criminals getting their hands on someone else’s guns.

“When are you liable when a child — who never has the right to possess a gun — is taken from your house or your car and possesses it?” Oliver said.

Oliver said while she hasn’t had a lot of hope from her Republican colleagues to take up this conversation regarding HB 135, she hopes after another year of a record homicide rate in Atlanta and the number of teens getting their hands on guns and even being shot, her colleagues will prove her wrong.

House Bill 129 by State Rep. Soo Hong (R-Gwinnett) would extend some welfare benefits to pregnant women, and has garnered the support of Gov. Brian Kemp, according to the AJC.

Under the proposal, sponsored on behalf of Kemp by Lawrenceville Republican state Rep. Soo Hong, low-income women could apply to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program while pregnant. Currently, those women would only be eligible for TANF, commonly known as welfare, once the child was born.

To qualify now for welfare, a child must be in home with one parent, or if two parents are in the home, one must be physically or mentally incapacitated. School-age children must be immunized and have an acceptable school attendance record. There also are income requirements. For example, a family of three must have a gross income below $784 a month.

HB 129 would make it so pregnant women who don’t yet have children qualify for the benefit.

HB 129 is the latest effort by Kemp to support pregnant women and new moms. Last year, the Legislature approved legislation to extend the amount of time low-income Georgia mothers can receive benefits under Medicaid, the public health program that provides care to the poor and disabled, from six months to one year after the birth of a child. Lawmakers extended the benefits from two to six months the year before.

All are efforts to tamp down Georgia’s maternal mortality rate, which for years has been among the worst in the nation.

“Living up to his commitment to improve maternal health in Georgia, Governor Kemp is proud to push for the expansion of these benefits to expecting mothers,” said a spokesman in the governor’s office.

Senate Bill 57 by State Senator Billy Hickman (R-Statesboro) would legalize some forms of gambling. It would allow the Georgia Lottery Corporation to engage in some online sports betting, and create a Georgia Sports Betting Commission. Up to nine online betting providers would be selected. It’s a 58-page bill that I haven’t yet had the time to digest, but we’ll talk about this more as we go along through the Session.

Columbus Police Chief Freddie Blackmon will meet with several organizations to discuss use of force policies in the wake of the beating death of Tyre Nichols, according to WTVM.

Wane Hailes, President of the Columbus chapter of the NAACP says it was hard to watch body camera footage of the brutal beating of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols. It all unfolded following a traffic stop earlier this month in Memphis. Nichols died three days after the gruesome beating.

Nichols’ death garnered national attention, bringing into question overly aggressive policing and law enforcement interaction with people of color.

To get answers, the Columbus NAACP branch, the Urban League of Greater Columbus and the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance will be meeting with Columbus Police Chief Freddie Blackmon.

“We just want to be on the same page and to talk with him to find out what his policies and procedures are, what he expects from his officers,” Hailes explains.

From the Ledger-Enquirer:

Blackmon said in the release that CPD will, “…remain committed to maintaining our partnership with the community in a manner that continues to promote confidence and trust in the Columbus Police Department.”

“The details and video of the beating death of Tyre Nichols are deeply disturbing. The actions of the 5 former Memphis Police Officers are not consistent with any professional law enforcement training, procedures, or code of ethics. In fact, incidents like this severely undermine the trust law enforcement officers work hard to build each day with the communities we serve.”

“The men and women of the Columbus Police Department will remain committed to maintaining our partnership with the community in a manner that continues to promote confidence and trust in the Columbus Police Department,” the statement continued.

Gainesville is also seeing fallout from the Nichols killing, according to the Gainesville Times.

[A] prayer vigil for Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man who was fatally beaten by Memphis police officers as he screamed for his mother…. drew a crowd of more than 40 people.

[Rose] Johnson, executive director of the Newtown Florist Club, a longtime civil rights organization in the city, spoke in anguished tones about Nichols’ killing and said the community must do everything in its power to ensure that this level of police violence is never visited on Gainesville.

City Councilwoman Barbara Brooks said while it is not her job to micromanage the police, she and her fellow council members will work to enact policies meant to prevent police violence, noting that the city police department has hired two mental health clinicians.

“The demand was so great that we had to get two,” Brooks said.

“You just need to know that the council is aware of issues that come up in the city and if we are not aware, then it’s your job to let us know. Not that we’re going to fix it, but we go to the various departments and find out what is happening, what’s taking place. What can we do about this from your point of view? How can the City Council assist you in taking care of these issues so that the city is safe, the residents are safe?”

Police Chief Jay Parrish put out a statement on social media Friday condemning the five police officers whom he said murdered Nichols and pledged to continue having conversations about police accountability.

The resignation of Port Wentworth Police Chief Matthew Libby has a backstory involving social media, according to the Savannah Morning News.

The 31-year law enforcement veteran’s sudden departure comes just days after a department controversy involving a rookie officer, Patrick Kersey, who left the PWPD due to backlash against a Facebook post where he stated, “God designed marriage. Marriage refers to Christ and the church. That’s why there’s no such thing as homosexual marriage.”

Kersey’s resignation and claims against Libby and other police department personnel were initially reported by The Daily Signal, a news site published by conservative public policy organization The Heritage Foundation.

Libby could not be reached for comment. His retirement letter is dated Jan. 30, meaning he gave his employer just two days’ notice. According to Davis, Libby is contractually obligated to give 30 days’ notice, but the chief and city agreed on the terms of Libby’s retirement.

The chief had a rocky relationship with previous council administration as well. In 2019, Libby was fired by Davis, then the city administrator. Davis, later resigned as well only to return to lead the city after last year’s employee walkout.

From WTOC:

“He was making maneuvers to undermine the leadership,” said Davis.

The Macon Transit Authority is raising fares for the first time in fifteen years, according to 13WMAZ.

CEO Craig Ross says nobody wanted to raise the rates, but with inflation, it was just something that had to happen. Many people at Terminal Station Tuesday afternoon say they understand.

According to the transit authority, it’s one of the cheapest rides in the state, at $1.25 each way. That price will soon change after a vote Tuesday night by the authority’s board. They approved a 50-cent rate increase. Ross says it’s mostly due to inflation. The agency says gas expenses alone are nearly double what they were before the pandemic.

Ross says the authority’s paratransit rides are legally required to be double the base rate, so those will go up to $3.50 a ride. That’s up $1 from the current rate. Mark-Anthony White says he thinks the new rates are a bit pricey.

There’s no timeline for when the rate increases would take effect. First, the transit authority has to give opportunities to the public for folks to share any concerns they might have. After that, the authority can set a date and make it official.

St Marys, one of the most beautiful places in Georgia, will hold a Special Election for City Council Post 3 on March 21, 2023, according to The Brunswick News.

The election is being held to fill the vacant seat due to the unexpected passing of Councilman-elect Danny Riggins prior to him taking the oath of office.

The candidates are Jay Moreno, who lost to Riggins in the November general election; Chad Ingram, who lost to Steven Conner in November; and former St. Marys Police Chief Mike Wilkie, who served more than three years until he retired Dec. 31.

If none of the candidates get more than 50% of the vote, the top two vote getters will face each other in a runoff April 18.