Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for January 25, 2022

On January 25, 1915, a charter was issued in DeKalb County Superior Court to Emory University.

On January 25, 1943, Georgia Gov. Ellis Arnall signed legislation eliminating the governor as an ex officio member of the State Board of Education, State Board of Regents, Department of Public Safety, and State Housing Authority, as part of a proposal to reduce the Governor’s power over education.

On January 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy held the first live televised press conference.

Restoration of the Cockspur Lighthouse off Tybee Island is complete, according to WTOC.

National Park Service crews began work in May.

The old paint was doing more harm than good, and they replaced the doors and windows after someone broke in.

You may notice it may not be as white as it has been in the past, but it’s a more natural look, showing off the Savannah Gray Brick.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

Under the Gold Dome Today

8:00 AM – HOUSE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT – 506 CLOB HYBRID

10:00 AM – HOUSE FLOOR SESSION (LD 6) – House Chamber

10:00 AM – Senate Floor Session – Senate Chamber

1:00 PM –  HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE – 506 CLOB HYBRID

1:00 PM – Senate Insurance and Labor Committee – Mezz 1

1:00 PM – Senate Higher Education Committee – 450 CAP

1:30 PM – HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE – 132 CAP HYBRID

2:00 PM – HOUSE Judiciary Non-Civil Smith Subcommittee – 506 CLOB HYBRID

2:00 PM – HOUSE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE – 606 CLOB HYBRID

2:00 PM – HOUSE RETIREMENT COMMITTEE – 406 CLOB HYBRID

3:00 PM – HOUSE Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee – 341 CAP HYBRID

3:00 PM – HOUSE ENERGY, UTILITIES & TELECOMMUNICATIONS – 403 CAP HYBRID

4:00 PM – HOUSE General Government Appropriations Subcommittee – 406 CLOB HYBRID

Fulton County Superior Court Judges voted to impanel a special grand jury at the request of Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis (D), according to the AJC.

Chief Judge Christopher S. Brasher wrote that a majority of the judges had agreed to the request issued by Willis’ office late last week.

The special grand jury will be impaneled May 2 and can continue for a period “not to exceed 12 months,” Brasher wrote in an order.

“The special purpose grand jury shall be authorized to investigate any and all facts and circumstances relating directly or indirectly to alleged violations of the laws of the State of Georgia,” Brasher wrote.

Willis’ criminal probe, launched nearly a year ago, is centered on the Jan. 2, 2021, phone call that Trump placed to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, in which he urged the Republican to “find” the 11,780 votes to overcome Joe Biden’s win here.

Governor Brian Kemp issued Executive Order #01.21.22.01, suspending Royce Reeves from office as Cordele City Commissioner for Ward 2. From WALB:

Royce Reeves is awaiting trial on multiple charges that stem from an incident after a crash in June last year.

The state alleges that Reeves pushed a state trooper in an effort to get beyond the police line surrounding the wreck scene.

In August, a Crisp County grand jury indicted Reeves on two counts of obstruction of an officer, violation of oath by a public officer, criminal trespass, and disorderly conduct.

The governor says Reeves is suspended after a review commission found Reeves’ indictment relates to and adversely affects the administration of duties.

Governor Kemp is prioritizing legislation to enact “Constitutional Carry,” and end the requirement for a concealed weapon permit, according to the Savannah Morning News.

He equated the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to a “carry permit” and has made loosening gun laws a key priority for his 2022 legislative agenda.

“In the face of rising crime across the country, law-abiding citizens should have their constitutional rights protected — not undermined,” Kemp said.

Constitutional carry means state law doesn’t prevent citizens who can legally possess a firearm from carrying handguns, openly or concealed, with no state permit. Currently, Georgia requires a background check before giving someone a carry permit.

Currently, 21 states, including neighboring Tennessee, allow constitutional carry.

Currently, Georgians must meet the following requirement to get a Weapons Carry License. A person must be age 18 to own a gun but 21 to apply for a carry license. The only exceptions are those who are service members and have completed basic training. They must provide proof that they are on active duty or have been honorably discharged.

Weapons Carry License applicants must be citizens of both Georgia and the United States and have no felony convictions or pending criminal proceedings, no drug convictions including misdemeanor possession charges, and no prior convictions for carrying a concealed weapon without a license or domestic abuse.

Additionally, if a person has been committed to a mental hospital against his or her will, or received drug or alcohol treatment in the last five years, he or she cannot apply.

From the Gainesville Times:

Rep. Emory Dunahoo, R-Gillsville, introduced his original constitutional carry bill, House Bill 2, before last year’s session but said he believes the legislature and Gov. Brian Kemp will move it forward in this year’s session.

“Hopefully, this bill will have teeth in it that we pass, not just a bill we call constitutional carry,” Dunahoo said.

The bill defines “lawful weapons carrier” as anyone not prohibited by law from owning a weapon or long gun as well as people licensed in other states.

“If you’re a law-abiding citizen, (that) means you’re the good guy and you want to have that opportunity by our Constitution to carry,” Dunahoo said.

There are still restrictions for lawful weapons carriers entering government buildings where there is screening by security personnel and “at least one member of such security personnel is certified as a peace officer,” according to the bill. However, a person who immediately leaves the building after being told about “his or her failure to clear security due to the carrying of a weapon” will not violate the law, according to the bill.

There are also some restrictions for school zones and places of worship among others, according to the bill.

Senate Resolution 363 by Senate President Pro Tem Butch Miller (R-Gainesville) failed to carry the requisite Consitutional super majority and failed on the floor of the Senate, according to the Associated Press via the Statesboro Herald.

Senate Resolution 363 won a 33-14 majority, but fell short of the two-thirds majority of 38 needed for a constitutional amendment on a party line vote, with Democrats opposing the measure and Republicans supporting it.

Republicans said the change is needed to clarify the constitution to reflect state law that says only citizens of the United States and residents of Georgia can vote.

“All we’re trying to do is take what’s in Georgia code and put it in the Georgia constitution,” said Senate President Pro Tem Butch Miller, a Gainesville Republican who sponsored the measure.

“One person voting who is not eligible to vote is one too many,” Miller said.

Democrats said they only want citizens to vote, but say the move is unnecessary political theater aimed at motivating Republican voters in an election year. Miller is running for lieutenant governor, seeking the Republican nomination against others including state Sen. Burt Jones of Jackson, who has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

From the Capitol Beat News Service via the Augusta Chronicle:

Miller, R-Gainesville, who is running for lieutenant governor, warned that New York City recently added 800,000 residents to its voter rolls by passing an ordinance allowing non-citizens to vote in local elections.

“We want to guard against that sort of thing in Georgia,” he said.

“The ballot box should be the most sacred, protected place in our government,” added Senate Rules Committee Chairman Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga.

Miller put the Senate on notice that he plans to seek reconsideration of the constitutional amendment when the chamber convenes on Tuesday.

Legislation to ban teaching Critical Race Theory in Georgia public schools has been filed, according to the Center Square via the Gwinnett Daily Post.

The theory is centered around the idea that race is a social construct used to oppress people of color. It was developed by legal scholars in the late 1970s and 1980s and concludes racism in America is systemic. It gained new notoriety in response to the 1619 Project, a New York Times multimedia piece that connects slavery to capitalism.
Rep. Brad Thomas, R-Holly Springs, the lead sponsor of the bill said the theory is divisive.

“As progressives continue to push their anti-American, ‘woke’ agenda, parents throughout this state have also woken up to the reality that divisive ideologies, such as critical race theory and the 1619 Project, are being forced on our children by rogue teachers and radical school boards,” Thomas said.

House Bill 888 would prohibit curricula that teach people should be treated differently because of their race, ethnicity or religion. It also bars material that would make students feel guilty or responsible for the actions of their race and other concepts of critical race theory. Parents will be able to view the educational materials given to students under the measure.

Columbus is considering an $8 million dollar crime-fighting camera and artificial intelligence system, according to the Ledger-Enquirer.

Local leaders are proposing a new citywide camera and artificial intelligence system to help combat crime — a move that would be a big help for business owners like Opoku, he said.

The Columbus Consolidated Government would spend roughly $8 million on technology that monitors public spaces, high-crime areas and illegal dumping hotspots.

Columbus Council is expected to vote on the first phase of the project Tuesday: $3.2 million for roughly 600 cameras in 33 different areas, including 20 cameras that will be moved around crime and dumping zones identified by the police and sheriff’s departments.

The city has about 1,100 cameras installed throughout the city. METRA, the city’s public transportation system, and the Columbus Civic Center utilize the majority. If the Columbus Police Department or the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office needs access to footage, they ask individual city departments, Goodwin said.

Under plans for the new system, more than 1,800 cameras would replace the old system. They would be installed in three phases. The first phase includes the 20 mobile cameras as well as the city’s parks and recreation centers. The council purchase agreement mentions Carver Park by name.

In the second phase of the project, about 600 cameras would be installed at public safety precincts and other city buildings like the health department at around $2 million. The third phase would see 645 METRA, Civic Center, public works and trade center cameras replaced at roughly $2.9 million, Goodwin said.

The Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit will recieve a $2 million dollar grant to help it address a backlog of cases, according to WTVM.

COVID restrictions have decreased the amount of court cases that can be heard. However, this issue dates back to 2018 and COVID isn’t the only reason for the delays.

“I have to say that the backlog began to grow during the summer of 2018 when we were without adequate facilities because of the flooding of the Government Center, and we lost four of our five court rooms,” said Judge McBride.

Another issue is last year’s spike in crime. Judge McBride says seven types of crimes contributed to the 137% increase in the backlog.

“Those would include murder and rape, armed robbery with a firearm, aggravated child molestation,” said Judge McBride.

Acting District Attorney Sheneka Terry adds there are 128 open murder cases being handled by the district attorney’s office.

Warner Robins Mayor LaRhonda Patrick spoke about her priorities, according to the Macon Telegraph.

LaRhonda Patrick made history last November as the first Black woman to be elected mayor of Warner Robins, defeating incumbent Randy Toms in a runoff.

The Warner Robins native and attorney said she plans to follow-up on her campaign promises, focusing on “innovation, new industry and community involvement.”

Patrick said she will spend her first month in office watching how the city operates, and plans to start implementing changes in February. She plans to hold pre-council meetings, open to the public, to discuss the city council meeting agenda as part of a commitment to transparency.

“I ran on [transparency], I believe in it and I will operate in that way,” she said. “There’s not much that happens in a city that is confidential. So I want to make sure people start actually noticing that there’s open communication with the public on things going on at the city level.”

Opponents of the Camden Spaceport will appeal the local judge’s decision against enjoining Camden County’s purchase of land for the spaceport, according to The Brunswick News.

“St. Marys City Councilman ] Goodman hopes the Georgia Court of Appeals will overrule Brunswick Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Stephen Scarlett’s denial of an injunction last week to block the purchase of an industrial site by Camden County for a planned spaceport.

Goodman filed the appeal Friday in response to Scarlett’s denial on Jan. 18 to block the purchase of the 4,000-acre site from Union Carbide until voters have an opportunity to decide in a special election whether to allow county commissioners to spend more money on the project,which has already cost taxpayers $10.3 million.

An estimated 3,850 registered voters in Camden County signed a petition to force a referendum on the land purchase.

Scarlett ruled petition organizers waited too late to ask for an injunction to stop the land purchase until a referendum is held.

A special election could be held in March if a Probate Court judge certifies the number of valid signatures on the petition.

Glynn County Commissioners hosted a Town Hall at St Simons Island, according to The Brunswick News.

A full house at the Sea Palms conference center on St. Simons Island voiced their wishes, needs and criticisms Monday to Glynn County Commissioners at a town hall meeting to discuss a proposed Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.

Density issues, traffic congestion and short-term rental vacation homes are all concerns that have to be deal with, [Commissioner Cap Fendig] said.

He also addressed the upcoming Local Option Sales Tax negotiation, the need for a courthouse annex, the ongoing search for a new county manager and the 80 ongoing projects that underscore the need for a project manager.

Julian Smith predicted the residents on St. Simons are the ones who will determine if the SPLOST referendum is approved by voters in the November general election.

He criticized a possible toll to St. Simons Island, saying some of the visitors to St. Simons Island don’t use computers, which is problematic because the county plans to bill people online to collect the toll, if it is approved.

Augusta Commissioner Sammie Sias is set to be tried under federal indictments beginning in March, according to the Augusta Chronicle.

Sias, 67, was indicted in U.S. District Court in July for interfering in an FBI investigation of his involvement with the Jamestown Community Center, a public facility run by the Sandridge Community Association, which he founded.

Jury selection for the trial is set to begin at 9 a.m. March 28. It should be Sias’ first appearance in court since an August bond hearing. His attorneys obtained a delay until this month to file motions but haven’t filed any new motions.

Gov. Brian Kemp suspended Sias from office in August, but he continues to be paid pending a negative trial outcome. His salary was listed at $17,258 a year ago plus an auto allowance and other benefits. Since September, taxpayers have also been paying for Alvin Mason, Sias’ predecessor whom the commission named as Sias’ temporary replacement.