Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for July 19, 2024

Union General Irvin McDowell’s forces engaged Confederates under General Pierre G.T. Beauregard and General Joseph Johnston at the First Battle of Manassas/Bull Run on July 21, 1861.

On July 20, 1864, the Battle of Peachtree Creek took place in Atlanta.

On July 21, 1868, the Georgia General Assembly ratified the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution as a condition for readmission.

On July 19, 1879, Griffin, Georgia native John Henry “Doc” Holliday killed Mike Gordon after Gordon shot up Holliday’s saloon in Las Vegas, New Mexico.

Ernest Miller Hemingway was born on July 21, 1899 in Oak Park, Illinois. As it happens, there is a Rehm Park in the city of Oak Park, Illinois.

Sir Edmund Hillary was born on July 20, 1919 in Auckland, New Zealand. He and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay became the first to summit Mount Everest on May 29, 1953.

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first people to set foot on the moon.

When the lunar module lands at 4:18 p.m EDT, only 30 seconds of fuel remain. Armstrong radios “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.” Mission control erupts in celebration as the tension breaks, and a controller tells the crew “You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue, we’re breathing again.”

At 10:56 p.m. EDT Armstrong is ready to plant the first human foot on another world. With more than half a billion people watching on television, he climbs down the ladder and proclaims: “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Aldrin joins him shortly, and offers a simple but powerful description of the lunar surface: “magnificent desolation.” They explore the surface for two and a half hours, collecting samples and taking photographs.

They leave behind an American flag, a patch honoring the fallen Apollo 1 crew, and a plaque on one of Eagle’s legs. It reads, “Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the moon. July 1969 A.D. We came in peace for all mankind.”

Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton gave the speech nominating Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis for President on July 20, 1988 at the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta.

On July 21, 1988, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis accepted the Democratic nomination for President at the National Convention in Atlanta.

Clinton’s performance was widely panned.

[Clinton] bombed so badly that there was speculation it might spoil his political future.

The prime-time speech would be a perfect opportunity for Clinton to regain some of the ground he’d lost to Gore and to reestablish himself as the one to watch from the party’s moderate/Southern wing.

But he blew it. The speech he delivered was long – 33 minutes, or twice the expected length – and mechanical. It only took a few minutes for convention delegates to tune him out, as the din of their conversations began drowning him out on television. Eventually, the broadcast networks began cutting away from his speech, with commentators noting the crowd’s complete lack of interest. The lowlight came when Clinton uttered the words “In closing,” prompting a spontaneous round of sarcastic cheers from the audience. His home state paper summed it up this way:

ATLANTA Gov. Bill Clinton’s big national moment his prime time speech Wednesday night in nomination of Michael Dukakis was an unmitigated disaster.

The Los Angeles Times has a great contemporaneous take on the speech.

Note: President Trump spoke at the Republican National Convention for 93 minutes, nearly three times as long as Clinton in 1988 and the longest convention acceptance speech ever.

The 1996 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony was held on July 19, 1996 and competition started the next day.

The Georgia State Quarter was released on July 19, 1999.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

The Official State Dog of Georgia, the Adoptable Dog, is recognized among the official state animals by the Ledger-Enquirer.

Former President Donald Trump told RNC delegates he met with the family of slain Georgia student Laken Riley, according to the AJC.

Addressing more than 2,000 GOP delegates on the last night of the Republican National Convention, Trump called the Augusta University student “brilliant” and said he had met with the 22-year-old’s “wonderful family.”

“She was so proud of being first in her class,” the former president said. “(She) was out for a jog on the campus of the University of Georgia when she was assaulted, beaten and horrifically killed.”

“Yet another American life was stolen by a criminal alien set free by this administration,” Trump said after referencing several other high-profile homicides in which the victims were allegedly killed by people in the country illegally.

Thursday wasn’t the first time Riley’s name was mentioned during the four-day convention. U.S. Sen Ted Cruz, R-Texas, also referenced Riley during his speech on immigration Tuesday night.

UGA officials this week said they had committed more than $7 million for safety enhancements following Riley’s killing, which stunned the campus community.

More Convention coverage from the AJC:

A pair of familiar Georgia faces peeked behind Donald Trump at his VIP box at the Republican National Convention this week. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper beamed in Trump’s backdrop as GOP speakers touted his record.

Harper and Jones are both considered potential candidates for higher office; Jones for governor, Harper for the U.S. Senate or a federal post. But they were far from the only ambitious Georgia Republicans sharpening their links to Trump’s inner circle and most devoted activists this week.

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene also spent time in Trump’s VIP box and delivered a red-meat speech to delegates on Monday. Former U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, a potential contender for the Senate or governor, crisscrossed Milwaukee outlining her vision for the party.

“We want everyone in. We want to have a dialogue. We welcome debate. We abhor cancellation, and we want to make sure that people feel like there is a place for them,” Loeffler said as a guest on “Politically Georgia.”

“Georgia is a swing state, and that’s important to President Trump,” Greene said from the floor of the RNC. “He loves Georgia and we’ll be fighting for him to win in November.”

Gov. Brian Kemp, too, has made the rounds in Milwaukee, making clear he supports the “Republican ticket” despite his tortured relationship with Trump. The term-limited governor loaded his calendar with meetings and media interviews as he charts his next step.

U.S. Rep. MIke Collins, R-Jackson, [] electrified Georgia’s GOP delegation with a fiery speech about achieving Trump’s priorities in Congress. The goal, he said, is to elect enough MAGA devotees to Congress that Trump won’t need executive orders to enact his agenda.

“By God,” Collins said in an interview, “we’re going to pass some laws.”

He’s also seemingly one of the few prominent Georgia Republicans not positioning themselves for a higher office. In a rarity, Collins issued a flat “no” when asked on “Politically Georgia” whether he’s joining the ranks of other rising Georgia Republicans seeking statewide office in two years.

“The only thing I’m planning to run is to continue running hard in Washington as the 10th District congressional representative.”

The AJC spoke to Georgia delegates to the Republican National Convention.

Governor Brian Kemp released new information about $1.5 billion in state infrastructure spending in the FY 2024 budget, according to a Press Release.

Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced new details for the historic $1.5 billion investment in transportation infrastructure around the state included in the Amended Fiscal Year 2024 budget. This funding will advance transportation projects reviewed by the State Transportation Board today during its monthly meeting while also serving as a down payment for future expansion as Georgia continues to experience record job and population growth.

“Over the last few years, we’ve welcomed unprecedented job creation to all regions of the Peach State, and this funding will ensure our already reliable infrastructure network can meet the needs of that incredible growth,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “I want to thank the Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House, and members of the General Assembly for their support of this generational investment as we work together to keep Georgia the best state for opportunity. In the months and years ahead, hardworking Georgians will see further improvements to the roads and bridges they drive each day.”

First announced during the 2024 Legislative Session, this investment will more than double the state’s funding to cities and counties for local transportation infrastructure, provide an increase in funding for general aviation airports, resurface more state highways, accelerate the completion of key transportation projects already underway, and kickstart new strategic projects to prepare for Georgia’s future. Below is a summary of how the $1.5 billion will be spent:

Local Roads Funding ($250 million) – more than doubling State funding for every city and county for local transportation investments;

Capital Construction ($593 million) – increasing GDOT’s capital construction program by 58 percent to help manage cost increases due to inflation and expediting projects in GDOT’s existing pipeline of projects. Funding will help accelerate 24 projects by a total of 43 years;

Capital Maintenance ($50 million) – increasing GDOT’s capital maintenance budget by 32 percent to resurface state highways around the state;

Airport Aid ($98 million) – advancing improvements at various general aviation airports; and

Freight Program ($500 million) – funding a new program that includes 18 projects devoted to freight-carrying infrastructure which will improve efficiency, safety and reliability for the transportation of goods across Georgia.

“As the No. 1 state to build and grow a business, Georgia is not slowing down in our goal to increase economic opportunities,” said Lt. Governor Burt Jones. “Investing surplus budget funds in existing and future transportation infrastructure is critical to ensure our businesses can expand, goods and services can be transported, and our citizens arrive safely to their destinations. I want to thank Governor Kemp, Speaker Burns and Commissioner McMurry for their partnership to keep Georgia moving forward.”

“Over the last several years, Georgia has witnessed unprecedented growth and development in every corner of the state,” said Speaker of the House Jon Burns. “This historic growth presents a significant opportunity to strengthen and secure our roads, bridges, and economic development centers that will face increased demand for the foreseeable future. We’re proud of the $1.5 billion investment in our critical infrastructure across Georgia and look forward to keeping our state and economy moving.”

For more information on the $1.5 billion investment in Georgia’s transportation infrastructure and individual projects, click here or visit GDOT’s web page at https://ssf-gdot.hub.arcgis.com/.

Governor Kemp will lead a trade mission to Italy, according to a Press Release.

Governor Brian P. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp today announced they will lead an international mission to Italy to strengthen existing economic ties and develop new partnerships that will bring further opportunities to hardworking Georgians.

“For decades, Georgia has enjoyed close economic and cultural ties to Italy,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “Marty and I look forward to building on that foundation of success during this trip and bringing our message of the Georgia Way to job creators looking to locate or potentially expand operations in the No. 1 state for business.”

The Governor and First Lady, as well as representatives from the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), will conduct meetings with existing industries operating or under construction in Georgia. Notable Italian companies already employing hardworking Georgians and on the itinerary include La Regina di San Marzano, Beretta, Elemaster, Pirelli, Luxottica, TMC Transformers, Aquafil, Epta, and MAPEI Group. The last gubernatorial economic development mission to Italy was led by Governor Nathan Deal in 2017.

Italy-Georgia Connection at a Glance

The State of Georgia has had continuous representation in Europe since 1973. Italy is a top 15 trade partner for the State of Georgia, with $3.4 billion in total trade moving between Georgia’s global gateways and Italy in 2023. Italy was also in the list of top 10 sources for international investment in Fiscal Year 2023, and Italian companies have invested more than $411 million in Georgia since 2010 through projects with state involvement. An estimated 90 Italian-owned facilities support approximately 5,000 jobs for hardworking Georgians across the state.

Full Itinerary

La Regina di San Marzano
In 2020, the company announced they would locate its first U.S. processing facility in Alma, Georgia, to manufacture pasta sauce from its world-famous San Marzano tomatoes, creating 250 jobs and investing $20 million.

Beretta Holding S.A.
Founded in 1526 in Italy by the Beretta Family, who has been leading the company for 15 generations, Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta S.p.A. is today an international manufacturer of commercial firearms, military weapons, and products designed for outdoor sports such as hunting, competition, and tactical shooting. The company currently operates a facility in Chatham County.

Elemaster
Elemaster is an electronic manufacturing services (EMS) provider that has been in operation since 1978. Elemaster U.S. is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia. This production facility is dedicated to the manufacturing of printed circuit board assemblies and turn-key products destined for rail, transit, medical, and industrial sectors.

Pirelli
In 2002, Pirelli relocated its U.S. headquarters and manufacturing facility from Connecticut, to Rome, Georgia, where it manufactures high-end tires for the automotive industry. In 2008, Pirelli added a new production line to its Rome facility, investing $15 million. The expansion provided an approximately 25% boost in manufacturing output.

Luxottica
Luxottica is a leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of fashion, luxury, and sports eyewear. Its portfolio includes proprietary brands such as Ray-Ban and Oakley, as well as licensed brands including Giorgio Armani, Burberry, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Tiffany & Co., Valentino, and Versace. Luxottica first opened its Henry County location in 1996 and announced an expansion in March 2017, adding 1,000 new jobs to the McDonough distribution center. The company is one of the largest private employers in the county. The company also invested $78 million in facilities and equipment and hired positions in administration, production, and distribution.

TMC Transformers
TMC Transformers is a multinational, Italian-based industrial group. It produces medium and low voltage dry-type transformers and reactors. In 2023, TMC Transformers established its U.S. headquarters in Waynesboro, Georgia.

Aquafil
Founded in Italy in 1969, Aquafil has been one of the leading global players in the production of fibers, nylon, and polymers used in yarn for carpets and textiles. Aquafil USA Inc was established in Cartersville in 1999, and its two plants have created approximately 270 jobs within the Cartersville community. In 2014, Aquafil invested $25 million to create its second plant and a solar installation expansion that has saved more than three million KWh of energy. Italy’s Ambassador to the U.S. at the time visited Cartersville to celebrate this expansion.

Epta
Kysor Warren Epta US Corp is an Epta Group company headquartered in Columbus, Georgia. A leading manufacturer of refrigerated display cases and refrigeration systems, Kysor Warren partners with customers to bring complete commercial refrigeration solutions to supermarkets, grocers, and other retailers across North America. They announced an investment of $27 million and creation of 200 jobs in their Columbus facility in 2020.

MAPEI Group
MAPEI Group is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of chemical products for the building industry, such as mortars, adhesives, grouts, sealants, water proofing agents, additives for concrete, and specialty products. The company also offers concrete restoration systems, products for structural strengthening, various flooring installation product systems, and products for underground construction. Mapei maintains multiple facilities in Georgia for manufacturing, R&D, and training, including a training facility in Calhoun and a manufacturing facility in Dalton. In November 2023, the company announced an expansion of their Calhoun facility with additional space to increase their production.

Four former elected officials, former Governors Nathan Deal and Roy Barnes, former U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss, and former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, co-wrote an Op-Ed in the AJC:

Our democracy is under attack — but not only by foreign adversaries.

Sadly, those attempting to erode the foundations of this great nation are Americans — in both political parties — who sow discord, deliver distrust and peddle disinformation about our elections for the sake of advancing a political candidate or agenda.

After the 2018 gubernatorial election in which Secretary of State Brian Kemp bested Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams at the ballot box, Abrams accused the governor-elect of “rigging” the election for his benefit and refused to concede the election.

Years later, Georgia was again thrust into the spotlight when President Donald Trump came up nearly 12,000 votes short in the Peach State. Even after a litany of recounts, hand recounts, legal maneuvers and countless PR stunts, Joe Biden was declared the winner, setting into motion years of fighting over “election security.”

Though the 2018 and 2020 elections are long gone, the proliferation of misinformation continues. For hardworking Georgians — who are more concerned with putting food on the table than researching the latest manufactured controversy — it’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s a ridiculous lie.

Though confidence in our democracy has reached an all-time low, the Democracy Defense Project (DDP) will work to bolster faith in the integrity of our elections system. Designed to serve as a counterweight to attempts to undermine election integrity, Democracy Defense Project’s board members, who jointly penned this guest essay, will speak up publicly to defend those who have sworn to uphold the rule of law.

To reach Georgians from all walks of life, the Democracy Defense Project will use earned and paid media to raise awareness of efforts to subvert elections and help move our state beyond polarizing rhetoric.

The Georgia board members are part of a national effort, with a specific focus on battleground states where the possibility of challenges to federal elections may arise.

Though many of us don’t agree on the prevailing issues of the day, we are willing to put aside our political differences and party labels for the greater good.

This is a pivotal moment for our nation that requires unprecedented action. Our movement will help to restore and reinforce the pillars of democracy so generations to come can be blessed to live in a place where truth exists, opportunity abounds and freedom prevails.

The Democratic Party of Georgia filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn state legislation allowing “leadership committees,” according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Savannah Morning News.

Senate Bill 221, which the Republican-controlled General Assembly passed in 2021 virtually along party lines, created eight leadership committees to be chaired by Georgia’s governor, lieutenant governor, the general-election nominees opposing those two statewide incumbents and the heads of the majority and minority caucuses of the state House of Representatives and Senate.

While leadership committees can accept unlimited donations, traditional campaign committees working on behalf of individual rank-and-file candidates are subject to limits, typically maxing out at $26,400 per election cycle.

In 2022, incumbent GOP Gov. Brian Kemp and Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams used their respective leadership committees to raise $94.6 million between them.

But this year, with no gubernatorial election on the ballot, Abrams’ leadership committee is essentially defunct, while Kemp’s Georgia First leadership committee is free to transfer unlimited contributions to Republican legislative candidates.

The suit, which seeks to invalidate the law, claims such unequal treatment is unconstitutional.

“If you have one side allowed to collect unlimited amounts of money while the other side is handcuffed, that violates freedom of speech,” said former state Sen. Jen Jordan, D-Atlanta, who led the opposition to the legislature in the Senate in 2021 and is representing the Democratic Party in the lawsuit. “The playing field needs to be even … and let the chips fall where they may.”

Kevin Olasanoye, the Democratic Party of Georgia’s executive director, said Kemp used funds raised by Georgia First to help bankroll May’s successful reelection campaign of Andrew Pinson, appointed to the high court by Kemp in 2022. Pinson defeated former U.S. Rep. John Barrow, a Democrat, in a rare contested state Supreme Court contest.

The governor’s leadership committee also is raising money to help incumbent Republican legislators seeking reelection this year in districts where Democrats have been making inroads and aiding GOP challengers in districts represented by Democrats, Olasanoye said.

“If you can raise unlimited contributions through a leadership committee … why do we have campaign-finance limits for individual candidates?” he said. “It doesn’t make sense.”

Savannah Democrats rallied to support President Biden, according to the Savannah Morning News.

The afternoon before former President Donald Trump was set to give his Republican National Convention speech, Savannah-area Democrats, including Mayor Van Johnson, gathered in Johnson Square to stump for President Joe Biden’s campaign.

Johnson, along with State Representative Anne Allen Westbrook (GA-163) and Chatham County District 6 Commissioner Aaron Whitely, criticized the Heritage Foundation-led Project 2025 and Trump’s pick for running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, while touting the Biden Administration’s investment in the Savannah area.

Thursday’s press conference was organized by the Biden campaign, which had other similar events throughout the country, including one in Atlanta yesterday. The event focused heavily on Project 2025, which is a “presidential transition project” aimed at being the blueprint for a new Republican administration.

Westbrook’s remarks focused heavily on reproductive rights and gun safety, two issues she has long advocated for.

Two Trump-appointed justices contributed the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed a fundamental right to an abortion.

“Georgians remember that is Donald Trump who is responsible for overturning Roe v. Wade and who paved the way for the draconian six-week ban Georgia passed to actually go into effect,” Westbrook said.

When it comes to gun safety, Westbrook pointed to bipartisan gun safety legislation passed during the past four years. The law toughened background checks on young gun buyers and prevented more domestic violence offenders from owning more guns, according to reporting by the Associated Press.

“For a lot of us we look at this administration and see accomplishments,” Westbrook said.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shukura Ingram recused herself from the YSL trial in Fulton County, according to Atlanta News First via WRDW.

On Wednesday, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shukura Ingram said she could not preside over the trial of Christian Eppinger. On June 8, 2023, Eppinger was severed from Young Thug’s original criminal proceeding after a former Fulton County deputy was accused of having an inappropriate affair with him.

In her Wednesday ruling, Ingram wrote that former deputy, Akeiba Koren Stanley, had been assigned to her courtroom at the time of the alleged incident.

As Eppinger was being severed from the case, Fulton County deputies seized a laptop belonging to Eppinger’s attorney, Eric Johnson. Prosecutors alleged Eppinger used the computer to communicate with Stanley.

Stanley was arrested on charges she had an “inappropriate relationship” with Eppinger. Stanley is charged with hindering apprehension or punishment of a criminal, violation of oath by a public officer, conspiracy to commit a felony and reckless conduct.

On Monday, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Rachel Krause ordered the recusal of the court’s chief judge, Ural Glanville.

Laura Khurana turned in petitions with roughly 3600 signatures seeking an Independent candidacy for Glynn County Commission District 2, according to The Brunswick News.

Khurana was required to get at least 3,098 signatures from registered voters in Glynn County to qualify as an independent candidate and challenge incumbent Republican Walter Rafolski, who has no Democratic challenger in the November general election.

But there are enough questionable signatures on the petition to compel the Glynn County Board of Elections and Registration to hold a special called meeting Monday to consider hiring legal counsel. The lawyer will help with questions state elections officials will have to answer before the petition can be validated.

Christopher Channell, director of the board of elections, said the identities of those who signed the petition have to be individually verified. So far, he said more than 370 signatures have been rejected for a variety of reasons.

Some signatures were rejected because they were not registered to vote in Glynn County. Others printed and wrote their names so illegibly they could not be read. Some printed their names but failed to sign their name in another part of the petition.

Channell said in one instance, he was able to verify the person who signed the petition but the individual used a post office box number instead of a home address, as required by state law.

“Does that invalidate the petition?” he asked. “If we don’t count them, she’s going to be short.”

Channell predicted the validity of the petition could end up being determined in a courtroom, regardless of how state elections officials rule. He expects a quick turnaround for answers on the legal questions surrounding the petition if the board votes to hire a lawyer at Monday’s meeting.

Khurana said she is hopeful there are enough valid signatures to qualify to run against Rafolski, who will be unopposed in the Nov. 5 General Election if she falls short of enough valid signatures.

Guyton City Council member Theodore Hamby retains his seat despite a “technical violation” of the municipal ethics code, according to the Savannah Morning News.

The announcement was made during a special called meeting Thursday night following an investigation into an ethics complaint made in May. The two-man ethics board, which consists of Reginald Stanmar and Robert Hunter, determined Hamby committed a technical violation. Mayor Andy Harville read a statement from the ethics board which reads in part, “There was a technical violation of the ordinance…the violation occurs due to the language involved in the ordinance. A city official shall not use his or her position in any way to coerce or give the appearance towards another person to provide any financial benefit.”

Councilman Jeremiah Chancey said he would like to see more accountability for council members and a smoother process regarding how future hearings are held.

“It’s our first experience with the ethics policy,” said Chancey. “It’s clear the process doesn’t work. It needs revision. There’s got to be stricter guidelines for us. There has to be a better framework for the Ethics Committee themselves. They need some kind of structure for how hearings should be conducted. We can do better than this.”

Justin Hitt, campaign manager for Kelly Hoffner, who lost in a tight run-off contest for the Republican nomination for the Effingham County Tax Commissioner position, lodged an ethics complaint against Hamby for “soliciting money from candidates running in the tax commissioner’s race.”

The complaint was referred to both the City of Guyton’s Board of Ethics and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The GBI determined that information provided in the complaint “did not rise to the level of a GBI investigation,” according to Nelly Miles, director of Office of Public & Governmental Affairs for GBI.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation will open a new gang task force in Columbus, according to WTVM.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp set aside $5 million in the state budget to start a gang task force in Columbus and the leader of that new operation says he is ready to go.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation will lead the effort. It will cover a 10-county area, focusing on gangs narcotics and other serious felonies.

As of Wednesday, the task force is still looking for a building to operate out of. Special Agent in Charge Jeremy Dockins says no matter what, they will begin operations sometime in August.

“There are approximately 71,000-plus validated gang members in the state of Georgia,” said Dockins. “I would say five to ten percent of those are here in the Columbus area.”<

That means anywhere from 3,500 to 7,000 gang members are in the Fountain City. Dockins says the GBI will assist with local gang cases and will also be productive in the community in hopes of preventing the increase of gang numbers.
Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman says Dockins has the experience and motivation to lead this task force.

“He’s ready to go to work. We have a lot of the same missions and goals,” said Countryman. “We think the same way along the lines of how we deal with gangs in our community. I know that he was trained right and I know that he’s going to be the right man for the job that we need in Muscogee County.”

Two organizations and an individual filed a lawsuit over delayed elections for the Public Service Commission, according to the Associated Press via WSAV.

Two groups on Wednesday sued to overturn a law extending the elected terms of Georgia’s public service commissioners, saying it violates the state constitution for the five Republicans to be allowed to serve terms longer than six years.

Georgia WAND Education Fund, Georgia Conservation Voters Education Fund and Brionte McCorkle, the executive director of the conservation group, filed the suit in federal court in Atlanta. They allege that the law passed this year also violates their due-process rights under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is the defendant because he oversees elections.

Commission elections were frozen after a different lawsuit, in which McCorkle was one of four plaintiffs, claimed that the power of Black voters was illegally diluted because the five commissioners are elected statewide. A federal district court said such statewide votes were discriminatory, which could have been a groundbreaking ruling if it stood. It would have mandated elections by district, potentially sparking challenges to statewide elected bodies in other states with large numbers of Black voters. But the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the ruling, and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to consider the case.

Anticipating that a court would order elections to resume after the 11th Circuit ruling, Georgia lawmakers this year added an extra two years to the current terms of commissioners on the all-Republican body. Each will eventually revert to six-year terms.

Plaintiffs have said it’s bitterly ironic that a lawsuit intended to force more representation on the body has resulted in commissioners getting more years on the board with no elections at all.

Commissioners Tim Echols and Fitz Johnson were supposed to run in 2022 but remain on the commission today. The 11th Circuit ruled in April that the state could resume elections. But Raffensperger had already said it was too late to schedule an election for them and for Commissioner Tricia Pridemore, whose term expires this year.

Under the new law, Echols and Johnson would stand for election in 2025. Johnson was appointed to the commission in 2021 and was supposed to run for the last two years of his predecessor’s term in 2022, before running again in 2024. Instead, he would run again for a six-year term in 2026. Echols would serve for five years, until 2030, facing voters only twice in 14 years, before resuming regular six-year terms.

Pridemore would see her term extended until 2026, serving for eight years. Commissioners Jason Shaw and Bubba McDonald, scheduled for reelection in 2026, would instead serve until 2028. Their positions would then revert to six-year terms.

Bryan Sells, the attorney handling the lawsuit, said it’s common sense that a simple law can’t override the Georgia Constitution. He said at least two previous federal court cases have also found that terms set out in the constitution can’t be extended or shortened.

“When the state violates the right to vote under state law, it also violates federal law, and violates the federal right to due process,” Sells said.

Sells said Echols, Johnson and Pridemore should each face election as soon as possible. He said the secretary of state should set a schedule including special party primaries and a special general election, with runoffs after each as needed. Sells said the primaries might be able to take place as early as November.

“The general point is that the elections should happen quickly,” Sells said.

From the Capitol Beat News Service via the Ledger-Enquirer:

In the previous case, four Black Fulton County residents argued that electing members of the PSC statewide rather than by district dilutes Black voting strength in violation of the federal Voting Rights Act, making it more difficult for Black voters to elect a candidate of their choice.

A lower federal court agreed and ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, but the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals overturned that decision. The Supreme Court’s decision not to take up the case means statewide PSC elections that had been delayed while the lawsuit was pending now may go forward.

Under the timetable the Republican-controlled General Assembly approved in March, elections for PSC districts 2 and 3 – now held by Commissioner Tim Echols and Commissioner Fitz Johnson, respectively – will take place next year. The election for District 5 will be held in 2026, and elections for PSC districts 1 and 4 will take place in 2028.

The new lawsuit filed Wednesday argues that postponing PSC elections in 2022 and again this year allowed the sitting commission members to approve the largest utility rate increases in Georgia history, putting an additional burden on ratepayers that might have been avoided had elections been held in a timely manner.

Giving multiple sitting commissioners an extra two years in office is illegal because Georgia’s Constitution requires PSC terms run for six years and cannot be lengthened without a constitutional amendment.

“The illegal postponement of PSC elections in Georgia is an attack on our constitutional right to vote and the state’s constitutional mandate to hold statewide elections within the time frame governed by the law,” said Kimberly Scott, executive director of Georgia WAND.

From the AJC:

The Georgia Constitution states PSC commissioners are elected to six year terms. The plaintiffs argue that can only be changed through a constitutional amendment, and because the legislature did not approve an amendment, they argue HB 1312 violates the state Constitution. The complaint also says the new law deprives the plaintiffs of due process as guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Bryan Sells, the lead attorney representing the plaintiffs, said their challenge to the law is “very simple.”

“The only thing you really need to understand is that the Legislature cannot, by statute, amend the Constitution,” he said in an interview.

The plaintiffs also filed a preliminary injunction Wednesday seeking to block Raffensperger from implementing the law and to force him to call elections for three of the PSC seats “as soon as practicable.”

Their request asks the judge to require elections for PSC Vice-Chairman Tim Echols’ District 2 seat, the District 3 seat belonging to Commissioner Fitz Johnson and the District 5 post held by Commissioner Tricia Pridemore. Elections for the District 2 and 3 seats are not scheduled until November 2025, and District 5 would not appear on ballots until November 2026.

If the judge agrees with the plaintiffs’ arguments, how quickly elections could be called will be up to the court to decide, but Sells said they intend to ask for one or more to be held this year. The next general election for many state and federal offices, including the presidency, is scheduled for Nov. 5.

The Habersham County Board of Elections scheduled two Special Elections for November 5, 2024, according to AccessWDUN.

The City of Baldwin will have a special election on Nov. 5 to determine a new city councilmember for post two.

The position will be elected at-large for the remaining term of three years, one month, and 18 days beginning “on or around” Nov. 13 of this year through Dec. 31, 2027.

The seat is currently empty due to the resignation of Joseph Satterfield.

Habersham County will also hold a special election to fill the district four Board of Education position.

The remaining term is two years, one month, and 18 days that will also begin “on or around” Nov. 13 of this year through Dec. 31, 2026.

The seat is currently being held by BOE appointee Darlene Hudson due to the resignation of Kristie Dover.

The qualifying period for both elections is Aug. 5-8 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Aug. 9 from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Glynn County Commissioners voted to approve a request by Brunswick to run transit operations outside their city limits, according to The Brunswick News.

A proposal for an intergovernmental agreement for public transportation services with the city of Brunswick was approved at Thursday’s Glynn County Commission meeting.

The proposal for the city to provide public transportation outside city limits was deferred at the June 20 meeting after concerns were raised about potential financial obligation to the county.

Approval of the request does not give the city permission to operate the service outside city limits, which would require an intergovernmental agreement.

City Manager Regina McDuffie said the planned micro transit service is designed to help people get to their jobs and to shop for basic needs. Some of the areas are outside the city limits, which is why a study is needed to determine the feasibility of which areas to connect with the service.

Columbia County Commissioners are considering a partial rollback of the property tax millage rate, according to WJBF.

Commissioners are considering lowering the millage rate, which is the amount of taxes you pay per $1,000 of a property’s value.

County Manager Scott Johnson says this wouldn’t necessarily mean taxes would go down.

“Assuming your house had no increase in value this year–and we reduce the millage rate–then effectively you would pay less taxes,” said Johnson. “If your value did go up, and the county lowered the millage rate, it would depend on how much they lowered the millage rate to decide whether or not it would be the same amount of taxes you paid last year or a lower amount of taxes–it would depend.”

The county uses three millage rates, including a maintenance and operation rate, debt service rate, along with a millage rate that is dedicated to the fire department.

Johnson says in effect, commissioners are trying to mitigate rising home values by lowering the millage rate – hoping to keep property taxes as low as possible.

“We live in a community in Columbia County where quality of life is good, and property values are going up. So, the commissioners have to do what they can to combat those values going up by lowering the millage rate–which we have done 8 out of the last 9 years,” Johnson said.

“So for people to think that Columbia County is raising taxes–that is actually a misconception. We are lowering taxes. Property values are going up, and that’s what is affecting the tax bill.”

Lowndes County is considering property tax millage rates alongside rising property valuations, according to the Valdosta Daily Times.

On Thursday, July 18, the Lowndes County Historic Courthouse was filled with over 150 commercial owners and community leaders who are seeing a near 82% increase in their property value after 20 years of no evaluation.

According to the chief tax appraiser, a third party assessed properties for the last three years to bring the value back to compliance with the state. Now, this poses a threat to commercial investors who rent long-term.

“People want to say it’s just business and they can afford it, even with nonprofits but unfortunately that’s not the case,” Christie Moore, president of Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce said. “So some people in our community are having to make really hard decisions so we want to be there to help them understand the appeals process and what their rights are.”

Local businesses tell WALB they are waiting to see what this year’s tax bill will look like once the millage rate is set to determine if they will have to shovel out thousands, sell their properties or lay off more employees.

The chief tax appraiser said commercial property owners have until August 12 to file an appeal if they want to possibly see a change in their new property value.

Augusta Commissioners are also considering a study of the consolidated city-county charter, according to WJBF.

Experts from the Carl Vinson School of Government tells Augusta a charter review should happen.

But it could take a year and a half and cost up to $200,000.

City leaders [are] getting expert advice on changing the charter but we’re told any changes would only be recommendations and would have to be approved by state lawmakers.

“I think it’s time we look at the charter and consider it, my concern is to make sure it’s open to the public,” said State Representative Karlton Howard.

City leaders are in favor of reviewing the city charter, but already there’s disagreement on how to get it done.

Amanda Dean was appointed Juvenile Court Judge for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit, serving Dawson and Hall Counties, according to AccessWDUN.

Amanda Dean was selected and will fill the role left when former Juvenile Court Judge Matt Leipold resigned in June of this year.

“We believe she steps into the role ready to serve on day one, and we’re very grateful to have her back in the circuit,” Chief Superior Court Judge Jason Deal said. “She has both the heart and the experience to ably serve as a Juvenile Court Judge.”

Dean has had a 20-year career in the field according to a press release from the Northeastern Judicial Circuit. She has worked as a child welfare law specialist, special assistant attorney general, child advocate attorney, guardian ad litem, and as a parent attorney.

She also served the Northeastern circuit as a part-time Juvenile Court Judge Pro Tem from 2019-2022.

Juvenile Court judges are appointed by the Superior Court judges of the circuit. Dean will join Chief Juvenile Court Judge Alison Toller and Juvenile Court Judges Joe Diaz and Amber Sowers when her appointment begins on July 29.