Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for July 27, 2021

On July 27, 1974, the United States House of Representatives Judiciary Committee approved the first impeachment article against President Richard M. Nixon.

The first such impeachment recommendation in more than a century, it charge[d] President Nixon with unlawful activities that formed a “course of conduct or plan” to obstruct the investigation of the Watergate break-in and to cover up other unlawful activities.

The vote was 27 to 11, with 6 of the committee’s 17 Republicans joining all 21 Democrats in voting to send the article to the House.

The majority included three conservative Southern Democrats and three conservative Republicans.

A bomb exploded at a free concert in Centennial Park in Atlanta on July 27, 1996.

Police were warned of the bombing in advance, but the bomb exploded before the anonymous caller said it would, leading authorities to suspect that the law enforcement officers who descended on the park were indirectly targeted.

Within a few days, Richard Jewell, a security guard at the concert, was charged with the crime. However, evidence against him was dubious at best, and in October he was fully cleared of all responsibility in the bombing.

Former Georgia Governor Zell Miller took the oath of office as United States Senator on July 27, 2000. Miller would go on to win a special election for the remainder of the term in November 2000.

On July 27, 2014, former Braves manager Bobby Cox and pitchers Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, along with former White Sox player Frank Thomas, who was born in Columbus, Georgia.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson announced the city will again require masks, according to the Savannah Morning News.

The mandate requires everyone, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a mask indoors when you’re not with immediate family, Mayor Van Johnson said Monday morning.

Buildings that fall under this category include city-owned or occupied building such as City Hall; early learning, elementary or secondary education institutions; area hospitals and any federally-regulated transportation such as a Chatham Area Transit bus.

According to the order, “all persons entering any commercial establishment in the City are strongly advised to wear a face covering or mask while inside the establishment. This paragraph does not apply to religious establishments; however, the use of masks or face coverings is highly recommended during religious activity/services.”

According to the order, “vehicle includes cars, trolleys, buses, bicycles, quadricycles, scooters, low speed vehicles, boats, and pedicabs. This paragraph applies neither to persons traveling alone in a personal motor vehicle nor occupants of a motor vehicle provided such occupants reside together. A person who fails to comply with this Paragraph shall be guilty of a civil infraction punishable by a fine of not more than $50.00 pursuant to Section 3-3015 of the City Code.”

From WTOC:

The mandate is effective immediately, according to the mayor. The mayor said he’s being advised there are likely several factors behind the rising numbers of COVID cases: the prevalence of the Delta variant, a low vaccination rate locally, large gatherings and people letting their guard down.

The mayor said based on Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicators and threshold, the community transmission in Savannah and the Chatham County area is considered high. As of last Friday, the Community Transmission Index in Chatham County was 230. *Graphs from the Coastal Health District are at the bottom of this article.

“I’m asking people, don’t complain, get vaccinated. Don’t complain, wear a mask. And the science has been when the numbers indicate that it’s safe to remove the mandate, then we’ll remove the mandate,” said Mayor Johnson.

“We’re asking for our local business community, we’re asking for our faith community, again, to do the things that got us to the point of where we were. Savannah was able to open faster and at a better rate than most of our neighbors because we had taken the necessary steps up front,” Mayor Johnson said.

Bibb County public schools will requires masks, according to the Macon Telegraph.

Bibb County Schools announced Monday that face masks are required at all district facilities starting immediately with students returning to school in one week.

“A key goal for our district this year is to do all we can to keep students learning in person throughout the year. Based upon the latest available information, encouraging individuals to be vaccinated and requiring all individuals to wear masks are the two most effective ways we can help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Everyone must do their part to keep students and staff safe so we can have a normal school year,” said Curtis Jones, Bibb County School District Superintendent, in the release.

Information released by the North Central Health District said the Bibb County community is experiencing a substantial spread of the coronavirus, according to the release. A rise in cases in the state and nationally is widely credited to the delta variant, a more infectious strain of COVID-19.

Clarke County public schools will requires masks for anyone on school property, according to the Athens Banner Herald.

All Clarke County students, regardless of vaccination status or grade, will be required to wear masks effective immediately, Clarke County School System announced on Monday.

In a change of course, the school district announced on Monday that everyone on CCSD property — including students, employees, and visitors — will be required to wear masks. The announcement comes just a little more than a week ahead of the first day of school on Aug. 4.

The decision was made due to an increase in cases as well as low vaccination rates in the county, according to the CCSD release. The announcement referenced that less than one in five eligible children have been vaccinated and overall, only 39% of all Clarke County residents.

Governor Brian Kemp issued Executive Order #07.26.21.01, empaneling a commission to review the indictment of Augusta Commissioner Sammy Sias and suggest whether to suspend him. From WRDW:

They are Georgia Attorney General Christopher Carr, Jefferson County Commissioner Johnny Davis, and Georgetown-Quitman County Commissioner Carvel Lewis.

The panel will have 14 days to make a written recommendation to Kemp if Sias should be suspended from office. Meanwhile Sias will have his first court appearance next week on Wednesday, August 4th at 2 p.m. on the federal indictments alleging he lied to the FBI and destroyed documents.

Legal experts say to expect Sias to turn himself in before his hearing to U.S. marshals to be arrested on the charges and the hearing will set terms of his bail, of course the I-Team will be there.

From the Augusta Chronicle:

On July 6, Sias, 66, was indicted in U.S. District Court on charges of destroying or concealing records and lying to a federal investigator in a probe of the neighborhood association led by Sias that operated city-owned Jamestown Community Center.

The indictment said that on or about Aug. 5, 2019, Sias destroyed or concealed records, including invoices, spreadsheets, work orders, payments and other documents involving the Sandridge Community Association and Jamestown.

Georgia law requires felony indictments against local elected officials that involve the duties of their office be referred to the governor’s office. The official then has two weeks to volunteer to step down, or the governor after two weeks may appoint the panel.

The panel has 14 days to make a recommendation.

Georgia State House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) evinced skepticism that the General Assembly could add to its agenda in a special session this year, according to the AJC.

In an interview about his 2022 agenda, we asked Ralston about Kemp’s call to pass public safety legislation before January. Here’s what he Ralston said:

“Well, I applaud his motivation, which is that we need to do something sooner rather than later. The reality is that the clock may not help us. If we don’t begin the redistricting session until, say, early November, that doesn’t leave a lot of time before the second Monday in January. And we’ve got a couple of holidays in there. I don’t know how we’ll have enough time. What we don’t get done, if we’re able to get a few things moved down the field, we can come back and pick it up in January.”

And for those who heard Ralston predict last spring that the special session will begin, “When the frost is on the pumpkin,” we asked him when that is, for the non-farmers among you.

The answer: Around Halloween.

Some state legislators may be working toward a state takeover of the Fulton County Board of Elections, according to the AJC.

Under the new voting law that the Republican-controlled General Assembly passed this year, the State Election Board could replace a county’s election board after a performance review, audit or investigation, giving a temporary superintendent full authority over vote counting, polling places and staffing.

“What happens if this one single election superintendent refuses to certify any of Fulton’s votes in future elections?” Maggie Goldman, a Johns Creek real estate agent running for the County Commission, asked during public comment at a recent commission meeting. “That would truly be disenfranchising voters. And don’t think it can’t happen.”

State Senate President Pro Tem Butch Miller, a Gainesville Republican running for lieutenant governor, is considering calling for a performance review based on questions about ballot scanning and audit tally sheet totals. State Sen. Burt Jones, a potential Republican rival for lieutenant governor, wants legislative hearings.

State House Speaker David Ralston, a Republican from Blue Ridge, proposed a GBI investigation to look for irregularities and fraud. And Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Fulton’s elections supervisor should be fired.

“All legal and procedural options are on the table if they don’t do their job,” said state Rep. Chuck Martin, a Republican representing the Alpharetta area in Fulton. “That’s not a threat. That’s just good policy.”

A legislative redistricting meeting was held in Brunswick, according to The Brunswick News.

State Sen. John Kennedy, R-Macon, chair of the Senate Reapportionment Committee, said the intent of the public meeting, one of 11 planned in the state, is to get public input.

“This is a very important process we go through,” he said. “The purpose of this is to hear from you.”

State Rep. Bonnie Rich, R-Suwanee, told the audience it’s uncertain when a special session will be held by the General Assembly to discuss redrawing district lines.

“We want to devote this time to learn what you have to say,” she said.

Appling County Commissioner Mike Harris asked for “natural geographic” boundaries. He said half of the cities of Baxley and Hazelhurst are split into two districts.

“One side of the street is one district and the other side of the street another district,” he said. “Natural boundaries would allow for geographic representation. My district has what appears to be gerrymandered areas. We need to have our voices heard.”

Former Savannah Mayor Edna Jackson expressed disappointment in the committee’s decision not to hold a public meeting to discuss redistricting in Savannah.

“We feel we are not getting the opportunity to express what we are interested in,” she said. “Think about people, not district lines. It’s about the people.”

Tybee Island Mayor Shirley Sessions prefers not to require mask-wearing, according to WTOC.

Mayor Sessions says this means instead of having a mandate, people could see things like the “mask up Tybee” signs put up again or the “mask up Tybee” car driving around. She says the city will even continue to offer masks to businesses or anyone who needs them. The mayor says when it comes to a mandate, it’s just not feasible for the city to enforce it and that it was hard doing so when the county used to have one in place.

”We still are in a situation on Tybee where we have so many other laws that we’re trying to enforce during our season. We’re also looking at the middle of a season of potential hurricanes, so we are really trying to focus on things that we can do and that we’ve got to prepare for that are immediate,” said Mayor Sessions.

Rent costs are rising quickly in Savannah, according to the Savannah Morning News.

Across the Savannah metropolitan area, rent has been steadily rising during the post-COVID housing bubble. Between June 2020 and 2021, the average rent increased 11% to $1,200, according to RentCafé.

“Lack of affordability is just a huge trend. And it’s been an increasing trend not only in Savannah, but nationally,” said Jeff Kole, a Savannah-area property manager who has operated and managed apartments for years.

While the average income for a Savannah resident was $25,664 in 2019, according to the U.S. Census, a person would need to make at least $34,800 to afford a one-bedroom apartment, according to the Chatham Housing Coalition. More than half of the city’s renters are cost-burdened, or forced to pay more than one-third of their income on housing every month, according to the city.

Over the past three decades, the rising cost of living has outpaced income levels 2-to-1, according to findings from the city’s Housing Taskforce, which was formed to address the affordable housing crisis in Savannah and the surrounding region.

The Federal Aviation Administration pushed off a decision on Spaceport Camden until September, according to The Brunswick News.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced Monday that the final Record of Decision, which was originally planned this month, has been delayed until sometime in September.

The decision to delay the decision was due to “ongoing consultation efforts,” according to FAA officials.

John Simpson, a spaceport spokesman for Camden County, said the delay was not unexpected.

“Camden County has been working with the FAA on the Spaceport Camden EIS since late 2015,” he said. “Of course we are anxious for this process to be complete, but taking a few additional weeks to ensure FEIS is correct is worth the wait.”

Simpson said county officials are encouraged by the recommendation to grant Camden County an operator’s license.

“After the issuance of the Record of Decision and license we will begin working with the dozen-plus companies that have expressed interest in Spaceport Camden to bring jobs and industry to Camden in order to maximize the Record of Decision for taxpayers.”

Macon could host a state-sanctioned marijuana growing operation, according to 13WMAZ.

More than an acre of marijuana plants could be coming soon to an east Macon site.

On Saturday, Georgia’s state board overseeing medical cannabis approved licenses for six companies that will grow and sell the marijuana.

One of them is named FFD GA Holdings, which is based in Smyrna.

They say they’re ready to start work on a state of the art facility on Joe Tamplin Industrial Boulevard in east Macon.

They’re licensed for up to 50,000-square-feet of growing space — that’s more than an acre.

Louisville could also be home to a licensed marijuana facility, according to the Augusta Chronicle.

TheraTrue Georgia LLC, a company with eyes to convert a former Louisville, Georgia, textile plant into a medical marijuana growing and processing facility, is one of six such companies the state’s Medical Cannabis Commission approved for licensure during a long-awaited meeting Saturday, July 24.

TheraTrue Georgia LLC is one of four companies that will be licensed to operate facilities with 50,000 square feet of growing room. The others are FFD GA Holdings, Natures GA LLC and Trevana Remedy Inc.

Two other companies, Trulieve GA Inc and Botanical Sciences LLC, won licenses to cultivate the oil on 100,000 square-foot indoor growing spaces.

The facilities these companies create will grow the plants indoors, extract cannabis oil and manufacture prescription-grade products in the forms of pills, creams, trans-dermal patches and oils that are not permitted to contain more than 5 percent THC, the chemical that produces the euphoric high sought by recreational users of marijuana.

TheraTrue representatives suggested the Louisville plant would employ 60 people in direct local positions at the facility, growing and cultivating the plants indoors and processing medical cannabis oil from them. This is only part of the expected 358 direct, indirect and induced jobs in the region that would likely support TheraTrue operations. In all, the plant is expected to lead to $14 million in wages and economic impact annually and just over $1 million in annual sales and property taxes.

“Jefferson County is extremely excited about the opportunity to be part of Georgia’s new medical cannabis industry,” County Commission Chairman Mitchell McGraw wrote in a letter to this paper dated April 17, 2021. “This new industry could make a deep impact in our local economy and we are happy to be working with TheraTrue to help make that happen.”

Downtown Rome will be an open-container zone for a trial period, according to the Rome News Tribune.

Downtown Rome will become an open container district three days a week, starting Aug. 5.

City commissioners approved a 90-day trial period on a 5-3 vote Monday night. Previous efforts failed in 2017 and 2020.

Commissioners Jamie Doss, Randy Quick, Bill Collins, Mark Cochran and Wendy Davis voted in favor. Commissioners Bonny Askew, Sundai Stevenson and Jim Bojo cast dissenting votes.

The Georgia Ports Authority had a record year due to COVID buying, according to the Savannah Morning News.

The Georgia Ports Authority shattered records in 2020, with COVID-related consumer spending driving a 20% increase in operations at the Savannah Port.

“If you look at the Georgia Ports Authority over the last 15 years, our average [annual] growth rate was 6.2%,” said CEO Griff Lynch. “So clearly, there’s an anomaly here that’s driving additional growth.”

The ports moved 5.3 million twenty-foot equivalent containers (a port’s unit of measurement) last year, shattering 2019’s record of 4.4 million units, according to a GPA press release.

From WTOC:

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp says that American companies are continuing to choose the Port of Savannah as a gateway to global trade. The governor said that Georgia’s ports are a key reason that it remains a strong state for business.

Augusta Commissioners will consider a proposed non-discrimination ordinance, according to the Augusta Chronicle.

Augusta’s LGBTQ community has led the effort to pass the ordinance, although it’s intended to protect people from discrimination based on race, religion, color, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, ancestry and military status, in addition to sexual orientation or gender identity.

The ordinance creates a system of accepting and reviewing discrimination complaints, with the potential for repeat offenders to be fined or lose their business license. Cities such as Savannah, Statesboro, Athens, Atlanta and others in metro Atlanta have them.

Commissioner Sean Frantom put the ordinance, first suggested by Mayor Hardie Davis, on a Tuesday Administrative Services committee agenda.

Augusta attorney Matthew Duncan, who has advocated for the ordinance, said it covers local and state gaps in federal laws and is good for the community.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) will hold a Georgia convention in Metro Atlanta and online in October, according to the Albany Herald.

The NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Georgia 2021 annual conference will take place in metro Atlanta and online on Oct. 8-9. The conference will include many specialized distinguished speakers from the community, ranging from a variety of topics related to mental health. In addition to supporting the community by improving Georgia access to mental health care, the conference provides excellent networking opportunities, educational seminars, informative workshops, lunch and more.

NAMI Georgia is part of the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

Click here for more info on the NAMI-GA conference.