Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for May 12, 2020

On May 12, 1740, Georgia forces under James Oglethorpe took Fort Diego in Florida from the Spanish and mocked the defenders’ jean shorts.

The worst American defeat of the Revolutionary War occurred at Charleston, South Carolina on May 12, 1780. American Major General Benjamin Lincoln, who surrendered that day would later accept the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia.

On May 12, 1789, the Society of St. Tammany was founded in New York and would grow to a dominant home for political bosses. Plunkitt of Tammany Hall: A Series of Very Plain Talks on Very Practical Politics remains one of the best historical versions of how political machines worked.

George Washington visited Georgia on May 12, 1791. From Purysburg, South Carolina, Georgia officials escorted Washington on a barge twenty-five miles down the Savannah River to Savannah, where he would stay four days.

On May 12, 1864, Confederate General Joseph Johnston pulled his Army of Tennessee and Georgia back to Resaca, Georgia. In Virginia, Major General John B. Gordon saved the life, or prevented the capture of, General Robert E. Lee at Spotsylvania. After the war, Gordon would serve as Governor of Georgia and United States Senator.

On May 12, 1864, the Virginia Military Institute Corps of Cadets awoke in Staunton, where they had marched from Lexington 18 miles the previous day; after another 19 miles headed north up the Shenandoah Valley, the would make camp at Mt. Crawford, near Harrisonburg. The cadets ranged in age from fifteen to twenty-five years.

On May 12, 1970, Georgia National Guard troops were mobilized to end race riots that had broken out the night before in Augusta. On that same day, Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs, my father’s favorite player as a youth, hit his 500th home run.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

Governor Brian Kemp is receiving kudos for his handling of COVID-19 from an editorial in the Wall Street Journal.

Remember two weeks ago when politicians and media pundits were condemning Georgia’s decision to deviate from the lockdown consensus and allow various businesses to resume operations?

Not only has the virus curve flattened in the Peach State. Data from the last 14 days show a welcome trend of declining new cases and deaths. And Georgia even has an answer for the crowd that demands more testing before unlocking liberty. Television station WSB in Atlanta reports:

Gov. Brian Kemp announced Thursday afternoon that all Georgians can get tested for coronavirus if they want, even if they’re showing no symptoms of the virus.

Let’s hope for more good news out of Georgia and for greater respect for Dr. Toomey’s efforts. Nationwide, perhaps the Georgia model can inspire people to resume necessary activities. A slew of news today demonstrates the horrendous costs of overreaction.

Governor Kemp and the Usual Suspects will give an update today at 4 PM at the Capitol.

At the Georgia State Capitol, Governor Kemp, Georgia Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey, Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency Director Homer Bryson, and Georgia National Guard Adjutant General Tom Carden will give a briefing on COVID-19.

The briefing will be live streamed at facebook.com/GovKemp or gpb.org/coronavirus.

The AJC Political Insider writes that Gov. Kemp is likely to extend the remaining restrictions in place.

Gov. Brian Kemp is likely to announce Tuesday that he will keep bars and nightclubs shuttered until the outbreak subsides.

The governor is expected to extend restrictions announced in early April that closed bars, nightclubs and live performance venues. He’s also set to renew safety requirements for other businesses that are scheduled to expire Wednesday.

On Monday, he touted data that showed a declining use of ventilators and critical care hospital beds since May 1 – the day the shelter in place was eased.

“This data shows that we are headed in the right direction in our battle with COVID-19,” he said.

Gov. Kemp has ordered flags on state buildings flown at half-staff this Friday in observation of Peace Officers Memorial Day (EO 05.11.20.01).

State Senate Rules Committee Chair Jeff Mullis (R-Extreme Northwest Georgia) met with colleagues and staff to discuss reopening procedures for the senior chamber, according to a press release.

Sen. Jeff Mullis (R – Chickamauga) and other members of the Senate Committee on Administrative Affairs held a meeting in order to discuss procedures on how to safely resume legislative activity at the Capitol.

“While we still do not have a definitive date on when the legislative session will resume, we know that once we do, it will be vital we have plans in place to ensure it is done in the safest manner possible,” said Sen. Mullis. “As we begin to brainstorm the possible ways this can be accomplished, the health and safety of Capitol employees and visitors will remain our top priority. We also must remain mindful that decisions we make as legislators have an impact statewide and those in our communities are depending on us for sound leadership. I am confident that this committee, along with input from relevant Capitol employees, will find innovative ways to effectively resume our legislative business while minimizing the potential for health and safety concerns.”

The 2020 legislative session was suspended indefinitely on March 13, 2020, due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The State House Education Committee will hold a virtual meeting today at 11:30 AM. Click here for the Agenda.

The State House and Senate Joint Appropriations Committee will hold a virtual meeting on Wednesday at 11:15 AM. Click here for the Agenda.

House Speaker David Ralston has appointed a committee to address tort reform legislaiton, according to the Rockdale and Newton Citizens.

House Speaker David Ralston has appointed 15 House members to an ad hoc committee that will consider legislation seeking to make significant changes in Georgia’s civil justice system, including a bill introduced into the House this week, the chamber’s first tort reform measure of the 2020 legislative session.

“For the last seven years in a row, Georgia has been named the best state in the nation in which to do business,” Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, said in announcing the formation of the Special Committee on Access to the Civil Justice System. “Any legislation which may negatively impact our business climate and limit access to our civil justice system must be carefully considered.”

The new committee will be chaired by House Majority Whip Trey Kelley, R-Cedartown.

Speaker Ralston also asked that the Senate pass hate crimes legislation already passed by the House, according to the AJC.

Ralston said he would “challenge and implore” Senate lawmakers to pass the hate crimes bill already adopted by his chamber, House Bill 426, “with no delay and no amendments” when the session resumes in June.

“The time for being silent ended last week,” Ralston said. “It’s time to do what’s right. It’s going to take some leadership and some courage, but I think it’s time to act.”

Asked why House lawmakers shouldn’t consider any changes to the measure, which is tied up in the Senate Judiciary Committee, Ralston said it would be “counterproductive” to revisit legislation that narrowly passed his chamber a year ago.

“It’s a good time to remember that the power of the majority in a legislative body carries not only opportunity but responsibility,” said Ralston. “Sometimes, exercising the responsibility demands some courage and bold leadership. Last week, we came to a point where we’re called upon to be responsible.”

Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold Melton has issued the previously announced order continuing the Judicial State of Emergency through June 12, 2020, according to the Savannah Morning News.

Harold Melton, who earlier extended the original March 14 until May 13, said the latest extension was needed because “most court facilities are not prepared to comply with social distancing and other public health requirements to safeguard the health of litigants, lawyers, judges, court personnel, and the public during extensive in-court proceedings or proceedings involving a large number of people.”

Court officials have “determined that the statewide judicial emergency order should be extended, with some clarifications and modifications as well as directions regarding efforts to resume court operations in a manner that protects public health.”

And he said based on public health recommendations, “until further order, all courts are prohibited from summoning new trial jurors and grand jurors and from conducting criminal or civil jury trials.

“Grand juries that are already impaneled or are recalled from a previous term of court may meet to attend to time-sensitive essential matters, but these grand juries should not be assembled except when necessary and only under circumstances in which social distancing and other public health guidance can be followed. ”

Click here to read the order for yourself.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is asking the GBI to investigate local officials’ handling of the Ahmaud Arbery shooting, according to a press release.

Attorney General Chris Carr yesterday formally requested the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), led by Director Vic Reynolds, to conduct an investigation related to the conduct of the District Attorneys of the Brunswick and Waycross Judicial Circuits in the Ahmaud Arbery case. This case involves the deadly shooting of Mr. Arbery in Glynn County, Georgia on February 23, 2020 within the Brunswick Judicial Circuit.

“When a district attorney is unable to take on a case due to a conflict, our office must appoint another prosecutor to handle the case,” said Attorney General Chris Carr. “Unfortunately, many questions and concerns have arisen regarding, among other things, the communications between and actions taken by the District Attorneys of the Brunswick and Waycross Circuits. As a result, we have requested the GBI to review in order to determine whether the process was undermined in any way.”

It is the responsibility of the Attorney General under O.C.G.A. § 15-18-5 to appoint a prosecutor when a district attorney’s office is disqualified from a prosecution. The law provides that the Attorney General can only perform that function when notified of a conflict by either a district attorney or the presiding judge. These appointments require that the Attorney General be provided with correct and sufficient information and the purpose of the investigation requested is to determine whether that occurred in this case.

This office will be providing any information or assistance that the GBI may require in furtherance of this investigation.

A copy of the letter is available at law.ga.gov.

The Georgia Department of Revenue has extended car tag deadlines, according to the Dalton Daily Citizen News.

All vehicle registrations that expire between March 16 and June 14 have been extended through June 15. This extension applies to all annual registrations, including personal passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, vehicles registered in the International Registration Plan (IRP) and Temporary Operating Permits issued at the time of a vehicle purchase. Registrations that expired before March 16 do not qualify for this extension.

“While I have extended this deadline to give Georgians more time to register a new vehicle or renew current vehicle registrations, I strongly encourage taxpayers, especially those whose registrations were originally due in March and April, to register or renew as soon as possible and not wait until June 15,” stated Revenue Commissioner David Curry.

In accordance with state law, the revenue commissioner may extend the tag deadline since there has been a presidentially declared disaster.

I assume we’re still required to get emission inspections.

State and local governments continue working to educate Hispanic residents on COVID-19 precautions, according to the Valdosta Daily Times.

While Latinos make up just less than a third of [Hall County’s] population, they represent half of positive coronavirus tests at Northeast Georgia Health Systems and 44% of coronavirus positive admitted patients, said Dr. Antonio Rios, chief physician with the Northeast Georgia Physicians Group.

As of 1 p.m. Monday, Hall County had reported 2,026 confirmed coronavirus cases and 29 deaths — the county has the highest case per capita rate in north Georgia.

Even now, the Northeast Georgia Medical Center is expected to reach full staffing capacity May 22, taking into account all coronavirus positive patients and 30% of patients awaiting test results.

Various barriers to information and care have prevented state officials from effectively spreading precautions in Hispanic communities. Advocates say lack of information in their language has made the community vulnerable.

Common multigenerational households make social distancing nearly impossible if someone gets sick, Rios said, and with many living paycheck to paycheck, missing work is not an option.

Hall County Schools are slow-walking their budget process in the face of funding uncertainty, according to the Gainesville Times.

During a Monday evening meeting, the school board approved a spending resolution that will push the school district’s budgeting decisions back to July 27.

The decision comes in response to guidance from state legislation advising all state-funded agencies to expect a 14% decrease in funding. The cutback would account for a loss of around $22 million in school funds, according to Hall County superintendent Will Schofield.

“We have such spotty information in terms of what state revenues are going to look like,” Schofield said. “We believe that the legal arm that is available to us, which is to pass a spending resolution, a continuation of the FY20 budget if you will, for an additional month while we get more information when the legislature gets back in session, when they start getting more estimates from OPB, is the wise thing to do.”

Candidates for the Tenth Congressional District seat being vacated by the retirement of Rep. Tom Graves (R-Ranger) answer a question from the Rome News Tribune.

The district covers the counties of Walker, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Whitfield, Floyd, Polk, Gordon, Haralson, Murray and Paulding, and part of Pickens County.

Running in the Republican primary are John Barge, Ben Bullock, Kevin Cooke, John Cowan, Clayton Fuller, Marjorie Greene, Andy Gunther, Bill Hembree and Matt Laughridge.

The winner will face Democrat Kevin Van Ausdal in the Nov. 3 general election.

The party primaries are scheduled for June 9 and early voting starts Monday.

Dougherty County has spent around $500,000 dollars on COVID-19 response so far, according to the Albany Herald.

“We expended probably at least close to $500,000 in dealing with COVID-19 (for) emergency and protective measures, meaning preparing for and responding to COVID-19,” County Administrator Michael McCoy told commissioners. “For example, we purchased foggers (disinfecting) machines. We have had to pay overtime. We have purchased PPE — personal protection equipment.”

“We have also had to purchase other supplies in response to this pandemic that created expenses that we otherwise would not have experienced if COVID-19 had not popped up on the radar.”

Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree is self-quarantining after testing positive for COVID-19, according to the Augusta Chronicle.

Roundtree got tested Wednesday at Fire Station No. 1,received his results Friday evening and has quarantined and worked from home since. He decided to get tested to show the importance of doing so to combat the virus.

“I wanted to show, one, the test is important and then, when it came back positive, let you know how it can affect anybody,” he said.

As a precaution, staff at the sheriff’s office administrative building is scheduled to get tested Tuesday.

“I have my laptop, and of course I can be (reached) by text or by phone,” he said. “As long as I don’t develop any symptoms or anything, there is no need to do a change in command order.”

He said if he develops symptoms that require him to be medicated or bedridden, or affect his mental and physical capacity in any way, then a change of command order will be done. Roundtree said Chief Deputy Patrick Clayton would take over in his absence.

A Chatham County State Court Judge is testing videoconferencing to keep some court functions operating, according to the Savannah Morning News.

Chatham County State Court Judge Greg Sapp on Friday, May 1, held a civil hearing with several attorneys but with extreme social distancing.

Sapp, alone in his chambers at the Chatham County Courthouse, heard arguments and ushered the lawyers in a pending suit via video conference, largely uninterrupted by technical glitches.

And to ensure the public’s access to public hearings, the entire proceeding was captured on a livestream through Youtube.com and was simulcast into Courtroom 1-A, Sapp’s courtroom on the first floor of the courthouse where new technologies were incorporated in the design.

“It’s a public proceeding, that’s the whole point,” Sapp said on Monday, May 4.

Hall County Probate Court will begin processing weapon carry permits again, according to the Gainesville Times.

Beginning 8 a.m. Thursday, May 14, the court will resume processing new and renewal applications while limiting the number of people in the courthouse.

Applicants are asked to print and complete the checklist before arriving at the fifth level of the Hall County Courthouse parking deck.

“There will be information there and an employee of the court will be able to assist you with reserving your spot in line and ensuring you are ready to proceed. We will ask that you remain in your vehicle for your safety and the safety of others,” according to the new Probate Court guidelines.

Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene Gosselin signed an amended security order May 4 allowing Hall County Sheriff’s Office deputies to screen those entering the courthouse with an infrared thermometer and ask questions related to COVID-19 symptoms. Those entering the courthouse are also required to wear a mask covering the nose and mouth.

Gwinnett County will continue the public schools meal service after GCPS ends it this week, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post.

The county government and school system are working together to transition from the meal service program that the district has run for the last two months to the county’s expanded Summer Meals program. The school system’s program ends Friday. The county’s Summer Meals program will begin the following Monday.

“It is the common goal of the Board of the Commissioners and the Board of Education to assist families and make sure children receive nutritious meals during this challenging time,” Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlotte Nash said. “For some kids, this may be the only meal they get that day. The Board of Commissioners especially want to recognize the school board’s efforts to feed children during the digital learning days just ending and the work they will do when their meals program picks up again in June.”

The Summer Meals program is sponsored by the nonprofit group, Georgia Nutritional Services Inc., and is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program. Georgia Nutritional Services will provide the vendor for the meals, county officials said.

Hall County government will start reopening public functions, according to AccessWDUN.

County Administrator Jock Connell addressed the Hall County Commission at its work session, saying the time had come. “Now we are approaching two months of many of our facilities being closed to the public…but we are now approaching a point where it is time to begin thinking about reopening our facilities to the public.”

“That will happen one week from today,” Connell said. “But I would caution you that on May the 18th the doors are not just going to open and it will be back to normal.”

“It will be a very methodical opening; it’ll probably be deemed by some to be a slow opening; and even though some facilities will open on May 18, there will other facilities that will not open for two to three weeks…they will be phased in over that two to three to four week period.” Connell added.