Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for May 19, 2016

Button Gwinnett died on May 19, 1777 of a gunshot wound received in a duel with Lachlan McIntosh.

Georgia ratified the Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which governs voting for President and Vice President on May 19, 1804.

The Battle of Spotsylvania ended on May 19, 1864. In Georgia, the Affair at Cassville occurred on May 19, 1864.

The Rubik’s Cube is 42 years old today.

When, in the spring of 1974, Ernő Rubik, a Hungarian professor of design, invented his eponymous cube, he had no idea that it would become one of the world’s best-selling toys. Nor did he envision that it would impact fields as diverse as science, art, and design – the subject of “Beyond Rubik’s Cube”, an exhibit at the Liberty Science Center, in Jersey City, New Jersey, that opened 26 April to celebrate the puzzle’s 40th anniversary. And he certainly couldn’t have imagined that, one day, his puzzle would be at the center of a competitive sport in which the top performers can re-solve it in less time than it takes to read this sentence aloud.

The first Rubik’s Cube competitions began in the early 1980s and were largely a promotional affair that vanished with the collapse of the initial fad for the puzzle. But in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Internet allowed hobbyists around the world to find each other and run competitions of their own. More than 1,700 competitions have taken place in 66 countries since the 2004 founding of the World Cube Association, a governing body modeled after FIFA, the arbiter of international soccer. (Unlike, soccer, however, there is no qualification for any of these tourneys, including the World Championship: anyone can sign up.)

On May 19, 1977, “Smokey and the Bandit” was released.

President Barack Obama delivered the commencement address at Morehouse College on May 19, 2013.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

It seems the urge to incorporate new cities has spread outside the Metro Atlanta area. From the Times-Georgian,

The three Republican candidates in the District 68 House of Representatives race agree that if residents in the gated community of Fairfield want it to become a municipality, they should be allowed to do so.

As it pertains to Fairfield becoming a city of it’s own, Bearden said he is not going to dictate to residents what to do. However, if they want to become their own city, if elected he is going to work to make sure they get what they want and will speak to the property owners association board and residents. He said he is pretty sure the state doesn’t like being dictated to by the federal government and local government doesn’t like being dictated to by the state.

Collins agreed that the most important thing would be to listen to what the concerns of the constituents are. He said that as a former mayor, he knows the importance of working with a city council and with constituents. He said that taxation would have to be discussed. He said that Fairfield does provide some local services through its POA fees.

Lattanzio, a resident of the community, said he supports what the residents want and if they desire to become a city, and meet what the state law requires of them to be considered a city, then they should be allowed to do that. As a resident, he said that there are many benefits within the community and there could be more if the community was incorporated. He pointed at that Villa Rica has a water shortage and there are many reservoirs that could be utilized within Fairfield. He said that he would like to have more discussion about that aspect.

Loganville City Council member Chuck Bagley has died. Our condolences to his family and community.

Bagley was re-elected to the City Council in 2013 to serve a 4-year term. He served on the Loganville City Council for two previous 2-year terms, from 2005 to 2006 and from 2007 to 2008. He also served as the District 2 representative of the Walton County Board of Commissioners from 2008 to 2012.

According to his bio on the City of Loganville website, he and his wife, Fran, moved to Loganville in 1998. Bagley has served in many capacities as a volunteer, including serving as past chairman and member of the Board of Directors for the Communities in Schools of Walton County.  He was an active member of Loganville First United Methodist Church and a Certified Lay Speaker for the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church.  He was a member of the Loganville Legacy Lions Club and Chairman of Communications and Publicity for American Legion Post 233. Bagley was a U.S. Veteran.

Marietta City Council member Anthony Coleman’s days in office are numbered.

A resolution calling for the immediate suspension of Councilman Anthony Coleman was drafted and sent by Mayor Steve Tumlin to Marietta’s six other council members Wednesday for review.

The council is scheduled to vote on the resolution at a special-called meeting Friday.

The resolution states that, “Based upon Councilman Coleman’s conviction for a felony, and that pursuant to (Georgia law), Councilman Coleman has been immediately and without further action suspended from office by operation of law and the Marietta City Council.”

The local Hardees rolled out the red carpet for a visit by Canton Mayor Gene Hobgood.

A Cherokee County State Court judge is under fire from her opponent over handling of vehicular homicide cases.

Local attorney Bart Glasgow, a challenger in the non-partisan race for State Court judge, has created and posted a video of a man speaking about his brother, who was killed riding his motorcycle. The video, which has been viewed more than 52,000 times as of Wednesday afternoon, shows Duane Ferree speaking about how the person driving the vehicle that struck and killed his brother was charged with vehicular homicide, but only given 28 days in jail by incumbent Judge Michelle Homier.

Glasgow’s campaign maintains that Homier is inconsistent and often too lenient on those who appear before her in court.

Homier expressed frustration with her opponent’s campaign tactics, saying she’s received a number of hateful comments in the weeks leading up to the election.

“He’s run a very negative campaign,” Homier said of her opponent, saying Glasgow has been disingenuous and even deceitful at times. “It’s spurred people to call me heartless, brainless and some have said they hope I burn in hell.”

Homier said she’s been campaigning door-to-door to win votes in the week leading up to the election, saying her campaign has gone to more than 3,800 houses so far.

Glasgow has received the endorsement of several elected officials, including Woodstock Mayor Donnie Henriques and Rep. Wes Cantrell, R-Woodstock. He said he’s also received the endorsement of Holly Springs Police Chief Ken Ball, adding that he was thrilled to have the endorsements of a mayor, a state representative and a law enforcement leader.

Homier, however, has the financial backing of a number of local attorneys and their firms. Homier said receiving financial support from lawyers is typical of an incumbent judge, particularly from attorneys who regularly appear in a judge’s courtroom.

Lula, Georgia’s city council is working toward putting expanded alcohol sales on the November ballot.

Councilmen Marvin Moore, Garnett Smith and Mordecai Wilson said they are in favor of proceeding with ballot issues related to alcohol on the November 2016 ballot.

Councilmen Lamb Griffin and Vince Evans said they are undecided at this time.

Chandler said the city should have “no problem whatsoever meeting deadlines if the council wants to put anything on the [November] ballot.”

After council discussion, Chandler agreed to draft language for possible ballot questions to be considered by the council at an upcoming meeting.

“I assume we’re going to do it,” said Councilman Vince Evans.

Brad Morris has been reappointed Public Defender for Hall and Dawson Counties.

The Gwinnett Daily Post interviewed candidates for Superior and State Courts.

The Muscogee Couny School Board and Columbus consolidated government will join together in the creation of Tax Allocation Districts.

United States Senator David Perdue spoke to the Savannah Morning News about working for upgrades at Hunter Army Airfield.

The Georgia Republican has offered an amendment to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, asking the Army to offer a plan to modernize its aging airfield hangars. As a point of reference, Perdue mentioned the Apache hangars at Savannah’s Hunter Army Airfield.

“Modernizing the Apache hangars at Hunter Army Airfield is a clear example of one way we can ensure a safe and responsible working environment for our personnel as they prepare for combat missions abroad.”

The Augusta Chronicle takes a look at the House District 124 challenge against incumbent State Rep. Henry “Wayne” Howard.

As a legislator, Hill said he’ll push for incentives to attract the type of businesses – those with military ties, for instance – that the area needs.

In the General Assembly, Hill said he’ll also make himself available to Richmond County Board of Education, the Augusta Commission and Mayor Hardie Davis, whom he’ll ask, “what do you need from State Representative Hill,” he said.

He disagrees with the November referendum allowing state takeover of failing schools, but said the school system needs to face its issues locally.

For his part, Howard said at a recent forum that he shares Hill’s sentiments about the referendum and on raising the minimum wage.

The chairman for several years of the Augusta legislative delegation said he seeks re-election on his record of service.

That includes five two-year terms in the House seat inherited from his father, the late Rep. Henry Howard, with whom he worked closely for many years.