Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for May 24, 2016

John Hancock was elected President of the Second Continental Congress on May 24, 1775.

Then-Lt. Governor Marvin Griffin announced his candidacy for Governor on May 24, 1954.

John Smoltz tied the record for most strikeouts by a Braves pitcher, throwing 15 Ks against Montreal Expos on May 24, 1992.

Happy 75th Birthday to Bob Dylan, who was born on this day in 1941.

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

Today is election day from 7 AM to 7 PM. Take a photo ID when you go to vote. The AJC reports a dramatic increase in early voting in this year’s primary over 2014.

More than 329,000 Georgia voters cast early ballots ahead of Tuesday’s primary, a significant increase over the last big state elections season two years ago.

Early voting wrapped up Friday, with state and local election officials now prepping for Election Day. In 2014, more than 239,000 early voters cast their ballots ahead of the state primary.

The LaGrange Daily News has more on the pace of early voting against previous elections,

Secretary of State Brian Kemp predicts solid turnout Tuesday based on early voting numbers.

Kemp’s office reported about 329,000 people cast or mailed in ballots by Friday, the last day for early voting before Tuesday’s primary.

That’s a 38 percent increase from early voting totals in the 2012 primary. But it’s still far behind the more than 417,000 who set an early voting record in Georgia before the March presidential primaries.

Pay special attention if you’re in the City of Sandy Springs, as the Special Election for City Council, you have to vote in a separate election from the primary elections for state and county offices. For the state and county elections, go to your normal polling place, and to vote for City Council, go to the Hammond Park Round Program Building at 6005 Glenridge Drive.

Special Election for Sandy Springs City Council Seat – District 3

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that, in accordance with O.C.G.A. §21-2-540, a non-partisan special election will be held in the City of Sandy Springs, Georgia, to elect a member of the City Council, District 3, to fill an unexpired term. The special election will be held on the 24th day of May, 2016.

Only registered voters who live within District 3 in Sandy Springs can cast a ballot for this election, with the only polling location on Election Day, the Hammond Park Round Program Building located at 6005 Glenridge Drive.

Candidates Seeking the Sandy Springs City Council Seat for District 3 include:

• Chris Burnett
• Brian Eufinger
• Joe Houseman
• Suzi Voyles
• Larry Young
  

   

Click here for more voting information for Sandy Springs.

Peachtree Corners voters have a similar situation in the Special Election for City Council Post 2 – ballots may be cast today only at Peachtree Corners City Hall, 147 Technology Parkway, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092.

House District 68 will see the only day of voting after qualifying was reopened twelve days ago. I suspect it’ll be between former State Rep. Tim Bearden and former Villa Rica Mayor J. Collins.

Some of the races I’m watching today:

Georgia Public Service Commission – I’m voting for Tim Echols, a client and friend, and a great conservative. Fresh on the heels of the second recent reduction in electric rates, Tim Echols is likely headed for the winner’s circle without a runoff.

Cobb County Commission Chair, where I suspect incumbent Tim Lee will end up in a runoff with Mike Boyce.

Cobb County Commission District 2, where incumbent Bob Ott faces Jonathan Page, who is a client of mine.

DeKalb County CEO, where I’d bet Michael Thurmond will win, possibly without a runoff.

DeKalb County District Attorney, where incumbent Robert James is challenged by Sherry Boston.

DeKalb County Commission District 4, where voters can choose the thoroughly corrupt incumbent Sharon Barnes Sutton or Steve Bradshaw, a fine upstanding man. Here’s a mailpiece extolling the virtues of Commissioner Sutton.

DeKalb County Commission Super District 7, where Warren Mosby, a political consultant and sometimes-boyfriend to Sharon Barnes Sutton is challenging incumbent Commissioner Kathie Gannon. Here’s a direct mail piece from that race.

DeKalb County has two races I’d call “Anybody but” elections. In the race for Tax Commissioner, I hope my fellow voters do not choose Stan Watson, whose tenure on the County Commission has been disgraceful. In House District 91, some folks are calling for “ABV” – “Anyone but Vernon” Jones, but I’d be surprised if the former DeKalb County CEO doesn’t at least advance to a runoff.

In House District 105 (Gwinnett), Republican incumbent Joyce Chandler should handily win the nomination, though she’s opposed in the General Election as well. She has been the recipient of more than $36,000 in donations from colleagues recently.

In House District 21 (Cherokee), incumbent Scot Turner has been on the receiving end of incoming fire from business groups, but should win his reelection race.

In House District 80 (DeKalb), three Republicans meet today and two will likely advance to a runoff. Later this morning, I’ll walk over to my precinct and cast my ballot for Meagan Hanson, by far the best candidate in the race. The trick is to emerge from the runoff without being wounded in a way that makes the General Election against freshman Taylor Bennett more difficult than it already is.

In House District 81, a similar dynamic, with three Republicans running for the chance to take on Democratic incumbent Scott Holcomb in November.

Senate District 21, where Republican incumbent Brandon Beach seeks to defend his seat against aggressive challenger Aaron Barlow is a toss-up in my mind. Easily the nastiest race of the year so far and I have no idea who will win today’s GOP Primary.

I’ll be shocked if any of North Georgia’s GOP incumbent State Senators – Steve Gooch, John Wilkinson, Charlie Bethel, and Jeff Mullis – gets beaten.

In Columbus, I’ll be watching the City Council District 8 race, where Walker Garrett, who was a classmate of mine in Republican Leadership for Georgia, appears poised to win two elections today – one for the remainder of the current term, and one for a full term beginning in January.

Glynn County may see runoff elections for local offices, Clerk of Superior Court and Coroner, with each race featuring five candidates. Long County also has potential for a runoff for Coroner, with three candidates. Speaking of Coroners, Forsyth County will see Lauren McDonald, III attempt a return to the post he held from 2000 to 2012, facing off against current Deputy Coroner Stan Rutledge.

In Gwinnett County, I’d expect the incumbent judges – Ronnie Batchelor on Superior Court; Carla Brown and Shawn Bratton on State Court — to be reelected today.

As far as Congressional elections, I expect all the incumbents to win their primaries. In the Third District race to succeed retiring Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, I think there are two tickets to the runoff and three candidate – State Sen. Mike Crane, former LaGrange Mayor Drew Ferguson, and Peachtree City Businessman Jim Pace – are equally likely to claim a ticket to the dance.

Now it’s time for me to feed and walk the dogs, walk over to my polling place to vote, and then get to what it is that political consultants really do on election day. Laundry.