Georgia’s Trustees decided on November 1, 1732 that the first settlement would be named Savannah and located on the Savannah River.
The Stamp Act, however, was a direct tax on the colonists and led to an uproar in America over an issue that was to be a major cause of the Revolution: taxation without representation.
Passed without debate by Parliament in March 1765, the Stamp Act was designed to force colonists to use special stamped paper in the printing of newspapers, pamphlets, almanacs, and playing cards, and to have a stamp embossed on all commercial and legal papers. The stamp itself displayed an image of a Tudor rose framed by the word “America” and the French phrase Honi soit qui mal y pense—”Shame to him who thinks evil of it.”
Outrage was immediate. Massachusetts politician Samuel Adams organized the secret Sons of Liberty organization to plan protests against the measure, and the Virginia legislature and other colonial assemblies passed resolutions opposing the act. In October, nine colonies sent representatives to New York to attend a Stamp Act Congress, where resolutions of “rights and grievances” were framed and sent to Parliament and King George III.
Georgia Commissioners and Creek leaders signed a treaty on November 1, 1783.
Jimmy Carter ended his first Presidential campaign with a rally in Flint, Michigan on November 1, 1976.
Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections
Governor Brian Kemp continues campaigning this week, according to WALB.
Tuesday, November 1
Bus Tour Stop in Lawrenceville, 10 a.m. Lawrenceville Lawn
Lunch in Oakwood, 11:45 a.m., Curt’s Restaurant
Bus tour stop in Cumming with Vice President Mike Pence, 2:00 p.m., Cumming Cigar Company
Bus tour stop in Gainesville with Pence, 4:00 p.m., Carroll Daniel Construction CompanyWednesday, November 2
Breakfast in Douglasville with Arizona Gov. Governor Doug Ducey, 8:00 a.m., Gable Sporting Goods
Bus tour stop in Bremen with Gov. Doug Ducey, 10:00 a.m., Bremen City Hall
Lunch in Rockmart with Gov. Doug Ducey, 11:30 a.m., Pizza Farm
Bus tour sStop in Cartersville with Gov. Doug Ducey, 1:30 p.m., Bartow County Courthouse
Bus tour stop in Dallas with Gov. Doug Ducey, 3:00 p.m., Seven Hills ClubhouseThursday, November 3
Breakfast in Canton, 8:00 a.m., Keithsburg Cafe
Bus tour stop in Acworth, 10:00 a.m., Open Roads Complete RV
Lunch in Marietta, 11:30 a.m., Williamson Brothers Bar-B-Q
Bus tour stop in Buckhead with former N.J. governor Chris Christie, 5:30 p.m., PENLEY Art Co.Friday, November 4
Breakfast in Jefferson with Chris Christie, 8:00 a.m., The Jefferson House Restaurant
Bus tour stop in Winder with Chris Christie, 10:00 a.m., Downtown Gazebo Park
Lunch in Watkinsville with Chris Christie, 11:30 a.m., Hadden Estate at DGD Farms
Bus tour stop in Madison with Chris Christie, 1:45 p.m., Farmview Market
Bus tour stop in Monroe with Chris Christie, 3:30 p.m., Walton County Historic CourthouseSaturday, November 5
GOTV breakfast in Evans, 9:00 a.m., Evans Towne Center Park
Sunday, November 6
Lunch in Ringgold, 12:30 p.m., The Outback
Kemp’s campaign announced it will host a bus tour stop at the Lawrenceville Lawn at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. The Lawrenceville Lawn is located at 210 Luckie St.
The visit to Lawrenceville is part of a four-stop tour of Gwinnett, Hall and Forsyth counties that will take place on Tuesday. The governor is set to leave Lawrenceville and appear in Flowery Branch at 11:45 a.m.
Kemp will then appear with former Vice President Mike Pence later in the day during campaign stops in Cumming and Gainesville at 2 and 4 p.m., respectively.
From the Secretary of State’s Absentee Voting Database:
Total ballots cast: 1,818,503
Total mail ballots cast: 176,878
Total in-person ballots cast: 1,639,311
In-person October 17, 2022: 134,803
In-person October 18, 2022: 135,222
In-person October 19, 2022: 127,854
In-person October 20, 2022: 123,018
In-person October 21, 2022: 141,714
In-person October 22, 2022: 80,319
In-person October 23, 2022: 18,132
In-person October 24, 2022: 133,416
In-person October 25, 2022: 125,730
In-person October 26, 2022: 119,604
In-person October 27, 2022: 112,080
In-person October 28, 2022: 139,263
In-person October 29, 2022: 93,449
In-person October 30, 2022: 24,138
In-person October 31, 2022: 130,464
In-person undated: 104
Total Electronic ballots cast (overseas and military voters): 2,314
Outstanding Electronic ballots (issued, not cast):4,500
Outstanding Mailed ballots (issued, not cast): 102,959
Note: In Person numbers do not add up as one voter in Glynn County is recorded as having voted in person on 10/13/2022, when early voting was not open.
* this appears to be down from previous numbers for in person voting
From the Valdosta Daily Times:
More than 14,000 Lowndes County voters have cast ballots during the first two weeks of early voting.
As of this past weekend, according to the Secretary of State’s website, 14,351 Lowndes County voters cast ballots in person during the first two weeks of early voting.
At the end of the first week of early voting, 7,858 votes were cast in Lowndes County. During the second week of early voting, 6,493 Lowndes County voters cast ballots.
The second week of early voting in Lowndes County breaks down to Monday, Oct. 24, 1,266 people voted; 1,298 voted Tuesday, Oct. 25; 1,078 voted Wednesday, Oct. 26; 1,088 voted Thursday, Oct. 27; 1,261 voted Friday, Oct. 28; 501 people voted Oct. 29, according to the Secretary of State website.
From the Capitol Beat News Service via the Albany Herald:
Early voting has been setting records daily since the early voting period began two weeks ago, surging well past the turnout ahead of the last midterm election in 2018 and coming close to the early voting turnout before the presidential election two years ago.
“We encourage every eligible voter to get their ballot in this week,” Raffensperger said. “Most counties have multiple early voting locations open to serve the demand.”
Nearly 116,000 voters cast early ballots on Saturday and Sunday.
Meanwhile, absentee ballots have begun to come in in larger numbers after a much slower pace than 2020.
As of Monday morning, 155,104 absentee ballots had been returned to county election offices. Only 1,054 ballots had been rejected statewide, and those voters receive cure notices explaining how they can cure any discrepancy.
Early voting turnout is expected to increase during the last week of the early voting period, which ends Friday.
To find early voting locations and hours in your county, visit the secretary of state’s My Voter Page.
From WRDW on early voting in Columbia and Richmond Counties:
As of Tuesday, Richmond County has seen 20,846 early in-person voters, while Columbia County has seen 24,801, according to election officials.
“At least 2 million Georgians will cast their ballots early,” Raffensperger said. “It’s the work of our Elections Division and the county election directors that have gotten us here. Voting in Georgia is safe, secure, and accessible – and Georgians know that.”
No substantial delays were reported Monday.
Early voting turnout is expected to increase during the final days.
Early in-person voting continues through Friday at several locations in Richmond and Columbia counties.
Karlton Howard, brother of the late State Rep. Henry “Wayne” Howard announced he will run for the State House seat vacated by Rep. Howard’s death, according to WRDW.
Howard, the late Wayne Howard’s brother, says he plans to continue what his brother had already implemented while in office. He said he also has plans to push the district forward.
“We’re standing here in the middle of a food desert. People have to drive 14 miles to find a grocery store. And the healthcare disparity. We have to find a way to have access to medical care,” said Howard.
So far, no one else has announced intentions to qualify for the seat. Qualifying ends Thursday at 1 p.m.
“We are standing right now in front of a place called W. C. Ervin Towers- a home for seniors in our community,” said Reverend Karlton L. Howard, candidate for Georgia State Representative. “And many of the folk that reside in this building have given their lives and their labor for this city. They deserve our attention. Listen, it’s just one of those places- it’s just one of those places that my daddy and Wayne took special interest in.”
He said he would put his grief on hold so he could continue the legacy of service that his lifetime community needs.
“There’s so many needs in this district that need to be talked about,” said Reverend Howard. “Even from the point of- we’re standing in the middle of a food desert. Folks gotta drive eight to ten miles to find a grocery store.”
Reverend Howard said that seat 129 should be a seat for someone who will serve the community unselfishly and with a passion for those who are most in need.
“I don’t have all the answers, but I will be digging into it to see if there’s something that we can do differently to make things happen for the folk in this district,” said Reverend Howard. “This is a medium- to low-income district that needs a voice. And for the last 20 years, that voice has been in our family because we have a concern for that.”
Reverend Howard says he wishes to continue to live by a proverb told to him by his father: “Always give to the people more than they give you”.
“We’ve always been servants. That’s just the nature of who we are,” said Reverend Howard. “That’s how we were raised- to serve people. And, if we can help somebody, that’s what we do. If I can just do that one thing- continue the legacy of service to this community, the district and the broader community- I think I would have done my job and satisfied at least my Dad and Wayne.”
The Brunswick News looks at concerns of opponents of the Glynn County Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) on the November ballot.
Supporters of a new Special Purpose Local Option Sales tax tout the University of Georgia study that estimates between 36% and 43.6% of the revenue generated by the 1% tax comes from people living outside the Golden Isles.
But it’s not a selling point to opponents, who say there are better ways to pay for projects on the SPLOST list.
And that may be the reason two of the last three SPLOST referendums were rejected by Glynn County voters and the last one approved in 2016 passed by 56%.
“Up until this year, including last year, the county maintained the visitor contribution was 60%,” [SPLOST opponent Jeff Kilgore] said. “That claim was also based on a Carl Vinson analysis.”
Kilgore said he and other critics have insisted for years the 60% estimate was not realistic and the actual percentage is closer to 34%.
“Why would they exaggerate and claim 44%?” he asked. “The actual quote could be interpreted to say only 37% is paid by visitors. If they will exaggerate on something so easily provable, then you probably cannot believe anything else that the county claims.”
Julian Smith, an opponent who has attended most of the workshops, town halls and other meetings to discuss the issue, describes SPLOST as “an all-or-nothing tax-and-spend slush fund, which is why it is so popular with county commissions around the state.”
“Some projects should be funded by existing sales tax revenues; some by property taxes; some by impact fees; some by federal and state grants,” Smith said. “And some projects should never be funded by any means.”
Former DeKalb County Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton’s future is in the hands of a federal jury, according to the AJC.
Barnes Sutton, whose trial on federal extortion and bribery charges began last week, chose not to testify on her own behalf Tuesday morning. Her team of public defenders did not present evidence or witnesses, clearing the way for closing arguments to begin.
The jury was expected to begin deliberations after lunch.
Barnes Sutton, who appeared to have about a dozen supporters in court on Tuesday, is accused of soliciting bribes from a county contractor in 2014. During the trial that started last week in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, prosecutors from the Department of Justice’s public integrity unit presented evidence that they say showed the former commissioner asking Reginald Veasley for $500 a month.
WALB profiles the candidates for State House District 153, Republican Tracy Taylor and Democrat David Sampson.
A businessman, a father and an advocate for the senior community in the Good Life City — Sampson said if he’s elected, he will be sure to get the job done for the City of Albany.
“My true belief is, we shouldn’t worry about the White House so much. We should worry about our house. We have to focus on us and what we can do to make things better in our lives,” Sampson said.
Hailing from Waycross, Taylor said if he’s elected, he will bring life back to the Good Life City.
“I came here in like 2005 because the title is the Good Life City. So I came here for change and to fulfill the obligations of becoming a young man,” Taylor said.
When Taylor is not speaking to groups like the Rotary Club of Albany, you can find him at Fire Station No. 5 in Albany where he works as a full-time firefighter.
Taylor said the election of President Barack Obama inspired him to work with those in Congress.
“It gave me real-world experience, grassroots experience. Getting out and greeting people, and being able to be a piece of the stamp so to speak, and a representation of a candidate. It gave me insight and knowledge over a campaign,” Taylor said.
Although Taylor is a Republican, not all of his views are conservative.
“One thing that’s resonating is the decriminalization of marijuana, legalizing marijuana. I know that’s something Republicans don’t traditionally run on, but that’s why I’m here.” Taylor said.
Taylor is also a student, taking college courses with the hopes of becoming a lawyer.
“Currently, I’m finishing up my bachelor’s at Albany State University in criminal justice. I’m hoping to eventually go to law school. That’s a personal goal of mine. I want to be a civil rights attorney. I feel like I’m probably the most fully prepared candidate, in a while, to go represent Dougherty County and Albany because of the connections and affiliations I have with state legislators,” Taylor said.
State Rep. Gerald Greene (R-Cuthbert) is picking up support for his reelection, according to the Albany Herald.
Rep. Gerald Greene earned the support of a diverse range of advocacy groups, including the Georgia Farm Bureau, the Georgia Association of Educators, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Businesses. He is the only candidate running for the state House to earn all these endorsements.
“I’m honored to receive support from the farming community, current and former educators and our state and local job creators,” Greene said. “During my time in office, I’ve worked hard to ensure all southwest Georgians and their needs are well-represented at the Capitol. These endorsements from such a diverse group of state and local advocacy groups reflect that. I’m grateful for their backing and will continue to fight for our people and community if re-elected.”
Following the 2021 special session on redistricting, Greene will run in the newly drawn House District 154. Greene is also poised to become the next dean of the Georgia House of Representatives, making him the longest-serving member of the Georgia House.
WRDW spoke to the candidates for Richmond County Board of Education District 7.
District 7 is home to Garrett, Merry, and Warren Road elementary schools along with Tutt Middle School and Westside High. Vice President of the Board Charlie Walker is running for a second term against newcomer Brittiany Broadwater.
Charlie Walker is an Augusta native, Aquinas graduate, UGA graduate, consultant, current president of Augusta Sports Council, board of directors for Riverfront Family Y, Child Enrichment Council, Walton Rehab, Exchange Club of Augusta, proud Irish American and father of two Richmond County students.
Brittiany Broadwater is a newcomer. She’s a military kid, a Stanford graduate, a nonprofit worker in D.C., a project manager in D.C., a cheerleader in school turned cheerleader for kids in school, a Richmond County substitute teacher, President of Warren Road Elementary Council, and aunt of a Richmond County student.
We asked them both: What is the biggest problem or challenge facing the Richmond County School District right now?
Walker answered, “I would say one of the major factors that plays out later on statistics and information, you guys see is early childhood development before we get the children into the school system. We are having kids coming into kindergarten first grade who have very little cognitive recognition of shapes and object very little skills in understanding letters and numbers. Very low literacy.”
Broadwater responded, “We have a ton of students who come to Richmond County schools- one, two, and three years behind from where we would want to see them developmentally or academically. So, it’s a very tall order for a teacher to not only instill social skills that you want to see in a school setting but also pull kids from behind and move them forward all in one year. What we find is when we are unable to pull kids from behind that they’re missing these really important milestones, like being able to read at a third-grade level by third grade.”
Muscogee County voters will decide whether to change the title of the Sheriff, according to the Ledger-Enquirer.
For over 50 years, the Sheriff serving our area has been referred to as the “Sheriff of the Consolidated Government.” However, Sheriff Greg Countryman in Muscogee County says he believes it’s time for that name to change.
Muscogee County voters have shown up in record numbers, casting ballots in October, ahead of the November election. Aside from choosing candidates, people in Georgia will also see a series of questions asking whether they are for or against proposed changes to state and local constitutions.
One of those is Article eight. It asks voters whether they believe the city’s charter should be changed to refer to the Sheriff as the Sheriff of Muscogee County. Since 1971, the person in the position has been referred to as the “Sheriff of the Consolidated Government.”
“I actually noticed that when I was in the position of Marshall when I was elected Marshal this happen when Sheriff Darr was Sheriff and I just happened to be reading through the City Charter,” said Sheriff Countryman. “That was one thing that really — that even as Marshal — it troubled me because that’s, that’s just not written, accurate, or correct in the City Charter.”
“If you look at the other 158 counties — their sheriff is titled after the county — Bibb County Sheriff, Fulton County Sheriff, DeKalb County Sheriff. Richmond County Sheriff. Sheriff is named after the county because the law of Georgia says every county shall have a sheriff,” he adds.
“It’s not a power grab. The sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer for the county. There is nothing more powerful in the county as it relates to law enforcement than the sheriff,” said Sheriff Countryman.
Sheriff Countryman also clarified that voting in favor of the name change will not add on or change his responsibilities or cost taxpayers any money.
Floyd County voters will decide an alcohol referendum, according to the Rome News Tribune.
If approved by voters, licensed outlets would be able to sell beer and wine by the drink and by the package between 11 a.m. and midnight on Sundays. Sales currently can’t begin until 12:30 p.m.
Commonly referred to as the “brunch bill,” the Georgia General Assembly passed a law in 2018 that allows communities to decide for themselves if they’ll allow alcohol to be served with brunch on Sundays.
Rome residents approved the change within the city limits in 2019, with 65.3% of the vote.
The Rome City Commission added package sales to the mix in April 2020, after the legislature passed a law allowing it to be done by ordinance in jurisdictions that have already approved a brunch bill referendum.
Gwinnett County government, the county Juvenile Court, and Gwinnett County Public Schools will host a public meeting to discuss violence prevention in schools, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post.
A “Code Red” meeting will take place New Mercies Church, which is located at 4000 Five Forks Trickum Road in Lilburn, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Officials expected to participate in the forum include Gwinnett County Commission Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson, Gwinnett County Public Schools Superintendent Calvin Watts, Gwinnett County Police chief J.D. McClure, GCPS Police Chief Tony Lockard, Gwinnett Juvenile Court Judge Rodney Harris and New Mercies Senior Pastor Jesse Curney III.
“Members of our community are coming together (Wednesday) to discuss a wholistic [sic] approach to violence,” Hendrickson said in a Facebook post. “And I’m here for it. This impacts all of us. I believe it’s important that we speak in one unified voice with a clear message.”
The meeting comes amid a series of violent incidents involving Gwinnett students that have occurred on and off GCPS campuses in recent weeks.
Two weeks ago, a gun was fired on Shiloh High School’s campus right after classes dismissed for the day. Last week, a Norcross High School was shot and killed while he was off-campus, on Technology Parkway, during school hours.
And, a Grayson High School student cut another student with a box cutter during a fight in a school bathroom on Monday morning.
The Dougherty County Commission is removing some of their COVID precautions for their public meetings, according to the Albany Herald.
After more than two years of being a presence in the room, the plastic shields that surrounded each commissioner on three sides, often referred to by Commission Chairman Chris Cohilas as “penalty boxes,” were gone.
The plastic seat coverings that reminded members of the public not to sit too close also were removed, those developments coming as the result of a unanimous decision made a few weeks ago.
The shields and seat coverings were another sign of a return to normalcy coming months after facemasks were made optional at county meetings and inside the downtown Government Center facility.
“I think we’re fine, given the reduction of COVID, given there’s less spread,” Commissioner Gloria Gaines said of removing the barriers. “You worry about the efficacy of the cages. They made us feel good, but I don’t know how much good they did.”
The United States Department of Agriculture has declared Brooks and Lowndes Counties as natural disaster areas due to freezing temperatures, according to the Albany Herald.
This secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs, including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation or the refinance of certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability.
The designation is based on the freeze that occurred in Georgia and north Florida March 11-13. Several Florida counties also have been designated disaster areas and will be eligible for the emergency loans.
For awareness, agricultural producers and landowners impacted by Hurricane Ian in September 2022 continue to assess damages and file notices of loss with USDA. Producers and landowners who sustained damages and incurred hurricane-related losses should contact their local USDA Service Center.
Albany and Dougherty County remain at an impasse on tax revenue division, according to the Albany Herald.
After one bruising battle over a sales tax earlier this year, Dougherty County and the city of Albany seem to again be at an impasse over the distribution of tax dollars.
The city and county ultimately agreed on a 74-36 percent split of the more than $100 million in estimated proceeds that would come with a six-year extension of the special-purpose local-option sales tax on Nov. 8. The county sweetened the pot by agreeing to provide an additional $3.5 million on top of that split for the city’s sewage repair project payable in the first two years of collections.
Since the two sides struck a deal on the SPLOST in August, the issue of the local-option sales tax has come to the table, and again there is a difference of opinion on how that money should be split.
During a Monday Dougherty County Commission work session, commissioners seemed ready to make a final offer to keep the split the same as in past LOST initiatives, 40% for the county and 60% for the city.
One option discussed during Monday’s commission meeting was replacing the LOST with a homestead option sales tax. Under that option, a 1% sales tax is collected throughout the county, and the commission could reduce property taxes levied by the county on homeowners.
That option is only available if the LOST is either not approved by voters or the city and county can’t agree on the split of proceeds.
One objection was that it would take 15 months after the tax is approved before collections begin, and the county could not roll back taxes on collections until 2026, according to consultant Phil Sutton, who addressed the issue of a homestead option sales tax.
Albany Mayor Bo Dorough said it is his understanding that arbitration is required by law during the process.
The city commission’s position is that the split should be 70-30, in favor of the city, for the SPLOST and LOST, the same as it is for the transportation special-purpose local-option sales tax.
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