Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for November 8, 2021

On November 8, 1860, Savannah residents protested in favor of secession following the election of Abraham Lincoln.

President Abraham Lincoln (R) was reelected on November 8, 1864.

Franklin D. Roosevelt made his 15th trip to Warm Springs, Georgia on November 8, 1928 after winning the election for Governor of New York.

Richard B. Russell, Jr. was elected to the United States Senate on November 8, 1932 and would serve until his death in 1971. Before his election to the Senate, Russell served as State Representative, Speaker of the Georgia House, and the youngest Governor of Georgia; his father served as Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court. On the same day, part-time Georgia resident Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected President of the United States.

On November 8, 1994, Republicans won control of the United States House of Representatives and Senate in what came to be called the “Republican Revolution.”

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

Former State Senator Ross Tolleson (R-Perry) has died, according to 13WMAZ.

Tolleson served in the general assembly from 2002 to 2015, when he resigned following a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.

Attorney general Chris Carr tweeted, “As we mourn the passing of former state Senator Ross Tolleson, we hold his family, former colleagues and community in our prayers. He leaves behind an indelible mark on his fellow Georgians, and though he will be missed, his contributions to our state will not be forgotten.”

Governor Brian Kemp tweeted, “Marty, the girls & I are heartbroken over the passing of former state senator Ross Tolleson. Ross was a close friend of ours, a smart businessman, & a tireless public servant who devoted himself to ‘working for the people.’ Our prayers go out to Sally, Trip, Ansley, and Kelly.”

The criminal trial of elected and suspended Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit District Attorney Mark Jones (D) begins today, according to WTVM.

Jones pleaded not guilty during the arraignment in early October.

A judge removed Attorney Chris Breault from Jones’ case. The judge said it’s a conflict of interest for Breault to represent Mark Jones in the bribery case since Breault is a material witness for the state.

Jones was removed from office by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp on several charges including two counts of bribery, two counts of violation of oath by public officer, and two counts of influencing a witness.

If convicted, Jones could be permanently removed from office.

From WSAV:

Mark Jones campaigned for DA in the spring of 2020 on change.

But Jones had been in legal trouble before he was sworn in as District Attorney on January 2, 2021.

He had two DUIs, one in 2015 where he pleaded guilty. He got a second one in 2019. Two years later it is still pending in Superior Court.

In May 2020, as he was on his way to ousting three-term incumbent DA Julia Slater, Jones was arrested again.

People working with him to make a campaign rap video did donuts in the Civic Center parking lot. Five of them were charged with criminal property damage.

That case went to trial in September. Three days into the trial, Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Monroe declared a mistrial for witness misconduct. The charges against Jones and one other were later dropped. Three co-defendants pleaded guilty prior to the trial.

Multiple jurors made it clear Jones was headed to acquittal.

First, all of Jones previous legal problems happened before he was elected DA – both DUIs and the criminal property damage case.

The current nine-count indictment alleges criminal misconduct during Jones’ first eight months in office.

Governor Brian Kemp and Attorney General Chris Carr filed suit against the Biden Administration, according to a press release.

Governor Brian P. Kemp and Attorney General Chris Carr today announced the State of Georgia has filed a lawsuit challenging the Biden administration’s employer vaccine mandate. The Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) setting forth the mandate was published in the Federal Register on Nov. 5, 2021.

“In addition to vilifying Americans for their personal choices, Joe Biden’s vaccine mandates are unlawful and a recipe for economic disaster,” said Governor Kemp. “With inflation skyrocketing, the supply chain screeching to a halt, and job creators across the country desperately searching for more workers, Biden is pouring gasoline on a fire. This federal government power-grab defies reason, and Attorney General Carr and I will not allow this administration to force hardworking Georgians to choose between their livelihoods and this vaccine.”

“This unlawful mandate is yet another example of the Biden administration’s complete disregard for the Constitutional rights afforded to our state and our citizens,” said Attorney General Carr. “The federal government has no authority to force healthcare decisions on Georgia’s companies and its employees under the guise of workplace safety. We are fighting back against this unprecedented abuse of power to stop this mandate before it causes irreparable harm to our state and its economy.”

The lawsuit challenges the ETS as issued by the Biden administration’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the United States Department of Labor. Specifically, the lawsuit asserts the ETS:

• Exceeds the Department of Labor’s statutory authority;
• Fails to comply with the standards for issuing an ETS; and
• Conflicts with the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Georgia has joined the states of Florida and Alabama, along with several private employers, in filing the lawsuit with the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Private employers that are also parties in the action include the Georgia Highway Contractors Association, the Georgia Motor Trucking Association and Robinson Paving Co.

Last week, Governor Kemp and Attorney General Carr filed a lawsuit against President Biden’s unlawful and unconstitutional vaccine mandate for federal contractors.

Governor Kemp tweeted after a federal appellate court stayed the Administrations COVID mandate, according to 13WMAZ.

A federal appeals court temporarily halted the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate on larger businesses. Now Georgia’s own Governor Brian Kemp has come forward to offer a statement on the matter.

Earlier this week, the Biden administration announced that businesses with 100 or more employees would have to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to regular testing. The mandate is targeted for early next year.

“The 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals just halted Biden’s vaccine mandate on businesses w/ 100+ workers.” Kemp stated on Twitter. “This is a good indication for the lawsuit GA filed in the 11th. We will continue our legal efforts and are confident this unlawful, unconstitutional order will be struck down.”

From the Associated Press via AccessWDUN:

A federal appeals court on Saturday temporarily halted the Biden administration’s vaccine requirement for businesses with 100 or more workers.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted an emergency stay of the requirement by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration that those workers be vaccinated by Jan. 4 or face mask requirements and weekly tests.

The 5th Circuit, based in New Orleans, said it was delaying the federal vaccine requirement because of potential “grave statutory and constitutional issues” raised by the plaintiffs. The government must provide an expedited reply to the motion for a permanent injunction Monday, followed by petitioners’ reply on Tuesday.

The Georgia State Senate Redistricting Committee voted Friday to adopt a map of new Senate districts, according to the Valdosta Daily Times.

State Senate Committee Chair John Kennedy, R-Macon, argued there had been ample time for public input as nearly a dozen hearings had been held this year. In the days between the release of the map Tuesday and the vote Friday, only two public hearings were held.

Gloria Butler, Senate Democratic caucus chair and redistricting committee member, motioned to table a vote on the map, but it failed 10-4.

“The governor called us into special session Nov. 3. We’re here to do the people’s business and we can’t postpone it,” Kennedy said Thursday. “I’m going to continue to move forward on the schedule. Let’s not forget the Senate map is just one of three maps we have to approve. We have to approve a House map and perhaps substantial work to do on the congressional maps.”

“These new maps are respectful of incumbents returning but also include 14 majority Black districts and 20 non-white majority districts,” Kennedy said.

Bler, however, pointed out areas of the proposed map where there appeared to be minority discrimination. She specifically mentioned Chatham, Bibb, Douglas, Henry and Athens-Clark counties.

“Where there was minority population, it seems that they were split and that the minority population was divided between those three (districts),” she said.
Kennedy argued that the splits were necessary because of population growth in those areas.

The Senate chamber currently consists of 34 Republicans and 22 Democrats. According to groups analyzing the map, to have a map representative of Georgia’s shift in demographics, maps should show 32 or fewer Republican districts and 24 or more Democratic districts. The map approved by the committee, however, favors Republicans by creating 33 Republican-leaning districts and 23 Democratic-leaning districts.

From the Valdosta Daily Times last week:

Georgia’s population grew by more than 1 million, or 10%, since the last redistricting cycle in 2011. The 2020 census shows that Georgia’s white population is decreasing while minority populations have increased.

Black population increased by 12.5%, making up 31% or 3.32 million of the state; the Hispanic population increased by nearly 2% by 269,768 during the last 10 years and Asians had the largest increase at 52.3% according to 2020 Census data.

“We had to look at population shifts within the state. We’ve had counties that have lost huge percentages of their population so you have to work those in the mix so it is a fairly difficult process,” House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, said. “I think it’s no secret that Republicans are stronger in rural Georgia than perhaps they are in metro areas and that’s where much of the population loss has occurred so we have to account for that. So I’m sure that means that some of our Republican colleagues may end up getting left behind and that’s a tough part of this thing.”

That article has some good, detailed analysis of changes to Senate districts.

Glynn County will have three State House districts at least partially under the majority caucus remap, according to The Brunswick News.

As proposed, House District 180 keeps Camden County and takes in a southeastern chunk of the Golden Isles, including Jekyll Island.

Rep. Steven Sainz, R-Woodbine, represents District 180 and would be a third voice for Glynn County in the House.

“The proposed map is similar to what District 180 looked like prior to being drawn in with Ware (County) in 2011,” Sainz said.

As drawn, Rep. Don Hogan’s District 179 encompasses the eastern half of Glynn County, including St. Simons and Sea islands. Rep. Buddy DeLoach’s District 167 joins the western half of the county with McIntosh and Long counties and a western slice of Liberty County.
Hogan and DeLoach are Republicans.

From WRDW via WTOC:

One issue to watch is whether Republicans target two suburban Atlanta Democrats, Lucy McBath and Carolyn Boudreaux, whose congressional victories reduced the delegation’s GOP tilt.

State Senate Republicans are pushing a map aimed at protecting all party incumbents seeking re-election next year.

House Republicans would sacrifice some seats held by the GOP to help remaining incumbents.

Republicans currently lead 34-22 in the upper chamber and 103-77 in the House.

The Senate will also need to confirm [Governor] Kemp’s appointments of people to various positions since the regular session adjourned.

From the Macon Telegraph:

State house and senate districts covering Macon and Columbus will be tweaked. But the biggest changes for residents in these areas will likely be the newly drawn 2nd Congressional District.

Republicans hope to make the district more competitive in hopes of eventually flipping the longtime blue seat.

Much of the attention around Congressional redistricting will focus on Republican efforts to regain the seat currently held by Democrat Lucy McBath in metro Atlanta, but changes to Rep. Sanford Bishop’s 2nd Congressional District will be important.

According to Census data, the district is home to 673,028 people, more than 92,000 short of what it needs. It is the most underpopulated Congressional district in the state.

The district will either have to stretch further to the north or east to boost its population numbers. The district is bordered by Alabama on the west and Florida to the south.

A newly drawn 2nd District could see all of Columbus or much of Warner Robins within its boundaries, according to several draft maps.

The State House Redistricting Committee is expected to discuss their own district maps today, according to the Rome News Tribune.

Under House Bill 1EX, Floyd County would still be divided into three House districts. However, instead of a small section scooped into a Bartow-based district, a different section would be part of a larger Gordon County district.

The map was submitted by the committee chair, Rep. Bonnie Rich, R-Suwanee

The map submitted by the Democratic minority caucus, HB 4EX, would divide Floyd County into four districts.

It’s an excellent article about the local effects of statewide redistricting.

Rome city elections saw lower turnout in 2021 versus 2019, according to the Rome News Tribune.

Rome’s municipal elections concluded Tuesday night and the result is a near 4.5% decrease in voter turnout compared to 2019.

While the votes are expected to be certified on Nov. 8, the unofficial numbers show that 12.81% of the city’s eligible voters participated in the election — with a total of 2,697 ballots cast. Of that number, 1,045 ballots were cast during the early voting period.

Flash back to the municipal election in 2019 and the voter turnout sat at 17.23%, with 3,314 ballots cast. More than 2,600 of them were submitted early. The 2017 election managed a 22.51% turnout.

Floyd County Superior Court is having trouble hiring and retaining employees, according to the Rome News Tribune.

During a Floyd County Elected Officials meeting, Clerk of Superior Court Barbara Penson said she’s struggling to retain employees on the $11.88 hourly wage, stating they often come on and leave for another clerk job that pays better.

Over in the District Attorney’s office, Leigh Patterson said she’s struggling to retain clerks, with one retiring at the end of the month and another on short-term disability.

She also said the office will be short two assistant DAs at the end of the month.

Superior Court Chief Judge John “Jack” Niedrach said they have had two court reporters hand in their resignation for the end of 2021.

A Columbus murder trial will be moved after jurors were stuck on an elevator, according to the Ledger-Enquirer.

The malfunctioning elevator was stuck between the tower’s plaza level and ground floor just after noon, and its occupants were evacuated using a ladder, observers said.

How long they were trapped was unclear. Witnesses at the Government Center thought it was up to an hour, but Columbus Fire Marshal John Shull said a crew from the fire department had them out in 20 minutes.

Talk about sequestering a jury.

A Lake City Council member left a meeting to prevent an executive session, according to the Valdosta Daily Times.

June Yeomans said she left before the council could convene an executive session over the question of reducing a city employee’s pay.

By leaving early, Yeomans left the council without the necessary quorum for voting.

“I felt that this matter should be decided by the new council,” she said. Elections on Nov. 2 mean two new members will be joining the city council soon.

Bulloch County public schools will transition to less-stringent COVID protocols based on lower community spread numbers, according to the Statesboro Herald.

“I want to reiterate that it is imperative that we continue to keep schools open and operating under the most normal conditions possible, providing our students with a sense of stability while attending to their overall psychological, emotional, mental, academic, and physical well-being,” [Superintendent Charles] Wilson said.

Three Columbus-area school districts posted their lowest COVID numbers of the year, according to the Ledger-Enquirer.

Whitfield County Commissioners will vote on whether to require county residence to issue an alcohol license, according to the Dalton Daily Citizen News.

Commissioners are expected to vote on an ordinance that would require people applying for an alcohol beverage license to be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident and a resident of Whitfield County for at least 30 days. The requirement to be a resident of Whitfield County can be waived if the applicant appoints someone who is a resident of the county to be responsible for matters related to the license.