Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections for October 11, 2023

Casimir Pulaski, a Polish aristocrat who fought with the colonists in the American Revolution, died in Savannah on October 11, 1779.

Former Confederate President Alexander Stephens was released from federal prison on October 12, 1865 and returned to Georgia.

The first game in Sanford Stadium was played on October 12, 1929, with the University of Georgia Bulldogs beating the Yale Bulldogs. Here is ten minutes of the game.

On October 12, 1958, The Temple was bombed after a phone call to WSB warned that Black churches and Jewish temples would be blown up.

Former Georgia Governor and President of the United States Jimmy Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on October 11, 2002.

Bobby Cox managed his last game in Game Four of the NLDS on October 11, 2010.

President Biden signed a proclamation recognizing October 11 as “General Pulaski Memorial Day,” according to WTOC.

The proclamation was made in honor of Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, a Polish American hero of the American Revolution.

General Casimir Pulaski is celebrated across the nation in schools, landmarks, and parks such as the Fort Pulaski National Monument. It was established as a national monument in October of 1924.

In the proclamation released by the White House, saying the day is to celebrate his life and the “values shared by the United States and Poland, which underpin the enduring bond of friendship between our countries.”

Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections

Brunswick voters may go to the polls beginning next week in early voting for municipal elections, according to The Brunswick News.

Early voting for the Nov. 7 municipal elections begins Oct. 16 and ends Nov. 3 at the Glynn County Board of Elections office.

Hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Early Saturday voting is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 21 and 28.

Municipal voters must go to their assigned polling locations on Nov. 7, the day of the election. The city’s polling places are at Howard Coffin Park, College Park and Bethel Evangel Community Church.

During Tuesday’s Glynn County Board of Elections and Registration meeting, board members agreed to set Nov. 13 as the date for certification of the election.

Forsyth County Commissioners adopted a resolution of support for Israel, according to AccessWDUN.

“The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners stands in solidarity with the people of Israel who are enduring unfathomable death, injury, trauma and grief following the horrific terror attacks over the past few days. Our thoughts, hearts and prayers are with the victims and families of those lost as well as the countless others in Israel and around the world that are seeking refuge, safety and peace during such tribulation. We ask for all residents in our community to join us in thought and prayer for the innocent lives lost, the leaders of the nations embattled in this conflict and the leaders of all nations around the world during this time of mounting violence. We are proud of the many backgrounds, ideologies and cultures that make Forsyth County such a wonderful community and we are proud of the willing ability of all people in this community, regardless of those differences, to come together in unity to support families in peril on the other side of the globe.”

The statement was signed by all five of the commissioners, including Kerry Hill, Alfred John, Todd Levent, Cindy Jones and Laura Semanson.

State Rep. Karlton Howard (D-Augusta) is in Israel, according to WRDW.

State Rep. Karlton Howard is among 62 residents of the CSRA who are in Israel as the country fights back against a weekend attack by the militant Arab group Hamas

Howard told News 12 the group is mainly from religious groups visiting the Holy Land, and that they’re fine.

“We were just coming to see of the places to walk where Jesus walked,” said Howard. “It’s a spiritual tour.”

“For those persons back home, they are concerned about us and rightly so,” said Howard. “We’re in good hands. We’ll be home in a couple of days.”

“We’re here with 61 other Christians, several pastors, so our faith is strong enough to know that not only are you in God’s country, you are in God’s hands,” said Howard. “We will make our way back and everybody has reserved seats ready to get ready to come back.”

Governor Brian Kemp appointed former State Rep. Donna Sheldon (R-Dacula) to the Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post.

Sheldon served in the state House of Representatives from January 2003 until she stepped down in August 2013 to launch a bid for the 10th Congressional District seat that Jody Hice ultimately won in 2014. She later ran unsuccessfully for the state House District 105 seat in 2015.

Bryan County voters heard from candidates ahead of the November elections, according to WTOC.

Bryan County has quite a few races to keep an eye on, one being in the city of Pembroke. The entire city council and mayor are all up for re-election.

At Tuesday night’s candidate forum, every candidate collectively agreed that the growth is coming, that’s inevitable but it needs to be controlled.

“We are the fastest growing county in Georgia and the six in the nation. This election is important because we need our leaders to know how to handle that,” said organizer Karen Hewitt.

“We need to focus on moving forward, bringing that experience to the table and then of course, in networking that we have in the contacts that we have what are the in the local original or state, federal level,” said mayoral candidate Tiffany Ziegler.

“We don’t want people to buy us out. We want to stay local and have those mom-and-pop shops. Hi love, the ones that have come in. That’s great. We need to continue to talk to our citizens to see what it means there,” said mayoral candidate Sharroll Fanslau.

Two city council members do run uncontested while the rest of the seats are a two candidate race.

Bryan County could see a large turn over in the government this election cycle as the entire city council as well as the mayor in Pembroke are up for election as well as two seats in Richmond Hill.

Marion Gaines-Jones is challenging incumbent Dougherty County Commissioner Chad Warbington, according to the Albany Herald.

[T]he candidate, who is one of two challengers to Albany Ward IV incumbent Commissioner Chad Warbington, fired up the crowd at a ribbon-cutting outside her campaign headquarters on South Slappey Boulevard.

A first-time office seeker, Gaines-Jones is not unfamiliar with politics in the city and Dougherty County. As a campaign chairman, she is five-for-five, having managed campaigns for current officeholders Dougherty County Commissioner Gloria Gaines, Albany City Commissioner Vilnis Gaines, Dougherty County School Board member Norma Gaines-Heath and County Commission Chairman Lorenzo Heard, she said. She also managed the winning first campaign for former County Commissioner John Hayes.

Gaines-Jones and Larry Harris are seeking the Ward IV seat currently held by incumbent Commissioner Chad Warbington, who is running for a second term in office.

An(other) ethics complaint was filed against a Rome City Commissioner, according to the Rome News Tribune.

Pointing to one of the specific portions of an ethics complaint filed against him late Monday, Rome City Commissioner Craig McDaniel said that he didn’t take any commission from the sale of a notorious hotel on Martha Berry Boulevard.

“Commissioner McDaniel has a wide variety of real estate interests in Rome,” the complaint reads. “As a commercial Realtor, he makes a commission when properties he lists are bought or sold. Since he typically is not the property owner, these properties are not listed in his annual personal financial statements. However, he makes a significant amount of money as a commercial Realtor.”

McDaniel denied those allegations on Tuesday and made a definitive statement.

This is the third ethics complaint filed in the past two weeks by political opponents of City Commission incumbents seeking reelection.

Ethics complaints were filed against Mayor Sundai Stevenson and Commissioner Bill Collins recently.

Rome City Commissioners voted to have the city attorney look at their ethics ordinance, according to the Rome News Tribune.

Rome city commissioners voted 7-0 during the Monday meeting to approve a rule under the city code that allows the city attorney to vet or evaluate any ethics complaint to determine its validity prior to the selection of a three-member panel for a hearing.

Mayor Sundai Stevenson and Commissioner Bill Collins abstained from the vote. At the time of the vote, both were the subject of an ethics complaint.

Attorney David Mecklin told commissioners during caucus that it is not a good idea to allow people to use the ethics complaint system for political reasons.

He added that almost every ethics ordinance he had read in preparing the proposed new Rome ordinance has a provision that ethics complaints should not be filed during the time of an election.

“The ordinance as it exists right now is probably unenforceable and is procedurally flawed,” he said. “It needs to be corrected.”

The University System of Georgia joined a group working to make college costs more transparent, according to the Athens Banner Herald.

The University System of Georgia recently joined the College Cost Transparency Initiative, joining hundreds of other schools to standardize the language around aid offered to prospective students.

“All 26 public colleges and universities in the University System of Georgia are committed to the principles and standards for college cost and transparency in the College Cost Transparency Initiative,” noted a statement from USG. “In fact, this national initiative furthers the work already being done by USG to better inform students and families about options to borrow less money while making affordability a top priority.”

This initiative is part of a broader effort by USG to “removing barriers to higher education,” according to the statement, an effort that also includes the GEORGIA MATCH program, which sends letters to 120,000 seniors in Georgia listing which USG and technical colleges they can attend.

UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences staff discussed the economic impact of the state’s agriculture industry, according to the Albany Herald.

“The Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development and the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics conduct a proprietary study each year that provides communities much-needed information to help them understand the role that agriculture and related industries play,” Sharon Kane, agribusiness and community development economist with CAED, said. “This includes detailed data at both the statewide and county levels and provides a unique annual data source presenting Georgia-specific insights not found elsewhere.”

Each spring the experts at CAED partner with UGA Cooperative Extension to capture the prior year’s agricultural data using a proprietary survey. The survey was developed after John McKissick, emeritus extension coordinator for the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, was appointed director of CAED in 2000.

The report provides the information for the annual Georgia Ag Forecast, which shares the latest research and information from UGA faculty to help farmers and agribusinesses in Georgia’s No. 1 industry, and the affiliated Ag Snapshots, which are distributed annually both in print and through interactive online graphics, which attract thousands of visits throughout the year.

The Farm Gate Value Report relies exclusively on extension personnel to provide production information through the survey, which is distributed for completion by extension agents in each county.

Beginning in 2022, CAED began producing Hospitality and Travel Economic Snapshots for Georgia, which offer a similar analysis to show the economic impact of hospitality, travel and amusement businesses in the state and in each of Georgia’s counties.

The report breaks down the role hospitality and travel play in the economies of each of Georgia’s 159 counties, calculating how much of each county’s economic output stems from the industry, which provides more than 400,000 jobs across the state. This year, CAED began offering a downloadable export of the report.

Gwinnett County will install more license plate cameras, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post.

Gwinnett County plans to install cameras that can read license plate numbers placed on state-controlled roads located around the county, but it first had to reach an agreement with Georgia Department of Transportation officials.

County commissioners recently approved a right-of-way agreement with GDOT that clears the way to place 36 Flock license plate reader cameras — also known as LPRs — on state routes around the county. Gwinnett Police Chief J.D. McClure said GDOT required the agreement be approved by commissioners and signed by him before the cameras can be installed.

The cameras are used to scan license plate numbers and see if a vehicle is stolen or being driven by someone that law enforcement is looking for. That information can be quickly used to direct law enforcement to the vehicle’s location.

“LPR technology is an essential tool within police operations and greatly enhances the safety of this community,” McClure said.

Burke County Commissioners discussed ongoing issues with the Sheriff’s Department, according to WJBF.

Inside the Burke County Commission meeting, leaders discussed ways to pay for invoices requested by the Burke County Sheriff’s Office.

“And there’s not any money appropriated in the 2024 budget to pay for 2023. It just puts further in a hole,” said Sheriff Alfonzo Williams.

Commissioners are looking at how to pay for this year’s invoices from the sheriff’s office. There was discussion about putting some of the items in next year’s budget. But the sheriff says his department’s attorney says they’ll need to find another way to handle those bills.

“It cannot be done and it’s just highly illegal,” said Sheriff Alfonzo Williams.

Leaders say invoices are usually paid in the current year, but can be put in next year’s budget.

“Y’all have a perfect scenario right now with the 2023 invoices but I can tell you that the accounting principles we would definitely need to record these in 2023 regardless of what you choose with the budget,” said the county accounting manager.

County Attorney Berry Fleming suggested further review of this issue. “I know a little bit about it but it’s not my area of expertise I’m happy to take on any information someone wants to give me about it and I’ll take a look at it.”

Cobb County Commissioners voted to reappoint County Manager Dr. Jackie Morris, according to the AJC.

The board voted in favor of her appointment unanimously with no discussion during Tuesday’s meeting. The board discussed her reappointment during executive session after Monday morning’s agenda review meeting, county spokesman Ross Cavitt said.

The contract says she will earn $350,000 a year as the chief executive officer and administrative head of the county government. Her current salary is $292,000, Cavitt said.

Columbus City Council members voted to confirm the appointment of Stoney Mathis as Police Chief, according to WTVM.

Columbus has a new police chief after a recent city council meeting. The item to vote on the appointment of Interim Police Chief Stoney Mathis has been approved by the council.

From the Ledger-Enquirer:

Columbus Council acted as expected Tuesday and confirmed Stoney Mathis as chief, removing the “interim” title he has worn since May.

Mayor Skip Henderson, who appointed Mathis the interim chief, nominated Mathis for the full-time position at council’s Sept. 26 meeting. He needed at least six of 10 council votes for confirmation.

The vote was unanimous, though District 1 Councilor Jerry “Pops” Barnes was absent. Mathis got a standing ovation afterward.

The Glynn County Board of Education members voted to approve $2/hour raises for most employees, according to The Brunswick News.

All non-exempt hourly employees will receive the raise. Exempt employees include campus monitors and cafeteria workers, who previously received a separate raise.

The attendance stipend provided to hourly workers will also continue through July 1, 2024.

The Athens-Clarke County Police announced $10k signing bonuses for new employees, according to the Athens Banner Herald.

New hires will receive a check for $10,000.

The money was made available in June when the state awarded the police department more than $1.6 million for recruiting incentives. The grant money is part of $83 million announced by Gov. Brian Kemp through the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget.

Many police departments and sheriff’s offices that are receiving the grant money are using it for such items as new technology and modern policing programs.

“We were already offering $3,000 (hiring incentive), but this adds to it to make it a $10,000 hiring incentive,” Thompson said.

“We were allowed to expand it over to communications officers and we’re very excited about that,” he said.

The police department currently has 51 sworn police officer openings and 30 civilian openings of which 17 are dispatcher positions.

“Somebody in a rural area can come in making substantially more plus the $10,000. It’s very enticing,” he said.

Augusta Commissioners questioned whether employees are cheating the time clock, according to WRDW.

Some commission members say they’re frustrated over department heads having “surprise” vacation time, and they want the administrator to notify them when they’re out of office.

The conversation also revolved around employees potentially clocking in from home or outside of their office.

Some commissioners want a physical or GPS-monitored clocking-in system so people can’t cheat their way around clocking in more hours while not at work.

Supposedly, the problem is left over from pandemic-era policies when people could work remotely, but other commissioners dug back saying that some employees are working well before and after their hours.

“They’re getting paid, we need to know what is going on,” said Commissioner Catherine Smith-McKnight.

Commissioner Brandon Garrett expressed his frustration over getting in touch with department heads, saying a GPS clock-in system would stop people from clocking in without physically being at work. “What’s to prevent employees from clocking in at home?” he asked.

From WJBF:

“We just want to make sure there is a policy around that makes sure everybody is accountable for their time, their time off,” said Mayor Pro-Tem Brandon Garrett.

Commissioner Garrett put a motion before a commission committee to establish a policy of having all city employees, including department directors on salary, clock in.

“Clocking in and clocking out, generally speaking on a salaried position, that’s not something that would normally be done we need to look at this from a holistic standpoint make sure legally that would be legal,” said Commissioner Alvin Mason.

Garrett says his main concern is department directors taking paid time off and whether that is being properly tracked. “Directors and a lot of the managers when they’re out on vacation that time is not taken away from them their PTO (Paid Time Off) time so they’re constantly accruing this time and never using it.”

But after a lengthy debate, the Administrative Services Committee took no action on a new clock-in policy, so keeping track of employee time is at a standstill.