Top Stories

1. A top GAGOP officer on Senate 14 election
2. Mount Vernon Assembly convenes Saturday
3. Gun ads unwelcome on NFL, Cobb County Transit

Today is Election Day

If you live in Senate District 14, House District 104 or 127, or a municipality that has runoff elections today, your polling places should be open from 7 AM to 7 PM.

Here is a link to the Secretary of State’s website with contact information for local election boards if you have any questions to ask of your local election officials.

Here is a link to the Secretary of State’s page for submitting online complaints about the manner an election is conducted.

GAGOP Treasurer Bob Mayzes on Senate District 14

Bob Mayzes has served as Treasurer of the Georgia Republican Party for as long as I can remember, and last night he posted on Facebook about the special election runoff in Senate District 14 between Bruce Thompson and Matt Laughridge.

Tonight I got a very nasty robo call from Matt Laughridge’s campaign. I have been active in Republican politics in Bartow County and North Georgia for over 20 years. I have seen some nasty campaigning, but Matt’s actions would rival the meanest Democrats that I have seen in my many years as State GOP Treasurer.

Although a friend of Bruce Thompson, I stayed out of the race due being a State Party officer. Tonight’s robo call crossed the line for me. Bruce Thompson is a good man with integrity and compassion for others. Matt on the other hand by his campaign methods has proven himself less than worthy.

On Tuesday, Vote for the man that best represents your values. If you believe in traditional American values like integrity, hard work and caring for others, then you will vote for my friend Bruce Thompson.
Sincerely,

Bob Mayzes

House District 104

House District 104, formerly held by Donna Sheldon, who is running for Congress, may see very low turnout today, if early voting is any indication. During the special election in November, 650 voters cast ballots early, but only 64 early votes were cast for the runoff. The Gwinnett Daily Post ran a substantive article about the runoff over the weekend.

“The citizens in District 104 deserve a representative with experience, proven conservative values, a defender of the constitution and religious liberties, a fighter for the best education for our kids and someone who has worked on pro-life issues,” said Cantrell, who has spent weeks talking to constituents to try to explain the difference between the two.

Both say their experience sets them apart, with Efstration touting a list of endorsements from local political leaders, while Cantrell boasts accolades from organizations like Georgia Right to Life and the NRA.

“My record of service to the community speaks for itself and makes me uniquely qualified to represent House District 104,” Estration said. “As an assistant district attorney, I worked in law enforcement to keep our families safe, and as the chairman of the Gwinnett Republican Party, I stood up our conservative principles and values.”

I think it’s fair to say that Teresa Cantrell is the traditional social conservative in the race, while Chuck Efstration‘s background is in the GOP establishment in the County.

Cantrell has been endorsed by Georgia Right to Life, the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund and Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee. Over the weekend, she also earned the endorsement of Georgia Conservatives in Action.

Efstration’s endorsements include Gwinnett County Sheriff Butch Conway, an “I’m not endorsing, but I’m personally voting for him” from County Commission Chair Charlotte Nash, and a number of other including the members of the Dacula City Council and Mayor and Attorney General Sam Olens as well as State Reps. Brett Harrell (R-Hanging off the back of a garbage truck) and Joyce Chandler (R-105).

House District 127

Today’s runoff in Augusta and Jefferson County features Brian Prince and Diane Evans, both Democrats.

Some 165 people cast advance votes in the House runoff at the Jefferson County Board of Elections office in Louisville compared to 161 voting early at the board of elections office in Augusta, according to elections officials.

Lynn Bailey, elections director for Richmond County, said she did not expect turnout Tuesday to exceed the 13 percent of Augusta voters who cast ballots in the special election.

“It’s gone as expected in terms of turnout in these types of elections,” Bailey said. “In an odd numbered year and just for one elected office, turnout is generally light and this is no exception.”

A common complaint has been voters who want to cast ballots in the House District 127 race but don’t live in the district, Bailey said.

Redrawn in 2011 by the state legislature, the district spans Louisville, Matthews, Wrens, Stapleton, Avera, Blythe, Fort Gordon and sections of Hephzibah and south and west Augusta.

Georgia Right to Life PAC rolling out endorsements for 2014

Last week, I referenced an email I received from Paul Broun claiming the endorsement of Georgia Right to Life PAC, but I couldn’t find it documented on their website. Several readers helpfully pointed me to the 2014 endorsements page.

GRTL PAC 2014 Endorsement as of 12/03/2013

Election	District	Party	Candidate
US Senate	Statewide	R	Paul Broun
Election	District	Party	Candidate
US Congress	10	R	Mike Collins
US Congress	10	R	Jody Hice
US Congress	10	R	Stephen Simpson
US Congress	10	R	Brian Slowinski
Election	District	Party	Candidate
US Congress	11	R	Barry Loundermilk

Mount Vernon Assembly Convenes this weekend

Beginning Saturday, December 7th, a group of state legislators from across the nation will convene in the Mount Vernon Assembly at the former home of President George Washington, near Alexandria, Virginia. The purpose of the gathering is to explore the process of convening an Article V Convention to propose Amendments to the United States Constitution. No such convention has ever been called, and doing so today would require concurrence of two-thirds of the states, or 34 state legislatures.

It’s a fascinating topic, of which I must confess ignorance, but the Wikipedia article provides a starting point if you wish to begin the process of educating yourself.

Among the Georgians headed to God’s Country this weekend are Senator Bill Cowsert (R-Clarke) State Rep. Bruce Williamson (R-Walton County), State Rep. Jason Spencer (R-Camden County), State Rep. Andy Welch (R-Henry County). It’s interesting to note that Walton County is named after George Walton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, Camden County is named after a British supporter of American Independence, Clarke County was named for Elijah Clarke, an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, and Henry County is named after Patrick Henry, a prominent Revolutionary and proponent of Republicanism, the theory of government, not the political party.

From the Walton Tribune:

Cowsert said his involvement in the Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force began three years ago, arising from “concern that our nation’s debt had gotten completely out of control” and Congress would never operate under a balanced budget without a constitutional amendment.

“It was also obvious that Congress will not propose a balanced budget amendment and, in fact, has operated for several years now without passing any budget. Therefore, I began to actively work to pass a balanced budget amendment through a state lead initiative as provided by Article V of the U.S. Constitution.,” Cowsert said.

As part of his effort, Cowsert was able to pass Senate Resolution 371 in the Georgia Senate calling upon the U.S. Congress to call a convention of the states for the sole purpose of proposing a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It passed the Senate overwhelmingly and was voted out of committee in the House but never came to the floor for a vote. Cowsert was also behind a companion bill referred to as a Delegate Limitation Act which requires any delegate representing Georgia at the convention to consider only a balanced budget amendment and no other changes to the Constitution or be subject to recall and replacement. This bill also passed the Senate and is awaiting action in the House. Twenty other states have already passed similar resolutions.

“I am one of the founding members of the Article V Caucus which is a group of legislators from all over the country who are dedicated to passing a balanced budget amendment,” Cowsert said. “The assembly will attempt to generate support for an Article V Convention and attempt to reach consensus on proposed rules and procedures to be followed at the convention. I am pleased that Rep. Bruce Williamson has also accepted our invitation to attend the Mount Vernon Assembly and will be supporting this effort.”

Williamson said he is “excited” about the opportunity to be a part of the historic process “to get our country back on a sound fiscal footing.”

“There is no doubt in my mind that our out-of-control federal spending is our nation’s biggest threat. The federal government has done nothing to get us off this destructive path to financial armageddon. A constitutional balanced budget amendment is a conversation that must be undertaken and I believe that it is time for the states to step up and hammer out reasonable budgetary spending constraints,” Williamson said. “Obviously, there has to be flexibility for budgetary adjustments in times of war or national emergencies. There can even be a provision for a super-majority override vote by Congress for compelling reasons,” [said Williamson].

“Our founding fathers granted the states a mechanism to control a runaway, irresponsible federal government. The nonpartisan Mount Vernon Assembly is designed to help devise clear rules for calling and conducting a Convention of the States that can help restore a more traditional balance of power,” [said Williamson].