Georgia Politics, Campaigns & Elections for April 9, 2013

The second point Martha Zoller writes about lessons learned on the trail in her 2012 Congressional Race.

Second, it is different being a woman in politics. No one asks a man who will take care of his children or what does your spouse think about you running. But on the flip side, there was less expected from my husband, because he had a career. He was a shy guy, so he focused on signs and support.

The rest of Martha’s story is available to InsiderAdvantage subscriber on the website over there, and it will be free on Martha’s new website, zpolitics.com, beginning Friday.

Tenth Congressional District Shake-Up

Last night, after presenting a review of the legislative session, Senator Bill Cowsert announced that he will not run for Congress in the Tenth District, instead seeking reelection. Walton County is home to the greatest number of Republican voters in the Tenth District, making it the geo-political center.

Among the other candidates and potential candidates in attendance, the reactions varied.

State Rep. Donna Sheldon previously represented part of Walton County and attended with her husband Bob. She’s said to be considering a run and potentially brings a strong fundraising and networking base because of her role in House leadership. She would be a formidable candidate.

State Rep. Bruce Williamson has an advantage in being a Walton County native, and his cousin Roy Roberts, Chairs the Walton GOP and hosts one of the greatest Republican events in the state. Williamson has strong ties to Walton County and is a successful businessman. Since learning of Cowsert’s announcement, he has been encouraged by dozens of supporters across the district to consider running for the Congressional seat and said he and his family will give it prayerful consideration and take some time to discuss it with supporters and donors.

Stephen Simpson, who ran against Rep. Paul Broun in 2012 in the Republican Primary has updated his website with a big “2014” on it and said he is exploring another bid.

Announcements that up-end what was assumed to be the order in a high-dollar Congressional primary election fight are exactly what makes politics exciting as a spectator sport.

Congressman Jack Kingston Shows Us the Money

Politico.com reports that Rep. Jack Kingston showed $841k in contributions raised during the first quarter.

 Kingston has reportedly hired a polling firm and plans a mid-April announcement of his decision in the race. His first-quarter fundraising, especially compared with the same period in 2011, when he raised $90,000, is another sign the congressman is planning to announce he’ll run.

Ends & Pieces

Phil Kent writes in an Op-ed at the Marietta Daily Journal that the Atlanta Regional Commission’s push to encourage local governments to provide services in multiple languages dilutes the “melting pot” effect of having English as our nation’s shared language.

Georgia requires metro counties and cities to achieve “qualified local government status.” To obtain that distinction, the ARC forged a regional plan that coordinates growth in Cobb County and the nine other counties it serves. The Marietta Daily Journal found that three years after the ARC approves the regional plan, communities must come into compliance — and they have until January 2014 to turn in proposals showing how they are complying.

This time, however, ARC bureaucrats are giving governments an option: apply for “minimum certification” or “excellence certification.” It is the “excellence” certification that includes the multilingualism program.

There are dozens of languages spoken in Georgia and more than 300 languages spoken in this country. Providing taxpayer-supported translators and multilingual materials would be a huge burden for government. Besides, if you become a citizen or legal permanent resident, the basic requirement is to know English.

There could hardly be an example in a democratic society of a more unpopular policy being imposed on the majority by a minority of ideologically-driven activists and unelected bureaucrats. That is why Georgia and 30 other states have had to pass laws designating English as the official language of government operations. Yet the ARC’s half-baked multilingual idea blatantly undercuts Georgia’s law!

By the way, a recent Rasmussen poll found 87 percent of respondents from all ethnic backgrounds support English as the official language of government. Let’s also remember that government has traditionally played an important role in encouraging the assimilation of new immigrants by communicating with them in English. Why change that successful model?

Republican Public Service Commissioner Doug Everett continues to make the case for charging a $5 fee for recipients of a federal-taxpayer funded “free” cellphone under the Lifeline program. The cellphones are often referred to as “Obamaphones,” and have come under fire for allegations of fraud and the federal government estimates that 15% of “Obamaphones” were obtained fraudulently.

The Associated Press article makes the ridiculous statement that charging $5 for a cellphone previously paid for 100% by other peoples’ money amounts to “essentially a 54 percent tax on their subsidy”. As opposed to the actual tax paid by wage earners who fund the nearly $2.2 billion per year federal entitlement program.

Everett has said previously that the measure is part of “waging a war on fraud and abuse” in the program.

Former Republican Public Service Commissioner Robert “Bobby” Baker said that administering a fee under Everett’s proposal would be “an administrative nightmare for companies” that offer the phones.

Snellville, Where Everybody’s Crazy Somebody, continues to careen into weirdness, as appointments to citizen boards have become hostage to Mayor Kelly Kautz’s lawsuit against members of City Council.

Tod Warner, a longtime Planning Commission board member and former city councilman, was nominated by councilman Tom Witts on Monday to serve at Post 4 of the city’s Planning Commission. Witts referred to Warner as “an absolute attribute” to the city.

Before the matter was put to a vote, Mayor Kelly Kautz made the statement that “this is a matter pending litigation,” referring to the pending lawsuit between her and some of the council members. Because of that litigation, Kautz said she would not support Warner’s nomination.

State Representative Chuck Sims (R-Ambrose) was charged with DUI in Douglas, Ga.

Sim was arrested in Coffee County shortly before midnight April 2 after a Douglas police officer reported seeing Sims’ car accelerate and slide onto the shoulder of one of the city’s main highways. He was booked into the Douglas County jail and later was released on $1,487 bond.

“Just as I do not intend to seek any special treatment, I hope that I am not unfairly pre-judged based on rumor and speculation,” Sims said in a statement. “I am confident that as facts of this situation are revealed, the interests of justice will be served.”