Georgia Politics, Campaigns & Elections for May 1, 2013

Last night at Turner Field, Governor Deal signed legislation that creates a special license plate honoring your Atlanta Braves! Proceeds from this newly created tag will benefit The Atlanta Braves Foundation. Since its inception in 1992, the Atlanta Braves Foundation has provided support to thousands of metro Atlanta-based organizations and has annually contributed more than $1 million in financial and in-kind assistance to the community.

In celebration of the new car tags, pitcher Tim Hudson won his 200th career game to join Phil Niekro, Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, and Tom Glavine as the only Braves pitchers to hit this mark. Over seven innings, Hudson gave up three hits and hit his third career home run. From Braves.com

“It was just one of those nights where things were lined up,” Hudson said. “The stars were aligned, and I guess it was meant to be.”

Hudson’s fifth-inning, opposite-field home run off Zach Duke simply added to the splendor of becoming the 110th pitcher in Major League history to notch 200 career wins. The only other active pitchers who have reached the mark are Andy Pettitte and Roy Halladay.

“He was about as good as I’ve seen him pitch,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “I don’t think he labored the whole game. It was fun to watch. I know Chipper [Jones] had some milestones last year. But this, for me, might have been one of the most fun ones I could sit back and enjoy.”

After proving unsuccessful in his first two attempts to notch the milestone on the road, Hudson savored the opportunity to record his 200th win in front of the hometown crowd, which included his wife, his oldest daughter, his father and his brothers.

Kingston Takes a Warmup Lap

After we wrote yesterday about a Friday fundraiser for Congressman Jack Kingston in Savannah that’s being billed as a “Kickoff” and the letter that makes clear it’s likely for a Senate campaign, the Associated Press and Roll Call followed up with news that Kingston will be making a statewide announcement tour tomorrow, though Kingston’s staff remained coy about the announcement content.

The 11-term Republican congressman will make an announcement during double events in his coastal 1st District in Savannah and Brunswick. Kingston’s team would not describe the substance of his planned remarks.

“You’ll have to listen in to find out,” Kingston spokesman Chris Crawford told CQ Roll Call.

State Senator Buddy Carter will attempt to upgrade his 1st Senate District seat to a 1st Congressional District seat in Washington.

 a political consultant for state Sen. Buddy Carter of neighboring Pooler, said Tuesday that Carter plans to announce his congressional bid for the 1st District on Monday.

Republican Angelic Moore announced she will run for State House District 54, currently held by State Rep. Edward Lindsey, who is running for Congress in the 11th District.

Moore, who works with former Lieutenant Governor Nominee and State Representative Matt Towery as Vice President of Insider Advantage/Internet News Agency, is a graduate of Georgia State University, has worked tirelessly as an active Republican for nearly twenty years including having worked at the State Republican Headquarters, and recently served as the Atlanta chairman for Newt Gingrich’s presidential campaign.

“Progress is what will sustain our community and our state. The key is reform: county reform and tax reform.”

The campaign has two growing committees. The District Steering Committee includes: Brent Bremer, Brent M. Bremer Attorney at Law; Jill Chambers, former Republican State Representative and businesswoman; Bill Ellis, Callaway Geer CPA’s; Hal Nowak, Hal’s on Ivy; Chip Sykes, Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, L.P.; and Beth Wallace, Sotheby’s Atlanta Fine Homes.

Chairing the Advisory Committee is The Honorable Matt Towery and includes officials and honorees including: Senator Steve Gooch, Senator Jeff Mullis, Senator Jesse Stone, Senator Ross Tolleson and Representative Brett Harrell. For additional information please contact: Angelic Moore SAngelicMoore@aol.com

Gary Gerrard, a lawyer in Oglethorpe County, announced his candidacy for the Tenth Congressional District.

Deal on Fox News Cavuto Show

Gov. Deal on Your World with Neil Cavuto said that Georgia will still not put its name on something it simply can’t afford. “We have no interest in spending our tax dollars on an exchange that is state-based in name only,” Deal said.

County Commissioner Oppose Fulton Restrictions

A group of County Commissioners in Metro Atlanta that includes Republican Chairmen Tim Lee of Cobb and Steve Brown of Fayette, have asked Governor Deal to veto House Bill 604, which would prohibit the Fulton County Commission from raising property taxes for two years and require a supermajority commission vote thereafter.

Democrats have decried the move as unnecessary and punitive. And Fitch Ratings recently cited HB 604 in downgrading Fulton County’s credit rating. Now local Republicans as well as Democrats have added their voices to the opposition.

“[W]e believe HB 604 violates the letter and spirit of home rule,” the officials wrote to Deal. “Passage of this bill sets a dangerous precedent for legislative interference in other counties and the impact on Fulton County services will have a ripple effect throughout the region.”

Deal’s office had no comment about the letter. In an interview before his meeting with Eaves, Deal said he hasn’t made up his mind about the bill.

“I’m trying to be as informed as I can,” Deal said. “I’m trying to keep an open mind.”

Private Probation Service at Issue

Hiring private companies to administer probation programs has become an issue in a number of civil lawsuits contending that the practice is unconstitutional and amounts to jailing people for being poor. And now it’s a problem for administering the Richmond County courts.

[Superior Court Judge Daniel J.] Craig – who is assigned to preside over the cases against Sentinel – issued the temporary restraining order after [private attorneyJohn] Long presented evidence he contends proves that more people have been falsely arrested on probation violation warrants.

On behalf of the four Richmond County State Court judges, private attorneys Jim Wall and Jim Ellison wrote that Craig has created a quagmire and has “absolutely eviscerated” the judges’ ability to enforce the conditions of any probation sentence because the temporary restraining order ignores “the practicalities of the system.”

“Before hiring attorneys the State Court (judges) should get their own house in order by having court reporters,” Long said.

Long filed habeas petitions late last year for four people jailed on allegations they violated the terms of probation set by Richmond County State Court judges. Craig found that none of the four had been fully apprised of their constitutional rights in State Court, and he voided their convictions.

Kudos to Marietta High School

From the Marietta Daily Journal:

The Lassiter High School community dug deep and found its inner superhero last Friday for a special day dedicated to Brandon Carpenter.

The Lassiter High School junior has been using a wheelchair since he was 10 years old, when he was diagnosed with a rare genetic neuro-muscular illness, Duchenne muscular dystrophy. It is terminal.

Carpenter celebrated his 17th birthday in March, but his family wanted to do something special for him, and that’s when Lassiter’s students and staff stepped up in a big way.

“His teacher asked, ‘Why don’t we do a big celebration for him at the school?’” his father Steven Carpenter said. “They said they’d take care of everything.”

He mentioned to the teacher that his son’s favorite character was Spider-Man, and everything seemed to fall into place.

Brandon arrived at school Friday sporting his own costume. He was welcomed with a huge sign that read “Welcome Superhero Brandon.” Cheerleaders rooted him on, and the band played while he was escorted through the school halls to a special breakfast in the cafeteria for him and his family.

Department of Retractions Department

Something must have happened to my coffee supply as I’ve mangled two names in the last few days, managing to do violence to the same name twice on different names.

The new Southeast Political Director for the Republican National Committee is Josh Kivett.

The newly elected Secretary of the Georgia Association of College Republicans is Sarah Chambers, an Emory student.