#Shutdown

You’re more likely to notice the effects of today’s government shutdown, as many state employees have the day off to honor Christopher Columbus.

Attendees at this weekend’s Wings Over North Georgia Airshow in Rome missed-out on seeing the United States Air Forces Thunderbirds exhibition team due to the federal government shutdown.

#Withdrawn

Dean Sheridan withdrew from the race for Senate District 14, which will be filled in a special election on November 5th. From the Marietta Daily Journal:

Sheridan said he made the decision to withdraw from the race so the conservative vote would not be split.

“My greatest fear is that by continuing my campaign in effect I/we together will leave the door open for a candidate in this District 14 race that does not hold our values, our ideology and our core principles and split the upcoming vote,” [Sheridan] said in making the announcement. “With this, I refuse to take this risk; for all of you. You all know me as a doer, one who unites, a fiscal conservative fighter.”

“The business challenges my family must go through, combined with what I now believe will be a prolonged campaign is a risk. One the district and my family can ill afford to misjudge. With that, I regretfully resign my candidacy effective today,” Sheridan said.
Sheridan said the election was not just about him, but the party.
“Personally, I am inspired by the work over the last two years that I refer to as ‘the new Republican Party in Cherokee County’ has done,” Sheridan said. “In particular, the work our Chairman Rick Davies and the other chairmen in the surrounding counties have with the resolution reaffirming the belief in Constitutional principles, transparency and accountability to a constituency.”

The judge is still deciding whether to recommend that candidate Matt Laughridge be removed from the ballot after questions were raised about whether Laughridge has lived in the district long enough to be qualified for the election.

Bartow elections officials have confirmed Laughridge voted in District 52 three times in 2012, only changing his address to one in District 14 in August.

#EarlyVoting

Early voting begins today in municipal elections across the state, with a smattering of county elections thrown in for good measure, as well as the four state legislative races on the November ballot.

Gwinnett County voters will decide whether to impose a three-year Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) that will place a one percent sales tax on purchases within the county and is estimated to raise $498 million.

Candidates in Duluth and Lawrenceville will meet in a pair of voter forums this week to discuss their candidacies. From the Gwinnett Daily Post:

The Duluth candidates will meet in a forum hosted by the Payne-Corley House on Tuesday.

The event will begin with a meet and greet at 6 p.m. followed by a question and answer session with incumbents Marsha Anderson Bomar and Jim Dugan and their challengers, David Cossette and Louis Tseng, who are facing Bomar, and Kirkland Carden and Seth Grey, who are facing Dugan.

On Thursday, candidates will meet in a forum, hosted for the fifth year by the Lawrenceville Neighborhood Alliance.

Planned for 7 p.m. at City Hall, audience members will have an opportunity to ask questions during the event, a flier said.

With Councilman P.K. Martin deciding to sit out the race this year, four candidates are campaigning to replace him: Renita Hamilton, Rory Johnson, Keith Roche and Larry Troutman.

In Floyd County, even residents outside city limits will have a full slate of elections, with a countywide SPLOST referundum on the ballot. Voters will also decide on whether to allow Sunday sales for on-premises consumption, as well as package sales of beer and wine. Romans will elect three City Council members and seven Board of Education members.

Marietta will hold a referendum on whether to allow the city to issue $68 million in bonds.

Washington County will have an E-SPLOST (Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) on the ballot.

Walker County will hold an election on a SPLOST; early voting starts tomorrow at the Walker County Courthouse and on October 28th at the Rossville Municipal Civic Center.

Rockdale County voters will pass on an E-SPLOST worth $83.6 million.

Harris County voters are being asked to renew a SPLOST, with early voting beginning today.

Henry County ballots will include SPLOST IV.

The City of Fayetteville is asking voters for a two-year SPLOST. Fayette County is holding a SPLOST election for stormwater management, and a referendum for on-premise Sunday Sales.

Jenkins County seeks passage of SPLOST VI as well as an E-SPLOST for county schools.

Charlton County is holding a SPLOST election, with early voting starting tomorrow.

Lowndes County will raise $150 million over six years if its SPLOST is passed.

Clayton County is holding a SPLOST election with early voting to start today.

Coffee County Schools are asking for an extension of the E-SPLOST. Wayne County voters will also be asked to extend an E-SPLOST.

Madison County voters have already begun going to the polls to vote on a SPLOST.

Pierce County is back for another bite at the SPLOST apple, with an election in November, a year after voters rejected SPLOST in 2012.

Twiggs County SPLOST.