Voting opens in Macon-Bibb and Miller County

Voters in most of Bibb County will head to the polls today in the first-ever elections for Mayor and Commission for the newly-consolidating Macon-Bibb County government.

The Secretary of State’s Office will be sending state election monitors to Bibb County, which Watson said is normal procedure and is not related to the state’s open investigation into the early voting problems. She said the state will send officials to all the precincts to make certain that signs are posted correctly and that machines are working properly.

Elections officials said about 8,200 people voted early in this election, while about 1,400 voters had sent in absentee ballots by the close of business Monday. The deadline for absentee ballots is 7 p.m. Tuesday.

[Bibb County Elections Supervisor Jeanetta] Watson said it’s important for voters to take a picture ID with them to the polls Tuesday. If voters don’t have a picture ID or aren’t certain of their proper precinct, they should call the Board of Elections office at 478-621-6622 or go to www.co.bibb.ga.us/BOE/BOE.aspx.

In Miller County, four candidates will be on the ballot today in a special election to replace the late Sheriff H.E. “Buddy” Glass, who drowned earlier this year. From WALB-TV in Albany,

The four candidates who are running include: RJ Francois of Dougherty County, Mike Middleton of Georgia Pacific, Scott Lawson from Colquitt Police and Chief Deputy Shane Rathel.

McNease says because it’s an open race, they’re not having to run against an incumbent– which allows them with an opportunity for someone to just step up to the plate.

Once a candidate is elected they will serve till January 1st of 2017.

William McCullough Memorial Writing Awards

Today we’re awarding the first ever GaPundit.com writing awards for acts of Peach State journalism. The inaugural William McCullough Memorial Writing Award goes to Mark McCullough for eulogizing his father, William “Freddie” McCullough in the Savannah Morning News.

“Our dad was a unique and special guy,” said McCullough, the oldest of Freddie’s six kids. “I wanted to do things differently to honor him with an obit that fit him.”

Judging by the responses — more than 200 comments from family, friends and strangers in the online guest book — he did just that.

“This is the best obituary I’ve ever read,” wrote Melinda McCullough Rushing, a cousin. “He is smiling down on this one.”

At Freddie’s funeral on Thursday, his children tucked Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and a bottle of Jim Beam into his coffin. Then the six of them, clad in Harley T-shirts and jeans, hopped on motorcycles to lead the procession to the cemetery.

“All of us kids, we know our dad,” Mark McCullough said. “He was the kind of guy who would just get the biggest thrill out of this.”

Mark McCullough gave his five younger siblings veto power on the unconventional death notice. None felt the need to use it, leaving a portrait of a man who loved every minute of his 61 years.

It’s an unconventional obituary, but great writing in that it gives a great sense of who Freddie McCullough was and makes people who never met him care about his life. Here’s an excerpt, but the entire piece is worth reading:

Freddie loved deep fried Southern food smothered in Cane Syrup, fishing at Santee Cooper Lake, Little Debbie Cakes, Two and a Half Men, beautiful women, Reeses Cups and Jim Beam. Not necessarily in that order. He hated vegetables and hypocrites. Not necessarily in that order.

Freddie was also great at growing fruit trees, grilling chicken and ribs, popping wheelies on his Harley at 50 mph, making everyone feel appreciated and hitting Coke bottles at thirty yards with his 45. When it came to floor covering, Freddie was one of the best in the business. And he loved doing it. Freddie loved to tell stories. And you could be sure 50% of every story was true. You just never knew which 50%.

He got married when he was 18, but it didn’t last. Freddie was no quitter, however, so he gave it a shot two more times. It didn’t work out with any of the wives, but he managed to stay friends with them and their parents.

Freddie was killed when he rushed into a burning orphanage to save a group of adorable children. Or maybe not.

Strive to live a life as interesting as Freddie’s and next time you happen to be sitting around with your mutual friend Jim Beam, pour one out in his memory.

The second William McCullough Memorial Writing Award goes to an actual journalist, Camie Young of the Gwinnett Daily Post for this arresting prose:

Commissioner Tommy Hunter killed a man who shot a cop Monday — in a simulation at the Gwinnett Police Training Center.

That’s a great start to an otherwise interesting, but not riveting story that illustrates a creative approach to how Gwinnett County is educating some of its legislators about some of the issues it will be asking for legislative help on. From the story,

“There is always lots of debate about how police officers respond in pressure situations,” Chairwoman Charlotte Nash said. “I thought it was important for our legislators to see … we’re doing everything we can to make sure our officers are equipped well and trained well so they make the right decision in the field.”

Legislators learned about the e-citations program, for which officials have requested legislation for a $10 technology fee for funding. With modems and laptops already installed in police cars, officers are waiting for a hand-held device and printers which are expected to cut the time it takes to write and process a ticket while improving accuracy.

“From an officer safety standpoint this is a must,” Chief Charlie Walter said, noting that the quicker an officer can get off of the side of the road, the safer he or she is.

VP Biden: Come Hell or High Water

Vice President Joe Biden visited the ports of Charleston and Savannah yesterday, and was joined in Savannah by Governor Nathan Deal and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. The Savannah Morning News reports on his speech:

“In the next 12 years, the volume of trade is expected to double,” Biden said, glancing at the big ship-to-shore cranes working the massive container ship behind him.

As Savannah is the East Coast’s busiest port for containerized exports, it is critical to meeting the goals of the National Export Initiative. Exports make up 62 percent of Savannah’s containerized tonnage.

“What don’t we understand?” Biden asked. “What more do we need to know?

“We are going to get this done, come hell or high water.”

“We are united in support of this vital project because we know that it is the key to keeping this economic engine humming,” [Congressman Jack] Kingston said. “Failure to complete the harbor expansion would spell disaster not just for Georgia but for the region. After 14 years of study, we not only know that it can be completed in an environmentally sound manner but that it will provide enormous economic benefit for our region.”

Federal studies indicate that for every dollar invested, the nation’s economy will reap $5.50 in net benefits.

Speaking of Jack Kingston

Could somebody please take the guy shopping for shirts? When he was pleading for more Likes on his Facebook page yesterday to get over 30,000, the most jarring thing was that he still is allowed to wear that shirt on the campaign trail.

Then I realized after looking through his pictures that the poor fellow only owns two shirts – that patriotic atrocity and a blue oxford cloth buttondown.

Poll Dancing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8M5BQlf9Ec&t=6m55s

The Brookhaven Post reports that five homeowner associations and some private citizens commissioned a poll of voter opinions on the lawsuit between the City of Brookhaven and the Pink Pony.

So, the fight between Brookhaven politicians and the Pink Pony now includes professional survey research as well as direct mail that we wrote about earlier. Will they have employees waving signs on street corners next?

Savannah SPLOST back on track

After a dispute between the Chatham County Commission and the Elections Board over who has authority to place a SPLOST on the ballot, voters will be asked in November to approve a six-year, $370 million sales tax referendum.

Free football tickets for legislators to end

Effective January 1, 2014, free tickets to sporting events may not be given to legislators under ethics rules passed earlier this year. At least lobbyists can’t give tickets.

Georgia State University spent $950 on Aug. 30 to host 16 lawmakers and staffers at its home opener, records show. The guests included Senate President Pro Tempore David Shafer, who noted that he pays for his own tickets to UGA football games.
“I attended the season opener,” Shafer said. “The face value of my ticket was $12.”

There are unresolved questions. Shafer, R-Duluth, said he wants advice from Statehouse lawyers on whether employees of Georgia’s higher education system are legally considered lobbyists. If they are not lobbyists, they would not be subject to the spending rules. Private lobbyists would still be banned from giving away tickets.
Another provision allows lobbyists to pay for a public official’s registration at events related to the official’s duties. So it’s conceivable a university could try inviting lawmakers to campus for an educational tour and then offer football tickets.
Some already follow the new rules. Rep. Mike Cheokas, R-Americus, said he sent Georgia Tech a $25 check to cover tickets to an Aug. 31 game that he requested from a university lobbyist. In a discrepancy, the university reported that Cheokas paid a $50 reimbursement. Georgia Tech spokesman Matt Nagel said it was unclear what caused the reporting discrepancy.
“Yeah, I could go ahead and accept tickets. But what’s the point?” said Cheokas, vice chairman of a House subcommittee that decides the budget for higher education. “I feel like I would not be abiding by the spirit of the law.”

An interesting perspective I’d never read on the issue comes from BleacherReport.com is that it’s better for college football to curtail legislative tickets.

Even if it runs against history, the steps Georgia is taking are noble, and other states should follow in their footsteps. College football—with all its scandal, sanction and shame—is already perceived as perhaps the most corrupt sport in America.

Politicians receiving perks may not seem like a major reason for that, but it doesn’t hurt for Georgia to take a stand and distance itself from that sort of reputation.

Baby steps, college football. All progress is good progress.